Life After 50

LOS ANGELES METRO DECEMBER 2014

southern california

lifeafter50.com

A Christmastime Chat With

Your 2015 Life After 50 Gift List Assist WARNING: The Holidays Can Be Hazardous To Your Health Celebrating The Holiday Season With Dave Koz

JoBeth Williams

CONTENTS

December 2014

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Cover Profile

14 A Christmastime Chat With JoBeth Williams

Her Christmas traditions, career memories, and thoughts on the passage of time.

Features 22 Your 2015 Life After 50 Gift List Assist

We have a unique suggestion for everyone on your holiday gift list.

30 WARNING: The Holidays Can Be Hazardous To Your Health Tips for staying healthy during this busy season.

36 The Look Of Life After 50 – A Koz For Celebration

Dave Koz celebrates the season with a new album filled with love and togetherness.

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Departments 06 50-Plus: What You Need to Know

A quick look at things 50-plusers should be aware of.

09 Financial Fitness

William Jordan says the holidays are a great time for family and financial discussions.

10 It’s The Law

Mitchell A. Karasov on protecting aging parents when their children are squabbling.

32 Tuned In To What’s On

The best in December television viewing.

39 Let’s Get Out

Looking to get out and about? Our December/January calendar has some great suggestions.

43 Rick Steves’ Travels Cover photo by Keith Munyan / www.keithmunyan.com

All material published within this issue of “Life After 50” and on www.lifeafte50.com is strictly for informational and educational purposes only. No individual, advice, product or service is in any way endorsed by “Life After 50” or Southland Publishing, Inc. or provided as a substitute for the reader’s seeking of individualized professional advice or instruction. Readers should seek the advice of qualified professional on any matter regarding an individual, advice, recommendations, services or products covered within this issue.

All information and material is provided to readers with the understanding that it comes from various sources from which there is no warranty or responsibility by “Life after 50” or Southland Publishing, Inc. as to its or their legality, completeness or technical accuracy.

Visiting the not-so-little-town of Bethlehem.

46 And Finally…The Bookworm’s Best, A Look Back and Just A Thought Before We Go A book suggestion, memory, and a little something to leave you with.

DECEMBER 2014 LIFEAFTER50.COM 3

Editor’s Note...

Maybe 2015 Will Be The Year…

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s I, and millions of others, always say at some point during December: “Can it really be that another year has passed into history?”

The answer, of course, is always the same – that the passage of time has, in fact, continued, and with it, we are rendered a little older, which, it seems, makes us a bit more introspective.

That feeling of introspection was made all the more evident as I spent time with actress JoBeth Williams and musician Dave Koz in preparing this month’s issue.

Williams was one of the stars of writer and director Lawrence Kasdan’s 1983 film, “The Big Chill,” which ranks amongst my all-time faves. The film, in which a group of thirtysomething college friends reunite, reminisce and reflect on their lives following the suicide of a member of their collegiate clique, explores the brutal fact that hopes, dreams and idealism are fragile things that ofttimes die on the vine of time passage.

Opining on the film’s long-standing popularity, Williams said she thinks that is because it deals with a subject that almost all of us can relate to. “Everyone goes through the loss of youthful idealism and the recognition that the reality of life is probably not going to be exactly what we envisioned and that we have to make compromises in ways we never thought we would,” she told me. “It’s coming to grips with that, and the realization that it’s just a part of life – everyone’s life – and that it’s okay.”

It is okay to allow some of our hopes and dreams to be put to rest – as long as they can be continually replaced with new things to inspire us. That subject became a part of the conversation I had with Dave Koz. “The holiday season starts at the very end of the year,” said Koz. “But I’ve always thought of it as a beginning more than an end, because it has the ability to push us into the new year with all the great things the spirit of this season brings with it – love and hope and inspiration. I love that aspect of it – that it is a season that celebrates friendship and caring about others and being with people

Advertising Director/Associate Publisher Valarie Anderson Editor-in-Chief David Laurell Associate Editors Steve Stoliar Claire Yezbak Fadden Art Director Kent Bancroft Editorial Assistants Max Andrews Marie Giusto Blauvelt Account Executives Los Angeles/South Bay: Jackie Kooper Jackiek@lifeafter50.com Orange County: Herb Wetenkamp Herbw@lifeafter50.com San Diego County National Accounts: Phil Mendelson Phil@lifeafter50.com Ad Coordinator, Travel Landra DeLoach Landra@lifeafter50.cm VP Of Finance Michael T. Nagami Human Resources Andrea E. Baker Business Manager Linda Lam Billing Supervisor Kacie Sturek VP Of Operations David Comden

we love – who give us hope and inspire us; and to see how their inspiration can make us become something we didn’t even know we had in us.”

That sentiment is so perfect, it makes me say what I, and millions of others, also always say at some point in December: “How can we keep this spirit alive all year long?”

Maybe this year, we’ll figure that out. Or, at the very least, we can begin 2015 with the renewed hope and dream that we will.

David Laurell, Editor-in-Chief

For advertising/distribution inquiries contact: Valarie Anderson (310) 822-1629 x 121, valarie@lifeafter50.com

To contact our editorial department: (818) 563-1007 davidl@lifeafter50.com 5355 Mcconnell Ave LA CA 90066 Valarie Anderson Valarie@lifeafter50.com 310 822-1629 x 121 Follow us on Facebook ©2014 Southland Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved

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50

Light Christmas

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PLUS

What You Need to Know

By Claire Yezbak Fadden

f you’ve been getting social media posts claiming that Earth is headed for six days of total darkness due to a solar storm set to hit this month, don’t be too worried about your holiday season being anything less than merry and bright. This urban myth, which has gone viral, can be traced back to the satirical news site, www.Huzlers.com, who put out an official-looking story titled “NASA Confirms Earth Will Experience Six Days of Total Darkness in December 2014.” Although solar storms are real, they’re not like terrestrial storms that blow up debris. So even if someone sends you a video clip of NASA Administrator Charles Bolden warning you to stay calm during the December darkness, be aware, this clip was “lifted” from a video in which Bolden encourages people to be prepared in the event of an earthquake or hurricane.

Sheehy Dares You To Share Your Story

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n her newly released memoir, “Daring: My Passages” (William Morrow, 2014) author, journalist, and lecturer Gail Sheehy imparts her own experience while offering a bold perspective on all of life’s passages.

The author of 16 books, including “Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life” (Bantam, 1984), one of the 10 most-influential books of our time as named by the Library of Congress, Sheehy has been a longtime contributor to New York magazine and has served as a contributing editor to Vanity Fair since 1984.

Sheehy, who has blazed a trail into what had been a “man’s world” — going undercover and taking on assignments in dangerous war zones — has also created fascinating character portraits of national and world leaders including Bill and Hillary Clinton, both President Bushes, Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev and Saddam Hussein. She has also launched The Sheehy Daring Project, a movement that encourages women to share their own daring life moments with one another. You can participate in the project by clicking on www.sheehydaringproject.com.

A Haven From The Holiday Hangover Fifty Candles

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ifty years ago this month, Major League Baseball approved a free agent draft; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. accepted the Nobel Peace Prize at the University of Oslo; shooting started for “Star Trek’s” pilot “The Cage,” and Canada adopted the Maple Leaf flag. Notable personalities born in December 1964 who are celebrating their 50th birthday this month include actresses Marisa Tomei, Teri Hatcher and Chelsea Noble, country singer Cledus T. Judd, novelist Garth Stein, celebrity chef Bobby Flay, professional golfer Lorie Kane and wrestlerturned-actor “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

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ven if you’re a moderate drinker who only has an occasional beer or glass of wine, the holiday season seems to find everyone offering up a brew, nip of the grape, cocktail, toddy or glass of the bubbly at every turn. If, from now through December 31, you find yourself having reveled and imbibed a bit more than usual, you will no doubt pay the ravaging head-pounding, body-aching consequences known as the hangover.

Dr. Jason Burke, an anesthesiologist who is considered to be the foremost authority on treating veisalgia (the medical term for a hangover) and the founder of the Hangover Heaven Research Institute, says that, while aside from the passage of time, there’s no outright cure for hangover, there are ways to alleviate the symptoms. Among his top recommendations: Grab Some Greasy Grub And Fatty Foods Fat contains more calories than protein or carbs, so it’s the fastest way to help your body process the breakdown products of alcohol. Sausage, ham and bacon are rich with B vitamins, which help further metabolize alcohol’s breakdown products.

And then there are eggs and cheese, whose antioxidants will help ease your overall discomfort. You may also want to try some wheatgrass. Its high concentration of antioxidants will help alleviate your hangover symptoms.

Look To The Kids For Help Believe it or not, one of the best things to have on hand after a night of over-imbibing is Pedialyte Freezer Pops. Yes, the same ones that are meant for children who are dehydrated from diarrhea and vomiting. These refreshing pops are also great for adults who are dehydrated due to alcohol consumption. The electrolyte-heavy formula will replenish your body’s fluids and minerals.

Walk If Off Yeah, we know: Who wants to move at all while fighting a hangover? However, Dr. Burke says a gentle workout will make a huge difference. If you boost your metabolism with some yoga, Pilates or just a good old-fashioned walk, you’ll get the alcohol out of your system faster. Just remember to drink plenty of water to keep your dehydration from worsening.

For more of Dr. Burke’s recommendations to nurse and recover from a hangover, click on www.hangoverheaven.com.

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A Little More You Need To Know

Where You Need To Go Make Like A Magi And Enjoy An Evening Of Frankincense, Gold Lamé And Myrrh-oon Walking

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lthough there is never a shortage of wonderful holiday entertainment options offered during the month of December, this year you can spend an unforgettable afternoon or evening with three of music’s greatest kings – The King of Swing – Frank Sinatra, The King of Rock’ n’ Roll – Elvis Presley, and The King of Pop – Michael Jackson, as the El Portal Theatre of North Hollywood presents “We Three Kings.”

In a special holiday matinée and evening performances that will run from December 27 to 31, Frank Sinatra impersonator Luca Ellis will be joined by Elvis impersonator Shawn Klush and Michal Jackson impersonator Brandon Michael Jones for a magical performance of music’s three greatest icons.

These three artists will mesmerize you as they recreate the essence of a true American trilogy of stars who gave the world over 400 Billboard hits and 42 Number One hit singles. A perfect holiday event for grandparents, parents and kids, this performance will give you the chance to feel as if you are actually in the presence of these immortal entertainers.

Regular performance ticket prices ranges in price from $45 to $65. On December 31 there will be a special matinée performance that will include a post-show champagne and dessert reception with tickets ranging from $65 to $85. And, on New Year’s Eve, you can be a part of a 9 p.m. New Year’s Eve blowout performance, celebration and reception that will include complimentary wine, champagne, hors d’oeuvres and desserts, along with surprise entertainment in the lobby. New Year’s Eve tickets range in price from $75 to $125 and all are available now at the El Portal box office and by calling (818) 508-4200 or (866) 811-4111.

New Words

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ou might not find them in a dictionary yet, but they’re a part of the everyday American vocabulary. Here’s what they mean.

Bro Code: An etiquette for males to follow in their relationships with one another. A term popularized by Barney Stinson, a character from the television show, “How I Met Your Mother.”

Ego Surfing: Using search engines to find references to your name or website, or to view webpages that mention your name.

Technocamping: Taking a vacation from all digital technology, including e-mail, computers, cell phone, social media and video gaming.

The Most Important Thing To Know This Month

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hile December is filled like Santa’s sack with special observances, one that should not be ignored is National Influenza Vaccination Week that runs from December 7 to 13.

Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others.

During a regular flu season, about 90 percent of deaths occur in people 65 years and older.

The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. There are several flu vaccine options for the 20142015 flu season. Traditional flu vaccines made to protect against three different flu viruses (called “trivalent” vaccines) are available. In addition, flu vaccines made to protect against four different flu viruses (called “quadrivalent” vaccines) also are available.

According to the Centers for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, everyone who is at least six months of age should get a flu vaccine this season, especially: • People who are at high risk of developing serious complications (like pneumonia) if they get sick with the flu.

• People who have medical conditions including asthma, diabetes and chronic lung disease.

• People 65 years and older.

• People who live with or care for others who are at high risk of developing serious complications.

For more information about seasonal flu, click on www.cdc.gov/flu.

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Financial Fitness William Jordan

William Jordan is a nationally recognized wealth manager and a wellknown speaker on financial and investment topics. To request a meeting to discuss William’s “Seven Percent Solution,” contact his office at (949) 916-8000 or click on www.WJIca.com

The Holidays – A Perfect Time For Financial Discussions

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his month, as families gather for traditional holiday celebrations, the timing is ideal to have discussions across the generations. While I understand that talking turkey seems more likely than talking money, if you have adult children or elderly parents, it’s the most important of discussions, so here is some food for thought as you gather with family for a holiday feast.

Estate Planning

Possibly the most important discussion to have with your adult children is about your estate-planning decisions.

Too often these discussions are never held, because it can feel uncomfortable. And yet, few things can lead to such family conflict and emotional trauma as when heirs are surprised by discovering their parents’ estate plans after a death has occurred.

