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
Lew Wallace: The Victorian Forrest Gump Who Wrote Ben-Hur
Lew Wallace was the 19th century’s real-life Forrest Gump: Savior of a president, advisor to a sultan, scourge of an outlaw named Billy the Kid. And at age 53, he wrote Ben-Hur.
Late-Blooming Athletes: 5 Books to Inspire Your Healthiest Body Ever
By the time most of us reach age 50, we assume our athletic glory days are over. Not so! Here are five books that prove you can enjoy a surprising level of fitness in your fifties and well beyond.
Marie Lyon: The Artsy Adventures of a French Farm Girl from Prince Edward Island
An epistolary memoir sent via iPad from a woman in her 80s who enthusiastically embraces art, technology, and what the future may bring.
Mary Somerville: The Woman Who Became England’s First Scientist at age 50
Mary Somerville’s father feared for her sanity. Why couldn’t she interest herself in music and fashion magazines? But no, Mary wanted to be a mathematician, and in the end, Oxford named a college after her.
Buster Merryfield: “I’m in the enviable position of being an actor with a pension”
At age 58, Merryfield retired from NatWest Bank to pursue acting professionally and became a beloved TV figure. “I’m in the enviable position of being an actor with a pension.”
Bram Stoker Wrote Dracula at Age 50. Was It Inspired by His Soul-Sucking Boss?
Why am I so obsessed with Bram Stoker and Dracula? The sad truth — I spent too many years too afraid to ditch a series of soul-sucking jobs. But at least Bram had a creative solution!
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