Age Smart
by Jeffrey Rosensweig; Betty Liu; Kenneth H. Cooper
Buy book: $16.74

Focused on those getting better with age, this collection features interviews with Jimmy Carter, Helen Gurley Brown, Robert Mondavi, C. Everett Koop, and others pioneering the future of aging.

 

Just read the first read of this book and made me chuckle - my parents, after daddy's retirement, took to spending winters in Florida at one of those retirement resorts - and thoroughly enjoyed every winter down there - made lots of friends who also came back every year and visited at one another's homes during other parts of the year - and yes, my dad began to wear the bright attire spoken of in this book - he had many happy years of warmth and bridge playing and Sat. night dances, Mardi Gras parties in the park, etc. - (never a dull moment) -

He also wore his colorful attire once he was home again - once we were down there for a family reunion and he came out to the patio dressed in a bright striped shirt and checked pants - I laughed and said "Daddy, I can't believe mother let you wear that" - he went inside and came back out with another brightly colored outfit -

When my brother arrived, he also made a laughing comment about Daddy's outfit to which I replied "You should have seen him before" -

But those are happy memories and I am so glad to have them and for him to have had his several warm, "bright", happy, healthy years which he enjoyed so much -

I enjoyed reading the above "Pink Pants." I believe we should be allowed two alternatives in "older age." One to wear pink pants and the other to remain gainfully employed in another field. Research lately points to the Clint Eastwood model, but that does not mean that the pink pants model is not a very viable alternative. The key is to remain active and engaged. The father in the above made many friends and he continued these friendships up north. My mom is 83 and works 4 days a week, has 3 volunteer joys, one as a waitress FRiday nights, and goes to the YMCA twice a week for Tai chi and Pilates. She is in amazingly good health both physically and mentally. She also lives in Florida, full time. I am 60, the first of the baby boomers. I am still trying to figure out the best "older years." I've retired, just bought a home in Florida, but I am now working again. But pink pants still sounds like a very nice way to spend my time. It should be about personal choices. I've e-mailed these pages to two other friends. I am planning to read this book.