Kiva.org

Many years ago, I read Gail Sheehy's Passages , a book that profoundly affected me. I was in the beginning stages of the groups she covered in her book and I wondered if life would evolve for me as it had for the people she studied. So far, she is right 100%. I have now thankfully evolved from a self-centered young person into [I hope] a more centered, more accepting, more involved, more peaceful older person.
It actually gives me plessure to reach out.
If you find yourself in the same place, I urge you to check out Kiva. I first heard of Kiva when I read Bill Clinton's book Giving. Kiva is an organization that lends money to entrepreneurs - with micro loans- all over the world. That's what's so unique about it. You and I can make a difference in someone's life by just loaning something as little as $25. It's a great example how a bunch of little acts can do great things.

God Bless President Obama

I spent all day yesterday glued to the television. I haven't been this interested in an inauguration since President Clinton and even then not to this magnitude. I am so proud of our country, so proud of all of us. I know I am joined by so many fellow Americans as I look to the future with hope once again. But I too feel called to serve in some way. This President has inspired me in a way I have never felt before. Maybe it's because he makes us feel involved and that he will truly listen. I no longer feel used and abused, lied to and kept in the dark. It's as if all the windows in our country have been opened and fresh air is streaming in once again.
God bless President Obama and God bless all of us.

Some marketing advice from a Boomer

Do NOT call me a Senior.
Let me rephrase that - DO NOT CALL ME A SENIOR!
I know I am a Baby Boomer. I know I am at the forefront of the Baby Boomers in terms of age. I get that and I am trying to deal with that in my own way [denial is helping a lot].
I get that marketing groups see my generation and they get dollar signs where their pupils used to be. Here we are 73 million strong marching forward to that final finishing line and we all need hormone pills, and antacids, and larger print, and scooter chairs, and lower cholesterol, and heart pills, and on and on.
But if you are going to get my attention, don't do it by addressing me as a Senior. I will put my fingers in my ears, sing "La La La, I can't hear you!" and move on.
Case in point - I got a robo call today. First clue, caller ID said "Name Unavailable". I shouldn't have picked up but curiosity got me and I did and said "Hello". There was a moment's hesitation [a sure sign it was a recording] and then the dreaded words "Hello, Senior".
Click.
I didn't hear any more and I don't care to.
Ever.
If you didn't get the memo - we Baby Boomers are not our parents. We are the same as we were in the 60's, with only slight changes, barely noticeable. If you want to sell to us, show us how it will make our lives better and more fun, how it will let us keep doing what we are still thinking we are capable of doing but don't imply it's because we can't. Tricky? Maybe. But that's your job to figure out. You're the marketing gurus.
And so far you are way off mark.

I heard the most heartwarming story last night

I accidentally caught the last few minutes of CBS News last night [remember I am on a news fast]. But I'm so glad I did.
There is a little drummer marching band out of Liberty Corner NJ that will be performing in the Inaugural Parade next week. Their story is worth reading. They are probably the most unlikely group to be in the parade but their story will warm your heart as you go about your day. It's truly a testament to the adage that if you believe, it will happen.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/14/eveningnews/main4722300.shtml

Hope and Peace

My husband and I have been on a news fast for over a year. Of course, with the recent election we did fall off the wagon a bit. I admit I was the greatest offender. There were days I just couldn't get enough about the campaign. But for the most part, we refused to watch the evening news. What little news I got was from reading on the web and there I could pick and choose what I exposed myself to. Sometimes, all I read was the headline just to make sure I didn't need to head down to some undisclosed location because all mayhem had broken out.
I can't tell you what a difference it has made in our life. We are one of those couples who have opted to have a TV in the bedroom even though it's frowned upon. We enjoy watching TV in there and even have a DVD player. But we watch movies from Spiritual Cinema Circle not blood and gore R-rated movies.
Our life is now one of hope and peace rather than the fear-mongering that the MSM likes to offer up. Who decided gloom and doom was the way to get ratings?
I propose that we all try to look on the bright side of things and as a country refrain from the constant hand-wringing. It won't accomplsh anything. The more energy we give to the negative, the more negative we will get.
We have a new President taking office in less than two weeks. The bad days are behind us. We have nothing but good in front of us. Let's remember the slogan that got him into the White House in the first place "Yes, we can!".
I will be glued to my TV on January 20, 2009. It's a great day for all of us. 2009 is going to be a great year.

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2009.
Amen and halleluia!
Even though as I get older, time seems to be speeding up and I don't usually like to wish things away, I am, for the most part, glad to see 2008 go.
It was a tough year for many of us, made worse by the fact that many of the bad things that happened were not of our making, unless you consider the fact that when we as a nation should have spoken up, we didn't.
But the past is past.
It's a new year and a new President. When it mattered, we did speak up and, to paraphrase, "Yes we did!" [that's not original, I saw it on a bumper sticker and I congratulate whoever came up with it].
Now, we need to roll up our collective sleeves and get to work behind our new President and fix this country, get it back on the right track. January 20 can't come soon enough.
But in the meantime, let's celebrate the hope that is in all our hearts. Let's confront those who would destroy this country with their fear mongering and their bias [I am shocked over that Republican who gave out that abhorrent CD - and the Republicans wonder why they lost?]. There is no place for pessimism now. It IS going to be a good year. We believe so. We will make it so. We will live long and prosper!