No Crone Zone

 

Ali MacGraw at age 76. Credit: Ryan Stone/The New York Times/REDUX. Source: AARP Magazine 2017.

There are some women of age among us who have dug up the alleged ancient meanings of the word crone as a descriptor of mature wisdom, respect, and powerful womanhood/goddesshood. 

Fuck, no. 

I ain't gonna do it, but you go on ahead. 

Gloria Richardson Dandridge, civil rights leader in 1960s Maryland, in her 90s. Credit: Michelle V. Agins. Source: New York Times, April 2018.

While I'm at it - I'm not a grandma, babushka, old lady, or any other one-dimensional role as a human being. I'm a woman. 

Antonia Morales at almost 90, Duranguito, El Paso, Texas. Credit: Mark Lambie. Source: El Paso Times, August 2017.

Now, if our language evolves to create one positive word to describe a human being of mature years irrespective of our genitalia or gender identification, I'm down for that. 

Maybe we've got that already: An elder. I can live with that. 

Maya Angelou in her 80s (presumed). Credit: Unknown. Source: Wake Forest University, 2014.