Sherrie P. - age 69 - Kathleen Cosgrove

Perhaps it’s because so many people tell me that I look younger than my age
(69) that I haven’t really experienced age discrimination. I’ve always been
self-employed, so there’s been no potential discriminatory reactions from
would-be employers. I have however, experienced gender discrimination.
I’ll never forget the time when working in my crafts gallery/shop around 1985
an older gentleman representing the Chamber of Commerce (which I found
out later is an organization deferring to employers, not employees), walked in.
He asked for the owner or manager. I said I was the owner and manager. He
replied “No, but where is your husband?” He could not believe that a woman
could be a business owner and decision maker. He wanted my membership
to help me keep benefits away from my employees. Thank you and good-bye.
I feel my mind continues to be sharp, maybe because I am always learning,
exercising, creating artwork, teaching, interacting with friends, and perfecting
my Spanish skills (I live in Guanajuato, GTO, Mexico). It’s only my body that
tells me my age in years.
My other passions are traveling, photography, music, and taking time to
relax and be in nature (our new house has extensive gardens). My boyfriend
and I don’t own a car, so we walk everywhere in this walking town of
Guanajuato. For the uphills, we sometimes take a taxi or an Uber! My plans
for the coming years are to travel a lot—starting with exploring more of
Mexico; attending lots of cultural events; continuing to make my art
(encaustic and encaustic mixed media); teaching classes in my large home
studio; and integrating more fully into the ex-pat and local community.