About Being Happy

I know some of my friends *yawn*,or even *cringe*, with all my "rah-rah life" stuff. But, I just can't help myself. Life is good... really, really good. And, that's something new for me.

Prior to 2014, I marched through 15 years of  poop, beginning with the passing of my father in May of 1999. That instance was just a foreshadowing of the real gut-kick when my three-year-old grand daughter, the light of my life, died in a car accident in August of 2001. From that moment on, I became Joe Btfsplk, the sad sack from Li'l Abner. And, because that was how I saw myself, that is how my life was.

http://youtu.be/bXysRO11Xi8

Let me say that again... that was how I saw myself, so that was how my life was. 

And, it just got worse and worse to the point I began to think my life, for all intents and purposes, was over. Remember the show "Hee-Haw?" (Don't even try to act like you never saw it!) That was my outlook. That was the life I owned for myself.

I finally realized, something had to change. 

I knew I was miserable in my job. It wasn't that the job was bad. It was a great job! I worked with the most creative and smartest people I had ever known... many of them were very dear friends!!! I had amassed 15 years of raises and made a really good salary. I had all the perks that went with seniority. 

So, what was the problem? It didn't fulfill me anymore. There was no challenge, no stimulation, nothing to look forward to. I felt used and used up. And, my attitude reflected that feeling.

For a couple of years, right here on this blog site, I had been preaching about encore careers. And, while I had made some — in hindsight, feeble — efforts to find another career, I had reached the point of critical saturation in unhappiness. I decided to retire and gave notice. And, lo and behold, as soon as I made that commitment, an opportunity opened up, and it just so happened to be the absolutely perfect career for me. Getting the position became my new obsession, and my commitment and persistence paid off. I've never been happier in a job.

I know what some of you are thinking... well, aren't you the lucky one? It's not about luck. It's about the power of positive intention. It's about deciding what you want, committing to that goal... eating, drinking, dreaming of what you want. It's about letting God... the Universe... whatever higher power you ascribe to... know what you want and how badly you want it. 

Trust me, folks... I used to be the epitome of skeptic when it came to what I deemed metaphysical mumbo-jumbo. But, I was wrong. And, that was just the beginning of the good life. 

I was so grateful to get the job, I couldn't express my thanks adequately. I literally GUSHED thanksgiving. And, oddly enough, the more I acknowledged the goodness of that fortunate event and openly pronounced my gratitude for my blessings, the happiness and contentment I had always hoped was out there became manifest. It's just like every religion teaches — but I'll quote the Christian Bible, because that's what I know — "Ask, and ye shall receive." Can it be that easy? All I know is, it was that easy for me.

So, you see... I have to keep talking about how happy and grateful I am. It's part of the commitment. To stop talking about it would be tantamount to denying its existence. And, the last thing I want is to leave the door open for Messrs. Gloom and Doom to manipulate a seat at my table of life.

If there is anybody reading this who is going through some really bad times, I just want you to know, it can be better. My feet won't fit your shoes, so I can't tell you what it will take for you, but I can assure you... it can be better. 

It's kind of like, if you build it, it will come. Solidly commit to being happy, whatever that means to you. Choose your path and walk it. But, above all things, choose — CHOOSE — to be happy.

When that person cuts you off on the freeway, think of something happy or forgiving. You don't know what made him or her do that. It could be as simple as you just weren't seen. You've probably done it yourself without even knowing.

When a person is rude to you, smile at them. Give them the benefit of the doubt. For all you know, that person could have just lost a grand daughter in a car accident.

Bottom line... take the high road in all things. Avoid the anger, frustration and fear that is seething in today's society. Seek the positive in every situation. Smile. I can guarantee... yes, I said GUARANTEE... that the more you consciously make the effort to be grateful and positive in your life, the more your life will be bombarded by things for you to be grateful and positive about. 

There are some of you reading this who are witness to how this has worked in my life. And, I invite anyone reading this to expressively share the same happiness you may have found in your own life... here in comments, today with your family, tomorrow at work, this week with a total stranger. Say it out loud, put it in writing, make it known... often! It requires no money, no investment of time, no sacrifice. All it takes is gratitude for what you receive every day, pursuit of your passion, and a commitment to change your outlook on life. 

