My Great-aunt Beulah gardened in her husband’s galoshes, talked too loud, laughed too hard, cussed a bit, and one day held me gently against her ample girth until I quit crying. An unhappy teenager, I was spending the night with her after going to a party with friends I’d left behind when my family moved to a nearby town. “It’s not the same anymore,” I sobbed. “I feel like I don’t belong either place.”
She said nothing, just held on and listened.
“Beulah’s a bit rough around the edges,” I overheard a hoity-toity second cousin remark at a family reunion. I knew better. Aunt Beulah was soft, quiet, and kind when it mattered.
So I took the name of an aunt I loved to represent all the adults in my life who provided a model of aging well, even as they struggled with difficulties and demons of their own: the good men and women who consistently nudged me toward maturity while I avoided chores, succumbed to peer pressure, and fell in love with ne’er-do-wells.
Watching the important adults in my life, I learned that to age well we must live well: cherish our friends and loved ones, nurture our bodies and minds, utilize our talents and skills, do some good in the world, develop financial fitness, and indulge in laughter and small pleasures.
For me, growing old with a modicum of grace was a journey filled with potholes; but as I bounced around from year to year, I learned a few things: flossing makes a difference; arguments with the IRS can be won; and we should try to live well no matter where we are in the arc of life.
Have some thoughts
about living well in order to age well?
I’d be interested
Aunt Beulah 
Welcome to the blogosphere! Can’t wait to hear about your potholes and flossing really does make a difference (as does quitting Mountain Dew).
“Watching the important adults in my life, I learned that to age well we must live well: cherish our friends and loved ones, nurture our bodies and minds, utilize our talents and skills, do some good in the world, develop financial fitness, and indulge in laughter and small pleasures.”
Wow, can’t wait to hear about your thoughts. Also, can I hire you as a retirement consultant for some of the retirees in my life? 🙂
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I’ll be happy to consult with your retirees as long as you continue to provide your make-ahead recipes and financial advice.
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Oh Janet, I always hang on your every word. I sure do miss your wisdom at school. Glad I can still learn from you here.
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What kind words, Tiffany; they made my heart sing this morning and reminded me how much I enjoyed working with talented teachers like you.
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My memories of Aunt Beulah’s are of turkeys running amuck, never leaving hungry, and a quiet house with glass fronted cabinets filled with a million fascinating things. I can only hope that my home is the same: a little crazy, no one leaves hungry, and always something of interest.
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Your memories are insightful and your home is the same. All of your homes have been the same; well–maybe “quiet” doesn’t apply when your daughters are around.
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JL and I are both going deaf. I remember that when I was growing up all of us cousins would have to scream at our elders to be heard. We would roll our eyes with a superior attitude of youth. It was excellent training for adulthood. I could talk to people who were hard of hearing because of the tricks I learned growing up. It helped in my nursing career and it was wonderful for communicating with your Dad. This past Memorial Day we had a reunion with my cousins. The hot topic? “Are you going deaf?” Almost 100% of us were! For JL and I, it is sometimes funny and at other times frustrating!
The challenge in the years ahead is to refine our communication with each other and face the fact we will need hearing aids!
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I feel your pain, Janice. Sometimes Joel and I have baffling conversations made more difficult because we both think it’s the other one who can’t hear.
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The noise-cancelling headphones don’t help..
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That would add an element of difficulty, Kelsey.
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Oh Janet you never cease to amaze me! Love your outlook on life, love and happiness. You make the days brighter and so look forward to sharing a little of each day with you and your blog!
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Thank you for reading my work and being so kind in your response. I like knowing there is a faithful reader or two on the other side of the mountains.
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I think we all have an Aunt Beulah in our lives. Ours is our deeply missed Juna Mae who left us with a song on her lips. I can still hear her say, “How ya doin kiddo?” She taught me to laugh loudly and dance no matter who was watching. My wish is to channel my inner Juna Mae as often as possible….but boy do I miss having her as my dance partner!
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Just as I miss having you around to encourage me to get out on the dance floor and jump about a bit! Beautiful words about Juna, Sue. I know how much you loved her.
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I read about Aunt Beulah and I love it, Janet.I want you to know my first car, a 1966 Chevy Caprice was named Beulah. I always name my cars. She was different, big, when small cars like the Rabbit was coming into fashion. Grandpa Rolland wanted me to have something substantial when I wrecked. She wasn’t pretty either, especially when I hit that deer going 65 mph. The deer was dead but Beulah limped away with a dead radiator. Later that day and all that night the radiator was torn apart and welded back together by Dad so she could be limped back home. I loved her so much I wanted to bring her out to Wyoming with me from NY for my first teaching job. Dad said no and I was heart broken when they quietly sold her. Somehow, I think she represents the name quite well and maybe all the genuine parts of your wonderful aunt..
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Indeed, Cindy, your car and my aunt had traits in common: trustworthy, safe, and a comfortable size. Of course we loved them.
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Janet, I love your blog as much as I love your Daily Press writings ! I am trying your suggested exercise and wonder how long I hang down here? I think I’ll add rum to my coke while I ponder this. Meanwhile , hurry with an answer as the blood is rushing to my head!
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I’m hoping the 20 cats I have when I’m older will help keep me entertained.
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As long as you keep them fed, I’m sure they’ll oblige. Your grandpa was always more entertaining when he was full.
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I’ve found your first post, Janet!!!!
Not sure why, but I’ve had a hankering for a few weeks now to go back to the beginning of your blog. So here I am.
And I now have the answer to the question my Older Daughter has asked me since she peeped over my shoulder months ago: why has she named her blog Aunt Beulah Blog when her name is Janet?
I have an Aunt Beulah in my life, too. The irreverent, edgy, somewhat foul-mouthed aunt whom I adored. So, I get it.
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I am so glad you discovered the reason for my blog’s name. I’ve been thinking I should re-publish it for those of my readers who haven’t been with me from the beginning. Do you think that would be a good idea? I’m glad you had an Aunt Beulah in your life as well. They are precious.
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They are indeed precious! Even those whom I didn’t think I cared much for have turned out to be bigger influences that I realise (sometimes in a positive way, sometimes as a cautionary tale).
I just looked at your blog page again and realised that you already have a section on Who is Aunt Beulah? so I could have had my question answered ages ago!!!! Just shows, we only see so little …
If I could be so cheeky though, could I request an Archives function so I can look for your older posts more easily? I had a bit of a challenge getting to Post #1; I was particularly tenacious yesterday though, so I didn’t let myself get too distracted and stayed with it till I got there!
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I would never consider you cheeky. Friends can ask friends for favors. My problem is I have no idea how to add an Archive function, some dear young relatives helped set up my blog for me, but I’ll see what I can do this weekend, and if I can’t figure it out, I’ll contact them. I am tickled that you went back to read some of my early writing. Thank you.
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