When hobbies, obsessions, and eccentricities take over late middle age

Published



At a certain age, everyone you know starts going through things. That’s the phrase we use — “He’s going through something” — and I’ve noticed it’s deployed the same way regardless of what’s actually happening. We say a hushed, slightly ceremonial “She’s going through things,” which could mean anything from a divorce to a diagnosis to a second bankruptcy. It’s a euphemism built to cover a lot of ground, though most of my friends are up to or approaching 60, so there’s a lot of ground to cover.

Full midterm coverage.Deeper analysis.

Get unlimited access to Washington Examiner's reporting, expert analysis, and coverage of the midterm elections.

Get Unlimited Access

Cancel anytime.