*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
Nancy’s Growing and Knowing:
As this new year begins, I am packing up the
past year, leaving only the lessons it brought.
Now—that’s done, it’s on to getting ready for
the next twelve months. January 1, 2008, I
surprised myself by starting my journal with
this: This is the year I start living my happy
ending!
Especially in the third stage of our lives, the
after menopause part, happiness is so much more
available. We have more choices, more control
and more to cherish than ever before—so I say,
“Let’s exercise those options.”
A positive upbeat friend or two helps a lot. So
does a coach. There’s not a better one than
Jean Shinoda Bolen. Her book: Crones
Don’t Whine: Concentrated Wisdom for Juicy Women
is a great how-to. If you haven’t read it, rush
to
www.amazon.com (through our website, of
course,
www.wiseolderwomen.com, order it and support
WOW! at the same time). If you already have the
book, reread it. I guarantee that life will
improve if you read it once a year.
All of the 13 qualities Bolen describes are
incredible, but I want to highlight the 7th one:
"Crones Choose the Path with Heart." She gives
the path for exercising our options for the last
third of life as improved when we are “. .
.learning from our past and applying the lessons
to the choices we make for our future.” She
reminds us to move toward our passions.
What do you need to love life and age well? I
considered that question and decided a little
more fun and joy will complete my needs. Last
October, I committed to add nothing new except
just that: following what I love to a better
life.
Beyond my kids and grandkids and Teddy-Bear, my
dogs, traveling is my love. The second friend I
made in San Antonio, Sharon Kasserman,
and I got around to talking about travel
immediately. Quickly we decided to plan a trip,
but first we needed to talk about expenses.
Then, and this is the good part for you, the
discussion led to a new direction for WOW! We
know many of you are like us, want to travel,
but have a few issues, like, "It costs so much,"
and "It takes so much effort to get the wheres,
whats and whos worked out." Then there's "I
don't have anyone to travel with" and of course,
"Tours take care of most of those problems, but
they are so expensive and I hate traveling that
way."
Sharon and I know we can help to find affordable
and fun ways for small groups of friends to
travel. We'll check it out, get the information
you need while we have a great trip. Then we'll
tell all through the newsletter and website.
We already have an in-house resource. Our own
editor, Ramona John, has made over
thirty independent trips to Europe and wrote a
book about it. It's available at amazon.com--Fun
in Europe, A Travel Guide for Grown-Ups.
Surely the Travel Channel will call wanting to
feature our travels. And now, hhhheeeeerrrreee’s
Sharon!
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
Sharon’s Goings and Showings:
Hi
everybody. Knowing Nancy adds lots of fun to my
life. She has all the attributes one hopes to
find in a friend, and the most important one is
her sense of adventure! The other best thing
about Nancy is .. she has all of these
incredible women friends. This is proof that
“like attracts like."
Why, you ask, does WOW! need a Director of
Travel? Well gals, HANG ON, we are ready to
travel the world! No, we are not opening a
travel agency .. we are going to do a "Living
Tutorial for WOW!" on travel to different parts
of the world. How many of you would love to go,
but think “I can’t afford that”? Or get a little
fearful when you think of being in a country
where English is not the native language? We
plan to prove you can afford it and travel
anywhere (almost, anyway), even if you don’t
speak the language. We’ll film and share our
adventures with you via the WOW! website and
newsletter. We hope it will get you ready to go
for the gusto. We’re doing just that!
Want to know the travel adventures we have on
our horizon? You already know about the cruise
in February. What an affordable deal! And, with
permission, of course, the eight WOW! going will
star in the video for the website.
Then it’s Fiesta in San Antonio! San Antonio
knows how to throw an affordable, accessible and
safe party. Fiesta is one of the best! You can
star in this film. Just mark your calendars for
the first week of Fiesta, April 18-24, and come
for as many days as possible.
In October, we go international in a big
way—Spain for a month.
My motto is ... if you THINK you can, you can!
I’m thinking a lot.
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
Last night my sister and I were sitting in the
den and I said to her, 'I never want to live in
a vegetative state, dependent on some machine
and fluids from a bottle to keep me alive. That
would be no quality of life at all. If that ever
happens, just pull the plug.'
So she got up, unplugged the computer, and threw
out my wine.
She's such a bitch.