So, what's the first step? Determine what it is you want and pursue it with your complete being... heart, soul and mind. A quote by one of my favorite heroines says it all...

Isn't It Ironic?

Wow! I actually did it!

I've posted before about how baby boomers are going to change perceptions regarding retirement, basically by choosing to pursue a secondary, or encore, career that aligns with a personal goal or passion. And, guess what! I have managed to do just that. Ain't it great when a plan works?

After fifteen years at a job in which my role had become mundane and dealing with serious personal issues at the same time, I was beginning to feel like my life had become a movie — which made me feel really old. 

The movie was "Finnegan Begin Again," starring Robert Preston and Mary Tyler Moore. (It got really bad promotion, because it's a sweet movie — about old people.) For those who have seen it, I felt I was living the life of the Robert Preston character, Mike. Ironic, in a Freudian sense.

Then, ironically, the communications medium I had declared an invasion of privacy — and the first step in the loss of civil liberty — gave me my heart's desire... the dream job... the encore career. The National World War I Museum was wanting to fill a position, for which I was uniquely suited. And, I knew this because I admired the Museum and "liked" its Facebook page. 

Again ironically, the 15 years of experience at a career I had come to loathe was instrumental in helping me get my dream job. The seniority I held at that job turned out to be leadership in an induced coma. I'm pretty sure there has to be a beatitude that covers this. And, if there isn't, there should be.

The plan had turned out to be the right direction, after all. The belief had been real. I feel I am making a living without working. How many people get to say that and mean it? 

The definition of irony is life. 

Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc 2012 Review

Tonight, with my lover-ly spinach tuna artichoke salad (recipe here... super good), I'm enjoying Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc), 2012, from Sonoma County, California. OK, first of all, check out the winery. It looks like a villa on the Riviera. No, scratch that. It looks like heaven. It's called Villa Fiore, House of Flowers. Yeah, after seeing that, I'm raring to go to my office... NOT! I may need to rethink my retirement plan with regard to state of residence. 

The winery is actually in Healdsburg, California, located on the Russian River. It hasn't been in operation very long, just since 1985. The gardens were planted by owner, Rhonda Ferrari-Carano. And, no, there's no relationship to the world-renowned car manufacturer.  

The term Fume Blanc is just a fancy name for Sauvignon Blanc and was promoted by Robert Mondavi to identify the specific Sauvignon Blanc grapes produced from vine cuttings that originated in the Sauternes vineyards of Chateau d'Yquem, in the Bordeaux region of France and supposed to be, like, the most superior grapes in the Universe. Well, la-di-da, la-di-da, la, la. 

OK, let's get to the wine. I smell predominantly pears, with a little bit of peach and almonds. There's more pear on the taste, with a little bit of pineapple and grassy lime. The winemaker's notes say something about kiwi (which I couldn't identify) and guava (which I've never tasted), and then talked about some spice notes (which my naive palate couldn't pick out). The finish is really crisp, and there's just enough acidity to work well with food. It was really good with my salad but, because the winemaker's notes said it worked well with sushi and cheese, I tried it with the cheeses I had available in the fridge — sorry, no sushi. I tried it with a hickory smoked Swiss, a sharp cheddar and mozzarella. The cheddar won, but I liked it better with the salad of spinach and tuna, which could count as sushi, I guess... kind of... maybe. 

The wine is very affordable, about $15/bottle — at which I must exclaim... they must sell a HELLUVA lot of wine to maintain THAT winery for those kind of prices!!! Previous vintages were consistently rated between 89 and 91, this particular wine has been rated at 90 by Connoisseur Guide. It has a little too much pear taste for me, but definitely worth the price. At 13.8% alcohol content, please drink responsibly. 

Someone Show Old Man Winter the Door!

I'm a four seasons type of person, and I'm not talking about the hotel chain — although I'm pretty sure I could be persuaded in that area if the budget allowed. As a rule, I'm usually nostalgic about the beautiful fall leaves being blown from the trees only until that first beautiful snowfall makes everything sparkle like a fairyland, while happy to see those first spring buds when the trees look like they're dressed in cotton candy and even on through the heat of summer, when my garden and lawn are at their full depth of color and lushness. 

