Boomer Lit Blog Hopping

     As a part of the ongoing Goodreads Boomer Lit group, I am joining the Friday Blog Hopping band of independent writers who will visit other’s blogs and post excerpts from their own works every Friday.  You can find the group  at  http://boomerlitfriday.blogspot.com/.  

     Following is an excerpt from my last book,  GIRLFRIENDS,  which is a compilation of three novellas: Boomerang, Change of Life and Silver Lining.  The premise of the trilogy is the unconditional love and support among three women and the twists and turns they encounter as they grow into the third phase of their lives.  Here is an extract from the first novella in the trilogy, “Boomerang.”

 

Today Mary Jo believes in miracles.  Sitting in her posh office, surrounded by beautiful artwork and lush plants, she quietly reflects on what a difference three years can make.  Cloaked in peaceful tranquility, Mary Jo has a whole new perspective that comes from an awareness of the weaknesses and frailties that kept her lacking in confidence for most of her life.

 In 2007, all within the span of 30 days, Mary Jo lost her husband, her mother and her job.  It was the rainy season in Southern California, and, after seven straight days of rain, it had dampened her already soggy spirit.  From her apartment window Mary Jo could see the verdant hills covered in misty clouds that hung so low you could almost reach out and touch them.  Her mood mirrored the scene before her.  

Taking Care of Aging Parents

     As baby boomers age, we are often responsible for taking care of parents who may need assistance in areas, such as bathing, nutrition, medication, finances, living conditions, transportation, etc.  Adult children provide the majority of long term care for elderly parents.  Fortunately, new in-home services and programs allow today’s seniors to be more independent and stay in their own homes longer. 

      Modern technologies make it possible for adult children to have peace of mind by providing needed care through use of sensors, alerts, live images streaming, and GPS type tracking devices, which may be in the form of a pendant or wristband.

       Adult day care centers provide an avenue for seniors to interact with others, giving relief to the caregiver and providing a social outlet with peers.   Parents don’t want to feel as if they are a burden to their children and may not reveal their loneliness or their need for  help, so we need to be vigilant in our observations of elderly parents.   Another source of assistance is respite care, where a short-term, assisted- living facility is utilized, or a paid caregiver comes in while the family member takes a break.

      As informal caregivers, boomers need to have outlets for themselves and find outside help to prevent stress and burnout.  Seniors have access to more creative ways of taking care of themselves than ever before.  In addition to nursing homes, there are assisted living homes in retirement communities, shared living, neighborhood-based programs, professional geriatric care organizations and living with children.

      Our parents loved and cherished us in our formative years; we should do no less for them in their declining years.

 

New Genre - Baby Boomer lit

If you have not checked out “Goodreads,” please do so.  It is a site for people who love to read or write books, poems, short stories, memoirs, etc.  Read other’s reviews and comments while discovering new books and sharing ones you’ve read.  You’ll find new, as well as, seasoned authors.

Other exciting news is that a new genre, called Baby Boomer Lit, is now making news.  With the number of  baby boomers increasing every day,  it’s about time we started putting out quality reading that reflects our interests and have choices in contemporary literature without having to wade through books and movies laden with filthy words and pornography. 

The Baby Boomer Lit Facebook page is also up and running   If you’re not on Facebook yet, it will be worth it just to be able to access Goodreads Facebook page.  

This month Goodreads (Baby Boomer Lit)  is spotlighting author,  Duncan Whitehead and his debut novel, The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club.   It is an entertaining piece of satire that chronicles a period in the boomer years of four women living in Gordonston, a suburb of Savannah, Georgia.  Revenge, jealousy, envy and vanity are the overriding themes from which the female boomers characters emanate.  The misquoted line from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “Vanity, thy name is woman,” surely applies here to Cindy and Carla while Heidi seeks retribution for her perception of misdeeds that happened over 60 years ago.  The fourth character, Thelma, is dying at the beginning of the story, but her zest for life is the antithesis of her three friends. 

 The juxtapositions of their various stories create coincidences that are oftentimes comical and at other times, serious.  In this debut novel the author has done a masterful job of creating characters that we want to see again.

Boomers and Digestion

As we grow older, we often have more digestive issues.  Some stem from stress while others may have as the origin poor eating habits over a long period of time.  Sensitivity to food, burping, gas and distention are all symptomatic of gastrointestinal troubles, which sometimes may be curbed with exercise, healthy foods and positive thinking.

I recently realized that I was sensitive to gluten.  Having gone through years of digestive distress, someone suggested that I might benefit from a gluten-free diet.  I began that same day and the symptoms disappeared within a couple days.  I couldn’t believe it!  I had suffered for several years and neither my doctor nor anyone else ever mentioned that as a possibility.  When I asked my physician, he tested me for Celiac disease; fortunately, I didn’t have the disease.  I have been feeling so much better since I began the gluten-free diet that I will remain on it.

