Here is a blog that is written by a woman who works for my client, Marcos.  She in an immigrant from Venezuela who has a strong writing background.  In this blog she tells about the experiences of moving into a foreign culture. And she does it very well.

 

I believe that she was, at least to some degree, inspired to start her blog because she became interested in what we are doing with Late Life Crisis. If you can read Spanish, I guarantee you will find this worthwhile.

 

I have noted that some of the bloggers we have gotten to know have come to the end of their blogging string. I try to get into their Spaces and find a message saying that it is blocked.  So, I leave a message and nothing comes back. Or, the site has just been left hanging with no new postings.

 

We particularly miss Pat at Eleanor's Cottage. She has not posted for over a month and the comment box keeps filling up.  So many people enjoyed her gentle stories and beautiful photos. We hope she will come back.

 

Well, keeping up with a blog can become a chore - but to us the rewards of reader responses more than compensate for the time spent. Also, there is the joy of reading the work of other bloggers.

 

One other thought about all this: I am wondering if some of these bloggers who have blocked their space have had bad experiences with nasty, warped people to have invaded their space. 

 

Do you have any thoughts about all this?  We would like to hear them.

Do Late Lifers have dates? You bet your booties (an ancient expression) they do!

 

Penny and I have set Friday night as date night and we have been doing this since shortly after we first met. People where Penny works know about date night - maybe sort of envy us for it.  Robert, of Robert John Studio, often gives Penny a quick hair comb before we go out.

 

I am a sort of a honk date.  That of course is the dude who does not come to the door to pick up his date.  He stays in his car at the curb and honks to announce his arrival. So, I go to the side door of Robert John Studio and Day Spa where Penny will be watiing and honk. Then she taps her cane down the sidewalk to the car.  Makes me feel a little like an oaf - not helping the blind lady to the car - but she can be fiercely independent about getting around by herself.

 

We have not been going to the Yankee Doodle on Friday nights lately.  It is too packed, loud and smoky.  So we go directly to the Ozark house where our friends Jerry and Lorrie are usually waiting for us at the bar. As we enter and they spot us, some genial insults are hurled back and forth. Penny and Jerry have known each other since high school.

 

The Ozark House staff people all know us and greet us. They automaticaly save our favorite table in the corner by the fish tank. We smooze a while with Jerry and Lorrie. After a couple of martinis at the bar we graduate to the table.

 

Sandy, the worlds greatest waitress, greets us and asks if we want another martini. Penny says she will because she is not driving. I say "better not." Although home is only three minutes away, I do not want to take the risk. I have a mental image of the headline in the Pantagraph if I was stopped by the police: "84-Year Old Arrested for DIU." If this were to happen, you can bet some readers would be thinking, "Why do they let those old farts drive?"

 

Tonight I think I will have the shrimp scampi. Or maybe they will have the seafood scampi which is outstanding. It is seafood bits on angel hair pasta topped with mussels. Penny usually goes for their "to die for" fried chicken.

 

Then we will be back home before 7 PM. Another big night for Penny and Pete.

In late life one spends a lot of time visiting doctors. Last week Penny went to a physiatrist (have you ever heard of this speciaty?) for an EMG test. Yesterday Penny went to the pain clinic in the morning. Good news  - the EMG showed no nerve damage. So the pain doctor is now thinking the Penny may have Raynaud's Diseaase or Phenomenon. This is characterized by extreme coldness of the limbs, although the body temperature is normal. More on this later.

 

Sidebar: The first one to suspect Raynaud's was KitKat who sent Penny a lot of information about the ailment. Boy, do we have some smart friends, or what?

 

Then to Penny's periodontist in the afternoon.  She says she feels like she is graduating. This is the last office visit for the gum surgery.

 

Today I go to the cardiologist in the afternoon. Then, I have to go to the clinic for another ProTime blood check.  I take Coumadin to thin the blood so they keep watch to see that the clotting levels are OK.

 

Well, need I go on?  Every week there is some kind of a medical appointment to keep.

 

Well, the medics are keeping us in operation.  So, what's my beef?  None.

 

By the way, Penny's massage business has picked up greatly since the article about her in the Pantagraph. She is getting reunited with clients she had at her previous employer's. This employer had been advising people that she was no longer practicing massage. Also, she is getting a lot of drop-in business from people who read about her. Drop-ins used to happen rarely.

 

So, that's the way it is.  Life has its downs - but it also has its ups.

It was on the 21st of May of 2005 that I did the first postings on the new Late Life Crisis blog.  And what a year it has been!

 

This was started as a simple venture into personal blogging. I had planned for it to be some reflections and statements about the state of being in the late years of one's life.  But it became much more. It became a sort of forum for thoughts about late life existence.  Equally important, it became a connection to other bloggers whom we have come to regard as friends.

