late bloomer, n.
1. An adult whose talent or genius in a particular field only appears later in life than is normal—in some cases only in old age. [Wikipedia]
2. A person who doesn’t give a pomegranate about what’s normal and blooms in their own time; see LaterBloomer.com. [Debra Eve]
Ernestine Shepherd became a professional bodybuilder at 71
Welcome to Later Bloomer
A Captivating Archive of Lives Well-Lived
Beatrix Potter: How Her Passion for Conservation Shaped England’s Lake District
Many know Beatrix Potter from her charming books or the 2006 film Miss Potter, but the real Beatrix was complex, fascinating, and far ahead of her time. In her 50s, she helped found the National Trust.
Inge Ginsberg: The 99-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Who Become a Heavy Metal Sensation
Inge Ginsberg escaped Nazi Austria over the Alps, ran a spy villa in Switzerland, and wrote lyrics for Dean Martin. At 99, she fronted a metal band.
Dick King-Smith: How He Used “Failure” to Create a Courageous Talking Pig
By his 60s, Dick King-Smith felt he had failed at farming and teaching grade school children. Then he combined his former careers into a vocation for writing, and a “Babe” was born!
Kathy Pooler: Using Memoir as a Tool for Transformation (Guest Post)
We all have a book inside of us—a narrative about who we are and where we fit into the world. Kathy Pooler explains how writing a memoir can be a tool for transformation.
Edgar Rice Burroughs: How He Went From Snake Oil Peddler to Late-Blooming Media Mogul
Edgar Rice Burroughs was a rich kid who failed at every venture he started—until he created a wild man named Tarzan.
It’s Never Too Late To Do Archaeology
International Archaeology Day is celebrated every year on the third Saturday in October, though events occur all month. Here’s a guide that proves it’s never too late to do archaeology!
Later Bloomer is currently on hiatus. Please enjoy the archives!
There is nothing in the caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.
—Buckminster Fuller,
who patented the Geodesic Dome at age 50