One client of mine lost her mother and, within a week, was sued by her brother. They found the mother’s will left a particular property to my client, and after discovering his mother’s intentions, the brother decided to contest the will.

This could have been avoided. If the mother had shared her intentions with both of her children while still alive, there would be no room for disagreement. Instead, the brother feels he has been wronged and so does my client.

This scenario is far more often the rule than the exception. In fact, it’s one of the reasons we suggest you never name one of your children as executor of your will or trust if you have more than one child. That very often leads to conflict, even among families with great relationships.

A better option is to utilize a corporate trustee to settle the estate, which is why we began offering such services to our clients. Better for the siblings to unite in frustration with our firm, which clearly and concisely implements the parents’ instructions, than for them to fight and sue one another.

Group Investment Discussion

On a potentially lighter note, holiday gatherings are a great time for everyone to share their best and worst investments of the soon-to-be-ending year. In many cases, the entire family gains the benefit and wisdom gleaned from one another’s experiences.

We have received a number of calls from friends or family of our clients who heard about some of our secureincome options and were impressed with yields exceeding seven percent. What if your family members have the majority of their safe money in CDs at one percent (or less) and don’t know there’s an option to earn seven percent?

Just ask this simple question: “What’s been your best and worst investment this year?” and watch as everyone learns and benefits from the discussion.

Remember, It’s More Than Money

As a final topic during this holiday season, keep in mind that life is about far more than money. So often, in times of economic uncertainty, people get caught up in the cares of the world. And yet, what is so interesting is that as we reflect on life, we seldom meditate on financial matters or their effects. Ask your family, what’s been the greatest blessing they received during the year, or the moments and memories they will most cherish? You will find the conversation quickly turns from money or property or possessions to family and friends and the joys of life.

Yes, money is important, and it certainly has an effect on most areas of life, but never forget the old saying that the best things in life truly are free.

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It’s the Law Mitchell A. Karasov

New Year New You 2015

Start the year off right with small, manageable changes to your lifestyle including health, beauty,+ fitness The January issue of Life After 50 Comes out Jan 5 Artwork due on December 22 Advertise to 100,000 Southern California readers age 50+ every month Advertise@lifeafter50.com call 310-822-1629 x 121 www.lifeafter50.com • Follow us on Facebook

Mitchell A. Karasov, Esq. has offices in Los Angeles, Ventura County and the Coachella Valley. He specializes in elder law with emphasis in estate planning, Medi-Cal eligibility, trust administration, probate, conservatorships of person or estate, estate and trust litigation and financial abuse litigation. For more information click on www. karasovelderlaw.com or call (818) 508-7192.

A Parent’s Care Is Paramount In Spite Of Sibling Squabbles

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My brother and I have never gotten along. We have nothing to do with one another and only tolerate each other’s presence for a few hours on holidays or at family functions. Recently, our inability to communicate and agree on anything has become an issue because our 83-year-old mother’s health deteriorated and she needed care. My mom named my brother as her power of attorney for healthcare and finances, because he lives closer to her. I was put in charge of her trust. The problem is my brother is hiring inappropriate caregivers, some of them being his out-of-work friends. I like these people, but they don’t know what they’re doing and I think my mom’s care is being put at risk. Recently, I refused to replenish the checking account my brother is in charge of, unless he hired through a professional home-care agency. The next thing I knew, I got an e-mail from my brother’s lawyer telling me I needed to immediately replenish the checking account, otherwise I would be endangering my mom’s health because she would be without caregivers. I hastily responded, stating I would only front the money if professional caregivers were brought in and that I was concerned my brother’s friends were neglecting my mother. His lawyer replied that if I didn’t replenish the account, he would have me removed as the trustee. He also made false accusations about me and said that after my removal, my brother would be named as the trustee. I tried to explain to him that this would all be completely unnecessary and the simple solution was to hire professional caregivers. Even after those e-mails, I decided I would still replenish the checking account until things were resolved. Then, much to my shock, I was served with a removal petition. I feel that I haven’t done anything wrong, but I’m told I will be immediately removed. All I want to do is make sure our mother has the care she deserves.

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For me, the important issue to resolve first is securing appropriate care for your mother. You need to consult with an attorney immediately, because you could be facing a suspension petition very soon. Even if the accusations pitted against you are false, it creates the need for you to secure legal representation. Furthermore, I don’t see the need for a professional trustee in this situation, even though you and your brother don’t have the best history. If the dispute is over who will care for your mother, then you could retain a geriatric-care manager to assess her needs and then propose a plan with options. Be prepared that the care manager may even determine that some of your brother’s “out of work” friends may be good caregivers with some training. If your brother won’t agree to a geriatric assessment, then you may have to pursue a conservatorship of the person. This would request that his authority over her healthcare be temporarily suspended and that you be appointed to bring in a geriatric-care manager to assess the situation and provide a care plan you both would have to follow. However, if you disagree with the recommendation, then one or both of you could seek court orders on a care plan. These steps should not only result in the appropriate care options for you mom, but also help you maintain your position as your mom’s trustee. I wish you and your family all the best.

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COVER PROFILE 

A Christmastime Chat With

JoBeth Williams

14 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMBER 2014

Taking time out of holiday preparations for a “little chill,” the star of “The Big Chill” and “Poltergeist” shares her family’s Christmas traditions, memories of her career and thoughts on the passage of time Story by David Laurell • Photos by Keith Munyan / www.keithmunyan.com

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t’s late morning and JoBeth Williams is preparing for the photo shoot that will capture the images that appear on the cover and within this issue of Life After 50.

With her hair still damp from a fresh wash and a face as bare of makeup as it was when she was born in Houston, Texas 66 years ago this month, she takes a seat in front of a full-length mirror in her bathroom and turns things over to her stylist.

“That’s my favorite spot in the house,” she says motioning to a chaise longue in the adjoining bedroom of her Bel-Air home, a 1928 Gerard Colcord-designed Spanish Hacienda that she and her husband, film director John Pasquin, have lived in since 1997. “I love to sit there with a book or my iPad and read and just look out the window. We’re so nestled away here that I feel like I’m far from L.A. and out in the country somewhere.”

Over the next hour, as her stylist goes about his work, Williams reveals far more than a magnificent pre-makeup complexion as she casually chats about a variety of subjects, from her family’s Christmas traditions to her career and the two films she is, perhaps, best known for – 1982’s “Poltergeist” and the following year’s “The Big Chill.”

holding two blouses, one white and one red. With the red one given the thumbs up, she returns to her seat in front of the mirror and the topic of conversation turns to the remake of “Poltergeist,” which is currently in production under the direction of Gil Kenan, stars Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt, and slated for a late July release.

THE JOBETH BACKSTORY The daughter of a wire and cable company manager who had a passion for opera, and his dietitian wife, young JoBeth’s interest in drama, which had been encouraged by her father, began in her early teens. Having made her professional stage debut at 18 with a Houston theatrical company, she matriculated at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island and, after earning a degree in English, went on to train as a member of Rhode Island’s Trinity Repertory Company before heading to New York to pursue her career in the mid-1970s.

Having garnered roles in various stage and television productions including the daytime dramas “Somerset” and “Guiding Light,” Williams was first noticed by filmgoers for an extremely brief but hilariously memorable scene in 1979’s “Kramer vs. Kramer” when, on the way to the bathroom wearing nothing but eyeglasses, she is confronted by Dustin Hoffman’s character’s young son, who nonchalantly asks her name and questions her fondness for fried chicken.

Williams’ breakout role came in 1982, when she was cast as Diane Freeling, the demon-fighting suburban housewife and mother in the Steven Spielbergproduced blockbuster, “Poltergeist.” That led to her being cast as Karen Bowens in Lawrence Kasdan’s baby boomer classic, “The Big Chill.”

An established star by the mid-1980s, Williams has been a consistent presence on both the large and small screen, earned three Primetime Emmy Award nominations, and has served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for a 1994 short film, “On Hope,” which marked her directorial debut.

Currently appearing on the NBC sitcom, “Marry Me,” as Myrna Schuffman, a controlling widow with a type-A personality who constantly clashes with her daughter-in-law, Williams will also star alongside Richard Dreyfuss in the TBS sitcom, “Your Family or Mine,” which will debut this coming summer.

JBW: Well, I thought it was a wonderful script, which it is, but, it wasn’t until I found myself working in that muddy swimming pool that I learned a real lesson: to always read a script VERY carefully [laughing]. When I first read the script, there was only one little line that simply said: “Diane falls into the muddy swimming pool.” That was all it said and then went on to the next scene.

What I never realized was that little line would translate into four days of being immersed in this hideous muck that began to stink by the second day. That scene was shot on the old MGM lot and at the end of each day, Craig and the kids and I were so goopy that we had to be hosed down and put in the back of a pick-up truck and driven to the showers. Ah, the glamour of show biz!

HER CAREER, CHRISTMAS AND MORE After her stylist completes his task and Williams checks her hair and makeup, she disappears into a walk-in closet just off the bathroom and then returns

JoBeth Williams (JBW): That will be interesting – to see what they do. I don’t know much about it, but I did get a call from Sam Rockwell just before they started filming. I don’t know him, but I’m an admirer of his work, and he called both me and Craig [Craig T. Nelson, who co-starred with Williams in the original film], which I thought was very sweet. He just wanted to say that he was going into the project with the utmost respect for what Craig and I did in the original. He said he thought our performances were perfect and that the film was a classic and that they were not trying to be us. I thought that was a really classy thing for him to do.

Life After 50 (LA50): That was! Do you recall what you were thinking about before you started filming – after you first read the script?

LA50: “Poltergeist” was your real breakout film. Not a bad way to breakout, in a film written and produced by Steven Spielberg! That had to have been exciting.

JBW: It was. There are two things I remember most about working with Steven, whom I loved working with. In the famous scene in which I get attacked and pulled up the wall and onto the ceiling, they built what is called a gimbal set.

It was a set that revolves 360 degrees and it was a copy, down to the smallest detail, of the set that was our bedroom – including the cottage-cheese ceiling.

Well, I guess when they built that set, nobody gave any thought to the fact that I was going to be dragged around that ceiling about 70 times. So as I was being rotated and dragged along the ceiling, my elbows and knees started to bleed from the scraping. I remember as we were filming, I was yelling out to Steven that I was bleeding and he said, “That’s alright, we can wipe it out so it will never show.” And I was like, ‘Okay, well thank you for your concern.” [laughing]. But he made up for it when we were shooting the swimming pool scene. It was supposed to be during a violent storm, so they had these giant 16-foot fans on the edge of the pool to create wind. I was terrified that one of those fans was going to fall in the water and electrocute us. I have always had a healthy fear of water and electricity. But Steven assured me it was safe and to prove that, whenever we were in the pool, he would stand in the water with us, just out of frame, so I would feel comfortable.  DECEMBER 2014 LIFEAFTER50.COM 15

LA50: While you and Craig were the stars of that film, perhaps, the most iconic image we all have of “Poltergeist” is of Heather O’Rourke as Carol Anne at the foot of your bed saying, “They’re here.”

JBW: Heather was just darling. I remember when we were first introduced, she took my hand and told me I would be her mommy on the set. My heart melted.

She had such a loving spirit. She never complained and we had a lot of difficult scenes in that movie. She was just five-years-old and they poured that goop all over her and at times it was cold and she had to scream and project that she was terrified. She was a natural. I loved her – everyone did. When she passed away, I spoke with her mother, who was, of course, devastated, and we talked about how Heather never complained about anything on the set. Her mother revealed that she was never a complainer – that she never even complained when she had that stomach problem that ended up killing her. Because she had been so stoic, they didn’t realize how serious it was. They just thought she was having some digestive problem. So by the time they got her to the hospital, it was too late. I was incredibly lucky to have had the chance to work with her.

Her innocence and trust and beauty was so real and, like you say, it made her the iconic face of that film. She continued to be a sweet soul till the end – never like some spoiled show biz kid.

in a way. We were very much like the characters we played.

LA50: The message of the film is dealing with the loss of hope and idealism.

Did you guys ever sit around and talk about that?

JBW: We did. We did four weeks of rehearsal before we began shooting, so we really got to know one another and there was a lot of discussions about our own personal idealism and what we had compromised on. We did a lot of talking about what we thought were the backgrounds and psyches of the characters.

LA50: Did any of you have any idea while making “The Big Chill” that it would go on to be such a success and classic?

JBW: I don’t think anyone ever gave that a thought. I certainly didn’t. I think we all felt like we were making a little art film. Remember, it had taken the push of Carson Productions to get Columbia to even consider making it, and the studio didn’t give us much attention. They didn’t think much of anything about

LA50: I’m guessing that, for an actress, there’s nothing like doing a film that becomes an iconic classic and then immediately following it up with another classic. How did your being cast as Karen in “The Big Chill” come about?

JBW: Larry [the film’s writer and director Lawrence Kasdan], who is the genius who wrote “Body Heat” and “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Return of the Jedi,” had actually written the part of Karen for me after he saw “Poltergeist.” He told me that while writing the script, he only had two actors in mind that he specifically wrote parts for – me and Jeff Goldblum’s character of Michael.