 

I say "we" because Penny became interested in it and "Patter From Penny" was added to the content.

 

During this year Late Life Crisis has had over 150,000 visitors. Astounding!

 

The big  lift came when Late Life got top mention as a "Best of Spaces" blog. Visitors came in by the thousands - and we still get drop-ins from that mention today.

 

Then there was an article in the Bloomington, IL Pantagraph newspaper.  http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2006/03/06/news/108315.txt

This story, can you believe it, was on the front page of the paper.

 

Following this, I had a call from the New York Times. They were doing a specail section on retirement and had found Late Life Crisis via a search. This resulted in a phone interview and mention in their story.

 

The recognition is fun.  It attracts visitors to the blog and all of us who have blogs want to feel that there are people who are reading them.

 

But the big thing Penny and I get out of our blogging is our connections with some fellow bloggers. We regard many of them as friends.  One day we got a package in the mail and found two hand made dolls inside.  It was from Pat at Eleanor's Cottage. The dolls were labeled "Super Pete" and "Super Penny" and each each had a flowing cape. We were touched by her thoughtfulness.

 

Another of our blogging friends, PebblePie, who lives in the Pacific Northwest, came to a graduation ceremony for her niece in Wisconsin and came on down to see us.

 

Add to all this the fact that Kit Kat said she was looking for grandparents because she had never known much about hers.  So she"adopted" us as grandparents.

 

So thanks for everything, all of you readers.  Penny and I love you!

 

Here is an actual application that a 75-year-old man submitted to Wal-Mart in Arkansas.  They hired him because he was so funny ..

 

NAME: Jack Buckley (Grumpy Bastard)

 

DESIRED POSITION:  Company President or Vice President. But seriously, whatever is available.

 

DESIRED SALARY: $185,000 a year plus stock options and a Michael Ovitz style severance package. If that is not possible, make an offer and we can haggle.

 

EDUCATION: Yes

 

LAST POSITION HELD: Target for middle management.

 

PREVIOUS SALARY: A lot less than I am worth.

 

MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT: My incredible collection of stolen pens and post-it-notes.

 

REASON FOR LEAVING: It sucked.

 

HOURS AVAILABLE FOR WORK: Any.

 

PREFERRED HOURS: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

 

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL SKILLS? Yes, but they are better suited to a more intimate environment.

 

MAY WE CONTACT YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER? If I had one would I be here?

 

DO YOU HAVE ANY PHYSICAL CONDITION THAT WOULD PROHIBIT YOU FROM LIFTING UP TO 50 LBS? Of What?

 

DO YOU HAVE A CAR? I think the more appropriate question here is, "Do you have a car that runs?"

 

HAVEYOU RECEIVED ANY SPECIAL AWARDS OR RECOGNITIONS? I may already be a winner of the Publisher's Clearing House Sweekstakes, so they tell me.

 

DO YOU SMOKE? On the job - no.  On my breaks - yes.

 

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IN FIVE YEARS? Living in the Bahamas with a fabulously wealthy, dumb, sexy, blonde supermodel who thinks I am the greatest things since sliced bread. Actually, I'd like to be doing that now.

 

NEAREST RELATIVE: 7 miles.

 

DO YOU CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE IS TRUE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE? Oh yes - absolutely!

 

 

 

 

 

 

My father graduated Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude from Illinois Wesleyan University. He majored in hugs.

 

When I was 16 months old and had just learned how to walk, I wore those stiff, high-topped shoes. I scuffed up every rug I encountered. From that day on, my father never called me Penelope or Penny - I was his Scuffy. Not only was my father the King of Hugs, he was the personification of Santa Claus. All through his life and mine, he gave me hugs of many kinds and shapes.

 

When I was 21, I think perhaps he knew that his life would soon be coming to an end. The last night I spent with him before he died, he said, "Scuffy, when the Big Guy In The Sky calls me, don't weep. Just start hugging and that will make me happy."

 

He died at the age of 54 which was much too soon.

 

I have been hugging ever since. Every time I hug someone I feel his presence. I am sending all you bloggers a great big mental hug.

In this era of big chain stores something has gone missing from the retail scene ... that is, service.

 

Yesterday I was in Sears looking for a TV set. The "sales associate" which is what they call these people who, when you can find, them do little more than write up the orders, was a young woman.  I found an HD TV set I liked enough that I was ready to buy it. I asked some technical questions which she was unable to answer. Then when I told her that I would buy it, she advised me that it was out of stock. I asked if I could buy the floor model and she said that Sears wouldn't do that. 

 

So, I kept looking and found a conventional set that seemed to fill my need.  But it was too heavy for me to get into the house.  I asked her if they had  someone who could help me get it up the stairs to our condo.  No, she said, they couldn't do that.  She did finally  tell me that they could deliver it - for $50.  (Note: the last TV I bought was from a local store and the salesman drove home with me and hauled it up the stairs). Then she said, that this set was also out of stock.

