Are You Still a Boomer?

This post is to serve as a reminder for a lot of baby boomers. And, trust me... I include myself in this learning experience. Just watch the video in this link, then we'll talk.

http://www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent/video/andrew-de-leon/1404950

OK, now show of hands... how many of you were right there with me, in the beginning, thinking, "Hey, kid... you wanna be accepted? Dress acceptably."

And, then, how many of you had to fight tears of shame? Yeah, me, too.

And, that concludes tonight's reminder that we, after all, were the generation who screamed at the top of our lungs, "Hey, old people... let us be who we want to be!!"

And, while we're on the subject... are you who you want to be?

Follow Your Dreams!!

OK, if you've been following my blog for any length of time, you know that I'm a big believer in non-retirement or, as I like to call it, encore careers. And, I think a lot of baby boomers feel the same way, for a variety of reasons.

Maybe they took serious hits on their 401k in the recent bubble bursts, maybe their parents didn't plan so well for longer life, or maybe their kids have discovered a degree doesn't mean as much as it once did. 

But, in my case, I have postponed retirement because I have been able to achieve the dream... working at a job that I not only have an intense passion for, but I lucked into the unbelievable situation of working with some really cool people. I am looking forward to working until my body stops. But, for those of you who are just now tuning in, here's the nutshell... I believe, and evidence is supporting the belief that, Boomers are going to redefine retirement. We are going to change the course of American history one last time. 

As I type this, my TV is tuned into the "American Hero Channel." Military history has always fascinated me. While I enjoy learning about the strategy used in battle, I'm most interested in the humanities of war. What caused the conflict? What part did culture play in the outcome? What was the real objective?

Finally, just this year, I have been able to live what I've always known was possible... passion for a job. After putting in years working for the sake of income, I have reached the point that I can actually work for the sake of something for which I have great passion. In February of this year, I started working with the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Mo.

It fills me with great pride to type that sentence. I love my job, I love what it stands for, and I love this city. For the first time in my life, all the stars are aligned... life is good. And, here, I have to inject the well-worn quote of George Burns with a twist of my own — if I had known living this long would be this much fun, I would have taken better care of myself. Can I get an "amen"? 

What's my point? I want to say, to everyone 59+, follow your dreams. Seriously. You can draw on your 401k without penalty if an emergency hits you. You don't have to leave anything for your kids... unless your Daddy left something to you, then it's kind of, like, you gotta pay it forward, dude. 

But, for those of us who, by the hair of our chinny-chin-chins, have taken care of our parents AND our kids, it's time we set the standard for successful retirement and, in the process, put an exclamation point on our lives, do something for ourselves... follow that dream. Cue, Elvis. 

http://youtu.be/m7d2I3m59t4

I no longer am forced to work for an income. I'm working for something that I firmly believe is important to the generations that come after me. Baby Boomers have the inglorious reputation of being the "Me Generation." And, let's face it... it's the truth. But, we have shaped history since we drew our first breath. And, here is our chance  to show following generations the meaning of retirement. And, it doesn't translate into a vacation from humanity. 

We need to teach the next generation that old is a figment of the imagination... that their grandparents were heroes... that we fought, and won, critical battles for minorities... that they are the stewards of the generation that will require heroes, just like their great grandparents... that in order to die without regret, you have to have lived. It doesn't matter what "living" means... you need to die knowing you lived. Otherwise, it was a waste of oxygen. 

If you're at a point in life that you can, FINALLY, follow a dream, I urge you to do so. Step down. Go to work for a non-profit that needs your expertise. Promote and support what you believe in. It makes all the difference in the world in how you feel about yourself! And, it teaches a valuable lesson... very valuable. As in, the survival of our way of life valuable. 

La Spinetta Barbera d'Asti 2009 Wine Review

Another new wine for me! This one is an Italian I had the pleasure of learning about on a girls night wine tasting, Spinetta Barbera d'Asti 2009. It's a new grape for me, too. The Barbera grape sounds like it is Italy's answer to California's Cabernet Sauvignon. It's hearty, highly adaptable to various terroir, and provides consistent quality and yield. It has a food friendly profile, yet is equally enjoyable on its own. Barbera is believed to have originated in the hills of Monferrato in central Piemonte, Italy, where it has been known from the thirteenth century. However, some persone malvagie brought it down in the 1980s by mixing it with methanol, causing over 30 deaths and other serious injury for many victims. But, it's making a comeback. I watched a video on Wall Street Live in which a critic raved about a Barbera wine at $75/bottle. Mama mia!! I'm gonna make you an offer you can't refuse. This one is delicious for half that amount!