Fast forward to this year... I'm done with winter, OK? D-O-N-E! It's April... the last full week of April, even. And, incredibly, our beautiful flowering trees and those other messengers of spring, tulips and jonquils, are now being threatened by a late-season freeze. I'm not talking about an hour hovering close to the freezing mark. Oh no! I'm talking about a forecast of snow flurries and temperature of 30 degrees overnight. Show of hands... who didn't get the memo that sweaters would be required the day after mowing the lawn? That rodent, Punxsutawney Phil, lied through his fat cheeks and buck teeth. Oh, the humanity! Problem is, I'm old... and stubborn. Changing course, direction or, more importantly, mood requires more than one cold night. 

I'm committed to spring, and it's full steam ahead... and that includes food. I'm ready for farmers' market vegetables, those that still have dirt clods on them and smell earthy. Unfortunately, it's still going to be a while before I'm free from spending time in the produce section of the supermarket, trying to divine if that tomato is going to taste like an Heirloom or paper mache or from scrubbing my cucumbers to remove that waxy feel so I can feel good about eating the skin. However, I'm determined to have some facsimile of springtime in my diet. And, with that, I give you my antipasto salad. 

This is a perfect winter-spring limbo dish. There's plenty of summer vegetables, with hearty ham in a freshly made sweet vinaigrette.

The nice thing is the ingredients can be whatever your personal taste dictates. This is made with cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, thinly sliced cucumber and summer squash, three kinds of olives (Spanish, black and Kalamata), two types of onions (pearl and red), julienne-cut carrots, chopped celery, cauliflower, broccoli and asparagus (blanched), banana peppers, chopped parsley, thinly sliced ham, three types of cheese (cubed mozzarella and cheddar, and crumbled feta) and bowtie pasta, cooked al dente. Possibilities also include red, yellow and green bell pepper, zucchini, salami and radishes, as well as different types of pasta.

The vinaigrette is 1 tbsp lemon juice, 3 oz white wine vinegar, 3 oz extra virgin olive oil, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp sugar, 2 tsp Italian season mix and 1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper, all well blended. Pour over the full mix of vegetables and toss well. One person described it as a "party in my mouth." Easy to make, it's best made ahead of time to allow the flavors to meld and will keep for a day or two in the refrigerator. Serve with seasoned crackers, as I did here, or garlic bread. Or, if you're unwilling to defy Mother Nature, it would even be good with onion or tomato soup.

Horseradish Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

For a little zing with a roast beef or salmon salad, mix together well two ounces of olive oil, two ounces of balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon minced parsley, 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish.

You Say Toe-pee-kah, I say Tuh-pee-kah

I'm talking about Topeka, Kansas, of course. In the language of the Kansa People, who originally inhabited the area, Topeka means "to dig good potatoes," referring to the prairie potato, which was a staple of the Plains Indians. Wait a minute... this is Kansas, right? So, how did Idaho become "the Potato State?"

Being from Texas, I have to say my knowledge of Kansas was based on the very limited experience of driving through on family trips and witnessing the monotony of a flat, featureless landscape with nothing to draw attention except an occasional barn. In my mind, it was just a step above the Texas Panhandle in that it did, at least, have grass. Add to that perception the general opinion of the folks of my current home state, Missouri. Their feelings about Kansas is a watered-down antagonism that goes all the way back to pre-Civil War, and is now manifested in college rivalries. So, my own idea about the real Kansas primarily came down to my interaction with the nice folks I knew who lived in Kansas, but worked in Missouri. Hmmmm... that spoke volumes. Does nothing want to stay in Kansas? But, my interpretation was undeniably skewed.

When a fellow history geek friend asked me to join her in an exploration of Topeka, I was skeptical, but did some research. OK, there were a few things that piqued my interest. It seemed worth a 90-minute drive and weekend road trip. Frankly, I had a feeling it would be a semi-sedate two days, with plenty of down time between attractions. Instead, I'm just glad I took comfortable shoes! There is much to see and do in Topeka, believe it or not.

