“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on.” – Robert Frost
A tree that doesn't want to die. Now this is what I call a passion for life. -- Photo by Pat Bean
Travels With Maggie
When I first started writing about my travels, I tried to disguise the fact that I was an old broad. Then one day, after a hint from an online writing colleague that being an old broad was what set me apart from all the glamorous young women out there traveling in search of love. I claimed the honor.
I first heard the term “old broad” back when I was a journalist reporting on the environment. In writing about wilderness issues and the value of protecting it, I came across a group called “Great Old Broads for Wilderness.”
I sent this photo of me taken by my friend, Shirley Lee, in Cozumel to my kids announcing that I had a new boy friend. Even old broads want to have fun.
Wow, I thought, when I met some of these women, like Susan Tixier, the brain behind the organization, and author Terry Tempest Williams, as they exercised their passions to help protect wild lands from disappearing from America. Suddenly the term old broad seemed more honorific than derogatory.
Recently I’ve added a couple of new adjectives to my own old broad-persona that I feel fit perfectly. I’m a wandering-wondering old broad with passions for writing, travel, birds, books and Mother Nature.
One of my goals for this year is to rewrite my travel book with this voice. It’s too bad I didn’t do it the first time around. I won’t make that mistake this year with my blog. It’s a promise.
And my canine traveling companion, Maggie, who is also an old broad, is my witness.
Pat Bean's blog 
Early on someone suggested that I study a broad I have been doing so ever since. It has worked out pretty well.
I’m LOLing Al. It was good advice.
Proud of being an old broad my self! Al – you are baaaad!
Glad to hear it Deborah. And yes, Al is very baaaad! But fun!
Kudos to you for embracing your age and the writing voice that goes with it. I think that’s one of the big reasons why I enjoy your travel blog so much more than many of the others out there: you aren’t a chippy little girl (or boy) bemoaning your struggles and talking about how many beers you consumed last weekend while you try to ‘find’ yourself. Someone referred to me as ‘middle-aged’ recently and my first instinct was to reach out and choke them. I’m just 33 for crying out loud!! But then I thought, ‘what’s wrong with that? If this is how I spend my middle years, that’s awesome!’
Coming from such a young person as you Evie, that’s a great compliment. You’re far from middle-aged, which gives you a lot of great years to look forward to enjoying.
You’ve earned it–claim it proudly. I used to think “crone” was derogatory as well but not so. Besides, at this stage in life, we’ve also earned the right to not care what others think of who we’ve become. Took a lot of work & effort to get this far. 🙂
Youngsters may not believe it, but I think this is the best part of my life so far. Thanks Susan.
Love it!
Old Broad = Wise Woman 🙂
You go girl! Nothing wrong with being an old broad–I should know. This is the best time of my life, and I appreciate every day of it!
It’s a great time of life. I do so agree. Thanks for commenting Nancy.
Always best to speak and write in your own voice. Besides, nothin’ wrong with being an old broad. 🙂
Thanks Robin.
Nothing better than being a Great Old Broad! The women I’ve met and worked with in the past decade through the Great Old Broads for Wilderness are truly inspirational, wise, and having the times of their lives while passionately advocating for protection of our nation’s wild lands. Sounds like some of you readers would fit the bill. Check us out at http://www.greatoldbroads.org and consider joining our wrinkled ranks!
Thanks Rose. And I second that the Great Old Broads for Wilderness is a great organization for women passionate about preserving this country’s wild places.
I was trying to get a travel blogger to do a vlog. She did a tour with me to a museum in Harlem but me and the other bloggers who traveled along didn’t get a real sense of what it was like to be there. You ever thought of something like this?
What’s a vlog?