It’s difficult sometimes when I eat out at restaurants or other people’s homes, but I try to avoid foods that I suspect might have gluten.  In addition to breads, cereals, pastas, etc., gluten can be used as a binder, flavor enhancer and thickener.  If you are sensitive to gluten, be careful with foods that you wouldn’t ordinarily suspect as having wheat, or one of the other culprit grains, as an ingredient, such as gravy or processed foods.  I’m not sure how reliable the gluten-free claims are.  I recently purchased gluten-free cookie mix and had a digestive reaction when I ate the cookies. 

I have absolutely no medical knowledge regarding gluten; I’m simply reporting on my experience.  If you think you might have this problem, see your doctor.

HERE’S TO OUR GOOD HEALTH

Health becomes a major issue as we grow older.  Of course, we all want to be physically fit, and that’s a part of being healthy, but losing a few pounds takes a back seat to the more important issue of healthy vital organs.  Keeping the heart healthy, kidneys functioning, lungs clear, intestines working well, and swollen ankles at bay become paramount to our well-being.  Maintain a healthy attitude with positive thinking and positive action.  Although we may have various maladies associated with growing older, that’s no reason to succumb to the notion that we are over-the-hill.  Get up and get out!  You will probably notice that many symptoms disappear when you become engaged in meaningful activities.

Don’t wait for your doctor to tell you to exercise and eat healthily.  Tune in to your body.  Some things are just common sense.  For example, if certain foods cause you discomfort, stop eating them instead of gorging on them and then taking a pill to offset the damage you’ve done.  The increase in obesity in this country is evidence of the old adage, “We dig our graves with our forks.”  Of course, there are medical conditions that no amount of exercise or healthy eating will cure, but many of our concerns can be abated with eating as healthily as we can.  That’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.

Another good idea is to drink more water than soft drinks.  The controversy over the risks of drinking soft drinks is not over; however, a recent New York Times* article cited an analysis of research results, while not definitive, show a correlation between daily consumption of soft drinks and an increased risk of stroke and heart attack.  Why risk it?  Cut back on soft drinks.

 

 

 

*http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/health/research/diet-soft-drinks-linked-to-risk-of-heart-disease.html?_r=1

Aches and Pains

            The older I become, the more aches and pains I have on a more frequent basis.  The bone spur in my hip reminds me of my age when I lift more than a few pounds or when I sit for too long on a soft sofa or chair.   When I was much younger, my sister-in-law said, “You can’t run to the doctor for every ache and pain.”  Now I understand what she means.  Whenever I tell my doctor about my aching joints in fingers, ankles, knees and on and on, he tells me it’s arthritis and moves on quickly to the next question I have, and I usually have quite a few.  I make a list before I go so I won’t forget anything. 

            Arthritis pain never goes away completely.  I manage it with exercise, healthy foods, and pain killers.  Various meds may dull the pain, but it’s a constant reminder of age-related maladies.  That’s why I begin each day with a 2-mile walk and always stretch afterwards.  If I’m stiff when I awaken, the exercise gets the blood circulating and I feel much better.  I have also noticed that the joints in my hands and ankles are less painful when I cut back on salt and sugar.  

            Now that it’s summer, I’d like to work in the yard, preparing and planting new flower beds and maintaining the older ones, but I know I’ll pay for it big time.  Keeping the patio plants watered, fed and dead-headed allow me to still feel like I’m gardening.  When I’ve completed those tasks, I sit on the patio with a book and a cold drink and enjoy the fruits of previous labor.  Come to think of it, that’s not so bad.

WHEN LOVE BLOOMS FOR BOOMERS

Many baby boomers are divorced, widowed or never married.  With the advent of online dating sites and social media, single men and women boomers are finding love in all the right places.  When love comes at our age, it comes with a lifetime of baggage from both partners.   Commingling two different personalities is bound to cause clashes at times, but we all want love and companionship as we go into our golden years.  Relationships are often based on emotions, and when those fiery emotions wear off after marriage, conflicts can arise.

Several points help marriages survive, whether you’ve been married for years or whether you’re newly married.  The first one, communication, requires exchange.  You need to listen, as well as talk, in order to truly communicate.  Let your spouse know what you’re feeling.  Don’t bottle up anger and resentment. 

Don’t expect your spouse to complete you.  Replace any selfishness and insecurity left over from previous relationships with gratitude, appreciation and patience.  There’s a degree of sacrifice inherent in anything worthwhile; marriage is no different.

Treat your spouse well and expect to be treated well in return.  The purpose of marriage is for companionship and procreation.  At our age procreation is off the table, so commit to being a loving, intimate companion, facing any obstacles or challenges that arise together, as some surely will.  There may be issues with blended families, physical or mental deterioration, financial crises, the list goes on and on.  Meet your partner’s needs with an attitude of love and a willingness to accept and tolerate minor faults and imperfections.  Each partner is unique and has his own ideas, so it is natural to have different opinions.

Enjoy the golden years!