the myth of age

Everybody, I mean everybody (except the AARP) is after the below 30 crowd. I understand you have to include them. After all they have to learn how to lead and to be involved and engaged. On the other hand, I'm not planning on retiring and if I were to retire it wouldn't be to sit in a rocking chair or play shuffle board. Let's understand here that I have the health once associated with a 40-year-old and I'm way passed that mark. Heck, if I exercised more I could stay at that mark for a very long time indeed. People living to 65 have about another 20 years to go and mostly in pretty good health. I'm beginning to get worried that maybe the protesting sit-in, be-in, love-in generation may take that up again. After all, we have less to lose now. We can risk it. You young people watch out!

And that went totally somewhere else than I thought it would. What I mean is, boomers still have a lot going on and they have the resources to do it. It's silly to try to place old paradigms on us. I am not some white-haired, grandchild-focused, retired lay about. And don't think anyone from my generation is. So, why are we treated that way? I'm still looking forward and planning my next life. And a great life it will be, too.

You know, here I am with all this experience, really good experience and the finely honed ability to work and some social leaders are ready to put me on the back burner. It's a criminal waste of resources.

Okay. I'm off the box now.

Making a Man Look Old

Not as easy as one might think. Definitely not as easy as I thought it would be. I have Daz 3D and a bunch of plug ins and models and stuff. I got one plug in just to make old guys. The plug in was intended to make scary guys but, hey, old guys are scary, aren't they? So, I gave this guy lines and some bags and he does look aged but not old. Okay. So maybe he's about 40 or so. Is that old?

so much so little

There's the deck to stain. I've done the railing. It looks so nice. Here's a tip: buy good paint. Here's another: prepare the surface. I am entranced with the miracle of sanding! Sure, I've made wooden things before. I was forced to work with wood during a crafts class in the seventies. I had to sand by hand. This time I sanded with a machine. Doesn't matter. Both work. But if you're doing a railing I suggest a machine unless you're going for that "made by hand" look. But it's just lovely the way the wood responds to paint and how the paint covers it so thoroughly and smoothly. Sanding is the answer! ... no matter what the question.

Oh. Right. Then there's a poem or two in my head that need writing down. Soon. And my camera is holding lovely (I hope) shots of the river in spring which I would love to share with you.

And every five seconds I have yet another topic to blog about. It's definitely something like spring but a lot like summer. This I have discovered after three hours at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens with friends. If you get the chance, hire a guide. We had an excellent one and I learned so much. Guides know it all. I've missed a lot just wandering along reading pamphlets. I didn't take any photos but I still have impressions to share.

That, and I'm trying really hard to be me all the time. Oh! And I need to relay my last PP experience. Yes. I have something to say about that and I can't just let it go with one poem.

Yikes! And there's Pirates of the Caribbean! I may actually see it first run but not the night it opens. It's very long and I need my beauty sleep (okay – keep those thoughts to yourself). And I've discovered yet another thing about my youthful past that you must know. heh heh

I'll be back.

Current Fads
Listening. iPod List - Rock (unpublished); a million birds
Watching. Annie Hall (1977)
Activity. deck renewal
Gadget. iPod Shuffle 2nd Gen
News Source. I am the news!
Reading. A Diet to Die For - Joan Hess; My Mind - me; GD USA; Fortune The New York Times and The Washington Post online (Yes, I really am reading them all right now—I'm a reading addict. What can I say?)

the 20-year cycle of life

There is research to suggest that settling into retirement takes about 20 years (including the planning). Well, actually it only takes about a year to get reoriented once you retire. I have heard stories about it taking from 3 to 6 months. I think it depends on how many years of stored up "to do's" you have on your list. You know, that stuff you always meant to get around to and never did; i.e., visiting the grandkids, cleaning out the attic, checking out the local dance club, etc. What all that means is we need breaks. It takes time to get into a life routine: finding a job, getting comfortable with the routine and expectations, enjoying your new found economic freedom and having fun with it. Eventually the routine gets boring and then constricting. And it's time for a break.

