Goodman's Last Column: 'I'm Letting Myself Go'

She writes last piece for 'Globe' after four decades

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 1, 2010 7:30 AM CST

(Newser) – Ellen Goodman signs off on her final column today in the Boston Globe, a career that spanned Gerald Ford to Barack Obama, not to mention a 7-year-old daughter to a 7-year-old grandson. While she'd like to "fulfill the fantasy of a summer on my porch in Maine," she has the usual reservations about the word "retirement." Instead, she'd like to put a different twist on a familiar line: "I'm letting myself go."

"I love the idea of reclaiming that phrase," she writes. "After all, where will you go when you let yourself go? To let this question fill the free space between deadlines in my life has been quite liberating. It suggests the freedom that can fuel this journey." She notes that she and her fellow baby boomers are redefining what it means to be a "senior citizen" and laments the lack of a label for the "early, active aging." So what's next? "We'll see."

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

Ellen Goodman looks forward to her porch in Maine. (EllenGoodman.com)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

“There’s a trick to the Graceful Exit. It begins with the vision to recognize when a job, a life stage, a relationship is over—and to let go. It means leaving what’s over without denying its validity ... in our lives. - Ellen Goodman, writing 30 years ago

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

CLICK BELOW TO VOTE

12%

52%

24%

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Getty Images

White Grandfather Cuffed for Walking With Black Granddaughter (NewsOne)

Man in Mugshot Explains Why He Has Half a Head (HuffPost)

These Exes Were Spotted Making Out … and That's a Bad Thing (Bleacher Report)

Help! I'm Having an Incestuous Relationship With My Twin (Slate)

Proof that Twitter Users are Sexier Than Facebook Users? (GeekSugar)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 6 comments

cornelison

Jan 2, 2010 9:35 AM CST

Hi jacob. With a larger voting block of seniors comes more power. Many grew up with political activism. It mellowed with raising families & working. Retirement will give them opportunities to revisit their needs & concerns.

sidewinder

Jan 2, 2010 6:28 AM CST

Both...bye bye nut job.

cornelison

Jan 1, 2010 10:32 AM CST

For some who can afford it, retirement makes the world a lot less complicated. Opportunities to develop new interests are endless. The stereotype of just rocking in one's chair ended years ago. The AARP is going to be bursting at the seams with new memberships.

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds Major Cash Inside

Study Finds Arsenic in Baby Formula, Cereal Bars

Boston Globe (Source Grid »)

Politics

retirement • columnists • Boston Globe • Ellen Goodman

More Newser Stories

GOP Rep. Dan Burton of Indiana to Retire

He famously tried to tie Bill Clinton to aide's murder

(NEWSER) - Republican Rep. Dan Burton of Indiana won't be running for re-election, he announced today, citing unspecified personal issues. You might remember Burton as the guy who once shot a watermelon in a bizarre attempt to prove that Bill Clinton was involved in the murder of aide Vince Foster. He was also a noted birther , and last year backed a bill to encase the House floor in bullet-proof plexiglass in response to the Gabrielle Giffords shooting. More»

Despite Recession, More Older Americans Employed

In part because they have to be

(NEWSER) - The good news is that at least one segment of the population has seen its employment statistics actually rise in this economic downturn. The bad news? That segment is older Americans, many of whom are only working because they're afraid they don't have enough savings to retire, the Washington Post reports. Since the start of the recession, the number of workers aged 55 and older has shot up by 3.1 million, or 12%. More»

Boston Globe Endorses Huntsman

Massachusetts' biggest paper snubs Romney—again

(NEWSER) - The biggest-selling newspaper in the state Mitt Romney governed for four years has snubbed him and endorsed Jon Huntsman to be the GOP nominee. Huntsman has been bold where Romney has been cautious, and "rather than merely sketch out policies, he articulates goals and ideals," the Boston Globe writes, praising the former Utah governor's foreign policy credentials, ability to lead in a bipartisan spirit, and willingness to stand up to those in his party who "reject evolution and the science behind global warming." More»

Pelosi Daughter: Mom Wants to Retire

Alexandra says her mother 'wants to have a life'

(NEWSER) - In the for-what-it's-worth department: Nancy Pelosi's daughter tells the conservative Big Government website that her mom would love to leave Congress. "She would retire right now, if the donors she has didn’t want her to stay so badly," says filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi. "She’s 71, she wants to have a life, she’s done. It’s obligation, that’s all I’m saying." A follow-up text had this all-important caveat, however: "I have never talked to Nancy Pelosi about any of this." More»

Cardinals' Tony LaRussa: I'm Retiring

Manager announces retirement days after World Series win

(NEWSER) - If you’re going to retire, there may be no sweeter time to do it than three days after winning the World Series: “I think this just feels like it's time to end it,” said St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa today, as he announced his retirement at a Busch Stadium news conference. “Other than some of the personal attachments, I feel good,” he said. “I feel good that this is the right decision.” More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Goodman's Last Column: 'I'm Letting Myself Go'