A lot of people probably think it ghoulish, but I happen to love walking through old cemeteries, looking at the different styles of monuments, from the garish to the nondescript, and speculating what it represents for each individual person and his or her family. The Topeka Cemetery was full of interest! For instance, a mausoleum which had a carving representative of the Egyptian god Horus on the lintel and a stained glass window with the emblem of the Knights Templar. What was the connection? There are several unique monuments, old intermingled with new, and a row of crypts dating back to 1890.

Next stop was Old Prairie Town, revealed to us by the adorable Mable, our tour guide. We saw a one-room schoolhouse that was in operation from the 1890s to the 1950s. The high point of the tour was the Ward log cabin, original to the site, built by the first settlers of Topeka and located right next door to the newer Ward-Meade residential mansion, with its beautiful gardens. And, the tour was topped off with a Green River drink served at the period drug store. Don't ask, just enjoy!!

The Brown vs. Board of Education is a must see for anyone visiting Topeka. It is a comprehensive look at the landmark Supreme Court case that was the catalyst for change in America's perception and laws regarding segregation and the Civil Rights Movement.

The Kansas Museum of History is chock full of all things Kansas, from the time of the Ancient People, right up to modern day.

And, you must make a stop at Lecompton, Kansas, about 20 minutes east of Topeka on I70. It was the territorial capital of Kansas. Constitution Hall, the original government building for the Kansas Territory, offers a thorough explanation of how important Kansas was to the election of Abraham Lincoln and, ultimately, the Civil War. And, the old Lane University, which was built to be the Territorial Capital Building, is wall to ceiling full of artifacts from the 1800s, including Civil War ordinance, farm implements and household items.

If you haven't visited Topeka... GO!! There's so much to see. I highly recommend the Fairfield Inn off Hwy. 470 and Wannamaker. It's very affordable, the staff were extremely guest conscious and the beds were to die for!! It is in a convenient location and even has an indoor pool and health room. Breakfast and WiFi are included in the price of the room.

Crustless Spinach Portobello Pie

I decided to try my hand at culinary improvisation. I'm not a huge fan of pie crust. I get that you need something to act as a foundation for all the good parts of pies, but I usually bypass the top crust of double-crust pies and start digging in at the level of the filling. And, working with phyllo dough is off-the-charts annoying. So, I conjured up the idea of using portobello mushrooms as the foundation for a spinach pie.
Ingredients:

4 portobello mushrooms, stems removed

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, separated

1 small chopped onion

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 pkg chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed dry

1 egg, beaten

1 tablespoon Greek seasoning mix (thyme, dill, mace, cinnamon, basil, fennel, rosemary)

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 cup low fat Ricotta cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Infuse 2 tablespoons of the olive oil with a parmesan herb mixture to brush on the portobellos. I broiled them cap side up on an uncoated cookie sheet, just long enough to dehydrate them, about 10 minutes.
Saute the onion and garlic in the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and set aside.

Mix together the egg, seasoning mix, Ricotta cheese and lemon juice. I added the sauteed onions and garlic to the spinach, added the egg mixture and stirred to blend well.
Arrange the portobello mushrooms on the bottom of a pie plate and spoon the spinach mixture on top. Top with the Parmesan cheese and bake in the oven at 350 degrees until heated through and cheese is melted.


Disclaimer: I'm an amateur cook, novice gardener and frustrated writer... photography is not my gig — at all. But, I also don't believe in misleading my readers. The picture is my actual pie. Trust me, it tasted a lot better than it looked. I just wished I had thought to include artichokes! If you try that, let me know how it turned out.

"The Widow of the South" by Robert Hicks

This historical fiction pulls you in slowly, but inescapably. Hicks' style of prose reminds me of Charles Dickens. He uses a lot of detail and verbose descriptions and, while I was reading, I couldn't help but think that no one really analyzes their own feelings in that way. Yet, the minute details are absolutely essential to convey the depth of feelings of these real-life characters. And, that is what this book is about... the sentiments and emotions ravaged by life and conflict, especially during the time of our nation's internal rage against itself... the Civil War.

It tells the story of how a senseless and bloody battle which sealed the fate of the Confederacy just may have helped a woman already damaged by irreconcilable loss to find her sanity and her destiny. The true story of how Carnton, her plantation home, became the largest privately held Confederate Cemetery in the U.S. and the final resting place for 1,500 casualties from the Battle of Franklin, is one of determination, honor and redemption, told from a viewpoint of feelings and thoughts of Carrie MaGavock and the people who made up her world. Thought to be insane, unable to find meaning of her life, Carrie begins a painful journey of understanding the mysterious fragility of life by recognizing the unexplainable inevitability of death.