So Larry called me in and I read the script and, of course, I wanted to do it. You know seven studios had turned the script down, because they said it was just everybody sitting around talking and nobody does anything and there’s no action. But I thought it was a wonderful script with real characters that were like people I really knew. I thought people would really relate to the characters. Then, of course, there’s the cast – just great actors – Kevin Kline, whom I knew from my days in New York and had even dated for a short time.

Glennie [Glenn Close] had just done “The World According to Garp” and so she was a major discovery. Bill Hurt and Mary Kay Place, whom I admired.

Meg Tilly and Kevin Costner weren’t even known then. We had shot a lot of flashback scenes that Kevin was very prominent in, but they were all cut. The casting for that film was dead-on perfect.

LA50: What are your memories of doing that film?

JBW: It was a wonderful experience. All of us – the entire cast – we all lived together in condos outside of Beaufort, South Carolina where we were shooting. So we were all sort of just hanging together like friends, and I think that really helped in the way we came across in the movie. We were pretty isolated during the shoot and so we played Charades and Trivial Pursuit and Glennie and Mary Kay and I would play jokes on the guys. It was like college, 16 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMbER 2014

it until it opened at the Toronto Film Festival and the response was huge and we got the People’s Choice Award. It was only then that Columbia took notice and decided to do a press tour and put money into promotion and advertising. I think every one of us was shocked that the film did as well as it did.

LA50: Why do you think that 30 years after its release, it still holds up so well?

JBW: I think it is because it deals with a subject that everyone can relate to. Everyone goes through the loss of youthful idealism and the recognition that the reality of life is probably not going to be exactly what we envisioned and that we have to make compromises in ways we never thought we would.

It’s coming to grips with that, and the realization that it’s just a part of life – everyone’s life – and that it’s okay.

LA50: We’ve been talking about some of your iconic roles but, let’s talk about the one that never was. The role of Murphy Brown was written for you, wasn’t it?

Season’s Greetings from

DECEMBER 2014 LIFEAFTER50.COM 17

JBW: Well, it was certainly written with me in mind. Diane English [the creator of “Murphy Brown”] is a good friend of mine. She talked to me about this great character she was creating and we met on a few occasions to talk about it. I thought it was a terrific character and she did offer the role to me. But it came at a time when I had just become a mother after trying for many years and I felt I didn’t want to put myself in a situation where I would have to go to a studio every day. With a newborn baby, I just didn’t want that demand on me, so I turned it down.

That was a hard thing to do, because I knew it was a great role. But as a new mother, I just didn’t want to commit to a series.

LA50: Have you ever regretted that decision?

JBW: It may not have been the smartest thing I ever did from a career standpoint. The show, of course, was a huge hit and I was very glad about that for Diane.

But I’ll admit, when I saw Candy [Candice Bergen] go on to win all her awards for the role, there were times I had twinges, when I would say to myself “You idiot! What were you thinking?” But do I really regret it? No, I’ve done okay.

LA50: Christmas is right around the corner. Do you and the family have any annual traditions?

JBW: We do. The boys and their dad go and get the tree and then the four of us decorate it. We have ornaments from when John and I first met, which is almost 40 years ago. We have ornaments we’ve made over the years. We trot it all out. Then we have a big party every year with over 100 people. I always bring in a pianist and we all gather around the piano in our living room and sing Christmas carols. Everyone always tells me that our party is their favorite, because it really gets them into the spirit of the season. Even my Jewish friends tell me that! I love Christmas music, both the religious and the secular songs we all grew up with. My dad was a singer. He had a beautiful tenor voice and sang in the church choir, so all of my memoires as a kid are tied to music and Christmas music was always the most special for me.

in the way I had felt it as a child, but with the ability to process it as an adult. It was so dear and really magical.

LA50: Do you know what you are getting John?

JBW: I don’t. He is very picky and he has everything he needs. He buys all of his Christmas presents online and while he’s buying for everyone else, he ends up seeing things he wants and, instead of making a list of what he wants, he just buys that stuff for himself. That infuriates me!

LA50: What about your list?

JBW: I hate to sound corny, but I have everything I need and want.

Maybe some books. I think maybe we’ll do a trip after Christmas, so that will be my gift. I already have too much stuff.

LA50: Are you the type that makes New Year’s resolutions?

JBW: Every year! Every year I make a list and usually they are the same things [laughs]. I guess I never really live up to them, because they end up on my list again and again. You know, eat less sugar and fat, cut down on the nightly Chardonnay, exercise more.

LA50: Do you adhere to any sort of diet or exercise regimen?

JBW: I try to, but I’m not rigid. I try not to eat fried or refined things. I don’t eat much bread. But I won’t give up red velvet cupcakes with sour cream icing. As for exercise, I’m a Pilates person, but I have to be careful, because I have back issues. I also walk and hike and try to do the treadmill.

LA50: JoBeth, as the years go by, have you adopted any sort of philosophy on getting older?

JBW: As an actress, you have to take into account how long you want to work.

I could retire now, but I would be bored to tears. I have been very lucky to be working as much as I am. I’m doing “Your Family or Mine” that will begin next summer and have a recurring on “Marry Me.” So I’m working and very LA50: What about Christmas Day? happy to be doing that. I’m also thrilled to be doing comedy, which is something people don’t think of when they think of me. So I want to keep working and try JBW: Well, we always open one present on Christmas Eve. That tradition began to keep looking as good as I can. Ultimately, the time will come that I will let when I was a little kid growing up in Houston. We would always go over to myself go gray and, when that time comes, I will go gracefully into that. I think my grandmother’s on Christmas Eve and exchange presents then. Then, on I still have a few more years before that happens, but when I am older, I hope Christmas Day – I remember when our boys were little and used to get up at I can still get parts and work. I guess my philosophy is that I want to live as four in the morning and rummage through their stockings. Now, even at their long as I can and feel good and keep moving. I’m happy when I’m working, I age – they’re 24 and 26 – they still love getting their stockings, but they don’t really love the work, although I don’t love the long hours. I’m like every actor: I get up anywhere near four anymore [laughs]. complain when I’m working and I complain when I’m not working. But that’s it, to just keep feeling well and working and moving.

LA50: Do you have a special Christmas memory?

LA50: Well what do you say we move downstairs and do your photos?

JBW: When my son Will was two, seeing Christmas through his eyes was magical. For the first time in many years, I really felt the magic of Christmas JBW: Sounds good. I’ll put on my red blouse and be right down. ª 18 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMbER 2014

20 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMbER 2014

DECEmbEr 2014 LIFEAFTEr50.COm 21

Your 2015 Life After 50 Gift List Assist From the most extreme to something special and a super stocking stuffer, Life After 50 has a unique suggestion for everyone on your holiday gift list Compiled by Max Andrews

T

he days are rapidly dwindling for you to find that perfect gift for your family member or special someone. Knowing that it can be mind-numbing to come up with unique ideas for gifts, we have done a bit of research for you and provided three ideas for 10 22 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMBER 2014

different age groups from children to those living life after 80. Our categories include a gift idea for each age group that is “The Extreme Supreme,” when money is no object, along with “The Something Special” and “The Super Stocking Stuffer,” that are a bit more realistic options.

Children (four to eight) Kids (nine to 12) The Extreme Supreme Gift

The Genuine Robby The Robot This life-sized icon is a replica of Robby the Robot from the 1956 sci-fi classic, “Forbidden Planet.”

Robby is a seven-foot-tall, remote-controlled robot pre-programmed to deliver lines from the movie.

The sound can be connected to a home theater system, and you can even project your own voice through a wireless microphone that’s included. $49,999.99, www.hammacher.com.

The Something Special Gift

The Razor Ground Force Powered Ride-On Car This sleek silver-and-black Ground Force go-kart attains a maximum speed of 12 miles per hour, making it the perfect kart for zipping around. The Ground Force’s quiet variable-speed, chain-driven motor is powered by two 12-volt batteries, which deliver approximately 45 minutes of drive time per charge. The molded aluminum wheels and solid tires help the Ground Force run smoothly wherever it goes. $299.99, www.razor.com.

The Extreme Supreme Gift

A Grand Victorian Mansion Playhouse This playhouse offered by FAO Schwarz is straight out of a fairy tale. It includes a wraparound porch, a stained-glass window, window boxes, a skylight, a doorbell and a brass door-knocker. The interior resembles a real house with spongepainted walls, simulated hardwood floors, fireplace mantel and an upstairs loft accessed by ladder. $22,000, www.faoschwarz.com.

The Something Special Gift

LeapFrog’s Leapster GS Explorer This new and exciting learning game system is not only fun, but educational as well.

Jam-packed with preset games, it also has many downloadable features and apps to add more to the experience. This new version of the Leapster Explorer even includes a camera that is able to both take pictures and record videos. The games can help children learn everything from reading to geography. $49.99, www.leapfrog.com.

Images courtesy of the respective manufacturer and/or provider listed for each item.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

The Whimsical World Of Sheri Fink Books Sheri Fink’s enchanting storybooks are the perfect gift for children who are facing challenges and changes such as moving, starting a new school, marriage, divorce, new siblings or struggling with peer pressure. A best-selling, award-winning children’s author and creator of “The Whimsical World of Sheri Fink” children’s brand, Fink is also an international speaker. She writes books that inspire and delight children while planting seeds of selfesteem. Her children’s book series have received the Gold Mom’s Choice Award for excellence in family friendly entertainment. Autographed copies of her books are $22.95 each, www.WhimsicalWorldofSheriFink.com.

The Super Stuffing Stuffer Gift

VTech’s Kidizoom Smartwatch More than a watch, the Kidizoom Smartwatch is also a camera that lets your budding photographer take photos and videos as well as play learning games and tell time. They can also use the touch screen to explore their creativity with fun photo effects, frames and filters.

A voice recorder also lets kids record their voice and play with five voicechanging effects. $49.99, www.vtechkids.com.

 DECEMBER 2014 LIFEAFTER50.COM 23

Twentysomethings Teens The Extreme Supreme Gift

The Slot Mods USA Ultimate Slot Car Raceway The teen in your family will be the envy of his or her peers when they invite friends over to play this 30 x 12-foot, 1:32 scale model of their favorite race track – Laguna Seca, Le Mans or the Nürburgring. Iconic structures, pit crews, period slot cars and much more will get them into the action while integrated track cameras capture and display it all on mini-screens. Racing legends Vic Elford and David Hobbs will even show up to co-host the inaugural race-night party. Available from Neiman Marcus, upon purchase the company will donate $3,500 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation, which supports youth arts education in communities across the country. $300,000, www.neimanmarcus.com.

The Something Special Gift

Nintendo 3DS XL The Nintendo 3DS XL system combines next-generation portable gaming with eye-popping 3D visuals. Take 3D photos, connect to friends, other players, or wireless hotspots with the wireless StreetPass and SpotPass communication modes. With 90 percent larger screens than the 3DS, 3DS XL is the ultimate 3D gaming and entertainment system. $199.99, www.nintendo.com.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

iFrogz Luxe Headphones With Mic Teens love headphones and with the iFrogz signature Luxe metallic look and velvet feel, they will enjoy a blend of perfect bass and crystal clear tones for full stereo sound. These sleek headphones also include a convenient, in-line singlebutton remote/microphone to control mobile devices. $39.99, www.ifrogz.com.

24 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMBER 2014

The Extreme Supreme Gift

His And Hers Vilebrequin Quadskis The young married couple in your life won’t have to share jet skis or ATVs on their next vacation with this his and hers set of Vilebrequin Quadskis.

Hailed as the world’s best high-speed amphibians, these machines, which can accelerate up to 45 mph on land or water, convert from water cruisers to land lovers in under five seconds. $50,000, www.neimanmarcus.com.

The Something Special Gift

The Portable Smart Television Offered by Hammacher Schlemmer, this portable wireless television is also a tablet computer. A built-in digital TV tuner and antenna receive free, over-theair high-definition broadcasts and display them on the seven-inch screen.

The tablet allows users to browse the Internet or download apps. The device accesses the Internet via Wi Fi and its rechargeable battery provides up to two hours of power for watching television or six hours for surfing the Internet or using apps. It has front- and rear-facing cameras and Dolby digital sound. $199.95, www.hammacher.com.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

Death Wish Coffee: The Strongest Coffee in the World One’s 20s happen to coincide with college or university time, also known as that time in one’s life when sleep becomes a wholly optional and relative issue. If you’ve got a twentysomething on your list, this is the one coffee blend that’s guaranteed to keep them up and going. The producers claim this coffee brand, which is the world’s strongest coffee, is 200 times stronger than anything else on the market and can keep you up for as long as three days at a time. Caution: It’s not recommended for those who suffer from any cardiovascular conditions. $19.99 per pound, www.deathwishcoffee.com.

Thirtysomethings The Extreme Supreme Gift

The Vanity Fair Academy Awards Experience Do you have a thirtysomething couple on your list who are big film lovers? If so, here’s their chance to be a part of Hollywood’s biggest night.

Have them get their gown and tux ready for a weekend of star treatment that will begin at the Luxe Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel, where they’ll stay for three nights.

