Merry Christmas!

Peace and love to all!

I'm not old

Just older. But I'm also younger than I'll ever be. There. How's that for distorting the truth? I seem to be channeling my Grandmother these days. I make noises when I sit down, little grunts as I ease into a squatting position on the floor to brush the dogs or look under the furniture for lost cat toys. I didn't used to do that. Does it somehow help to get into a better position? I must be saying those noises wrong then 'cause they don't seem to help. And after staying in a position like that for a while, it's hard to straighten up again - at least not very quickly and not without some discomfort. Maybe I just need to drink more water. And if that doesn't work, I'll try wine.

I've decided

to be a curmudgeon in my mature years. I'm going to embrace my inner Maxine and just lay it all out there. No reason to hold back now. What am I waiting for? Being 60 is very freeing. People will either admire your forthrightness or write you off as being senile a little early. But in either case, I get to say how I feel. You may agree with me or you may not but that's the fun. Comment away.
And there is so much out there to talk about. Not just in the news, although, Lord knows, we could spend hours on that. No, just every day life is a gold mine.
Take Christmas lights, for instance. I have always been a big fan of Christmas lights on the house. Every year my husband and I have a big discussion on how much and where. Part of his hesitance is that he knows he's going to be the one to put them up so he always subscribes to the theory that less is more. Me, not so much. I like lights. But I don't want to get crazy about it. Outline the house, lights in or on the windows. Definitely a lit wreath on the door. And I love my lit up deer on the front lawn.
Perfect. Just enough. I hate when it's overdone.
Then, last night we drove through town on our way to a restaurant for dinner. Most of the houses were lit up and most were well done.
Except for those few who want to test the electric grid to see if they could single-handedly bring on a blackout. I'd hate to see their electric bill. There is one house especially that I'm sure is visible from the space station. I just have to ask. Why?
And please spare me the chaser lights and the blinking lights than could bring on a seizure if you stare at them too long.
Clark Griswold would be proud.

Boston Legal

Last night was the broadcast of the last new episode of this series.
We only discovered this series this year and I wish I had found it sooner.
Finally, a series aimed at our generation, as Carl Sack [John Laroquette] said "The only show on TV with starring roles over 50...".
Witty, well-written, bold, daring, totally unafraid to be outrageous - and something I found myself looking forward to every week.
Well, I guess there are still the reruns, but it won't be the same. I looked forward to those balcony chats.

Change is Coming

President Barack Obama!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUT1WgHat6I

I can't ever remember being this emotionally involved in an election.
Thoughts of JFK and Bobby and Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired this kind of feeling but this is even more.
This takes us to the next level.
There couldn't be anything more poetic than electing a man who is half black and half white to bring us into the 21st century. This was indeed the most historic and important election of our lifetime. As a Boomer, it just means so much to me. I remember JFK's Inauguration and his famous speech about the torch being passed to a new generation. Last night the torch was passed to a new era.
One of the governors was asked last night why Obama reached so many people on such a deep level and she said "because he appeals to our better angels." She is so right. There is an innate core in all of us that he touches and it is going to ignite this country - this world - forward.
Last night's acceptance speech was full of conviction and love and hope.
Grown men and women shed tears of joy [I will never forget the face of Jesse Jackson]. I'm still crying. I am so proud of our country.
I am so looking forward to his presidency.
It's been a long time coming...

The Coming Doctor Shortage

Our population is getting older - quickly. We Baby Boomers, probably the largest generation this country has ever seen, are no longer babies, even though we'll never admit it.
We can attempt to fight the clock all we want with activity, and diets, and surgery, and a gazillion anti-wrinkle creams, but the fact remains that time is marching on, taking us right along with it.
Memories and organs are failing, medication bottles are lining up on the kitchen countertop and my mother is starting to peer at me in the mirror when I brush my teeth.
But instead of lamenting about this inevitable process, I think it behooves us to tackle this next stage of our lives head on as we have done with everything else.
We've already redefined retirement [what retirement? I'm starting a new career.] Let's make aging our own as well.
Gone are the patients who obediently took pills and blindly followed medical advice. Necessity is going to dictate that we make use of what few doctors are going to be available to us as we age. Those precious minutes in the office need to count for all they're worth.

