Another week, another loss. Jeannie Ralston said it was hard to wake up this morning to the news of Gloria Steinem’s passing, just a week after we lost Dolly. Two women who showed us how to live and to age (boldly). She wishes she had met Steinem when she worked in magazine publishing in Manhattan, but is proud that she wrote for Ms. Magazine back in her journalism days.

She did become friends with Suzanne Braun Levine—the first editor of Ms. and a good friend of Gloria’s. (Suzanne wrote for NextTribe in the beginning, here about the 50th anniversary of Ms. Magazine’s founding—what an honor.) So one degree of separation! “Gloria Steinem had a powerful impact on my life,” she says. “I don’t think any of us would be the same without her.”

Jeannie’s off for the next month, and as exciting as her travels are, she said she’s sorry that she’ll miss big chunks of the college football season (her guilty obsession). She did get a game in last week—her high school alma mater played Asheville High School. It was an occasion to gather with family to root for the “Tribe.” That’s what her high school football team goes by, ironically enough. “Roll Tribe!”

Jeannie Edmunds just spilled coffee on the natural-dyed rug she brought back from Oaxaca but she was able to get it out fast, so no permanent damage!

The rural women’s cooperative our group visited gives 100% of sales directly to the weavers, provides day care for their children while they work, and an income for these women who’ve been divorced, abandoned or abused by their domestic partners.

Their stories are woven into their unique the rug designs, and each of the white lines here represents an intention, a thought, or a prayer, with the black lines representing clouds across a full moon. For the ancient Zapotec, the moon functioned as a cosmological calendar marking harvests and holidays, connecting the earthly and spiritual worlds through the divine feminine. Edmunds just loves this stuff!

Enjoy the reads!

Another widow bounced back from grief, famously so. One of our favorite writers, Marion Winik, penned a piece about her.

And an archive bonus, Jeannie Ralston considers Gloria Steinem’s legacy via the biopic “The Glorias.” RIP Gloria Steinem, who once said “The art of life is not controlling what happens to us, but using what happens to us.” Amen!!

Want more? Check out our library of 1,600 articles.

Happy shopping, and safe travels—

Jeannie Ralston, CEO + Jeannie Edmunds, Chief Operating Officer

Every year, we are thrilled to bring open-hearted travelers to gorgeous San Miguel de Allende in Mexico (Conde Nast Traveler’s #1 Destination in the World) over the lively and poignant holiday of Dia de los Muertos. With founder Jeannie Ralston’s connections, we do the town right and with the Mexican perspective on death and dying, we all come away with a new way to think about mortality. 

Because so many of us at this age are seeking solace around loved ones who have passed, this trip fills up fast. Our first 2 offerings over Day of the Dead are sold out, so we’ve added another Deluxe Version to make sure everyone who wants to go gets a chance. 

And before you get the idea that this is a solemn trip, please understand that our week reflects this piece of Mexican wisdom: Don’t be afraid of dying. Be afraid of not living. We’ll be living it up too!

All the details here.

Click on a square to see our trip listing.

REMEMBER: We offer interest-free monthly payments and NOW a 7-day change-your-mind policy!!