The following day, they will enjoy special excursions, drinks at the famous Sunset Tower, and dinner at Chateau Marmont. Then, on the day of the Academy Awards, they will receive pre-party spa pampering followed by hair, makeup, wardrobe styling and a jewelry loan that will culminate with invites to the night’s most coveted event: The Vanity Fair Party, where they will mix, mingle and revel with Oscar winners and silver-screen legends past and present. $425,000, exclusively offered by Neiman Marcus, www.neimanmarcus.com.

The Something Special Gift

A Portable Indoor/Outdoor Fireplace This is sheer modern elegance wrapped up in a unique portable gel fi replace.

Floating glass panels are held in place by a brushed nickel base that houses

cans of gel fuel (sold separately). The glass panels provide an unobstructed view of the magnificent flame while adding a modern loft appearance. The gel fuel can also be replaced with decorative pillar candles. $309.00, www. seventhavenue.com.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

Ribs From Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous Barbeque in Memphis Not since Adam has a rib been more famous than those served up by the folks at Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous. Since 1948, barbeque lovers including presidents, heads of foreign countries and The Rolling Stones have made a pilgrimage to Memphis just to eat at the Rendezvous. One of Elvis’ faves, you can now provide your thirtysomethings with the same ribs the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll loved. Their most popular gift item is two slabs of their famous ribs and their world-famous Rendezvous barbeque sauce, which are shipped in dry ice.

There are also loads of great side dishes available. $105.00, www.hogsfly.com.

Fortysomethings The Extreme Supreme Gift

The Celebrity Robotic Avatar For that fortysomething couple who love to entertain, this adultsized robotic avatar, controlled via an intuitive wireless remote, will be the perfect dinner party assistant. His fluid, lifelike movements, smooth dance moves, and engaging personality will add star power to any event.

He rolls forward, backward, and spins 360º at three different speeds, dancing alone or with a partner who stands on his sturdy platform. The robot engages in clever impromptu banter with guests (delivered from the operator with a discreet wireless microphone), his synthesized voice carrying clearly from six speakers in his head and body. LEDs in his mouth light as he talks, giving his speech a more natural quality. His routine can also be completely preprogrammed, from body movements and dialogue to music and sound effects. $345,000, www.hammacher.com.

The Something Special Gift

The Joe Namath Rapid Cooker Whether cooking a favorite meal at home or preparing a feast while tailgating at the big game, the Joe Namath Rapid Cooker by EdenPURE is something special. This cooker creates restaurant-quality food wherever you are. Simple, fast, and portable, this cooker uses infrared commercial technology that quickly heats and cooks food from the top down, like a broiler. With temperatures ranging from 300° F to 1,400° F and adjustable cooking zones, you can do anything from searing a steak to melting cheese.

Built in the U.S.A. with professionalgrade stainless steel, this cooker brings the taste of the finest steakhouses and restaurants to any table. You can also order Joe Namath N.Y. Steaks, which go through a strict quality-control process to ensure that only the most excellent USDA beef is provided. From the cooker to the meats, every product is backed by Broadway Joe’s famous guarantee of satisfaction. $397.00, www. namathproducts.com.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

A Wireless Eye Massager With Soothing Sounds The Wireless Eye Massager with Soothing Sounds uses a combination of intelligent air pressure, vibration massage, point massage and gentle infrared heat to soothe away stress, strain and aches.

Just slip it on after a hard day and it rubs, presses, warms and massages your entire ocular region to rejuvenate tired eyes.

It even has built-in speakers and prerecorded nature sounds to help you relax. $129.99, www. sharperimage.com.



DECEMBER 2014 LIFEAFTER50.COM 25

Sixtysomethings Fiftysomethings The Extreme Supreme Gift

A Fragrance Journey To Paris Do you have to buy for the special someone whose clothing, home decor and car suits them perfectly?

If so, isn’t it time they also had a signature scent that does the same? This quest to fragrance utopia begins with two first-class tickets to Paris, where your special someone will meet with sixth-generation master perfumer Olivier Creed of the House of Creed to create the ultimate custom scent. While in The City of Light, they will dine with Creed, enjoy five-star accommodations, white-glove car service, private tours and other experiences befitting this extreme gift. A few months later, their custom fragrance will arrive at their doorstep in 24 14-karat goldgilded six-liter flacons and 12 14-karat gold-accented leather atomizers. Offered exclusively by Neiman Marcus, the company will donate $5,000 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation to support youth arts education in communities across the country. $475,000, www.neimanmarcus.com.

The Extreme Supreme Gift

Luxurious Linens From Leontine If you have someone on your list who demands the fi nest things, this gift from the Leontine Linens Home Trousseau is the present for them. This gift begins with a personal in-home visit from the company’s founder, Jane Scott Hodges, where together, with your special someone, they will select bed, bath, and table linens to create a perfectly appointed home. $55,000, exclusively offered by Neiman Marcus, www.neimanmarcus.com.

The Something Special Gift

A Pedego Electric Bike Pedego bikes give riders exercise disguised as fun. They combine style and function to open cycling to those who might otherwise not be getting the benefits from bike riding. Many people would like to ride a bike, but find it impractical

The Something Special Gift

Custom Handmade Furniture by Dolenz & Daughters Fine Furniture Every American who is in their 50s today grew up with The Monkees, so if you have a fiftysomething on your list, stop monkeying around and get them something really special – a custom-crafted piece of furniture actually made by a real-life Monkee! Dolenz & Daughters Fine Furniture is a family-owned business founded in 2013 by Georgia Dolenz and her father, Micky Dolenz of The Monkees.

Georgia and Micky actually design and handcraft furniture in their home. They source only the highest-quality materials and use traditional woodworking techniques. They design each piece from scratch and donate a percentage of the proceeds from each sale to a variety of charities close to their hearts. $60 to $1,000.00, www.dolenzanddaughters.com.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

The Tony Bennett And Lady Gaga “Cheek To Cheek” Collector’s Edition Box Set For the Tony Bennett fan on your list, this is a very special edition of his latest Number One album, “Cheek To Cheek.” This collector’s edition box set includes a vinyl record of “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” and “Cheek To Cheek,” an embroidered, monogrammed handkerchief with Tony’s initials and Gaga’s lipstick print, “Cheek To Cheek” sheet music autographed by Tony, personal snapshots of Tony and Gaga, a vinyl version of the standard album, a “Cheek To Cheek LIVE! Concert” DVD, an 8x10 art print housed in a vellum envelope, and a commemorative newspaper all housed in a black leather-finished box. $149.99, www.ladygaga.shop. bravadousa.com.

26 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMBER 2014

or impossible because of hills, distance, health reasons, knee problems, or aging.

Pedego electric bikes make biking much more accessible. Pedal or not, Pedego’s electric throttle gives assistance when the rider needs it for hills, headwinds or if they are tired. There’s a huge variety of fun colors, including pink, turquoise, coral, red, orange, blue, neon green, and more. Fun and practical styles include cruiser, commuter, mountain, cargo, and tandem bikes. And, coming soon, is the new Boomerang, built just for boomers with an extra-low step through. Pedego bikes are equipped with a battery that can be charged simply by plugging it in. From $2,095.000, www.pedegoelectricbikes.com.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic Moments, and Assorted Hijinks

By Dick Cavett What do Steve Jobs, Elizabeth Taylor, James Gandolfini, Gore Vidal, and John Lennon have in common? They’re all featured characters in legendary talk show host Dick Cavett’s new book, “Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic Moments and Assorted Hijinks” (Henry Holt, 2014). In his latest volume, the erudite host of “The Dick Cavett Show” shares his recollections of the famous figures he encountered throughout his career. We tag along as Cavett spends an afternoon with Stan Laurel in his modest apartment, spars with Muhammad Ali at his training camp, and comes to know a young Steve Jobs – who wooed him to be Apple’s first celebrity pitchman. He also revisits his Midwestern upbringing, offers piquant commentary on contemporary politics, the indignities of travel, the nature of comedy writing, and the utter improbability of being alive at all. For those who grew up with and love Cavett, who will be featured on the cover of the January issue of Life After 50, this book proves he remains as quick-witted and bold-minded as ever as he shares his reflections and reminiscences about Hollywood legends, American cultural icons, and the absurdities of everyday life. $26.00, www.dickcavettshow.com.

Seventysomethings The Extreme Supreme Gift

A 2015 Bentley Continental GT If you have a seventysomething on your list and money is of no object, why not give them the opportunity to get around in style in a 2015 Bentley Continen-

tal GT? Just the name “Bentley” says it all when it comes to style and luxury.

From their first glimpse of this car – the fastest, most powerful two-door coupé that Bentley makes – they will know you truly cared to give the very best. $227,600.00, www.bentleymotors.com.

The Something Special Gift

The 100 Greatest Classics Audio Book This palm-sized library contains audio versions of the 100 greatest classic books. The lightweight player comes pre-loaded with unabridged texts by noteworthy authors including Charles Dickens, Mark Twain and Jane Austen. In addition to classic novels such as “Moby-Dick” and “Treasure Island,” the collection features short stories by O. Henry and Kipling, plays by Ibsen and Shakespeare, and philosophical treatises by Nietzsche and Aristotle. Its full 600 hours of entertainment also include 50 classical music favorites by Mozart, Chopin and other immortal composers. This portable device makes it easy to catch up on the classics on the go; it even comes with an adapter so it can be played through a car radio. $99.95, www.hammacher.com.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

Unique Items For The Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin Or Rat Pack Fan You would be hard-pressed to find a seventysomething who doesn’t love the music of Ol’ Blue Eyes or Dino, and at Deans and Franks, you can find anything from vintage items pertaining to the legendary crooners to one-of-a-kind treasures actually signed or owned by them. As much a shrine and museum as a shop, the Deans and Franks web store offers an amazing array of gifts for the fans of these two men who defined an era – not only as entertainers, but of the totally cool attitude. The web store constantly adds more items and rarities which, at any given time, offers almost 700 items in more than 65 different categories. If you have a specific request for a Sinatra, Martin or Rat Pack item, they are the “go to” source to find it for you. $45.00 and up, www.deansandfranks.com.

Eightysomethings The Extreme Supreme Gift

A Silversea’s World Cruise Most travelers’ lifelong dream is a world cruise – especially one that crosses both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and makes an entire circle around the planet.

That is what distinguishes Silversea’s 2015 World Cruise. The itinerary of this cruise is nothing short of astonishing – 115 days, 50 ports in 30 countries, including the jewels of French Polynesia, the orangutans of Borneo, the Buddhas of Borobudur, Vietnam and the great cities of Asia, both east and west coasts of Africa, and an array of far-flung cultures and world wonders that are truly breathtaking in scope. If you know someone whose dream has been to completely circumnavigate the globe, give them the gift of a cruise on the Silver Whisper as she sails from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, from Polynesia to New Zealand and Australia, from Bali and Borneo to China and Southeast Asia, and across the Indian Ocean to the most mysterious continent of all – Africa. This is truly is a gift that dreams are made of. $58,950 per person, www.silversea.com.

The Something Special Gift

A grandPad Tablet Computer Built just for seniors and customized with only the content that seniors need and want, the grandPad Tablet Computer is easy and fun to use. This is the perfect gift to help your parent connect with family and friends. The grandPad gives a senior everything they need. Their content is downloaded automatically from the Internet, there are no passwords to remember, it is safe from viruses and telemarketers, and it is always connected. They can call friends and family by simply clicking on their picture, send and receive video calls, send and receive safe, spam-free e-mail by speaking message, get photos and videos of friends and family, and even music from their favorite musicians.

They can play Solitaire, memory games, and more, plug it in to any headphones for better listening, and use a special stylus designed for ease of use. A non-contract $60-per-month grandPad subscription includes the grandPad tablet computer, a wireless charging dock, a case and stylus, built-in Internet service and 24/7 U.S.-based customer support, www.grandpad.net.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

The Isometric Resistance Upper Body Strengthener This is the isometric resistance trainer that provides a muscle-strengthening upper body workout that is gentle on joints. Users simply pull or push on the static handlebars without moving upper body joints, creating the same strength-enhancing resistance as free weights, but without the strain or detrimental impact. Ideal for improving bone density and mitigating muscle loss, the device allows users to create their preferred resistance. It has a programmable timer and it monitors applied force and displays the readings on the integrated backlit LCD, allowing users to set goals and determine progress.

The device enables up to 23 exercises that strengthen and tone the arms, shoulders, chest, and back. $79.95, www.hammacher.com.  DECEMBER 2014 LIFEAFTER50.COM 27

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WARNING:

The Holidays Can Be Hazardous To Your Health

Tips for giving your body what it needs to stay healthy during this busy season

By Dr. John Young

I

t’s a sad statistical fact: The holidays, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, can be a treacherous time when it comes to our health.

This time of year brings a spike in heart attacks and other cardiac issues. The incidence of pneumonia cases also spikes – in both cold and warm climates. And deaths from natural causes are higher than other times of the year. In fact, more people die of natural causes on Christmas Day than any other day of the year.

While those numbers are well-documented, the causes are not.

Stress definitely plays a role, particularly if one’s immune system is 30 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMbER 2014

weakened. If you look at how most of us eat from Halloween through New Year’s Day, it’s easy to see how the immune system takes a beating and otherwise healthy people become more susceptible to illness during the holidays.