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
WOW! Forum:
From Shirley Haight:
Stores do an end of the year clearance, they dig
out and sell at dirt cheap prices. Year end, two
for one, sale, buy two, get one free, sale.
Rebates galore. Well, I'm having a clearance
too!
I'm dumping, I'm giving away, I'm selling, I'm
moving around stuff. I'm starting w/closets, I'm
getting rid of things that don't suit me, even
if it's Flax and cotton. Wrong color, wrong
size, just plain don't like!
I'm going to hang what's left on good hangers
and hang them properly, rather than just
throwing them on the hanger, yes I am! Then I'll
check the tops of the closets for purses I don't
want, even if they each cost a house payment.
Cost more money than I ever had to go in them,
Louis Vitton, Coach, Doney, Kate Spade (gifts of
course). Even so, I've no room for such high
style!! There, that's done, at least in my mind!
Then I will check the floor of the closets for
whatever has landed there over the past year.
Bags, shoes and miscellaneous items, if they
don't work with my intentions, out they go! In
one closet I have shoes, shoes and more shoes. I
have parted with all the shoes I intend to.
Shoes are a totally different matter! Why I love
shoes is probably not a mystery, perhaps comes
from owning just one pair a year as a child and
adolescent. I've given up and accepted the why,
I love shoes and I only like one kind, that's
comfortable ones. None of them will go. I have
three crates of Birk's and a shoe pocket of
dress shoes, they all stay.
On to the Office room!
I will throw away all the bits and pieces of
things I have copied from the web, poems,
special letters you have written me, Letters to
Editor's I have written when I've been pissed
off, I will go through my books and donate
novels I've read and those I intend to read,
too; I know and you know I'm never gonna do it!
I will organize my recipes and antidotes I
intend for my chadults and grands, I will unpack
pictures of my family and get them on the wall
in the office room. I will clear off all things
on my computer that are not relevant to today. I
will pack something in the big plastic storage
tub that's sitting in the office room, if I can
remember what it was I was going to put in it,
and get it out of the room, it's almost as big
as the room!!
Then there's the kitchen;
I will organize what's left of my pots and pans,
I will buy new ones if I want, Like my shero,
Martha, I may buy one of those little racks that
hangs over head and fill up the rest of my
precious kitchen space with pretty new purple
pots and pans, I will go through my crock that
holds all the cooking tool crap I never use.
Lemon zester, Pasta fork, five different sizes
of egg turners, fourteen wooden spoons, three
big metal spoons, a meat tenderizer (may use
this for a hammer) Five different big meat
forks, three of which are from my Mother's
kitchen. When I think of the things we disposed
of when we moved to the Village, it boggles my
mind the stuff I had and didn't need nor use,
somebody have me committed if I buy another
thing! I still have way too much.
Why on God's green Earth did I think I needed a
Madeleine for cooking, maybe because my friend
Carolyn has one and is a gourmet cook? An
industrial Kitchen Aid mixer? Don't care, it
stays, wonderful dough hook for making cookies.
Ten feet of counter top should not have to hold
a toaster, a mixer, a micro wave and that other
kind of counter top oven, a set of canisters,
coffee pot and various and sundry other items.
Living room: Unpack the large dish barrel that
has been sitting beside the china cabinet since
last January when we moved to The Village.
Perhaps I will get rid of six silk flower
arrangements, maybe more, even the Buddha whose
belly I intended to rub for good luck every day
and the family crest that is about as real as
Star Jones new personality.
I will not turn loose of a single one of my
collection of folk art which has been given to
me over the years and done with hands of the
women in and from my life, never!
I WILL NOT, no, never, ever, get rid of the
beautiful calla Lilly's given to me over twenty
years ago by my beloved friend: tattered,
flopping and dusty, but, forever they will
remain on my television in plain view of my
eyes. They make me feel good!
In my mind I am going to do these things. When
the motivation hits my action meter I'll be on
my way, then I can began to clear the clutter
from my mind.
Hope you are looking forward to the New Year. I
give thanks for the past three years. I have
learned more about myself and my family than I
ever dreamed possible. Really more than I wanted
to know, but not more than I needed to know.
