The Third Third
An online Journal for women engaging the third third of our lives.

The Blasphemy of "God Made Trump"

Written by Ann Sentilles on January 29th, 2024

A new video claims "God Made Trump."  Fact Check:  God made us all.

Alert: Christianity has been Hijacked

Written by Ann Sentilles on February 17th, 2023

Why aren't Christians denouncing the radical right wing's faith in their own self-righteousness alone?

Losses: Of my friends and of our past

Written by Ann Sentilles on January 21st, 2023

Losing friends means losing parts of yourself

Just What Does Elderly Mean These Days?

Written by Ann Sentilles on February 27th, 2022

Yes, we're "elderly" as a demographic, but not as women seeking guidance on living with COVID.

What's a "Blue Girl" to Do?

Written by Ann Sentilles on July 28th, 2021

Discouraged by Trumpism and Red State meanness and oppression, Blue Girls need to find a new way to make a difference.

The Widows' Club

Written by Ann Sentilles on March 6th, 2021

As the last of a group of women friends I made 40 years ago was widowed, I realized she now belongs to a stage in life I'd prefer to eschew, to a club I really don't want to join.

Thank You Impeachment Managers

Written by Ann Sentilles on February 17th, 2021

I told the House Managers they gave me Hope.  Not a victory, but hope.

A Loss of Words

Written by Ann Sentilles on January 17th, 2021

What happens when you run out of words to write?

Hypocrites All. Damn Them.

Written by Ann Sentilles on October 17th, 2020

Everything about the nomination, the timing, the process, the so-called foregone conclusions reeks of hypocrisy.  And that's the least of the charges I would level at the GOP and Trump's enablers.

Dress for Success during a Pandemic

Written by Ann Sentilles on June 8th, 2020

How am I going to "dress for success" when the bar is so low?

My Coronavirus Nightmare

Written by Ann Sentilles on May 26th, 2020

Even healthy, I am haunted by what the pandemic means to aging-in-place, and to aging itself.

Shopping for a Cure

Written by Ann Sentilles on May 11th, 2020

I'm "shopping" for a more effective way to address both the health crisis and the economic crisis it has spawned.

Giving Context to the Tara Reade Story

Written by Ann Sentilles on May 5th, 2020

How journalists cover the Tara Reade accusations matters.  How to get beyond he-said-she-said.

Covid-19 is Redefining Aging in Place

Written by Ann Sentilles on April 24th, 2020

Among the grievous losses of lives and livelihoods, there are the lesser losses -- of time and times.

The Coronavirus Cure for Perfectionism

Written by Ann Sentilles on April 14th, 2020

Despite the profound uncertainty and realistic fears of this coronavirus crisis, I find I have a far greater capacity for equanimity and tolerance for “good enough” than I ever knew.

My Grocery List. Don't Judge

Written by Ann Sentilles on April 7th, 2020

I'm redefining Comfort Food amidst the Coronavirus crisis

I Miss My Church

Written by Ann Sentilles on April 1st, 2020

The church's failure to provide spiritual leadership in this crisis -- and others -- compels me to seek-the-faith elsewhere.

Elderly. Shut-in. Dispensable?

Written by Ann Sentilles on March 25th, 2020

This is a false choice:  saving lives or saving the economy

Beware the Elderly

Written by Ann Sentilles on March 13th, 2020

We are not just "the elderly."  We are so much more than a certain number of birthdays.  Let's not risk having Covid-19 health care apportioned by age.

Was the Nuclear Family a Mistake?

Written by Ann Sentilles on March 2nd, 2020

How do you define Family in today's diffuse society and culture?

What REALLY Upsets Me About the Trump Administration?

Written by Ann Sentilles on February 14th, 2020

If I can figure out what REALLY upsets me about Trump, is there anything I can do about it?

Written by Ann Sentilles on February 13th, 2020


No Longer Silent. Or Marginalized.

Written by Ann Sentilles on January 17th, 2020

Women in the third third care about much more than Social Security benefits and Depends you can't see.

Reporting from the Third Third in the Age of Trump

Written by Ann Sentilles on November 9th, 2019

There are untold stories in the coverage of Trump and his enablers

Looking Back at a Big Reunion

Written by Ann Sentilles on June 29th, 2019

My husband and I both went to our 50th College Reunions in June.  My women classmates were aging.  His male classmates were old.

