Don’t Pee On My Sofa: Keep Reading Because “Urine” For A Book Review!

Excerpt from the book:

“When Jean jumped in 2000 at sixty years of age, with her dad, she muttered a reluctant, ‘no…no,’ as she and her tandem buddy instructor neared the open door of the airplane. He told her he thought she said, ‘Go, Go!’ (yeah, right), and so began her exhilarating 14,000-foot drop. She fell 174 feet per fabulous second and loved the invigorating rush. Could we say it was airgasmic?”

–C. Suzanne Bates

How can you not adore two women who came up with the organization Aging But Dangerous as a way to zestfully explore life after 50? More to the point, how can you walk past a book titled, “Don’t Pee On My Sofa! And Other Things To Laugh About”? (Booktrope Editions, Seattle, WA, 2015) I couldn’t, and I hope you can’t either.

Suzanne Bates is the author of this book of essays, and one-half of the founding team of Aging But Dangerous (Jean Ketcham is the other). The chapters include topics such as “You may not have urinated on a dear friend’s sofa, but we all have stories,” a candid discussion about leaking pee when a lot of laughter or sneezing is involved. There are also stories about downsizing homes, finding your sexy at any age, boobs (lopsided, sagging, cancer, memories of getting groped in high school), Spanx, shoe joy, “Don’t Drink and Dress,” and a challenge to reach out and truly find your pleasure.

I devoured the book and snort-laughed on more than one occasion. I’d read a part to my husband who just looked at me with confusion, but that’s why he’s from Mars. Us Venus’s get it.

Jean Ketcham

Last summer I had the pleasure of hearing Jean Ketcham speak at a SCORE meeting. She was part of a panel of women sharing their rise to career happiness and success. What kept my attention was Jean’s aura of energy. She radiated…what? Mischief? Strength? Curiosity? All of the above? Yeah, that.

What inspired me were her candid remarks concerning the formation of Aging But Dangerous. In her view, there were topics that women in midlife were squeamish about addressing…topics such as peeing as though you’re a human dribble cup, losing hair where you want it and sprouting it where you don’t, painful intercourse, and worries over relationships. She and Suzanne decided to pull out the conversation stops and get women talking. And laughing. And jumping out of airplanes. Yep. Check out this article from the Minneapolis Star Tribune—

My second happy meeting with Jean was the recent outing to the Smitten Kitten sex shop—another Aging But Dangerous event. Once again Jean’s straightforward way of discussing what could be uncomfortable—masturbation, sex toy favorites, finding pleasure when the hoo-ha gets dry—was not only interesting but joyous. The room full of women were just as at ease as if discussing a new cookie recipe instead of why such and such lube works best on a particular dildo. Cookies? Dildoes? Both bring smiles, right?

C. Suzanne Bates

I have yet to meet C. Suzanne Bates, but I am keeping my fingers crossed. Any woman who says things like, “In years gone by I could make a Thin Mint Girl Scout cookie last for two meals. Now, I consume an entire sleeve in one sitting,” knows me. And it’s that sense of connection that makes Don’t Pee On My Sofa so enjoyable.

P.S. You can also catch Jean and Suzanne on their weekly radio show, Aging But DANGEROUS SIZZLE.