Since we only live about 100 years that means a life break. According to this same research after about a year retirees begin finding a second life. Some secondary interest that they kept shoving into the background comes to the front. After a year (or 3-6 months) of playing a retiree can look at that avocation in a new light with renewed energy and start life all over again. Most entrepreneurs go through a similar cycle of creating an enterprise, watching it succeed, selling it, resting, and then starting over again with something entirely different. If we lived forever we might find ourselves making new lives about every 10-20 years, depending on interest level and circumstances.

Other life roles play out in 20 years, for example: most marriages (which last for 15-20 years), child rearing, many mortgages, acting and sports careers. So, no need to feel that your first job has to be the one that you will have forever. Let's say you're 24 and you get a job and keep it (or stay in the same industry) for 20 years. You'll be 44 at the end of that. And while that may seem old (to a 24-year-old) it's actually quite young when you consider that you may be around for another 40 years or so. And, yes, there is life after 50.

I'm ready for my big break and new lifestyle (which I may have mentioned once or twice). In fact, I've already got an album cover and song titles.

Fatuous Fat Mule cover art

New release featuring: I'm Not From Around Here and I Intend to Stay That Way, It Most Certainly is All About Me, and Going Where the Weather Suits My Clothes. On sale NOW! Void where prohibited.

Song of the Day: "Timid Frieda (Les Timides)" by M. Shuman, E. Blau, J. Brel; from the album Jaques Brel is Alive and Living in Paris.

The Best 20 Years of Your Life (A Cautionary Tale)

A few years ago as I was standing in line at the post office I had a serious epiphany. It was a rainy day. I was more than damp. I was next in line. The clerk suddenly reached behind the counter and proffered an umbrella with a big smile on his face.

"Here. Take this," he said holding it up in my direction. I beamed a smile at him (thinking it had been a long time since anyone had shown such kindness) but before I could do anything I heard a voice behind me. I turned around to see a young, beautiful woman animatedly talking to the clerk (who was about 20 years older than her and had a pot belly for heavens sake). At that moment I took an entirely new view of my past.

I had gone blissfully through my younger days thinking of myself as one of the luckier people on earth. My life went well and many things fell into place. Others were kind and caring. Life was good. I wondered sometimes about the harsh attitudes of some others I saw in the distance but decided they were just that way. I seldom worried too terribly much about anything as someone was always there to take care of things. Often just what I needed arrived at just the right moment. Clerks were kind to me. Men spoke gently with me.

I'm sure I was lucky. I'm pretty sure I have some people skills (on a face-to-face basis) that can soothe the troubled beast and bring out the best in others. I know I'm capable of avoiding some of the obstacles many blunder into and that I'm better than some at getting out of snarls.

But ...

The real reason my younger life went so well was that I was young and beautiful (or at least strikingly attractive). As I have looked back since that day, I have understood that puzzling behavior of my ex-husband when we entered a crowded room. I understand now why others suddenly turned their heads, swiveled their eyes in my direction and often smiled. I understand why it was so easy for me to find a man willing to love me. I see now that my easy ride through many situations was greased by biology and youth. I'm now able to translate those expressions I once saw on women when I entered a group for the first time. I know why many of them later softened because I was unaware of my effects and because I was nice. Oh, I knew I wasn't ugly. But I figured I looked okay, you know, just okay.

Undoubtedly some of you women are snorting and clicking on to other more significant pages. But that was me, unaware, coasting through life without a second thought. That's just the way life worked – in my favor.

My advice to those of you in this predicament is take advantage of your assets. Parlay the good will of others into opportunities to build skills you can use later when you are old(er) and less attractive. Build your brains and develop useful talents because some day you will lose your looks and need to stand on your merits alone. Gone will be the kind drivers willing to hold the bus for you, forgiving policemen will vanish and men will be a lot harder to come by. Like me, you may wonder where you luck has gone. On the plus side, women will be miraculously easier to deal with. Although I have to admit, when surrounded by women in my same age group, I sometimes still get those looks.

Of course, my life wasn't totally charmed and I have had my share of grief, but that wonderful magical carpet ride is most definitely over. You take advantage of it while you can and good luck!