It’s BasIc BIochemIstry During the holidays, we all tend to eat a lot more refined sugar, which is a carbohydrate that’s been stripped of all the vitamins, minerals and proteins that make up a complete carbohydrate. Our bodies can’t use that, so the cells in

our digestive organs work overtime, burning up a lot of energy, vitamins and minerals to digest it, and they get nothing back in return. So, eventually, they grow weak.

So, you may ask, can we have a little sugar and still maintain good health?

The good news is: WE CAN! The occasional slice of pumpkin pie is fine as long as you’re also feeding your cells with the nutrients they need – the minerals, vitamins, good quality protein, amino acids, essential fatty acids – to stay healthy.

Here are some of my top tips for staying healthy throughout the holidays and the entire year: GET YOUR VITAMIN D Vitamin D is actually a hormone, not a vitamin, and one of our best sources for it is sunshine. Unfortunately, many people work indoors all day, so they get little sun exposure. When they do go outside, they wear long sleeves and sunblock to protect against skin cancer. And, of course, in the wintertime, people in cold climes tend to stay inside. As a result, many of us are vitamin D deficient and should be taking supplements. Vitamin D is crucial to many physiological systems, including our immune defenses. It helps fight bacterial and viral infections, including the flu. It supports our cardiovascular system; optimal vitamin D levels can reduce hypertension, heart attacks and stroke.

If I feel I’m coming down with a cold, I’ll take 40,000 units of vitamin D at bedtime. The next morning, I usually feel like a new person.

EAT YOUR PROTEIN You should be eating one gram for every 2.2 pounds of your body weight on a daily basis. In the United States, we think a healthy diet means eating a lot of fruits and vegetables – which is true. But that doesn’t mean we can forget protein.

Our immune system is made up of proteins – our bones are 40 percent protein.

Thus, we need protein to stay healthy. When calculating your protein intake, consider this: an egg has about eight grams, and eight ounces of fish, chicken, beef or pork have about 30 grams.

One caution: I never recommend that anyone take more than 100 grams of protein a day.

GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP, EXERCISE, AND MANAGE YOUR STRESS Yup, some doctors’ orders never change. Rest, exercise and finding effective, healthy ways to cope with stress are simple ways to pamper your cells. One of the many cellular benefits of exercise is that it increases the oxygen in our bloodstream. Every cell in our body requires oxygen, so consider exercise as another means of feeding your cells. It’s also important to manage stress during the holidays.

With unchecked stress, our body releases large amounts of cortisol which, among other things, suppresses the immune system. Take time out to meditate, listen to music, or take a walk in the woods. It feels  good – and it’s good for you.

GETTING THROUGH THE MOST STRESSFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

By Colin Christopher

I

t’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but the holiday season, for many, is the most stressful time of the year. From visits with family and out-of-town guests, buying gifts for everyone on your list, cooking, decorating and more, the holidays sometimes bring more stress than they do joy.

As a clinical hypnotherapist certified by the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners, here are my tips to reduce stress and make it through the next few weeks:

DON’T PROCRASTINATE

You can reduce stress with a little bit of planning and getting an early start.

If you wait until the last minute and find yourself pressed for time, you’re going to experience more stress.

LEARN TO SAY “NO”

If you have a hard time telling people “no,” you’re going to find yourself overcommitted, tired, unable to do the things you really want to do and stressed out. It’s okay to say “no” if you don’t want to do something or don’t have the time to do it.

TAKE A MOMENT FOR YOURSELF

During the holidays, we have so many commitments to our family, friends, visitors, office parties and more, that people tend to forget about themselves. Even as little as 20 to 30 minutes each day to do something you enjoy or to go for a walk by yourself will refresh you, relieve stress and help you enjoy the holidays.

BREATHE

If you’re feeling overly anxious or stressed, take a few minutes to slow your breathing down. Breathe in through your diaphragm (stomach area), hold for a few seconds, and slowly release through your mouth.

APPRECIATE THE MOMENT

We tend to get so caught up in the moment that it’s over before we know it.

Take time to step back and enjoy the time with your family, playing with your kids, and just being thankful for all you have. You’ll naturally feel less stressed and more satisfied when you are thankful for everything around you.

LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS For more information and tips on keeping healthy during the holidays, click on www.lifeafter50.com and read Lisa Ferentz’s feature, “Working Through Self-Destructive Behaviors During the Holidays.”

Some people place very high expectations on the holidays. They picture everything playing out in a specific or perfect way and find themselves disappointed and stressed out when things don’t go according to plan. Lower your expectations and just let life happen. You’ll feel less stressed and have more fun.

Colin Christopher is a clinical hypnotherapist, hypnosis instructor and author of the book “Success Through Manipulation: Subconscious Reactions That Will Make or Break You.” For more information click on www.colinontv.com.

DECEMBER 2014 LIFEAFTER50.COM 31

The Santa Con – New original movie, Lifetime – Premieres Saturday December 13 at 8 p.m.

Melissa Joan Hart directs and stars in this new holiday film about a smalltime con man, Nick DeMarcco, played by Barry Watson, who is ordered by his parole officer to take a minimum-wage job as a department store Santa during the holidays. When he hastily promises a young boy, Billy, that Santa will bring his estranged parents back together by Christmas, the boy’s sister is livid and can’t believe he would break a little boy’s heart with an empty promise.

After a long night of soul searching – with the help of an insightful female pastor – Nick decides to try and make good on his promise.

The Red Tent – Two-Night Miniseries, Lifetime – Premieres Sunday December 7 at 9 p.m. and concludes Monday December 8 at 9 p.m.

This new miniseries is based on the bestselling novel by Anita Diamant and takes place during the times of the Old Testament, told through the eyes of Dinah, the daughter of Leah and Jacob. The story begins with Dinah’s happy childhood spent inside the red tent where the women of her tribe gather and share the traditions and turmoil of ancient womanhood. As Dinah matures and experiences an intense love that subsequently leads to a devastating loss, the fate of her family is forever changed.

12 New Movies Of Christmas – 12 New Original Movies Marathon, Hallmark Channel – Begins Thursday December 25 at 6 a.m. through December 26

The Best In December Television Viewing

By Sandi Berg

This marathon of original, new 2014 holiday movies made exclusively for the Hallmark Channel will keep the entire family entertained. So if you need a break from the hectic pace of the season, sit back and enjoy these lighthearted – and sometimes romantic – holiday-themed movies.

Michael Feinstein’s New Year’s Eve At The Rainbow Room – New Special, PBS – Airs Friday December 31 at 10 p.m. (check local listings) This year, you can ring in the New Year with style and old-fashioned glamour.

In this new special, entertainer and raconteur Michael Feinstein and a cast of guest performers will be recapturing the heyday of the glamorous New York nightclubs as he hosts this celebration from high atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza in the glittering, newly restored Rainbow Room.

32 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMBER 2014

Tuned In To What’s On

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A Koz For Celebration Musician and composer Dave Koz celebrates the holiday season, his new album, and life with love and gratitude Story and Photos

By David Laurell

M

ultiple Grammy Award-nominated saxophonist and composer Dave Koz sinks into a plush sage-green couch in his Beverly Hills home.

“I’ve been doing Christmas music for a long time,” says the San Fernando Valley-born, UCLA graduate who, as a platinum-selling recording artist, has just released his latest Christmas album, “The 25th of December” (Concord Records, 2014). “This is my fifth Christmas album and I’ll be doing my 17th annual Christmas tour this month — which is quite an achievement for a nice Jewish boy,” he adds with a smile.

Koz glances over towards the ebony grand piano that occupies the windowed corner of his living room.

“I wanted this album to be something new and fresh — like I invited listeners to my house for the best holiday party with this group of phenomenally talented artists,” he explains. “I pictured us all retiring to the living room after dinner, gathering around the piano, and everybody getting up and doing a song while I played a little saxophone with them.”

It truly would be the best holiday party ever as Koz’s new album presents duets with some of the most legendary and prominent pop and jazz artists of our time including Johnny Mathis, Eric Benét, Gloria Estefan, Heather Headley, Richard Marx, Kenny G, BeBe Winans, India.Arie, Trombone Shorty, Jonathan Butler, Fantasia and Stevie Wonder.

“Right from the start, I told Rickey Minor, who produced the album, that I wouldn’t even consider going into the studio unless I was going to do something different — something that activated a new dimension of my musicality. That’s what goes on in my head when I make every new record. I feel like I’m at a point in my career that the world has enough Dave Koz music, so if

36 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMBER 2014

I’m going to go to the trouble to make a new album, it had better be something fresh — that I haven’t already done, or there’s just no reason for me to do it, or the fans to buy it. Rickey got that, and the result is an album that represents a whole lot of love. It’s across the board in its diversity and it unites everyone who was a part of this project by our love and gratitude for this time of year and the music of this season and what it represents. I have great respect for how important these songs are to people.”

Koz says he was thrilled to have gotten such a great response from those he invited to perform on his latest Christmas offering and, unabashedly admits to having been often awed during its production.

“Watching Stevie Wonder play and sing my music was kind of otherworldly,” he reveals. “I actually did pinch myself while that was happening. And then, to have Johnny Mathis involved…”

Koz’s voice trails off and he takes a second to compose himself.

“I don’t have words for Johnny. I always get choked up when I talk about him. He’s such a beautiful and pure soul.”

Reaching for his phone from the coffee table he quickly does a search of old messages with a look that says he’s preparing to reveal one of his mosttreasured possessions. “Here, check it out,” he says as he holds his phone up. “I called John last June and told him about my idea for a Christmas album and then I got this:” “Hello my beautiful friend. This is Johnny Mathis. I would love to sing for you again. I can’t wait. Let’s do it. Let me know when and where and I’ll be there.”

“I will never delete that,” Koz says with a laugh.

As for the “when and where” Mathis asked to be apprised of, that response came quickly and the legendary singer found himself in the studio with Koz within 24 hours of making that call.

“That day, in the studio with John, was one of the greatest of my career,” says Koz. “It all came together so fast and organically without all the planning and negotiating that is usually involved in these projects. I think that is sometimes how real magic happens. I had told Rickey I wanted Mathis to do ‘It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ and Rickey said ‘Yes! Call him.’ The next day, John came in to have a meeting about the song. He wasn’t planning on recording that day. He just wanted to discuss it, do a run-through, pick a key and have a game plan. But because Rickey is such a genius, he said we were going to have a band there and be ready to record. So John showed up looking like

he had just stepped off a beach in Hawaii. We went into the studio and without any real plan, just started doing it. I’m playing the sax, he’s in the next booth singing, the musicians are in the studio, and within two hours — magic! — we had a take we all loved.”

Following up on his earlier comment that making beloved Christmas music is quite an accomplishment for a Jewish boy, Koz says he never gives that much thought.

“Some of the greatest composers and lyricists and artists to have ever created Christmas music have been Jewish,” he reasons. “I greatly respect the religious basis of Christmas, but I believe there is another element that comes with the Christmas season — the ability to bring people together. I think religion divides and separates people. We see the painfulness of that in our world every day. But music is a powerful tool that can bring people together and Christmas music really does that. No matter what your religious beliefs, Christmas music reminds every one of their childhood — simple and innocent times. These songs aren’t just words and notes on a page. They are a gateway for us to travel back in time, like an aroma that takes you back to your grandmother’s kitchen.

They are songs that are powerful and can produce the miracle of love and bringing people together. I’ve seen that happen in ways that have blown me away, and it happened with this album. I’ll never forget doing this album, because it was so filled with love. It was an amazing personal advance for me.”

Taking Christmas To His Fans Preparing for his 2014 Christmas tour, Koz says that while traveling during the holidays can be a challenge, he “rolls with it.”

“I do miss being home throughout December,” he says. “But it’s sort of a yin-yang thing because I also really love being out on the road and performing and meeting people.”

As to the people he meets at his shows, Koz says his audiences are incredibly diverse. “I’m really proud of that,” he says. “We’ve been doing the Koz sea cruises since 2005. This year, we cruised Alaska with 2,100 people who crossed all ethnicities and ages — African-Americans, Asians, older couples, young couples and singles, gay men and lesbians. It is an honor to be able to attract such a diverse audience and then corral that energy and see people come together.

I really love the meet-and-greets we do. I love to meet the fans and get the chance to thank them, especially those who have been there from the beginning — that’s coming up on 25 years — since my first album came out in 1990.”

Queried on the allegiance of his fans, Koz says that jazz audiences are typically not fickle. “If you continue to stay fresh and grow as an artist and keep your audience interested in what you’re doing, there is the opportunity to have a very long career in the world of jazz,” he opines, “I’m very grateful for that.”

Koz’s Personal Playlist

While jazz may be the genre he is most associated with, Koz says his personal tastes in music have been, and still are, all over the place.

have the time to discover new artists. There was a time when we would all listen to the radio and go to record stores. Those days are over. Today, even the release of a record by a big name artist isn’t an event like it once was and will only sell maybe a tenth of what it would have in the past. The idea of buying music is foreign to people today — especially young people. They love music, but they don’t buy it.”