Respect for Life? Not if it's a woman's Life.

Written by Ann Sentilles on June 5th, 2019

Power-hungry men are setting the clock back -- way back -- on women's rights.

Serving up pabulum to Older Women

Written by Ann Sentilles on April 8th, 2019

The promise of Women Rowing North falls short.

BFF's -- But, Alas, Not Forever

Written by Ann Sentilles on February 4th, 2019

How do we deal with the loss of too many friends dying?

Taking Aim at Guns

Written by Ann Sentilles on January 17th, 2019

No mass shooting today, but an abiding, immoral crisis

Fostering Love

Written by Ann Sentilles on October 29th, 2018

My daughter has a foster child, a beautiful newborn she hopes to adopt.  What's my role?

Hell Hath No Fury

Written by Ann Sentilles on October 29th, 2018

Anger is, I think, the only meaningful response to the partisan patriarchy.

This is 70?!!

Written by Ann Sentilles on July 25th, 2018

Don't let your doctor prescribe Ageism

Sexual Harassment, Even in my Dreams

Written by Ann Sentilles on December 4th, 2017

There's no end to feeling bad about sexual harassment and aggression.

Face-to-Face with Aging. Photoshopped.

Written by Ann Sentilles on October 4th, 2017

The camera doesn't lie when it comes to aging.  But it doesn't tell the whole story, either.

This Computer Science is Junk

Written by Ann Sentilles on September 1st, 2017

A dive into my Junk inbox -- Don't ask why -- reveals some random algorithms think I'm having too many senior moments.  That's why they call it junk.

Grandparenting: I'm Not Buying It

Written by Ann Sentilles on May 17th, 2017

Today's grandparents are spending more on their grandchildren.  Better that they should spend more on the world their grandchildren will inherit.

Doddering Old Fools?

Written by Ann Sentilles on March 30th, 2017

When public acts validate ageist prejudices, seniors may need to acknowledge one foible or another --  and adjust.

A Salute to Jury Duty

Written by Ann Sentilles on March 30th, 2017

What I learned on Jury Duty:  It's a good thing.

Chairman Nunes: Your Intelligence is (not) Showing

Written by Ann Sentilles on March 30th, 2017

A letter to the House Intelligence Committee Chairman imploring him to do a better job

Can it get much worse? Uh-huh.

Written by Ann Sentilles on January 27th, 2017

The narrative arc of America's history has a downside, and this might be it.

The President-Elect Reality Show

Written by Ann Sentilles on January 13th, 2017

This audience of one is paying attention; but the show goes on.

When they go low, we go high. Options for 2017

Written by Ann Sentilles on January 4th, 2017

Don't focus on the loss; Embrace the potential we embody as women

Hillary Didn't Lose; She Got Beat

Written by Ann Sentilles on November 15th, 2016

The political strategy didn't work.  And the message didn't compute.  But the fight for the soul of our country needs to continue -- with renewed strength and purpose.

Hillary Lost. But No One Stole our Hearts and Minds.

Written by Ann Sentilles on November 11th, 2016

Hillary spoke for us.  It's time for us to give voice to her ideals, with compassion.

We're All With Her!

Written by Ann Sentilles on November 8th, 2016

Having a woman elected President is a Big Deal -- and not just for Hillary's friends.

This Election Coverage Makes ME Sick

Written by Ann Sentilles on November 8th, 2016

What's wrong with getting sick on the campaign trail and choosing to power through it, like most women do?  The media's coverage is wrong.

More unwanted vulgar advances

Written by Ann Sentilles on October 17th, 2016

Donald Trump's lewd braggadocio unleashes millions of stories of sexual assault; mine, too.  And what he's doing to our country is worse.

Harsh Words

Written by Ann Sentilles on July 18th, 2016

Retired couples can fall into bad habits -- not really quarreling or actively disagreeing, just being entirely disagreeable.

No Senior News is Good News

Written by Ann Sentilles on June 21st, 2016

News for seniors is a disservice to a population that wants to be engaged with their community and the world today, such as it is.

Hillary Makes Women's History

Written by Ann Sentilles on June 9th, 2016

A time to savor Hillary Clinton's history-making nomination with our daughters