Before delving into the book, I recommend reading a synopsis of the history of the Battle of Franklin, a conflict fraught with failure from the firing of the first shot to the unimaginable number of casulaties at the conclusion. It will help set the scene and the mood of the entire story, while every character searches for the reasons for survival. Is it truly just luck, or is it destiny?

Neil Ellis Sauvignon Blanc 2011

It's 65 degrees outside. I've been shopping for a tree, top soil, plants and bulbs in anticipation of getting down and dirty — literally — tomorrow. So, in celebration of the entrance into Spring, I'm reviewing a white wine tonight, Neil Ellis Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from the Groenekloof region of South Africa. 

Wine making in South Africa goes all the way back to the mid-1600's. The vineyards have the unique advantage of a Mediterranean climate with oceanic air on three sides of dry, hot soil. The grapes grown are primarily Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay.

I specifically chose this wine because the wine maker's tasting notes described it as "savory." I'd never seen that word applied to a white, and thought, "We'll see." 

The color of the wine reminded me of yellow sapphires, which I found appealing. It's almost as if it's appearance promises a smooth, fragrant, fresh experience. On the nose, I smell ever so faintly some jasmine with grapefruit. What I especially like is that there is no "pucker" effect on the first sip, like I get with most whites. It's very smooth, no bite at all, with flavors of peach, grapefruit and herbs. And, yes, I would even say it is savory. You know the phrase "mouth watering" associated with the word savory? Most of the time it's triggered by aroma, sometimes by sight of a food you're familiar with, and it's absolutely essential to digestion. Well, I have to say, this wine is mouth watering by means of taste. My mouth is refreshed, literally, because of its nice long finish that reminds me of green tea with lemon.

It worked very well with my light dinner of hummus, fresh veggies, and rosemary crackers, but I thought it probably would have tasted even better with a Caprese salad or a nice Greek salad, maybe antipasto, something with a little more oomph to satisfy those salivary glands that are now wide awake. In fact, I think it would work well with any food, because it does not overpower the palate, but prepares it. While white wine is not my first choice, I will definitely choose this one again. Extremely affordable, about $14/bottle. Rated 86 by Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator, consumer reviews placed it even higher at 91.

Coppola's 2010 Claret

My blog is about discovery of what is possible after 50... new adventures, so to speak. One thing I found a latent passion for is wine. And, not just the drinking part, although I do enjoy trying to identify the complex flavors found in wine. I'm also able to satisfy my history nerdiness, as well, by researching the varietals, vineyards and processes that go into the making of it. And, just as I love trying new restaurants, I also love trying new wines. So, a portion of my blog will be dedicated to reviewing new wines.

I had seen the wine designation Claret before, while reading Agatha Christie books, and just associated it with English women of eighth generation nobility who would insist on taking afternoon tea breaks that included cucumber sandwiches and petite fours with a teeny glass of sherry. So, when I had the opportunity of saving an almost full bottle of leftover Claret from its inevitable oxidated demise three days after being opened, I really didn't expect it to be worth drinking, much less to actually like it. Incredibly, the wine was still quite good and surprisingly to my taste. As is my habit, especially with a favorable experience, I dug into some research about the wine, Francis Ford Coppola's 2010 Black Label Claret.

I learned that Claret is not a varietal but, rather, a method of blending. But, the story of this wine goes a little deeper than that. It is produced by a blending process that is a replication of one used by the rather fascinating Captain Gustave Niebaum, a Finnish sea captain, who by 1850 was the leading fur trader in the world — operating from the Alaskan Commercial Company, a trading company he founded based in San Francisco — and was the Russian Consul to the U.S. in 1867. He explored much of Alaska, prepared most of the maps of the area and was a strong advocate of the U.S. purchase of Alaska. But, he also established Inglenook Winery, in 1879 in Rutherford, California, a small village in the Napa Valley. It was the first Bordeaux-style winery in the U.S., making him kind of the father of Bordeaux blending in America. Francis Ford Coppola purchased Inglenook in 1975 with money he made from "The Godfather." (See? I wasn't kidding about the history nerdiness.)

