Review: Old is a 4-Letter Word

There is a jarring honesty to Ethel Stockton's most recent tome Old is a 4-Letter Word as she invites her readers to participate in an intimate voyage with her principal fascinating character, Annaliz.

Exploring her inner and outer world, Annaliz reflects on her past and present life touching on various aspects of human experiences-love, death, illness, divorce, aging, fear, mother and daughter relationships and a host of other familiar topics.

It has been over thirty years since Annaliz divorced her abusive husband and left California for Mexico making Mazatlan her home leaving behind her two married daughters, Karen and Tiffany, their spouses and their children. According to Annaliz, in 1965 divorce was not exactly condoned as she was considered a kind of an outcast. She had to get away and put the past behind her where no one knew her or whispered behind her back. And not satisfied with the status quo she decided that she needed to start a new life in the sunshine.

When she first arrives in Mazatlan, Annaliz has to make up her mind to either become part of the community or else continue her life as an observer with all of the baggage she wanted to leave behind. Annaliz chooses the former and carves out for herself a very independent life style. She is very proud of her choice and as she informs her daughter Karen, everyone in Mazatlan is given the opportunity to live his or her life exactly as they wish with little interference from anyone. This is the way she wants it without having someone tell her what to do, as was the case with her ex-husband.

Annaliz sounds an inspirational chord when it comes to her philosophy on aging where she states:  "Old is like one of those nasty 4-letter words. It should be banned from the dictionary." When she is scolded by her son-in-law for encouraging her seven- year old grandchild to follow his dreams of one day becoming a pilot or astronaut, she retorts that we seem to never get away from the term ‘old' for when we are young we're told that we are not old enough to do things and when we become old, we are warned not to do them as we are too old. Annaliz believes that most people's lives are dull and flat without any fun. She underscores the idea that it is within everyone's grasp to have some fun out of life- a message she endeavors to spread by presenting her book of options. It is up to the readers of this book to decide if they want to take the risks necessary to enjoy life to its fullest.

Friendship is something Annaliz cherishes and since moving to Mexico she has had the good fortune to befriend people who come to your aid when you are in distress. People in Mexico are sincere and not artificial which is very often prevalent in the USA. 

As for daughters Karen and Tiffany, they believe that their mother is a bit daffy moving to Mexico and remaining there over thirty years without thinking about moving back to California. Moreover, what their mother considers "fun" they think as childish and stupid-something only teenagers can enjoy rather than a seventy-eight year old woman. However, when they experiences difficulties in their lives, they turn to good old mom to help them cope.

Stockton effectively balances the prosaic and the painful aspects of getting on in age with her vivacity and humorous prose conveying an earnest appeal that leaves you leaving wanting more.

As we read about Annaliz's medical problems or her relationship with her daughters, we experience a special poignant intimacy that realistically explores different aspects of life's experiences.  Old is a 4-Letter Word offers a great deal of sage advice rolled into an entertaining package with its sharp-humored charm that will at times make you laugh and other times cry, however, in the end readers will be greatly enriched with Stockton's strong sense of realism and down-to-earth advice.

Click Here to read Norm's Interview With Ethel Stockton