Catherine Gentry
Writer, Teacher, Consultant, Grammar Enthusiast
Writer, Teacher, Consultant, Grammar Enthusiast
In the multiworkshop program What I Know and When I Knew It, 30 elders from Houston’s Third and Fifth Wards embarked on a personal exploration of their life stories, weaving connections with works of art in the MFAH collections, and in turn making their own art.
This exhibition, on view at the Glassell School of Art, showcases their work and represents the transformative powers of visual arts and storytelling to change the narrative around aging.
In my short story, Pennies, a grandmother struggles to explain the disappointments of modern life to her young granddaughter and finds that the best hope for the future is the time they spend together. It’s part of the Resilience anthology—The Fire Within, which is dedicated “To the women who would not yield—who learned the language of small resistances and taught it to their daughters.” I’m so proud to be included with such talented writers.
This conversation is a part of Episode 7, where Catherine Gentry shares her essay, “Not Quite Old,” on aging as a woman and how reflecting on her grandmother’s wisdom changed her mindset about birthdays.
During our conversation, Catherine Gentry shares her insights on aging, writing, and embracing one's unique story. We discuss her writing journey, the wisdom passed down from her grandmother, and how ageism impacts women more than men, with women often facing greater pressure to conform to societal expectations of youth. We touch on the importance of embracing our true selves and new adventures, celebrating birthdays, and not letting age define our worth or abilities.