Center Stage for Act Two - Birthday Blog

 Anita Creamer recently wrote a story on co-housing options for older adults that ran in the Sacramento Bee. Here is yet another signal that the nation’s elders are not simply surrendering to the mythology of old age but are, instead, claiming greater control and responsibility for their lives. In this case, they choose to not only take care of themselves but also to care for the well being of their neighbors.

Many of us who stand at the threshold of the grand Baby Boomer era see latter years as potentially better years – filled with choice, determination and productivity. Today, July 12, I officially join this distinguished generation, the largest single population the nation has ever experienced. And, I am pleased to say, that I do so with a far greater consciousness about life and my place in it than I’ve ever before experienced. It is a sense of freedom heretofore largely absent in my life. I feel as if I can plan and choose, so long as I pay attention to my changing body and re-born mind.

Since it’s my birthday, permit me to indulge myself (I promise future posts will be more informative and useful in achieving health and longevity). I’ve been very fortunate in terms of what I’ve done and where I’ve been over the years. I’ve been able to carve out a professional life that was adventurous and interesting. As a reporter I had license to meet lots of fascinating people such as Cid Caesar, Hubert Humphrey, Chuck Yeager, several governors and many (some-slimy) members of Congress. I flew in a hot air balloon race, descended to the inky depths of a tungsten mine, suited up in a diver’s helmet to look for a sunken WWII plane in a high mountain lake, spent several days with the Ringling Bros. Circus – including a visit to the legendary ‘clown alley’ - and ate rattle snake meat just to get a story.

I experienced nearly a week in the bowels of a major forest fire and was within a couple of blocks of the crash of a cargo plane carrying fire retardant - we ran from a great ball of flame roiling toward us like a burning boulder consuming everything in its path. The photographer and I won an award for that series. I did stories on the famous few and the uncommon-commonplace: ranchers, rodeo riders, a former suffragette, inspiring teachers and shady preachers. I appeared on MTV, made a few videos which aired on public television and, a crowning moment, was kissed on the cheek by Sydney Poitier.

I did a story on a bronze foundry and thought to myself – I can do that! And I could; sculpting came quite naturally. I have a piece on permanent display at the Sacramento Zoo. Today, this is a very, very expensive hobby.

A crowning moment happened in England as I hopped from train at Paddington Station, hailed a signature Black Cab and said "Ten Downing Street, please," in a subtle, affected English accent. I had a tenative appointment to interview Tony Blair, but still had to chat-up the armed guard at the gates before being admitted to the waiting room of the legendary address. Tony, alas, was otherwise occupied - I got apologies and several photos with cheerful police wearing flak vests and wide smiles.

Outside of the job I remained adventurous. I’ve written 3 entire mystery novels and published 2 books. I was a diva on the stage, retiring after playing Sally Bowles in Cabaret. I sang with little jazz bands and recorded my own vocal CD. I recall singing Granada in Spanish with Romanian musicians in the lounge of a Greek ship in the Mediterranean. After, a striking older woman floated to my little table, leaned elegantly over and said in a throaty voice, “My dear, if it was my week for women, I’d choose you.” I was enormously flattered.



This is to say that I believe I’ve lived my life backwards – being completely open and multi-tasking any adventure life tossed in my path while others around me stayed focus and on some predetermined track. I can make no judgment about either trajectory but now I finally feel the freedom to say “no thank you.”

So, welcome to Act Two, I say to myself as this birthday 65 arrives. I hope to make good use of these elder years. More focused on quality than on quantity. More in attuned to the beat of my internal drum. More in harmony with the melody of essential life. And this blog is part of that new adventure – a gift to me today that I’ve given myself by writing this tiny memoir, knowing you are taking the time to read it. Thank you.

Honoring Elders - Old Idea is New Again

My daughter and her spouse gave me a refrigerator magnet that repeats the oft delivered message, “Age is a State of Mind.” I’ve written about this in previous blogs with the response that age is relative to a person’s state of mind but it is also undeniably a state of physical change. I was inspired by the refrigerator magnet while reaching for a glass of calcium rich almond milk (dark chocolate). It features the observations of the aging icon George Burns who claimed, “Old, Young. Just words.”

I have issues with this on a couple of fronts. First, I would definitely not want to be 25 or 30 again with the mindset that generally comes with the age (although George did enjoy the company of very young ladies very late in life). Secondly, I think there’s no harm in age distinctions so long as they don’t rely on silly stereotypes and negative expectations. I rather like the way that Assembly Member Mariko Yamada explained the matter of age in a recent committee hearing. She said that, so far as the Golden State is concerned, when a person reaches 65 he or she is regarded as an “elder.” Now, before I set off any knee-jerk reactions, let me add that my personal reference point to the term “elder” comes from my university studies in anthropology – where one learns that an elder is a respected, honored individual who has earned an exalted place in a culture due to many years rich with living and learning. It was later in life that I encountered the terms “elderly, senior citizen, and retiree” – none of which carry similar positive connotations.

I am an advocate of changing this latter perception – from one that speaks of decline and weakness of body and mind as a feature of age to a new awareness of the many benefits of being an elder in America. With the arrival of the huge Baby Boomer generation, there is a rapidly growing body of scientific and medical research that supports the value of society’s elders and offers new strategies for healthy, active longevity.

A short list of benefits enjoyed by the 65-plus set includes the ability to leverage thought processes on both hemispheres of the brain (a link not available to most of the younger population), thus allowing for greater brain power in problem solving and managing social situations. And, happy to shatter another presumption about aging, our brains continue to grow and react to stimulation. We can make ourselves smarter by conscious design – think learning a musical instrument or a new language or, even learning to dance. The priorities of elders are significantly clearer and more focused than in the younger generation. We make more cogent choices about what’s important; we can opt to not be involved in conflict and negativity. We have the ability to make sound judgments because we have a storehouse of experience to call upon. In new situations we are able to apply lessons learned, quite intuitively. The list of up-sides is long and I look forward to looking at the positives in greater detail with you on this blog.

I am always interested in feedback and guidance to great resources on healthy aging and I urge you to comment so that, together, we can create agreement that becoming an elder is a moment of great opportunity – one to be exploited, enjoyed and explored.