I highly recommend the following:

• Make a list of questions you might have as well as symptoms you are having before you go in to your doctor’s office. That way you won’t forget anything.
• Make sure you include a list of all medications you take, including anything over the counter (yes, those herbs you take for your memory are important – some of them can lengthen bleeding time).
• Question everything. Don’t be afraid to be labelled a pest. Contrary to what you may believe, doctors appreciate patients who take charge of their health.
• If you are given a diagnosis you don’t understand, ask for more information. Most doctors now are taking full advantage of the Web and are happy to give printouts of information or can tell you where to find it.
• If you are uncomfortable with the options your doctor has given you, get a second opinion. It’s definitely worth the peace of mind.
• Don’t be afraid to do your homework. Look things up yourself. There are great resources on the Web now. The more you know, the more you can question. The more you question, the more you’ll know.
• Don’t take any medication that you don’t know the ingredients of or the purpose of. Make sure your doctor knows all your allergies and past drug reactions.

Yes, the practice of medicine is going to get tougher as fewer doctors are available to a growing population but we can be advocates for ourselves and those we love.

Oh, and don't call me a Senior.

Ever.

Excited and outraged - all in one week

This week will go down in history as one of the most defining moments in our political process. Within days, we nominated our first African-American for President and the opposing party put forth a woman on their ticket as their Vice-Presidential offering. Either way, this fall's election will make history.
However, my heart is with the Democratic party and its ideals and I will proudly cast my vote for Barack Obama in November. Hillary fought a good fight but in the end she didn't represent the majority of her party and didn't get the spot. I am outraged that McCain thinks he can capitalize on that and cover up his failed policies merely by substituting another female on his ticket. He thinks he can hoodwink the women of this country by trotting out a woman who opposes most issues that women believe in, who is nothing but a Republican in a dress. Shame on him! For info on McCain's choice, check here: http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/what-is-mccain-thinking-one-alaskans-perspective/
Just give the voters a female, any female, they won't notice.
Well, guess what, we do!
Don't pander to me, don't think I don't know what you're doing. All women are not the same. Don't attempt to pat me on the head and placate me with a token woman and think I'll be dumb enough to fall for it. How dare you!
All this has done has strengthened my resolve to do whatever I can to get Obama and Biden elected. History will be made this Fall, a history we can all be proud of.

Over 50, rocking, ruling, and other assorted noises.....

There seem to be a proliferation of web sites right now geared toward our generation and especially to the Baby Boomer woman. All of them call on us to loudly state how we are many in number, full of spirit and knowledge and energy; that we have a lot to offer; that we are a force to be reckoned with and [my favorite], that we rule and we rock.
Frankly, I'm getting a little sick of it.
What benefit does it serve to go around bragging that we're women over 50, we rule, rock, and make other unnecessary noises?
My thought is that we are only as valuable as our actions. Gather our forces together. Fine. Then do something, make yourself useful.
But stop it already with all the back-patting.
No one cares unless something productive hapens. This is a country of doers, not sayers.
We were a formidable generation because we made change happen.
Then if we're still so great, let's do it again.
Vote, go out in support of a cause, start your own if you have to.
Write articles, make phone calls, write a book.
But do something other than sitting around on a web site self aggrandizing about how great we all are and how we should be respected and not forgotten because of it.
Yes, I'm proud to be a Baby Boomer. And I'm especially proud to be a Boomer woman.
But I'm also proud of my experience and my business and my writing and the plans I have for the future.
How about you?

Another picture of Riley

Here is a more recent picture of our photogenic little guy.

Can it be this long since I have posted? I know people say that time is speeding up but this is ridiculous. The year is halfway gone already.

Where to begin?

I guess the best thing I have to comment about is our newest member of our family.

The sadness we felt with Buster's passing was profound. Yet, we knew in our hearts that we wanted another little life with us, a little kitten to celebrate orange kitties, to remind us of Buster and also to help us heal. We also knew it had to be a rescue baby since we wanted to give a home to a kitten who would otherwise be in danger.

So, we looked. The week of what would have been Buster's 13th birthday we found him. I have to believe that Buster had a hand in us finding this wee one.

His name is Riley. He was only 5 weeks old when we got him on May 3rd and weighed barely more than a pound.

He has already made his place in our family and brings us untold joy and love every day.

