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Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age

“The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.” (Frank Lloyd Wright) Non-fiction pieces, personal essays and occasional poems that explore how we feel about how we age and offer tips for getting the most out of life.

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Life Lessons From a 70-Year-Old Stripper

Come as you are, Honey

6 min readJan 25, 2025

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Photo licensed from Adobe Stock

I’m going to a stripper party tomorrow night where I’ll be the oldest person there. I’m 69 today, and will be 70 next month.

Calling it a stripper party is a little misleading. It’s a party of young people in their 30s and 40s — both men and women — putting on what some call burlesque and others call performance art which includes disrobing to whatever extent the performer finds comfortable.

This is not a “women titillating men” situation. Everyone who comes must perform.

Some have elaborate costumes. Some have elaborate props. Some have elaborate routines. Most perform to music everyone recognizes, except me. And they all have more attractive bodies than I do. But you know what? They still want me to participate. They still delight in what I have to offer, which includes excitement, enthusiasm, and joy.

I remember when I was first invited to join this group. I was aghast. Every kind of negative thought ran through my head. I can’t do that! It’s impossible! My body is hideous! I’m too old!

And I had questions. Lots of questions. Are you sure you want to see an old lady get naked? Won’t I remind people of their moms? Are they going to laugh at me? Will I be an object of

Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age
Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age

Published in Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age

“The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.” (Frank Lloyd Wright) Non-fiction pieces, personal essays and occasional poems that explore how we feel about how we age and offer tips for getting the most out of life.

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