November has a funny way of sneaking up on us. One minute we’re sweating through early fall football games, and the next we’re Googling “how to thaw a turkey” and wondering where we stashed the good tablecloth (and if the cranberry stain from 2019 still counts as “vintage”).
This month’s BOOM! is a reminder that life, like Thanksgiving dinner, doesn’t have to be picture-perfect to be beautiful.
At the heart of this issue is our cover profile, Kim Mason—a woman who’s living proof that reinvention, adventure, and joy aren’t reserved for the young. Whether she’s managing financial portfolios, directing community theater, learning to play the stand-up bass, or saying yes to love again at 61, Kim embodies what it means to age with courage, creativity, and purpose. Her story is a gift—and one that’ll make you want to chase your own next chapter.
Of course, it wouldn’t be November without a few extra helpings of chaos, carbs, and comedy. Our Grumpy But Grateful column is back with a Turkey Day Trouble edition that exposes the truth about Pinterest-perfect holidays—and celebrates the messy, gravy-drenched joy of the real thing. (If you’ve ever zip-tied a booster seat to a barstool, this one’s for you.)
Speaking of real, Greg Budell takes a hilarious stab at holiday weight gain—breaking down everything from the Cabbage Soup Diet to Ozempic Bank Account Syndrome. His advice? Skip the fads. Laugh more. Move your body. And maybe save room for pie.
And if all the togetherness has you needing some space, we’ve got you covered with two outdoor features: Nick Thomas explores Tuscaloosa’s scenic Riverwalk, and Jeff Barganier takes us back to the historic Fryemont Inn, where family, faith, and fireplace memories linger like the scent of mountain wood smoke.
You’ll also find practical wisdom in this month’s piece on navigating adult children’s parenting styles—because it turns out “parenting as a verb” looks a little different in 2025, and learning to love without overstepping is a skill we’re all still refining.
As always, our goal is to celebrate the journey of aging—not as a slow fade, but as a vivid, ever-evolving story. From the road trips to the recipe flops, from rediscovering confidence to writing letters that become family traditions, this issue reminds us: life is full, even when it’s full of lumps.
So here’s to a month of giving thanks—
For messy tables and mismatched chairs. For new dreams and old recipes.
For friends who become family, and families that somehow hold together.
And for every gravy-stained moment that reminds us what really matters.
Wishing you a November filled with warmth, wonder, and a bit of whipped cream on top.