If you're impressed by the legs of a wine, you'll like this one. It's dark ruby with purple tinges on the edge. On the nose, I was able to pick up earthy lavender, tea and red fruit, like raspberries and very ripe plums. The earthiness is carried into the flavor with some balsamic cherry, nutmeg, cocoa and tobacco. It opens up really well, with a smooth mouthfeel and a wonderful clean finish.

The label has a mythical rhinoceros on it, for which the vineyard's website gives no explanation other than "because..." I love that! It's so Italian to me!

Wine Spectator rated it 90. Most consumer reviews I read placed it in 88-90. I agree with the high marks. 14% alcohol, so it's no lightweight. And, while I didn't drink it with food, I can't imagine it not working with anything. However, in my mind, I thought this is a wine I would want to share with my besties while sitting around a spread of hors d'oeuvres making small talk, connecting and celebrating friendship. Yeah! It's that kind of wine. For about $30/bottle. Cint'anni! Ciao!

The Monuments Men: For the Love of History

I just saw the movie, “The Monuments Men.” If you love history, you need to see the movie. However, if you ever doubted the significance of knowing history, you REALLY need to see this movie. 

Case in point, whoever wrote the script — and since I didn’t bother looking that up, I’ll just blame George Clooney — if you’re going to make a movie about a historical event, it’s pretty important that you get your facts right. Just to be clear… The World War 1 Memorial is NOT in St. Louis. OK? I can at least take some satisfaction in knowing you got the damned state right. Now that I’ve got that off my chest…

I fervently believe that the single most significant thing that sets man apart as a species from every other animal that walks, flies or swims on this earth is our development of written communication. Since the beginning of time, when prehistoric men drew pictures on caves, more or less saying, “I was here, and this is what I saw and did,” we have had the capability of understanding what went before us. 

Whether or not that knowledge is used for good or bad is a matter of choice. History tells us there were many bad choices. And, THAT is why the knowledge of history is important. How do we know who Plato was? How do we know who Michelangelo was?  How do we know who Jesus was? And, how do we know who Hitler was?

Go see the movie. It may be one of the best 1.5 hours you’ll spend all month. It’s entertaining, it’s heartbreaking, it’s uplifting, it’s well written… except, of course, for getting the location of the World War 1 Memorial wrong. I’m still a little pissed about that. 

But, more than anything, it will show any doubters who think history is lame how wrong they are. I’m not saying everyone should be as crazy about history as I am. But, I am saying we all need to respect its importance and realize that we’re lucky there were, and still are, people who ARE crazy about it… crazy enough to die saving it. 

As George Clooney says in the movie, our achievements are our identity. And, without recorded history, whether it be paintings, sculptures, buildings or just words in a book, we have no identity.

The REAL Monuments Men

God, Morgan and Me

I personally think Morgan Freeman is one of the coolest individuals living on the planet. This quote of his explained my beliefs better than I ever could. I believe that every time we put another's well being before our own, we become Jesus, Allah or whatever Deity a person holds sacred. 

I respect every belief system, and I applaud every faith-based post and meme I see on my Facebook feed. I think it's important to put those reminders out there, to remind everyone that we're all part of a whole and, therefore, responsible for ourselves AND each other. While I don't take the Bible literally, I personally think it is one of the most important books ever written. I've never read the Koran or the Torah, but from what I know of them, I believe they are very much like the Christian Bible, basically a calling to take a high road in how we live and treat all the other creatures that exist on this planet. 

There's a house down the street from me that has posters in the yard with Bible-inspired sayings on signs in the yard, like "Seek Jesus' Face" and "There is no Love greater than the Lord's." Some people would call that fanaticism. I know I did until, suddenly one day, the signs weren't there. I NEVER realized how much I counted on seeing those signs, how instinctive it was for me to SEARCH that yard for the assurance that there were people who were so strong in their faith, they were willing to openly share it in such a manner. I felt a loss when I didn't see the signs and was, honestly, relieved to see them return in a couple of days. I don't know the people who live there, but I have resolved to stop some day and tell them how much the signs mean to me. And, while I don't think I believe in exactly the same way as they do, I'm pretty sure our hearts are in the same place.