 

As I was walking out, I thought I would do Sears a favor.  They need some help from customers, their sales are not too good.  So I talked to the department manager.  His answer to my story about my experience was that it was sears policy - to not sell floor models or to help deliver merchandise.

 

Not Sear's policy ... they should fire their policy makers ASAP.

 

I told him that they were losing business (including mine) to hungry local merchants who are willing to go the extra mile for customers.  But, this did not seem to concern him.

 

Late Lifers, such as I, frequently reminisce about how different it was back in our younger days. How a customer was valued - and supported in every way by the retailers. Then came the era of the "just try to find some sales help" chain stores.

 

End of the story: I went back to the local store that had sold me the TV and helped deliver it.  I bought it there.

 

So, forget about hiring and firing merchandising VPs, Sears, hoping they will turn your stores around.  Forget about hiring consultants and experts to tell you how to revive your business.

 

Just change your "policies" to one policy: put the customers first and do whatever it takes to  make them happy.

 

P.S.  I told this story to son Jim down in Miami who is credit manager of a large retail/wholesale lighting, decorative hardware and home furnishing store. He said that a big problem is the difficulty in finding employees who give a damn about their work. He observes that the young people they interview, and hire, put their job and their customers second to their own convenience. So, even chain stores with the right policies have great difficulty having them carried out.

 

Boy, did this posting come out sounding the the usual late lifer's griping. Well,  we are entitled to do that!

 

 

The loop from blogging acquaintance to live appearance was completed when PebblePie came down from Watertown, WI to see us. Her first comment when I came out the door to greet her was, "You look just like your picture!" What a tactful untruth that was - but I liked it.

 

I showed her the city and we did a lot of talking. She even joined in our evening cocktail hour ritual, before supper, when I read the funnies and Dear Abbey  to Penny (and the Sunday Personality Parade).  There was a little crossword puzzling with me reading the clues and Pebs and Penny calling out the answers.

 

Pebs also danced through the Candaian Goose poop in the backyard to take some pictures of the lake behind our place and the grounds of our condo. That is what I call an ardent photographer. Her pictures are below.

 

So, it was good to meet PebblePie and reflect on the marvels of the Internet and blogging where bringing people together is concerned.

 

I just received a tee shirt from my nephew-in-law, Dan, that says it all.  Is there room in this blogging world for two rulers?   Tom, "If I were King" has had it all for himself.  Now it appears that I am being groomed to take a throne.  Maybe we can get along together by staying within our respective kingdoms.

 

You can be sure I am going to wear this tee shirt on date night.

 

P.S. Patter from Penny: Mr. Ruler of the World (Tom) please make room for Pete or you shall become the man in the iron mask.

There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra than on Alzheimer's research.  This means that by 2040 there should be a large late life population  with perky boobs and huge erections  - and absolutely no recollection of what to do with them.

I was just restocking my prescription pill dispenser in my bathroom and nearly knocked the Barbasol shaving cream can off the shelf.  What suddenly jumped into my mind was the radio jingle that I heard over and over again - a long time ago.

 

"Barbasol, Barbasol - no brush no lather no rub in, just put it on and then begin." The jingle was sung by Singin' Sam, the Barbasol man.

 

Jeez, that had to be over 50 years ago and I still remember it!

 

This says something about the power of jingles. It also makes me wonder why jingles are so rarely used any more. Jingles certainly had mnemonic power.  How about these jingles from the dim past:

"Pepsi-Cola hits the spot.  Twelve full ounces, that's a lot.  Twice as much and a nickel, too. Pepsi-Cola is the drink for you." The price tells you how long ago that was, right?

 

"Use Ajax the foaming cleanser - floats the dirt right down the drain."

 

"Mmmm good. Mmmm good, that's what Campbell's soup is - mmmm good."

 

"Try Wheaties - the best breakfastfood in the land. Jack Armstrong always eats them and so should you."

 

"You'll wonder where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent."

 

And Penny remembers these jingles:

 

"Mr. Clean will clean your whole house and everything that's in it. Mr Clean will clean your whole house and - do it in just a minute."

 

"Pamper, Pamper new shampoo. Gentle as a lamb, so right for you.  Gentle as a lamb, yes ma'am. Use Pamper, Pamper new shampoo."

 

"Bril Creme, a little dab will do ya. Bril Creme, just rub it on your hair. Bril Creme, the girls will run right to ya. They'll love to run their fingers through your hair."

 

All of these had tunes that have stuck in our minds until today.

 

I'll bet some of you can add to this roster of memorable jingles. If so, let's hear from you huh?