As a mother of twins and self-described overthinker, Laurie Smithwick began planning for sending her daughters off to college “on the way home from the gynecologist’s office.” So when the house was suddenly empty again, she was ready.

She was taught to embrace change as an opportunity by her dynamic parents—a mom who’s working on her eighth book and a dad who’s still processing the medical accident that paralyzed his leg. That intermediate downsizing a few years ago was a bitch, but it was worth it.

Like Wendi Aarons told us in Episode 16, Laurie is finding her creative center in her 50s, having transitioned from a graphic design business owner to a full-time artist. And after a couple years of self-schooling, she’s playing bass and singing in Channeling Granny, her band that debuted last night.

Thanks for listening to When the Flames Go Up! Please consider a paid subscription to support our writing and podcasting and appreciation for hot bass licks.

We also talk about the late, lamented Draw Something app, the post-menopausal miracle that restored her oenophilia, and firsthand proof of what Mad Men got wrong about agency creatives.

Other links:

* Follow Laurie on Instagram

* March 4 was National Sons Day

* CODA YouTuber John Urquhardt

* Daniel Tammet, the Brain Man (and the subsequent documentary)

* The Artist’s Way program, with Julia Cameron

* Myst has been updated!

* From Letters of Note: the wisdom of E.B. White

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whentheflamesgoup.substack.com