What is Bordeaux-style? It's a blending of of the grapes grown in the Bordeaux region of France, which are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and small amounts of Malbec and Carmenere, aged at least one year in oak. The French chose the name Bordeaux. The English, historically at odds with the French on so many levels, chose to call the wine Claret, an anglicized version of Clairet, the most common wine exported from Aquitaine for the 300 years it was under English control. While the French word Clairet actually pertained to a rose wine, over the years the term Claret has come to mean any red wine blended with grapes traditionally associated with the Bordeaux region of France. 

So, let's get to the wine. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (79%), Petit Verdot (13%), Malbec (5%) and Cabernet Franc (3%). I'm not much of a purist when it comes to red wines. I really prefer the blends, and this one is a new favorite.

On the nose... vanilla and strawberries that leads really well to an earthy palate of nutmeg, coffee and leather. It would work well with any savory foods, like beef stroganoff or prime rib. Best part... it is a fraction of what you would pay for an imported French Bordeaux (less than $20/bottle) and is consistently rated 86 points with consumer reviewers. Highly recommended.

Green Pea Salad

A family favorite, green pea salad always signaled the arrival of spring, as it was always served at our Easter gathering. Two cups of frozen peas are blanched or steamed, just until slightly tender, then quickly cold shocked in icy water. Add to the peas, diced cheddar cheese, onions, sweet pickles, hard-boiled eggs, shredded lettuce and about two tablespoons of preferred salad dressing. Add diced ham for even more flavor. This salad keeps well in the refrigerator for several days, but never lasts that long at my house.

Word of the Day: Recalcitrant

I'm not really the technology geek type. It took 10 years and my cell phone literally dying to force me to purchase an iPhone. I'm still not exactly thrilled with that capitulation. I went from paying about $20 a month for the convenience of having a cell phone to including my cell phone in a bundle plan amount that rivals my monthly grocery budget, all for the privilege of mobile Internet access. Don't get me wrong... I've used it, but there's no freaking way I've used it enough to justify the cost. My children would categorize this as my natural kicking and screaming attitude with regard to making changes. I see the process as market manipulation for the sake of capitalism. And, my feelings on that subject would be best held for a future blog post.

Having said that, I frankly don't know how we existed pre-Internet. Like everyone else, it took me a while to realize it must be used with a healthy level of skepticism but, for the most part, it is my go-to source for information... news, weather, directions, movie times, restaurant menus and, yes, Facebook. I do not let a day go by without checking what's been posted by friends near and far. 

My other cyber activity, specifically this blog, I have to say, falls a little short. I'm not sure what I expected. I just had a lot of people tell me over the years, "You should write," which with the arrival of the Internet became, "You should blog." So far, it's been a matter of me just throwing ideas out into cyberspace for no particular reason other than I can. Unfortunately, I'm gradually coming to the conclusion that my ideas are not really original enough to justify blogging.

But, I'm all about sharing ideas and experiences, especially in a visual format. So, I decided to join Pinterest. It didn't take me too long to get the gist of it and create some boards. I even have a few followers, although all but one are personal friends and acquaintances. I'm rating this experience as a bridge between Facebook and blogging. The downside is it is a huge time drain. Fortunately, it wasn't a problem on a weekend during which March exited like a lion, with weather suitable for channel surfing and Internet scrolling. I was judicious and spent time browsing through sites looking for spring gardening ideas and, of course, recipes, as well as some interesting book titles for reading on those days when the weather reminds us all that there was a time when our entertaining diversions did not require electricity. 

I will, however, draw the line at Twitter. I can only be pushed so far.

Kansas City Art Deco

Still Evolving

I've been very remiss in my blogging. It had begun to feel like I was blogging just to read my own words... kind of like talking just to hear my own voice. My main purpose has always been to inspire people on the backside of 50, particularly single women, to not see their lives as winding down, but as an opportunity to continue the rebellious spirit of our youth and redefine aging. But, it became obvious I wasn't reaching that audience. Besides, it became equally obvious that there were many boomers redrawing the boundaries of old age without inspiration from me.