The Sixties

I had an unsettling experience yesterday. While getting ready to go on a trip with my husband, I suddenly developed chest pain. Not the pressing squeezing type you hear about but enough that it caught my attention. And it lasted for almost half an hour. Accompanied by some shortness of breath and some dizziness.
Okay, better pay attention.
So we cancelled the plane reservations, cancelled the hotel, cancelled the car. Called the people we were supposed to visit and off we went to the Emergency Room. Of course, by that time I was feeling pretty good but we went through the whole examination process anyway.
Had the EKG.
Normal.
Had blood work.
Normal.
Doctor comes in and says, "We're going to admit you for precautionary reasons."
No, I feel fine. I don't want to stay.
And then he said it.
"When women are in their sixties, we have to err on the side of caution. This could be serious."
IN THEIR SIXTIES?!
He didn't actually say that to me to my face, did he?
For one thing, I only turned 60 last month. To me, that still doesn't qualify as "in my sixties", okay? Let's get that straight right here and now, Doctor- I- have- underwear- older- than- you. I'm just getting the hang of this sixty thing and you're no help.
Then, I started to think about that word.
Sixties.
Maybe it was the nitropaste they slapped on me but I started to free associate and wondered how that word had now become the enemy. There was a time when I loved the "sixties". I revelled in being a child of the sixties.
The sixties were good times. Revolution, the best music, freedom.
I came of age in the sixties.
And now I'm just feeling aged.
As it turned out, my heart was fine and I was sent home that night when my cardiologist came in. He took off the nitropaste, said I didn't need it.
I had a horrible headache from it and some new thoughts.
I guess I need to come to terms with the sixties, then and now.
Yup, I'll get right on that -maybe tomorrow.

Buster

Buster

1995 - 2008

My sweet baby boy is gone. Buster lost his battle with cancer yesterday. I can't tell you how much my heart hurts. I know he's in a better place now and he no longer hurts but I miss him so much.

I can't say enough nice things about our vet. Dr. Tom was patient and kind and loving. He came to the house and allowed us to have a peaceful and loving time with our baby before he passed on.

He gave Buster a sedative to relax him. Then we took him into the living room and I held him and my husband and I spent time with him, talking to him and petting him.

But Buster kept fighting the sedative. So Dr. Tom had to give him a second shot. That eventually helped him rest enough so that he fell asleep in my arms and then the vet gave him the last shot.

Buster took his last breath in my arms.

I can't remember the last time I cried so much. And I think I can count on three fingers the times I have seen my husband cry and yesterday was one of them.

Afterwards, the vet gave us a Tibetan prayer ritual that we are going to do out on the deck today.

Rest easy, my baby.

What a week

My hubby was in a car accident this past Tuesday. He's going to be all right but the car may be totaled.
A good Samaritan stopped on the opposite side of the road, parked his car, put on his blinkers and ran across six lanes of traffic to render aid. Then someone plowed into his car!
Both accidents shut down the road, the only access into our town.
This happened just three miles from our house. My husband was coming home from work.
I got in my car after he called me to tell me about his accident and when I heard the second accident over the phone in the background, I panicked and decided I was going to drive over to see him for myself.
I couldn't get to him. I got about a quarter of a mile away and could see police lights and brake lights but had to turn around for fear of getting stuck in all that traffic.
That's when I got really upset.
Luckily he called me back and I felt better after hearing his voice and he reassured me he was all right. The accident happened right on the boundary line of our town and the next one so police and fire trucks from both towns were there. It was a mess.
It's been a week, I tell ya!
But it makes you appreciate that life is precious. Hug your loved ones and be grateful.

Life is a banquet

I have made a resolution today to write more blog entries. Let's see if I can keep that now.
No - I WILL keep that. :>)
Anyway, today has been a wonderful day and it's only early afternoon. I had lunch with a relatively new friend who brought along another woman whom she thought I would like to meet. What serendipity! We all had so much in common.
Is there anything better than a few women getting together and sharing common interests over lunch?
The thoughts were flowing and it was exhilerating.
The setting was absolutely gorgeous as well -looking out over the hills of our town in Arizona, hawks circling for their own lunch in the distance, woodpeckers and hummingbirds flying next to our window, a cloudless blue sky - we are truly blessed.