Wearing The Badge Of Age

“I grew up in a musical household,” he says. “My parents loved all of the classic singers — Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald. My sister listened to pop music. She was a big fan of Chicago, who was the first band that opened my ears to that sound — the use of horns. My brother was the jazz guy. He was also into progressive rock. He loved guys like Gino Vannelli and Michael Franks and the Brecker Brothers. So just walking down the hallway of my house, passing the various bedrooms, I would hear a lot of very different music.

I think, because I was the youngest, my tastes were influenced by all of theirs and became an amalgam of everything I heard.”

Asked what he listens to today he laughs. “I’m still all over the place. I recently got a new car — a Tesla.

It was a late 50th birthday present to myself and I just love it. That car has Slacker Radio and all you have to do is say whatever song you can ever think of and it will just pop up and play. So talk about being all over the place. I’m always throwing out titles like crazy, although I’ll admit it: the first thing I ever did was to see if I came up. Thank God, I did. But I never get tired of the old classics like Dean and Frank. I’m into meditative music and I’m really into Janelle Monáe, who has a lot of jazz influences but would really be considered an R&B artist. I think she is just fantastic, like a female James Brown with all of that energy and imagination. I’m also a huge fan of Bruno Mars, who I think is unbelievable. I would love to make music with him. There is a lot of great music out there today — Aloe Blacc, Frank Ocean. John Legend, John Mayer, Lady Gaga, whom I just love.”

Having crossed into his 50s in 2013, Koz says he is aware that many people his age do not stay abreast of current music. “I think the reason for that is simple,” he opines. “There’s just too much. The faucet is always on full blast. There is a mass amount of music coming out and no one can keep up with it all. Today, there are 80, 90 maybe 100,000 albums put out every year, so when people get older and busy with their lives, they just don’t

As for living life after 50, Koz says, unlike many people in the entertainment world, he has totally embraced it.

“I was recently talking to a friend of mine who just turned 60 and he said the secret to staying young is to keep moving. The moment you slow down — when you stop taking the stairs and take the elevator, when you don’t expose yourself to something new, when you stop traveling and meeting new people or stop working — that’s when you quickly become old.

When my dad was 50, he was like an old person, but I have friends today who are in their 70s and 80s and even older who I would have a hard time keeping up with. My friend Ginny Mancini, Henry Mancini’s widow, is 90 and she is out everywhere doing everything. She has all her wits about her, is tireless, going from one benefit to another, taking 60 people on a trip to Vail. She is really alive at 90. Norman Lear is another friend who comes to mind. He’s 92 and is currently out doing a book tour.”

Asked if he has adopted any philosophy on the passage of time, Koz says he is simply enjoying life more than ever.

“I like getting older,” he declares. “I never thought I would, but I’m happy and proud to be featured in Life After 50 magazine because I wear each year as a badge. I think having a great attitude and outlook on life — whatever stage of life you are in — is the key. I am at a point in my life that I’m so grateful and filled with appreciation. The older I get, the more I appreciate things. I am trying to truly savor every little moment of my days. My 30s were fantastic and then they were eclipsed by my 40s.

And you know what? Once I got over the milestone of actually turning 50, I was really ready to embrace this time of my life with a confidence and a contentment and feeling of relaxation that has been just great. I know who I am. I know what I do. I’m always trying to access new challenges and I’m just enjoying it all with a spirit of trust — a lot of trusting that I’m exactly where I should be at this time in my life. So I’m filled with gratitude and love and doing a lot of smiling.”  The Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2014 will come to the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts on December 19 and 20. Tickets are available at www.cerritoscenter.com or by calling (562) 467-8818.

The evenings will also include a special VIP experience that includes a meet-and-greet and an autographed copy of “The 25th of December.” For more details, call (877) 6069222 or click on www.davekoz.com.

DECEMBER 2014 LIFEAFTER50.COM 37

38 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMbER 2014

Let’s Get OUt A Preview of Upcoming Events for December/January By Claire Yezbak Fadden

LA/Ventura

December 2014/January 2015

eNteRtAINMeNt MONDAY, DECEMBER 15 DOWNTOWN ON ICE Get your glide on at this holiday season at L.A.’s biggest outdoor community skating rink. Enjoy festive, free events including a holiday concert series, the Snoopy Showcase, deejay nights, a Winter Holiday Festival, championship skating exhibitions and broomball games. Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive, Los Angeles. Through Jan. 19. $9/one-hour skate session. $3 skate rental.

(213) 624-4289. pershingsquareicerink.com.

WHAT THE BUTLER SAW In the consulting room of a private psychiatric clinic, Dr. Prentice (Paxton Whitehead) is interrupted by his wife just as he is about to seduce a beautiful, young woman who is applying for a job as a secretary. His botched efforts to conceal his actions spiral outrageously out of control Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum At the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Through Dec. 21. $25-$70. (213) 628-2772. centertheatregroup.org.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16 SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT An updated version of the classic story featuring family-friendly magic, a comedic twist and contemporary music. Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena.

Tues.-Sun. through Jan. 4. Prices vary.

(626) 356-7529. pasadenaplayhouse.org.

ICE AT SANTA MONICA Ice skate in this beachside community where an 8,000-square-foot outdoor seasonal ice skating rink transforms the corner of Fifth St. and Arizona Ave. A smaller rink for kids, five and under. 1324 Fifth St., Santa Monica.

Through Jan. 19. $15. (310)461-8333. downtownsm.com/ice.

HERSHEY FELDER AS IRVING BERLIN The remarkable story of Irving Berlin, “America’s Composer.” From the depths of anti-Semitism in Czarist Russia, to New York’s Lower East Side, Berlin’s story epitomizes capturing the American dream.

Featuring the composer’s most popular and enduring songs from “God Bless America” to “White Christmas” and beyond, Hershey Felder’s masterful creation of character and musical performance makes this an unforgettable journey. Gil Cates Theater, Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles. Tues-.Sun. through Dec. 21. $37$82. (310) 208-5454. geffenplayhouse.com.

FREE TUESDAY: DESIGNING THE OAK WOODLAND Descanso Gardens Executive Director David Brown shares insights on the design of the newly opened Oak Woodland space, and the trend toward native-

MONDAY, DECEMBER 15

L.A. ZOO LIGHTS

The Los Angeles Zoo changes its stripes from a daytime adventure to a nighttime wonderland aglow with animal-themed illumination. While zoo animals themselves are asleep, L.A. Zoo Lights depicts them in displays made of millions of lights that beckon guests to stroll through a section of the zoo where they’re surrounded by dazzling sights and colors for a “don’t-miss” experience destined to become a beloved Los Angeles holiday tradition. The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Griffith Park, 5333 Zoo Dr., Los Angeles. Dates vary through Jan. 4. $11-$13. (323) 644-6042. lazoo.org.

plant collections and displays in botanic gardens. Part of “Get Dirty: A Garden Series by Descanso.” Public admission to the Gardens and the lecture is free of charge. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge. (818) 949-4200. descansogardens.org.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17 GLENDALE NOON CONCERTS Composer/Bassoonist Damian Montano.

First Baptist Church of Glendale, 209 N. Louise St., Glendale. Free. (818) 242-2113. glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot.com.

REINDEER ROMP See real reindeer in Los Angeles, and enjoy a flurry of seasonal festivities and yuletide flourishes, plus occasional visit by Santa Claus. All activities, except Santa photos, are free with paid zoo admission. The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Griffith Park, 5333 Zoo Dr., Los Angeles.

Dates vary through Jan. 4. $14-$19. (323) 644-6042. lazoo.org.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18 A TUNA CHRISTMAS Yuletide activities are in full swing as radio personalities from the local station report on hard-hitting issues such as the annual lawn display contest and Joe Bob Lipsey’s struggling production of “A Christmas Carol.”

This two-man show introduces us to myriad colorful characters from the tiny town of Tuna through dizzying costume and scene changes. Rubicon Theatre Company, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. Through Dec. 21. $25-$39.

(805) 667-2900. rubicontheatre.org.

BLITHE SPIRIT Researching for his new novel, Charles Condomine invites the implausible medium Madame Arcati (Angela Lansbury) to his house for a séance. While consumed in a trance, Madame Arcati unwittingly summons the ghost of Charles’ dead wife Elvira. Appearing only to Charles, Elvira soon makes a play to reclaim her husband, much to the chagrin of Charles’ new wife, Ruth. Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson

Theatre At the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Tues.-Sun. through Jan. 18. $25-$115. centertheatregroup.org.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19 INTO THE WOODS Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Jack the Giant Slayer and other famous storybook characters venture into the woods in search of love, money or simply a purpose in life. This mash-up of Grimm’s fairy tales teaches us the true consequences of what it means to “get your wish.” Kentwood Players, Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester.

Also Dec. 20. $20-$25. (310) 645-5156. kentwoodplayers.org.

DAVE KOZ AND FRIENDS CHRISTMAS TOUR Led by multi-Grammy nominee and saxophonist Dave Koz, the lineup includes singer-songwriter Jonathan Butler, Christopher Cross and award-winning vocalist Maysa. Cerritos Center for the

DECEmbEr 2014 LIFEAFTEr50.COm 39

CALENDAR

December 2014/January 2015 LA/Ventura WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24 L.A. COUNTY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION Choirs, music ensembles and dance companies from the many L.A. neighborhoods and cultures celebrate the season. The three-hour extravaganza, is a decades-old Angelenos. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Free. (213) 972-3099. holidaycelebration.org.

Into The Woods

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27 THE NUTCRACKER The annual holiday favorite tells the story of Clara, a young girl who receives a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve, and sets out on a wondrous journey. Inland Pacific Ballet, Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside. $38-plus. ipballet.org.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 29 STRAIGHT NO CHASER The captivating sound of ten unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music that is moving people in a fundamental sense—and with a sense of humor. “On the road, Straight No Chaser” has built a reputation as an unforgettable live act. Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Fred Kavli Theatre, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. $45-$70. (805) 4492787. civicartsplaza.com.

Love, Noël: The Letters and Songs of Noël Coward

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31

TWO SPECIAL SHOWS AT THE WALLIS

The Wallis Center for the Performing Arts will be presenting “Love, Noël: The Letters and Songs of Noël Coward” and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s critically acclaimed production of the Tony Award-winning musical “Into the Woods” through December 21.

“Into the Woods” is a modern twist on the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tales and “Love, Noël” interweaves the music of Coward and witty letters sent between the playwright, composer, director, actor and singer and his famous friends over the years. Tickets are available at www.thewallis.org, by calling (310) 746-4000, or in person at The Wallis, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills.

Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. Also Dec. 20. $50-$95. (562) 4678818. cerritoscenter.com.

HOLIDAY ORGAN SPECTACULAR Walt Disney Concert Hall’s majestic pipe organ sets the mood with festive and devotional holiday music. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 South Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Prices vary. (323) 850-2000. laphil.org.

THE NUTCRACKER SWINGS In this version of the classic family ballet, Maria, the heroine falls for the leading man, Jim, a World War II hero who gives Maria the nutcracker doll which kicks off a whirlwind journey of Christmas wonder.

The Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 743 S. Lucerne Blvd., Los Angeles. Also Dec. 20. $20$60. (323)292-1932. cityballetofla.org. brownpapertickets.com A CHRISTMAS CAROL Charles Dickens’ time-honored tale of forgiveness is a timeless holiday classic.

Dickens’ masterpiece about the redemptive

40 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMbER 2014

and transformative power of love is matched by evocative original music by composer Ego Plum. A Noise Within, 3352 East Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. Through Dec. 23. $48-plus.

(626) 356-3100. anoisewithin.org.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20 THE NUTCRACKER Complete with opulent sets and costumes, dazzling choreography for a cast of 200 and returning international guest artists including Kalinin Russian Dance Troupe.

The performance promises visions of sugar plums and a 100 percent chance of snowfall. Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Fred Kavli Theatre, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Also Dec. 21. $28$44. (805) 449-2787. civicartsplaza.com.

THE NUTCRACKER The annual holiday favorite tells the story of Clara, a young girl who receives a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve, and sets out on a wondrous journey. Inland Pacific Ballet, Bridges Auditorium, Pomona College, 450 North College Way, Claremont.

Also Dec. 21. $38-plus. ipballet.org.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21 WESTERN MUSIC ASSOCIATION JAM Musicians and cowboy poets perform stories and songs of the romantic days of the Old West, contemporary music of the American West and songs of the open range and the American cowboy. The Autry National Center, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park, Los Angeles. $6-$10.

(323) 667-2000. theautry.org.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23 ARTURO SANDOVAL BIG BAND CHRISTMAS Trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval leads a Latin-flavored jazz program for the holidays. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 South Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Prices vary. (323) 850-2000. laphil.org.

VENTURA BLUEGRASS JAMS Milano’s Italian Restaurant, Patio, Ventura Harbor Village, 1559 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura. (805) 658-0388. milanositalianrestaurant.com.

PINK MARTINI Ring in the New Year with the fun-loving sounds and hip blend of Brazilian samba, ’30s Cuban dance, Parisian café, and Japanese film noir. Hosted by pianist/ director Thomas Lauderdale and vocalist China Forbes. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 South Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Prices vary. (323) 850-2000. laphil.org.