So, now what? Maybe I just need to follow the original script... describe the discoveries I've made about myself that are making the second half of my life really fun and exciting, and it all comes down to stepping outside my comfort zone.

Let start with two words... power tools. For my male readers, I have to say... I get it now. Sure, they're called power tools for the obvious reason. But, once I overcame the fear of putting an eye out, using them really did make me want to grunt like a Neanderthal. Or, maybe that urge has more to do with the fact that my T hormone level has finally overtaken my E hormone level.

I started really slow. First project was bathroom shelves which required drilling holes for anchor screws. (Are you impressed I know what anchor screws are?) Hey, ladies, you really do have to have a tape measure, a pencil, a straight edge and a screwdriver, not to mention the drill, a chuck key and a drill bit suitable for the size of the anchor screw. Well, all that requires a tool carrier... obviously. I would NEVER have dreamed that would be a welcomed birthday gift.

Second project was a little more complicated. It involved hanging a metal sculpture on the outside wall of my house. I had to come up with a hanger that would attach to the sculpture and be permanently secured. I found the sleeve of a bolt lock worked well to fasten the metal rod holding the sculpture together onto the wall. And, this time, a masonry bit was required. Check it out...

Right after hanging, please note tool carrier in foreground.

Fall Porch Display

So, home improvement has become a new passion. I followed this up with a living room refresh, painting ceilings, walls, new drapes and furniture. Not sure that worked to my favor... I was so successful with achieving feng shui, I don't want to leave!

Spring is coming... DIY season. Next project is a kitchen refresh. I can't wait!

We Are the Storytellers

Everyone who knows me knows I am a history nerd. The entire discipline of history and all its auxiliary sciences, such as archeology, social studies, civics — even crime scene investigation, which is basically discovering the history of a crime — have always interested me. I recently read a book, titled “Looking Back: Boomers Remember History from the ‘40s to the Present,” which consists of essays and poems written by Baby Boomers, compiled by Kay Kennedy. It was very interesting to read other perspectives on events that occurred during my lifetime and, even, to have a couple of “Oh, yeah, I remember that” moments. But, what struck me most about the book was Ms. Kennedy’s explanation for compiling these essays. She was a student at Little Rock Central High School during the integration crisis when federal troops had to occupy the campus to ensure the safety of nine black students who attended that first year of integration. Can you imagine explaining that time and experience to school-aged children today? Yet, it is a hugely significant event that needs to be remembered, not just by Ms. Kennedy, but by everyone.

She also expressed the same feeling I have always had regarding why most people roll their eyes and consider history a snooze fest. It’s unfortunate that the only way teachers can gauge the amount of knowledge actually being absorbed by students is by asking them to associate and recite dates with events. Like me, she felt it would have been so much better if schools had approached the teaching of history in the same way the ancients, and even generations before the advent of mass media, taught it to their descendants… by story telling.

Since the beginning of time, long before writing became a part of the human evolution, story telling was practiced by the elders of tribes and communities. It was how the younger generations learned how to hunt, where to hunt, where water could be found in the dry season, who was enemy or friend, what crop would grow when. It was illustrated by pictographs in ancient caves and shared around fires in the evening. History was essential knowledge and was necessary for survival. It is my belief it still is. That’s when it hit me… we, the baby boomers, are now the story tellers. Just as we learned that the story of how America came to be wasn't exactly the way it was taught to us in school, we need to make sure our descendants know, if not the truth, at least the reality of our history.

I have always felt anyone who had a strong sense of nostalgia for the 50s, 60s and 70s could not have lived through those years. Yes, great technological advances were made, social injustices brought to light and corrupt politics revealed… all of which were good things. But, there was much, much ugliness, as well. And, while our generation might have raised the bar in terms of social awareness — and healthy skepticism regarding what was being shoved in our faces under the guise of truth, justice and the American way — it is our duty to also reveal how we had to fight for racial and gender rights, how we struggled against an unjust war and why we felt it was necessary to bring down a presidency. We need to explain how our attitudes reflected the fear that, at any moment, we could all be annihilated with the push of a button; that a community could erupt with fire and riots over racial disparities; that National Guardsmen would feel the need to use lethal force against unarmed college students; that daily we heard about the numbers of young men, still teenagers, dying in a jungle thousands of miles from home, while fighting against an enemy with which they had no quarrel; that we felt the need to live for the moment by indulging in drugs and sex, because we honestly felt there were very few tomorrows left to us. It was an era of horrific violence — Manson, Speck, Whitman — and tragic assassinations. As ugly as they are, those stories are just as important as the ones about Neil Armstrong walking on the moon, Woodstock and the invention of pocket calculators. And, it is up to us to make sure future generations know about these events, because I am seeing examples of relevancy today. We don’t want our children and grandchildren to go through the same horrors we did. And, perhaps, sharing those experiences will mean nothing to them but, what if it did? We certainly won’t know by keeping them to ourselves.

