Archive for May, 2008
Something About Mary
Thursday, May 29th, 2008 
"Who can turn the world on with her smile?"
If you know the rest of the tune, you’ll know, of course, that we’re talking about Mary Richards, the beloved young journalist played for years by Mary Tyler Moore.
In May, the cast of the long-running Mary Tyler Moore Show gathered for a reunion on the Oprah show. They raised a toast to Ted Knight, who played the hilariously vain but clueless anchor, Ted Baxter. Oprah’s crew transformed her set into the WJM-TV newsroom. They also recreated Mary’s apartment. I didn’t want to leave.
Mary Richards made it all right to be single and ambitious. She had spunk. If you watched the show, you know how Mr. Grant felt about spunk. We loved wise-cracking Murray, caustic Phyllis and naughty Sue Ann. To this day, when I eat a piece of chocolate, I can still hear Rhoda saying, "I don’t know why I bother eating this. I might as well just apply it directly to my hips."
For me, the most heartwarming element of the reunion was hearing Oprah credit the Mary Richards character as the inspiration for her own journalistic career. Oprah even showed early photos of herself dressed in various Mary-like plaid outfits complete with bow-tie scarves. She’s come a long way, baby.
Who were your television models? How have they inspired you to create your own life?
"It’s a long way to Tipperary…Does anybody have a Kleenex™?"
Now, Voyager
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008
photo by fenias
No, this isn’t about that classic 1942 film starring Bette Davis. It’s about you. Have you ever journeyed half-way around the world in order to find yourself?
Recently, when I was having a fit of cabin fever, I indulged myself and escaped into a delicious book. In Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert chronicles "one woman’s search for everything across Italy, India and Indonesia." In heartfelt and hilarious prose, she recounts her pursuit of pleasure, devotion and balance.
Throughout history and across cultures, people have made voyages in conjunction with rites of passage or religious devotion. In Australia, Aboriginal youth took a walkabout to trace the paths of their ancestors. Native Americans wandered alone in the wilderness to embark on a solitary vision quest. Devout Christians, Jews and Muslims still travel to their sacred sites. In her book, The Camino, Shirley MacLaine shared her personal pilgrimage to Spain along a path traveled for centuries by seekers of spiritual truth.
Travel provides us with an opportunity for personal growth. When we travel, we have new experiences. We meet new people. Sometimes those people are looking back at us in the mirror. Travel can give us a new perspective about the world and a deeper understanding about ourselves.
Where have you traveled? How has it changed you?
Can 60 Be Sexy?
Thursday, May 15th, 2008
Are you ready to trade in your strappy sandals for serious shoes, or do you believe that 60 is the new 30? When you visit sixtyissexynow.com, you may be tempted to channel your inner Rod Stewart and break out singing, "You wear it well."
At sixtyissexynow.com, you can discover the latest secrets on ageless living and loving at 60 and beyond. The website features rich tales of love and relationships; optimum health and ageless beauty; travel and leisure. Upbeat and fanciful, the site also features serious content on topics related to aging, money and giving back.
Listen, do you want to know a secret? No, we’re not playing Beatles music. We’re letting you in on a secret that may save your sanity. In Dial Up a Human, Roberta Edgar reveals some secret numbers and tips to bypass those infuriating interactive voice recorders and talk to a real person. Roberta’s article can be found in the Money Talks section on www.sixtyissexynow.com
Other Ways You Can Get In On the Fun
- Read the Sexy Tip of the Day
- Submit Your Love Story
- Vote for 2008’s Sexy Sexagenarian
While you’re there, read 60 Acts of Kindness. If sexy seniors take these small steps, the world will be a better place for people of all ages.
(illustration by duchessa)
Climb Your Own Mountain
Thursday, May 8th, 2008 
I love Sunday Morning. I don’t just mean the part where I sit for hours sipping coffee and reading my Los Angeles Times. I mean the CBS television show Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood.
With media messages hurling at us at a migraine-inducing pace, watching bow tie-wearing Charles Osgood is like having a surprise visit from your favorite uncle–the wise and witty one who always made you feel special. Sunday Morning features a series of vignettes from art, travel, entertainment, history and just about all facets of life. The segments make me laugh, make me cry and make me grateful for all the blessings in my life.
On May 4, Sunday Morning broadcast a segment on Wendy Booker, a midlife woman on a mission to scale mountains. This personal challenge would be daunting for any of us. What makes it all the more inspirational is the fact that 10 years ago, Booker was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Facing the specter of life in a wheelchair, Booker set a series of goals that she wanted to accomplish while she still had the strength. Along the way, she discovered a source of strength beyond her physical capabilities.
On her way to the summit, Booker was supported by a classroom of elementary school students from East Boston. With phone calls and letters, pictures and cheers, these children encouraged their hero to make it to the top. By conquering her fears and challenging herself to reach her goals, Booker taught the children priceless lessons about courage and perseverance. She modeled for them a way to "climb your own mountain."
To watch the inspirational video MS Patient Soars New Heights, visit www.cbsnews.com. Click on the link to Sunday Morning. While you’re there, check to see what time the show airs in your city. You may become a Sunday Morning convert.
What mountains are you climbing in your life? Where do you find your courage? Where do you seek support?
April Newsletter
Monday, May 5th, 2008If you missed our April newsletter, you can read the archived version by clicking here.
A Cruel Kind of Identity Theft
Thursday, May 1st, 2008 
photo by Jen Siegrist
"How about getting me some real food? Real food. You know–that stuff that people on the outside get to eat."
—Quote by Jacob Jankowski, from Water for Elephants, a novel by Sara Gruen
Jacob is either 90 or 93. He’s not sure which it is. His body may be frail, but his spirit is as strong as when he ran away to join the circus many years ago.
Ladies and Gentlemen: Step right up! Prepare to be amazed by ferocious animals and acts of death-defying courage. Smell the peanuts and feel the sawdust under your feet as you ride along with Jacob on his wild adventure. But all is not well under the Big Top. The fictional Water for Elephants exposes a seamy side of circus life, one filled with high romance and stark cruelty.
Water for Elephants is a spellbinding tale. It can also serve as a lesson in empathy for caregivers on the brink of burnout. We are seduced by Jacob’s feisty spirit. He gets under our skin and makes us see with new eyes.
Gazing into the mirror in disbelief, Jacob reflects, "Even when I look straight into the milky blue eyes, I can’t find myself anymore. When did I stop being me?"
So many of us in our middle years juggle caring for aging parents with all the other demands in our lives. My doctor said, "When we get too much on our plate, we just get a bigger plate." It’s easy to feel a little sorry for ourselves. It’s also easy to ignore the loss our loved ones must be feeling.
Confined to a nursing home, Jacob laments that, "Nothing happens to me anymore. That’s the reality of getting old and I guess that’s the crux of the matter. I’m not ready to be old yet. "
How about you? Are you ready to be old? Or like Jacob, do you still have some spunk? If you’re caring for an elderly person, can you still see who they were before age or illness robbed them of their identity?