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.