Why is history important? Why is any past experience important? If you didn’t fall down, you wouldn’t learn how to achieve balance and move forward. If you didn’t get a bad grade on your performance, you wouldn’t have learned the importance of practicing to achieve excellence. If you didn’t lose occasionally, you wouldn’t learn how to win or, even, how to recognize success. Do you realize our grandchildren have experienced very little of life without the threat of global terrorism? That’s sad. If you are always engaged in conflict and war, how can you know peace?

Life’s lessons aren’t just personal… they are historical. We’ve always learned from our ancestors, from their failures as much as their successes. It is the very reason the human species has survived because, God knows, we have done, and continue to do, many things that could lead to its destruction. We need to share our experiences, not in a way that a staid history book would recount it, but as our ancient ancestors did... by story telling. I believe it is the only way the experience can become real and alive. Besides, if it's just some boring subject to sleep through in school, why did we even bother?

The Geezer Boom

But, I can only find out by trying. And, if it turns out I haven't courage enough, we'll soon know it. ~ "The Best Years of Our Lives"

Wow! I was amazed to see that I haven’t blogged since February 15!! What can I say? My life went into overdrive around the second week of March, and it hasn’t let up for one minute since. And, I guess, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have participated in a paranormal investigation, tried four new restaurants, done volunteer work, read three books, and maintained my workout schedule, while working and taking care of normal daily chores, not to mention having to play catch up on yard work after a mild winter and early spring. I am only slightly disappointed that I haven’t lived up to the New Year’s resolution of posting to my blog at least once a month, because the good news is living up to the other resolutions has be the primary reason for failure to keep this one. How are you doing on yours? I’d love to hear about your successes!

As I was doing some reading regarding Baby Boomers aging, I was astonished to find an article in The Gerontologist, titled “Not Your Mother’s Old Age,” that cited 39 different manuscripts on the subject. A community newspaper in Seattle reported about a summit conducted at South Seattle Community College during which boomers were able to voice what they wanted and needed from the community as they age. There can be little doubt that our generation is establishing brand new perceptions on the so-called golden years. An article in InfoWorld stated: I would love to know how you are making the most of the best years of your life.

“The aging of the baby boomer generation will spur technological innovation and change the entire health-care system,” age researcher Joseph Coughlin said Friday, speaking at a panel discussion on health care and technology sponsored by the New England Business and Technology Association.

Get ready world. You are entering the era of The Geezer Boom.

As I recently told a friend of mine who, in true baby boomer form has decided to learn how to pilot a plane, we make growing old look good. And, I personally think the biggest disparity from past generations is with baby boomer women. Martha Nelson, 65-year-old author of Black Chokeberry, a novel about three disparate older women coming together to share a home, said,

"We’re more worldly, stronger, financially savvy and healthier than our ancestors – through no fault of their own – and we know what we want.”

Yes, we certainly do. Have you recently noticed more ads on TV featuring older women with realistic body measurements? That’s because marketers and advertisers know 80% of baby boomer women control 80% of the wealth in the United States. 

The most important thing, however, is that we realize that, just as our demographic has impacted huge societal change through every stage of our lives, what we do as “geezers” will determine the process of aging for our children and grandchildren. We need to be responsible, yet innovative. As a demographic, we wield enormous power. But, with power, in any capacity, comes responsibility. Our descendants will live longer than we do. We need to make sure their “golden years” are just as exciting and fulfilling as we will inevitably make ours. We need to set the standard for aging. Let me know what you’re doing to set the standard for making growing older look good.