Virginia Laken

I’m posting this essay on both of my blogs; virginialaken.com which deals with MCI and here at intimacyandaging.com on which I write about aging and intimacy. I’m doing so because emotions and love are integral components of both areas—at least in my experience. While I try to be generally optimistic, stoic and hopeful—(certainly, I prefer […]

For the most part when I’ve written about intimacy I’ve referred to physical intimacy —the act of lovemaking. But today I want to write about verbal intimacy, trust intimacy, and truth intimacy. Keith and I have been married for fifty-two years—a lifetime, really. A lifetime of births, deaths, joys, sorrows, adventures, boredom, illness, recovery, arguments, […]

Author’s note: This is an essay I wrote about eight years ago, when I was thinking of publishing a book of essays detailing the continuing journey of how Keith and I were dealing with sexual dysfunction and aging. I have done some editing for clarity only—leaving the honesty of the time, events, and emotions intact. […]

Wow, if “body image” isn’t a phrase inherent with shame, embarrassment and inadequacies! Especially to most aging body holders. I don’t know a single person in their sixties, seventies, or beyond, who doesn’t lament the inevitable effects of aging on the body. Even the most physically fit, wrinkle-free and active seniors feel old at some […]

I assume if you are reading this blog you are aware of the book I authored, Making Love Again: Hope for Couples Facing Loss of Sexual Intimacy. Writing our journey of regaining intimacy and then getting the book published was a three-year, full-time job. Shortly after publication Keith and I began receiving invitations to speak […]

Beginning about ten years ago when Keith and I were in our early sixties, we began to notice a decline in our libido (our drive to engage in sex) and a resulting decline in our being intimate. This was followed by an increase in irritability and impatience with one another, and quickly led to bickering […]