This year, 2008 is the year before our fiftieth
wedding anniversary. Married Chuck on a payday
on Feb 4 1959, I thought I had married a
Rockefeller! After all, he did have a brand new
Buick, never mind that we paid on it for the
next few years! When we married I brought two
little children, a clock radio, and love to the
marriage. That’s all, but no body has ever loved
him more.
From Mary Salerno:
I just got and read the newsletter and want to
thank you for always getting it out, no matter
what. I'm glad you're enjoying California and I
know that cream is rising for you even as I type
this. One comment on the purse thing: Any woman
who puts her bag on the bathroom floor, public
or private, is a Philistine. There. I said it. A
Philistine.
Enjoy your time away, your friends and the
entire holiday season. May 2008 bring you
goodness, kind interactions, peace of mind,
excellent lessons, lots of laughter and
happiness, and abundant joy.
From Daurice Ring:
Thanks for a wonderful Gift, Our WOW!
Newsletter. I took time to read every word and
as usual it was well worth the time. I have some
delicious things to mull over and some others to
think on for a good long while. I love all of
you, my WOW Sisters.
From Betty Lambert:
Thank you for always doing a good job & I LOVED
Regina Brett's 50 things she learned,
AWESOME.
Hey Nancy, I discovered something. When I right
clicked on the little x in the square box, it
made the lettering on the page white on blue,
instead of grey of which I can hardly see, so it
was just too cool. I guess I am the only one who
has trouble w/ the background color but I think
I have that figured out now.
Happy Holidays & Happy cruising........
From Sharon Kasserman:
Just read the December issue of WOW. I am so
glad you have come into my life, dear friend.
Your friendship is very important to me and I so
enjoy the quirky way your mind works and your
thoughts flow.
Nancy’s Note: How many agree with me that
quirky should be highlighted?
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
STROKE!!!
Remember The 1st Three Letters.... S.T.R.
My nurse friend sent this and encouraged me to
post it and spread the word. I agree.
If everyone can remember something this simple,
we could save some folks. Seriously..
STROKE IDENTIFICATION
It only takes a minute to read this...
A neurologist says that if he can get to a
stroke victim within 3 hours he may totally
reverse the effects of a stroke... totally.
He said the trick was getting a stroke
recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the
patient medically cared for within 3 hours,
which is tough.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE A STROKE
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to
identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness
often spells disaster. The stroke victim may
suffer severe brain damage when people nearby
fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Thank God for the '3' steps, known as STR.
Doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke
by asking these simple questions:
"S"
Ask the individual to SMILE & show me your
teeth, look for droop of the mouth left or
right.
"T"
Ask the person to repeat after you, "You can not
teach an old dog new tricks."
"R"
Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS out in front
of them, palms down, then palms upward.
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of
these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe
the symptoms to the dispatcher.
And, now there's a new sign of Stroke;
Stick out Your Tongue!
Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If
the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side
or the other , that is also an indication of a
stroke.
A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this
e-mail sends it to 10 people, you can bet that
at least one life will be saved!!
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
WOW! to WOW!
From Marcia Freedman:
Persimmon Tree Magazine is an online
literary magazine by women over 60. Less than a
year old, Persimmon Tree is attracting
thousands of readers of all ages from 40
countries and throughout North America. It can
be found online at
www.persimmontree.org .
Persimmon Tree showcases an impressive
variety of literature and art by women over 60,
many still working well into their 80s and 90s.
Many of the writers and artists are well-known:
Marilyn French, Ruth Stone, Grace Paley, E.M.
Broner, Paula Gunn Allen, Jane Lazarre, Faith
Ringgold, and Nicole Hollander.
Others are lesser known, while some are newly
developing their craft in their later years. All
of them are at the height of their creative
powers, and all of them express the shared,
though diverse experiences of aging women, from
late middle age to late old age.
“Persimmon Tree is intended to fill a
niche that has been neglected by contemporary
publishing, whether in print or online,” said
Nan Gefen, the magazine’s founding editor
and publisher. “There is a growing body of work
by male writers and artists who are entering or
well into old age. But the comparable body of
work by aging women is much smaller and mostly
limited to a few already well-known writers and
artists,” Gefen explained. “Women are
creating, but they are not getting the exposure
they deserve.”
Persimmon Tree is published in
association with Mills College in Oakland, CA.
From Sharon Kasserman:
This is an oldie and a goodie.
Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, my daughter (the
dear) purchased a week of personal training at
the local health club for me. Although I am
still in great shape since being a high school
football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it
would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a
try.
I called the club and made my reservations with
a personal trainer named Belinda, who identified
herself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and
model for athletic clothing and swim wear. My
daughter seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to
get started! The club encouraged me to keep a
diary to chart my progress.
MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of
bed, but found it was well worth it when I
arrived at the health club to find Belinda
waiting for me. She is something of a Greek
goddess -- with blonde hair, dancing eyes and a
dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Belinda gave me
a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed
watching the skillful way in which she conducted
her aerobics class after my workout today Very
inspiring! Belinda was encouraging as I did my
sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from
holding it in the whole time she was around.
This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!
TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally
made it out the door. Belinda made me lie on my
back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then
she put weights on it! My legs were a little
wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full
mile. Belinda's rewarding smile made it all
worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life
for me.
WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying
the toothbrush on the counter and moving my
mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a
hernia in both pectorals Driving was OK as long
as I didn't ! try to steer or stop. I parked on
top of a GEO in the club parking lot. Belinda
was impatient with me, insisting that my screams
bothered other club members. Her voice is a
little too perky for early in the morning and
when she scolds, she gets this nasally whine
that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got
on the treadmill, so Belinda put me on the stair
monster. Why the Hell would anyone invent a
machine to simulate an activity rendered
obsolete by elevators? Belinda told me it would
help me get in shape and enjoy life. She said
some other shit too.
THURSDAY:
Belinda was waiting for me with her vampire-like
teeth exposed as her thin, cruel lips were
pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help
being a half an hour late, it took me that long
to tie my shoes. Belinda took me to work out
with dumbbells. When she was not looking, I ran
and hid in the restroom. She sent another skinny
bitch to find me
Then, as punishment, she put me on the rowing
machine -- which I sank.
FRIDAY:
I hate that bitch Belinda more than any human
being has ever hated any other human being in
the history of the world. Stupid, skinny,
anemic, anorexic little cheerleader. If there
was a part of my body I could move without
unbearable pain, I would beat her with it.
Belinda wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't
have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in
the floor, don't hand me the damned barbells or
anything that weighs more than a sandwich. The
treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health
and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been
someone softer, like the drama coach or the
choir director?
SATURDAY:
Belinda left a message on my answering machine
in her grating, shrilly voice wondering why I
did not show up today. Just hearing her made me
want to smash the machine with my planner.
However, I lacked the strength to even use the
TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight
hours of the Weather Channel.
SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for
services today so I can go and thank GOD that
this week is over. I will also pray that next
year my daughter (the little shxx) will choose a
gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or
a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me
to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor
with diamonds!!!
From Barbara Dayton:
JURY DUTY SCAM!
Because most of us take those summons for jury
duty seriously, a new and ominous kind of fraud
has surfaced.
The caller claims to be a jury coordinator. If
you protest that you never received a summons
for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your
Social Security number and date of birth so he
or she can verify the information and cancel the
arrest warrant. Give out any of this information
and bingo, your identity was just stolen.
The fraud has been reported so far in 11 states,
including Oklahoma, Illinois, and Colorado. This
(swindle) is particularly insidious because they
use intimidation over the phone to try to bully
people into giving information by pretending
they are with the court system. The FBI and the
Federal Court System have issued nationwide
alerts on their web sites, warning consumers
about the fraud.
Snopes site says this is real fraud.
http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp
From Dotsie Bregal:
Most Valuable Life Lesson -
The National Association of Baby Boomer Women,
NABBW and
www.boomerwomenspeak.com are excited to
sponsor the NABBW 2008 Contest, Most Valuable
Life Lesson. Win $100.00 cash and FREE
Membership or Membership Renewal with the NABBW!
With age comes wisdom. What wise lesson have you
learned that has been life changing? We are
publishing a list of The Top Ten Most Valuable
Life Lessons.
Please tell us what lesson you've learned that
has changed your life and may help change
another's life. It's that simple. Name the
lesson and share how you learned it within 100
words or less.
All boomer-age (born 1946-1964) women are
invited to submit their most valuable life
lesson learned to Dotsie Bregel, Founder
of the National Association of Baby Boomer
Women, NABBW and
www.boomerwomenspeak.com , the number one
sites for "baby boomer women" on major search
engines.