JANUARY

SUNDAY, JANUARY 4 FREE FIRST SUNDAY Free admission to the Museum of Ventura County including its galleries and any special events. Museum of Ventura County, 100 East Main St., Ventura. First Sunday of each month. (805) 653-0323. venturamuseum.org.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7 GLENDALE NOON CONCERTS Solo recital, Harout Senekeremian, piano.

First Baptist Church of Glendale, 209 N. Louise St., Glendale. Free. (818) 242-2113. glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8 DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES ART WALK This self-guided, public art walk brings art lovers and community friends together in downtown Los Angeles.

CALENDAR

December 2014/January 2015 LA/Ventura 411 S. Main St., between Second and Ninth Streets, Los Angeles. Free. downtownartwalk.org.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9 AN IDEAL HUSBAND Sir Robert Chiltern, a brilliant politician and perfect gentleman, can do no wrong in the eyes of his charming wife Lady Chiltern. But when the calculating Mrs. Cheveley appears on the scene, Sir Robert’s marriage, reputation and promising career are put at risk. Kentwood Players, Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester. Fri.-Sun. through Feb. 14. $20-$25. 310-645-5156. kentwoodplayers.org.

MTT AT 70: BEETHOVEN’S MISSA SOLEMNIS Conductor, pianist and composer Michael Tilson Thomas has been a musical maverick throughout his storied career. To mark his 70th birthday, he has conceived a new way to immerse listeners in Beethoven’s sublime masterwork, staged with complementary video. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 South Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Also Jan. 10-11. Prices vary.

(323) 850-2000. laphil.org.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10 LUSH AND LOW WATER GARDEN DESIGN Landscape designer Cassy Aoyagi gives an inside look at the design process in creating the lush and low water garden display in the. Descanso Gardens, Center Circle 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge. $6-$9.

(818) 949-4200. descansogardens.org.

MARC COHN After winning a Grammy for his soulful ballad “Walking in Memphis,” Marc Cohn solidified his place as one of this generation’s most compelling singersongwriters, combining the precision of a brilliant tunesmith with the passion of a great soul man. Pepperdine University, Smothers Theatre, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. $20-$45. arts. pepperdine.edu.

EXHIBITIONS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16 LYNN FOGEL Initially Fogel only painted in the Plein Air format, but now she paints indoors, allowing her to put thought, refinement and her own imagination into her works.

Influenced by several artists including Edward Hopper and Van Gogh, Fogel paints primarily in oils which allows for their thick textures. Using her artistic license, she enhances colors to create more vibrancy than what might be seen in reality. Gardens of the World, 2001 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Through Jan 25. (805) 557-1135. gardensoftheworld.info.

BLUE MOON DIAMOND Cut from a 29.6-carat rough, the internally flawless gem is fashioned in a cushion-cut shape at a noteworthy 12 carats. Diamonds with a strong saturated color represent only a tiny percentage of all natural diamonds – and only a minute percentage of all natural color diamonds are blue. The stone was found in a mine northeast of Pretoria, South Africa, known for discovering some of the most recognized blue and other color diamonds in the world. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Gem Vault, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. Through Jan. 6. $9-$12. (213) 763-3466.nhm.org.

BRUCE DAVIDSON / PAUL CAPONIGRO Two American Photographers in Britain and Ireland. The exhibition features approximately 150 works by the photographers to examine the work of two master photographers as they trained American eyes on enduring landscapes and changing cultural scenes. Huntington Library, Art Collection and Botanical Gardens, MaryLou and George Boone Gallery, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino.

Through March 9. $12-$15. (626) 4052100. huntington.org.

GREEN UMBRELLA: THEATER OF THE OUTRAGESOUS LA Phil Creative Chair John Adams leads a wildly inventive evening of works without musical boundaries, including Olga Neuwirth’s arrangements (with video) of edgy, over-the-top songs by the late Klaus Nomi – the bizarre, visionary singer with an otherworldly stage persona. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 South Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Prices vary. (323) 8502000. laphil.org.

KIM STRINGFELLOW’S JACKRABBIT HOMESTEAD Through photography and audio interviews, this exhibition details how the desire to flee the urban sprawl of Los Angeles and stake a claim in the fierce California desert resulted in both a collection of derelict cabins in the 1950s and the reclamation of the land for a burgeoning artistic community today. The exhibition also explores issues of land use and ecology that continue to complicate the settlement of the arid West. The exhibition also explores the commercial promotion of homesteading alongside the reality of life in the desert through primary sources including vintage magazines and audio interviews with area residents. The Autry National Center, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park, Los Angeles. Through Aug. 23. $6-$10. (323) 667-2000. theautry.org.

VENTURA BLUEGRASS JAMS Milano’s Italian Restaurant, Patio, Ventura Harbor Village, 1559 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura. (805) 658-0388. milanositalianrestaurant.com.

PRIDE AND JOY The Texas Blues of Stevie Ray Vaughan With his astonishingly accomplished guitar playing, Stevie Ray Vaughan ignited the blues revival of the 1980s and bridged

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13

DONNA SUMMER: FOUR SEASONS OF LOVE

Donna Summer rocketed to international superstardom in the mid-1970s with her groundbreaking merger of rhythm and blues, soul, pop, funk, rock, disco and avantgarde electronica catapulted. The display from the first exhibition highlighting the legendary “Queen of Disco,” includes gowns, costumes and set designs sketches designed by Summer, written lyrics and notes as well as photographs spanning Summer’s entire career. Maintaining an unbroken string of hits throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, most of which she wrote, Summer holds the record for most consecutive double albums to hit number one on the Billboard charts. The Grammy Museum at L.A. Live, Fourth Floor, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. Through Spring 2015. $12-$13. (213) 765-6803. grammymuseum.org.

the gap between blues and rock like no other artist had since the late 1960s. His tragic death in 1990 at age 35 cut short a brilliant career in blues and American rock ‘n’ roll, just as he was on the brink of superstardom. Exhibition includes: several guitars, including Vaughan’s “Number One” Fender Stratocaster, early family photographs, original stage outfits, including Vaughan’s famous Indian headdress and handwritten lyrics. The Grammy Museum at L.A. Live, Fourth Floor, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles.

Through July 2015. $12-$13. (213) 7656803. grammymuseum.org.

culture. See the oldest existing Route 66 shield along with vintage gas pumps and neon art. Read from the pages of John Steinbeck’s original handwritten manuscript for “The Grapes of Wrath” and Jack Kerouac’s typewriter scroll of “On the Road.” Be moved

by Dorothea Lange’s powerful photographs and Woody Guthrie’s Martin guitar, along with countless objects adorned with the Route 66 moniker or acquired along the route.

The Autry National Center, Gamble Firearms Gallery, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park, Los Angeles. Through Jan. 4. $6-$10.

(323) 667-2000. theautry.org.

BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE This exhibition brings together the works of Ellen Brooks, Jo Ann Callis and Eileen Cowin. Long known for using photography to narrative ends, Brooks, Callis and Cowin, who emerged simultaneously in 1970s Southern California, challenge both the role of women and their chosen medium in multi-layered, provocative images. Pasadena Museum of Art, 490 East Union Street, Pasadena. Through Jan. 11. $5-$7. Wed.Sun. (626) 568-3665. pmcaonline.org.

REBAR This exhibit features works from Erik Reel’s exploration of mark-making and its relationships to signification. The rebar motif is a loosely defined metaphor for the strength at the core of meaning, something inside and hidden within the concrete.

Museum of Ventura County, Museum’s Tool Room at the Bell Arts Factory, 100 E. Main St., Ventura. Through Dec. 29. $3-$4. (805) 653-0323. venturamuseum.org.

ROUTE 66: THE ROAD AND THE ROMANCE Learn the facts and fiction surrounding the most famous road in America through more than 200 artifacts that trace the history of the road and its impact on American popular

Get the Word Out. E-mail your announcements to Claire Fadden, cfadden@lifeafter50.com.

Include a brief description, location, date, time, cost, phone and website. Submission does not guarantee publication. Deadline for the January/ February calendar is December 1.

DECEmbEr 2014 LIFEAFTEr50.COm 41

42 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMbER 2014

Rick Steves’ Travels Visiting The Not-So-Little-Town Of Bethlehem

By Rick Steves

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hile multitudes of tourists visit Palestine, I’d estimate that 90 percent of them do so in a rush from Jerusalem to Bethlehem just to see the Church of the Nativity in Manger Square. Then they return directly to Israel without spending a single shekel in restaurants or hotels in the West Bank.

Obviously, there’s much more to experience in this country.

I understand that the region’s hardscrabble vibe may be a bit too edgy for some Americans, however it’s amazing how, after a couple of days in Palestine, you feel right at home. Walking through the wall from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, all you need is your passport. Palestine uses Israeli currency. Just cross the border, haggle with the taxis, and after spending about $5 and 10 minutes, you’re standing at the spot where Jesus was born. If there were no border or traffic to deal with, you could bicycle from the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in about 15 minutes.

If you visit this historic hamlet, you’ll find that Bethlehem is no longer just the “little town” of Christmas-carol fame. It’s a sprawling Palestinian city that is almost indiscernible from greater Jerusalem. It’s not a pretty town — most homes and businesses stand behind security walls and fences — but Bethlehem has a special energy and a very

cool Arabic vibe, especially in the early evening. The Arab market is colorful, and the skyline is a commotion of both crescents and crosses — a reminder that the town, while almost totally Arab, remains a mix of Muslims and Christians.

Not all Arabs are Muslims, a fact that surprises some. When meeting an Arab Christian, many Western tourists ask when the family converted. The answer is usually, “About 2,000 years ago, back when Jesus’ disciples were doing missionary work around here.”

Another surprise is on Bethlehem’s main square.

For over 100 years, the Mosque of Omar has shared Manger Square with the Church of the Nativity. Jesus and Mary are both a big deal for Muslims. I once had a joyous interview with an imam after filming a prayer service in his mosque. He explained, “Bethlehem is holy for Muslims as well as Christians. For Muslims, Jesus is a major prophet. We also revere Mother Mary.

In fact, an entire chapter in the Quran is named for her.”

As we sat cross-legged on the carpet of his mosque, I asked him to let me hear how he talks to God (but in English) and his prayer literally brought me to tears.

Across the square in the Church of the Nativity, Christian pilgrims waited to touch, kiss, and pray upon the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. In A.D. 326, Roman Emperor Constantine sent his mother, St. Helena, to establish three churches in the Holy Land: Church of the Nativity, Church of the Holy Sepulchre

(where Jesus was crucified), and one on the Mount of Olives (where Jesus is said to have ascended into heaven).

Today, Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity is the oldest because the others were destroyed, then rebuilt. It is regarded as the oldest Christian church in daily use.

While our image of “no room at the inn” is brick and wood, the “inn” of Bible fame was very likely a series of caves. And “no room” likely meant that a woman about to give birth would not be welcome in the main quarters, as birth (like menstruation) was considered an unclean thing. Mary was thus sent out to give birth to Jesus in the manger cave, amongst the animals. So a cavern beneath the church — the Grotto of the Nativity — is the focal point of your visit.

You take the steps by the church altar down into what’s been regarded since the second century as the site of Christ’s birth. A silver star in the floor marks the spot.

I’m glad when visiting Bethlehem I didn’t just blitz in for a quick look. There’s a resilience, a welcoming spirit, and a warmth that is striking. Everywhere we went, we’d hear, over and over, “Welcome to Palestine.” It was as if people were thrilled just to have a name for their country and someone from the outside there to see it.

Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and radio.

You can e-mail him at rick@ricksteves.com and visit his website at www.ricksteves.com.

DECEMBER 2014 LIFEAFTER50.COM 43

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DECEmbEr 2014 LIFEAFTEr50.COm 45

And Finally...

The Bookworm’s Best A Life After 50 book review

by Terri “The Bookworm” Schlichenmeyer

Unretirement: How Baby Boomers Are Changing the Way We Think About Work, Community, and the Good Life

By Chris Farrell

F

or much of your life, you dreamed about not having to work. Retirement would be great. It would stretch out for years — a horizon with no alarm clock and no deadlines.

Well, now that retirement time is here, what will you do with it?

Chances are, says author Chris Farrell, believe it or not, you’ll go to work. And in his new book “Unretirement,” he says you’ll do it because you want to, not because you have to.

It’s a statistic that has some politicians worried: within the next 15 years, say demographers, the 65-plus population of America will be nearly equivalent to the current population of New York, California, and Texas combined. That’s a lot of retirees, and a fortune to be paid out in benefits.

For quite some time, economists and pessimists have expressed doubts that Social Security will survive the retirement of the baby boomers. Others bemoan the amount of retirement savings that many boomers don’t have. According to Farrell, however, these fears ignore the fact that most boomers are rethinking the way retirement will work for them.

Farrell opines that for boomers, the last third of life is being reimagined and reinvented into “unretirement.” They are, for instance, looking at Social Security as a supplement, rather than a sole income – and even then, they’re putting off collecting it. That’s the way it should be, he says: “Social Security is sound – it only needs some tweaks to shore up its finances for the long haul – but because of longer lifespans and better health, retirees should be encouraged to file later, unless they absolutely can’t wait.”