It's about respect. It's about belief that individually we are insignificant in the whole scheme of things, but majestic in our individual ability to make change in a society that is obviously corrupt and morally sick. 

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) 

I can't testify absolutely that it is Jesus or God who makes me want to be a better person, but I totally get that my strength needs to be a reflection of the tenets of Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi and every other defender of faith we've been blessed to know. Because, whether you want to admit it or not, the message is the same from every faith... from the beginning of time. It's pretty simple really... admit that there is a power higher than what you control and love your fellow Earthly inhabitants as much as you love yourself. How hard can that be... seriously.

I'm not religious. I am, however, deeply spiritual. And, I truly believe most of us want the same thing... peace, respect and justice. But, here's the crux... how far are we willing to go to achieve that? I believe it's time we all take a moral evaluation of where we are, where we think we should be and just what we're willing to do to create the world we know we are capable of creating. It means taking a different road, setting an example, being the person you know you want to be. I know I'm ready... are you?

Wine Review: Francis Ford Coppola Black Diamond Claret 2011

I had the pleasure of revisiting another "old friend" yesterday... Francis Ford Coppola Black Diamond Claret 2011. I love this wine, but it's been hard to find. Finally, my favorite wine retailer got some in, and I just happened in during a sale. Normal retail is about $18, I got this bottle for $12. SCORE! I bought four.

First of all, I think it's important to explain that Claret is simply the British name for Bordeaux blends. Throughout the Middle Ages, England, France and Spain were off-and-on mortal enemies. Since England didn't have a climate conducive to growing grapes, wine had to be imported. To assuage the sting of deficient terroir, the English renamed the Bordeaux blend as Claret, referring to the wine's color... or, perhaps, I should type colour. So, if you're an Agatha Christie fan, and you've read that Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot enjoyed a glass of Claret, now you know it's referring to the blending of Bordeaux grapes.

That concludes the history and literary portion of tonight's program. On to the wine...
The blend is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec, 3% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, blended by Corey Beck and aged 15 months in French oak. Expert rating is 90.

There's a faint sweet floral aroma, kind of like dusty rose, with a little vanilla. The taste is fairly dry, lots of berries, a little licorice and a touch of coffee. The finish is really nice, not overpowering, just kind of a subtle lingering. I enjoyed this wine with a homemade, spicy hot, sweet and sour Chinese-inspired stew yesterday, but it was even better with the medium rare steak topped with melted blue cheese and carmelized onions I had tonight. I heartily recommend this wine, especially if you can get it for less than $20. Cheers!

Zolo Signature Red 2012 Wine Review

It's always nice to see an old favorite wine. Such was the case when I entered one of my favorite wine stores (Cellar Rat, downtown Kansas City) and found this Zolo Signature Red 2012 from Mendoza, Argentina. The Zolo winery is a progeny of Fincas Patagonicus, one of the most technologically advanced wineries in Argentina, where wine is sustainably produced. 

Check out that view!

The winery's signature wine is Malbec (duh), but they also produce this blend which contains Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda, Merlot and Malbec grapes. It has a very dark, opaque garnet color. I pick up aromas of coffee and smoky cranberries. Lots of mocha flavor envelopes the palate, leading into tart cherries, earthy herbs and a tiny bite of peppery heat. The finish is long and rich with chocolate covered cherries. And, I have a feeling it will be even better tomorrow, after it's had a day to soften.

What I like about this wine is that it does not have the fruity sweetness of most blends, so it will work with just about any food. Oddly enough, though, what I thought as I was sipping it was how well its solid tannins would work with rich lobster or crab dishes dripping in buttery sauces. Or, most assuredly with my all-time favorite stew, cioppino... and, yes, I'm talking about pairing fish with a red wine... I'm a rebel like that! 

I was surprised to find out it is rated between 86 and 90 by professional critics, yet I paid only $13/bottle. However, what was most telling was the high praise given by the everyday wine lover. I highly recommend this as an all-around versatile wine for almost any occasion, but it has 13.8% alcohol, so please drink responsibly.