Judith Newman

1 week ago | airmail.news | Judith Newman

They circle to a hypnotic beat. They are both conventionally pretty, and not; young, and not; thin, and not at all. There are bad haircuts and dye jobs and muffin tops and, often, a hot-mess sex appeal. Sometimes they are suburban moms, and sometimes they are festive lesbians. (One group calls itself “SubaruShack.”) Occasionally, they’re men. Or Legos. Or ducks. The common denominator? They don’t care what you think and are having a great time. Almost invariably, we wish we could join them.

Mar 7, 2025 | airmail.news | Judith Newman

One day, as I sat weeping at the fertility clinic about my fourth miscarriage, my doctor referred to me in passing as a “geriatric mother.” Well, I was 38, so point taken. But he didn’t say anything about the guy sitting next to me: gruff, white-haired, and 29 years my senior. The doctor suggested my husband give a sperm sample. John was taken aback. I mean, he was only barely a senior citizen.