If your lesson is chosen, you win $100.00 in
cash and a membership or renewal to the NABBW
for F-R-E-E. Your contact information may be
included in future publications of the list.
Simply follow these Guidelines.
1.) Submit your entry in a Word document with
your name, email address, short bio within the
Word document. Give the lesson a title and share
how you learned the lesson in less than 100
words.
2) In the subject line of your email put
"MIDLIFE" and submit your entry to
contest@nabbw.com .
3) Deadline is January 30, 2008.
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
When I'm an old lady, I'll live with each kid,
And bring so much happiness...just as they did.
I want to pay back all the joy they've provided.
Returning each deed! Oh, they'll be so excited!
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)
I'll write on the wall with reds, whites and
blues,
And I'll bounce on the furniture...wearing my
shoes.
I'll drink from the carton and then leave it
out.
I'll stuff all the toilets and oh, how they'll
shout!
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)
When they're on the phone and just out of reach,
I'll get into things like sugar and bleach.
Oh, they'll snap their fingers and then shake
their head,
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)
When they cook dinner and call me to eat,
I'll not eat my green beans or salad or meat,
I'll gag on my okra, spill milk on the table,
And when they get angry...I'll run...if I'm
able!
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)
I'll sit close to the TV, through the channels
I'll click,
I'll cross both eyes just to see if they stick.
I'll take off my socks and throw one away,
And play in the mud 'til the end of the day!
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)
And later in bed, I'll lay back and sigh,
I'll thank God in prayer and then close my eyes.
My kids will look down with a smile slowly
creeping,
And say with a groan, 'She's so sweet when she's
sleeping!'
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
Upcoming
Events:
NCL’s Spirit February 24, 2008 for a week of fun
and sun. We depart New Orleans at 5:30 pm, spend
February 25, 2008 At Sea
February 26, 2008 Roaton 3- 8:00 pm
February 27, 2008 Santo Tomas de Castilla 8:00
am 6:00 pm
February 28, 2008 Belize City, Belize 8:00 am
6:00 pm
February 29, 2008 Cozumel 8:00 am 5:00 pm
March 1, 2008 At Sea
March 2, 2008 arrive back in New Orleans 8:00 am
Hope you're coming with us!
*~~~*
Fiesta in San Antonio:
April, 2008
See the February Newsletter for details!!
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
WEB SITES OF INTEREST:
From Marcia Freedman:
An Online Literary Magazine by Women Over 60.
Less than a year old, Persimmon Tree is
attracting thousands of readers of all ages from
40 countries and throughout North America. It
can be found online at
www.persimmontree.org .
Nancy’s Note: All WOW! writer’s—get with it
now and submit. And let us know when something
you send in is used.
From Pat Ball:
Hi, all you animal lovers. The Animal Rescue
Site is having trouble getting enough people to
click on it daily to meet their quota of getting
free food donated every day to abused and
neglected animals. It takes less than a minute
(How about 20 seconds) to go to their site and
click on the purple box 'fund food for animals'
for free. This doesn't cost you a thing. Their
corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of
daily visits to donate food to
abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for
advertising. Here's the web site! Pass it along
to people you know.
www.theanimalrescuesite.com
Nancy’s Note: You can also get a daily
reminder sent to your email box.
From Dotsie Bregal:
Visit the National Association of Boomer Women:
www.boomerwomenspeak.com .
From Dianne Massey:
This is hysterical. Enjoy:
http://digbig.com/4wfns
Another one from Diane. It’s a must watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U
From Len Wheeler:
From its extraction through sale, use and
disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects
communities at home and abroad, yet most of this
is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a
20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the
underside of our production and consumption
patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the
connections between a huge number of
environmental and social issues, and calls us
together to create a more sustainable and just
world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you
laugh, and it just may change the way you look
at all the stuff in your life forever.
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
WOW! Wise Older Women! website: Subscribe
to this newsletter and view archives of previous
ones:
http://www.wiseolderwomen.com
Family health history can help save lives. For
more information, go to
www.hhs.gov/familyhistory .
Use a powerful retirement planning calculator
at:
www.aarp.org/bulletin/yourmoney
*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*
Wise Older Women!
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