I have recently had reason to become aware of the wealth that I have in the people connections I have made over the decades. This awareness came about when I was  looking for people to do work for my client in Miami, Loop Consulting Group. The first connection was a recent one - a blogger whose writing I admired. I have told you in a previous posting that Kat is now serving loop as a writer and editor.

 

Now Loop is seeking to set up satellite offices for their electronic newsletter business in cities around the U.S. They are seeking people who have experience in the marketing communications field ... people who could solicit and handle accounts for Loop. Now I had to reach back about ten years. I thought of my friend and former client (for my consulting services) Lee in Orlando.  She has a graphics art studio and is the perfect person for the Loop requirements.  Just this morning we had a long conference call between Marcos, president of Loop, Lee and me during which we reached agreement that she will be handling a satellite office of Loop in her area.

 

Next, a connection from back in the early years of my time in Miami checked in with me.  Gene Hammeroff and I have continued to work together on an informal basis  doing consulting with ad agency operators. A few days ago he told me that he had an assignment from a client of his in California who is looking for new opportunities for his agency.  I had a discussion with Gene about the possiblity of interesting his client in adding a function for his agency that would be a satellite office of Loop.  Gene is interested in the idea and will discuss it with his client.

 

Then, I recently got an email from a woman in Los Angeles who has been the creative director of an ad agency there. I had worked with her in an agency in Miami. She is interested in finding new and different things to do with her life.  I have suggested that she might consider going out on her own and establishing a satellite office for Loop.  In effect, she would be running her own business.  She is interested.

 

So, I have come to greatly appreciate the treasure that I have in my connections from my past.

 

You see, I keep finding reasons to say that Late Life can be the best time of one's life

Penny and I have been warmed by the comments we have received in response to the posting below. We really do enjoy being in touch with all of you via this blog - and feel that we have made some friends.  Your responses confirm this.

 

So, Late Life Crisis will go on.  Believe me, there is never any shortage of things to post about.  Life is a continuing adventure and Penny and I live it to the fullest.

 

So thanks for the feedback.  And if there are any others who have comments about Late Life Crisis please do pass them on to us.

 

Love from Penny and Pete

Lately, things have been sort of quiet at Late Life Crisis.  We used to get 800-1000 visits a week.  Now we are down to 500-600 visits. We note that the comments are much fewer. Penny has usually gotten 6-8 comments for each of her "Patter From Penny" postings. The last one has only received two. She is disappointed and wonders if the postings are worth doing.

 

So, this is a time to take stock. What is your view of and reaction to Late Life Crisis?

 

Is this blog worth continuing?  If not, how is it coming up short?

 

Are there things we are not doing that you would like to see done?  Are there things that we are doing that are boring you or turning you off?

 

Or maybe, the problem is that we have not been visiting your blog often enough. I know that reciprocation means a lot to us bloggers and maybe I am not being there frequently enough for you.

 

It is too bad that this little survey can't reach those who have stopped visiting us. But what we hear from you may help us keep our remaining good friends.

 

We are ready and able to keep Late Life Crisis going.  The question is, does it really matter to you folks out there in blogland?

 

 

There are three things I fear: being boring, becoming fat and flying - especially in an airplane.

 

I have learned how to deal with two out of the the three. When I wake up and feel that I could be particularly boring I merely avoid all human contact. If my talking bathroom scale tells I have gained five pounds (and then says "Shame on you.  Have a nice day!) I eat the foods that I know will cause my colitis to rear its ugly head. Painful, yes, but no pain no gain.

 

When I fly my knuckles are white.  I feel totally out of control. But I guess no one is in control with the exception of the captain and the copilot. It always amazes me  when I board a plane, with white cane and Ray Charles glasses, I always am given the window seat. It makes me nervous when the flight attendant explains where the emergency exits are. Everyone else can see them.  I count the tops of the chairs along the aisle.  I know where the exits are and I could find them with my eyes closed. And even open.

 

I would like to think people are considerate and would help me in a disaster situation. But I have mental images of being trampled by panicked passengers.

 

I have had the most success in alleviating my fear of flying by doing one specific thing - lying. In 1979 on the way to Tampa Florida I told a whopper. As usual, I had the window seat. Next to me was a mother and, to her left, was her college student daughter. The mom asked me where I was from, etc. For some reason she asked me how old I was. At the time I was 37. I told her I was 63.  I always add years, never subtract.  Here's why.  She said, "My God, you look great! What is your secret.  How come you look so young?" Without thinking, I said, "I'm a vegetarian."  I got a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I knew God was going to get me for this lie. And sure enough, He did.

 

Lunch was served and it was the biggest, juciest, greatest-smelling stacked roast beef sandwich that anyone could imagine. And I couldn't eat it. The Mom and her daughter split it. I had an apple and a wedge of cheddar cheese. Yum!

 

I guess I deserved it.

 

The good news is, the plane didn't crash.

 

Time Goes By is an excellent blog for late life people. If you haven't seen it, give it a try.  Now the blogger, Ronni, is organizing a giant phone conference to be held on Tuesday, Oct. 24.  Time is to be announced. It costs nothing to join in.  You can phone in through Skype. Check it out here;  

    http://www.timegoesby.net/weblog/phonecon.html