And as for those late filers? They’re seeing work in a whole different way. The rate of senior entrepreneurship is up, and so is gradual retirement. They’re staying on the job longer, are finding second (or even third) careers, or are volunteering.

And despite the fact that age discrimination is a real issue, many workplaces have finally recognized the experience and reliability of older workers who are, in many cases, perfectly happy with part-time jobs that don’t offer benefits. In short, Farrell writes, boomers have been “behind many changes in the workplace over the past four decades,” and they’re definitely not done.

Your IRA is fat and you like it that way. But how, when the time comes, will you use it? After reading “Unretirement,” you might have a different answer to that question.

With intriguing statistics and a thoughtful tone, Farrell pooh-poohs pundits who decry the viability of Social Security and avow the belief that retirement-resistant seniors take jobs from younger workers by showing that doom-and-gloom prophesies and myths aren’t warranted or true. Along the way, he examines healthcare and the Affordable Care Act, aging, home ownership, mentorship with (and from) younger workers, the history of retirement itself, and how other countries perceive their “gray revolution.”

While I’d say that this book is a must-read for boomers, it’s also, surprisingly, something that gen xers should also check out. If you’ve already retired, are about to, or have worked all your life so you don’t have to work someday, “Unretirement” is unmissable.

“Unretirement: How Baby Boomers Are Changing the Way We Think about Work, Community, and the Good Life” by Chris Farrell, 2014, Bloomsbury, $26, 256 pages The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer, who lives on a hill with two dogs and more than 12,000 books. You can read all of Terri’s book reviews, updated weekly, at www.lifeafter50.com. Just click on “Entertainment” and then “Book Reviews.”

A Look Back

T

his month marks the passing of 50 years since Americans were first charmed by the 1964 Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin production of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Featuring “Animagic” characters, the television special was originally produced for “The General Electric Fantasy Hour.” Animagic was a stop-motion technique that Bass and Rankin’s company, Videocraft, employed in which three-dimensional figures were animated via the process of singleframe photography. The story was based on the little misfit reindeer that was created in 1939 by Robert L. May, a marketing and advertising copywriter for the now-defunct Montgomery Ward department store chain, and the subsequent song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” written by Johnny Marks. Having written holiday hits such as “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” Marks was tapped to write the songs for the special’s soundtrack and delivered another sack of tunes that have gone on to become Yuletide classics, including “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” and “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” With a script adapted by award-winning screenwriter Romeo Muller, this production is a timeless classic that has become a holiday tradition with millions of American families.

46 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMBER 2014

Just A Thought Before We Go

“For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.”

– Robert Burns

ORANGE COUNTY DECEMBER 2014

southern california

lifeafter50.com

A Christmastime Chat With

Your 2015 Life After 50 Gift List Assist WARNING: The Holidays Can Be Hazardous To Your Health Celebrating The Holiday Season With Dave Koz

JoBeth Williams

2 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMbER 2014

CONTENTS

December 2014

14

22

Cover Profile

14 A Christmastime Chat With JoBeth Williams

Her Christmas traditions, career memories, and thoughts on the passage of time.

Features 22 Your 2015 Life After 50 Gift List Assist

We have a unique suggestion for everyone on your holiday gift list.

30 WARNING: The Holidays Can Be Hazardous To Your Health Tips for staying healthy during this busy season.

36 The Look Of Life After 50 – A Koz For Celebration

Dave Koz celebrates the season with a new album filled with love and togetherness.

36

43

Departments 06 50-Plus: What You Need to Know

A quick look at things 50-plusers should be aware of.

09 Financial Fitness

William Jordan says the holidays are a great time for family and financial discussions.

10 It’s The Law

Mitchell A. Karasov on protecting aging parents when their children are squabbling.

12 Tuned In To What’s On

The best in December television viewing.

39 Let’s Get Out

Looking to get out and about? Our December/January calendar has some great suggestions.

43 Rick Steves’ Travels Cover photo by Keith Munyan / www.keithmunyan.com

All material published within this issue of “Life After 50” and on www.lifeafte50.com is strictly for informational and educational purposes only. No individual, advice, product or service is in any way endorsed by “Life After 50” or Southland Publishing, Inc. or provided as a substitute for the reader’s seeking of individualized professional advice or instruction. Readers should seek the advice of qualified professional on any matter regarding an individual, advice, recommendations, services or products covered within this issue.

All information and material is provided to readers with the understanding that it comes from various sources from which there is no warranty or responsibility by “Life after 50” or Southland Publishing, Inc. as to its or their legality, completeness or technical accuracy.

Visiting the not-so-little-town of Bethlehem.

46 And Finally…The Bookworm’s Best, A Look Back and Just A Thought Before We Go A book suggestion, memory, and a little something to leave you with.

DECEMBER 2014 LIFEAFTER50.COM 3

Editor’s Note...

Maybe 2015 Will Be The Year…

A

s I, and millions of others, always say at some point during December: “Can it really be that another year has passed into history?”

The answer, of course, is always the same – that the passage of time has, in fact, continued, and with it, we are rendered a little older, which, it seems, makes us a bit more introspective.

That feeling of introspection was made all the more evident as I spent time with actress JoBeth Williams and musician Dave Koz in preparing this month’s issue.

Williams was one of the stars of writer and director Lawrence Kasdan’s 1983 film, “The Big Chill,” which ranks amongst my all-time faves. The film, in which a group of thirtysomething college friends reunite, reminisce and reflect on their lives following the suicide of a member of their collegiate clique, explores the brutal fact that hopes, dreams and idealism are fragile things that ofttimes die on the vine of time passage.

Opining on the film’s long-standing popularity, Williams said she thinks that is because it deals with a subject that almost all of us can relate to. “Everyone goes through the loss of youthful idealism and the recognition that the reality of life is probably not going to be exactly what we envisioned and that we have to make compromises in ways we never thought we would,” she told me. “It’s coming to grips with that, and the realization that it’s just a part of life – everyone’s life – and that it’s okay.”

It is okay to allow some of our hopes and dreams to be put to rest – as long as they can be continually replaced with new things to inspire us. That subject became a part of the conversation I had with Dave Koz. “The holiday season starts at the very end of the year,” said Koz. “But I’ve always thought of it as a beginning more than an end, because it has the ability to push us into the new year with all the great things the spirit of this season brings with it – love and hope and inspiration. I love that aspect of it – that it is a season that celebrates friendship and caring about others and being with people

Advertising Director/Associate Publisher Valarie Anderson Editor-in-Chief David Laurell Associate Editors Steve Stoliar Claire Yezbak Fadden Art Director Kent Bancroft Editorial Assistants Max Andrews Marie Giusto Blauvelt Account Executives Los Angeles/South Bay: Jackie Kooper Jackiek@lifeafter50.com Orange County: Herb Wetenkamp Herbw@lifeafter50.com San Diego County National Accounts: Phil Mendelson Phil@lifeafter50.com Ad Coordinator, Travel Landra DeLoach Landra@lifeafter50.cm VP Of Finance Michael T. Nagami Human Resources Andrea E. Baker Business Manager Linda Lam Billing Supervisor Kacie Sturek VP Of Operations David Comden

we love – who give us hope and inspire us; and to see how their inspiration can make us become something we didn’t even know we had in us.”

That sentiment is so perfect, it makes me say what I, and millions of others, also always say at some point in December: “How can we keep this spirit alive all year long?”

Maybe this year, we’ll figure that out. Or, at the very least, we can begin 2015 with the renewed hope and dream that we will.

David Laurell, Editor-in-Chief

For advertising/distribution inquiries contact: Valarie Anderson (310) 822-1629 x 121, valarie@lifeafter50.com

To contact our editorial department: (818) 563-1007 davidl@lifeafter50.com 5355 Mcconnell Ave LA CA 90066 Valarie Anderson Valarie@lifeafter50.com 310 822-1629 x 121 Follow us on Facebook ©2014 Southland Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved

4 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMBER 2014

50

Light Christmas

I

PLUS

What You Need to Know

By Claire Yezbak Fadden

f you’ve been getting social media posts claiming that Earth is headed for six days of total darkness due to a solar storm set to hit this month, don’t be too worried about your holiday season being anything less than merry and bright. This urban myth, which has gone viral, can be traced back to the satirical news site, www.Huzlers.com, who put out an official-looking story titled “NASA Confirms Earth Will Experience Six Days of Total Darkness in December 2014.” Although solar storms are real, they’re not like terrestrial storms that blow up debris. So even if someone sends you a video clip of NASA Administrator Charles Bolden warning you to stay calm during the December darkness, be aware, this clip was “lifted” from a video in which Bolden encourages people to be prepared in the event of an earthquake or hurricane.

Sheehy Dares You To Share Your Story

I

n her newly released memoir, “Daring: My Passages” (William Morrow, 2014) author, journalist, and lecturer Gail Sheehy imparts her own experience while offering a bold perspective on all of life’s passages.

The author of 16 books, including “Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life” (Bantam, 1984), one of the 10 most-influential books of our time as named by the Library of Congress, Sheehy has been a longtime contributor to New York magazine and has served as a contributing editor to Vanity Fair since 1984.

Sheehy, who has blazed a trail into what had been a “man’s world” — going undercover and taking on assignments in dangerous war zones — has also created fascinating character portraits of national and world leaders including Bill and Hillary Clinton, both President Bushes, Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev and Saddam Hussein. She has also launched The Sheehy Daring Project, a movement that encourages women to share their own daring life moments with one another. You can participate in the project by clicking on www.sheehydaringproject.com.

A Haven From The Holiday Hangover Fifty Candles

F

ifty years ago this month, Major League Baseball approved a free agent draft; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. accepted the Nobel Peace Prize at the University of Oslo; shooting started for “Star Trek’s” pilot “The Cage,” and Canada adopted the Maple Leaf flag. Notable personalities born in December 1964 who are celebrating their 50th birthday this month include actresses Marisa Tomei, Teri Hatcher and Chelsea Noble, country singer Cledus T. Judd, novelist Garth Stein, celebrity chef Bobby Flay, professional golfer Lorie Kane and wrestlerturned-actor “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

E

ven if you’re a moderate drinker who only has an occasional beer or glass of wine, the holiday season seems to find everyone offering up a brew, nip of the grape, cocktail, toddy or glass of the bubbly at every turn. If, from now through December 31, you find yourself having reveled and imbibed a bit more than usual, you will no doubt pay the ravaging head-pounding, body-aching consequences known as the hangover.

Dr. Jason Burke, an anesthesiologist who is considered to be the foremost authority on treating veisalgia (the medical term for a hangover) and the founder of the Hangover Heaven Research Institute, says that, while aside from the passage of time, there’s no outright cure for hangover, there are ways to alleviate the symptoms. Among his top recommendations: Grab Some Greasy Grub And Fatty Foods Fat contains more calories than protein or carbs, so it’s the fastest way to help your body process the breakdown products of alcohol. Sausage, ham and bacon are rich with B vitamins, which help further metabolize alcohol’s breakdown products.

And then there are eggs and cheese, whose antioxidants will help ease your overall discomfort. You may also want to try some wheatgrass. Its high concentration of antioxidants will help alleviate your hangover symptoms.

Look To The Kids For Help Believe it or not, one of the best things to have on hand after a night of over-imbibing is Pedialyte Freezer Pops. Yes, the same ones that are meant for children who are dehydrated from diarrhea and vomiting. These refreshing pops are also great for adults who are dehydrated due to alcohol consumption. The electrolyte-heavy formula will replenish your body’s fluids and minerals.

Walk If Off Yeah, we know: Who wants to move at all while fighting a hangover? However, Dr. Burke says a gentle workout will make a huge difference. If you boost your metabolism with some yoga, Pilates or just a good old-fashioned walk, you’ll get the alcohol out of your system faster. Just remember to drink plenty of water to keep your dehydration from worsening.

For more of Dr. Burke’s recommendations to nurse and recover from a hangover, click on www.hangoverheaven.com.

6 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMBER 2014

A Little More You Need To Know

Where You Need To Go Make Like A Magi And Enjoy An Evening Of Frankincense, Gold Lamé And Myrrh-oon Walking

A

lthough there is never a shortage of wonderful holiday entertainment options offered during the month of December, this year you can spend an unforgettable afternoon or evening with three of music’s greatest kings – The King of Swing – Frank Sinatra, The King of Rock’ n’ Roll – Elvis Presley, and The King of Pop – Michael Jackson, as the El Portal Theatre of North Hollywood presents “We Three Kings.”

In a special holiday matinée and evening performances that will run from December 27 to 31, Frank Sinatra impersonator Luca Ellis will be joined by Elvis impersonator Shawn Klush and Michal Jackson impersonator Brandon Michael Jones for a magical performance of music’s three greatest icons.

These three artists will mesmerize you as they recreate the essence of a true American trilogy of stars who gave the world over 400 Billboard hits and 42 Number One hit singles. A perfect holiday event for grandparents, parents and kids, this performance will give you the chance to feel as if you are actually in the presence of these immortal entertainers.

Regular performance ticket prices ranges in price from $45 to $65. On December 31 there will be a special matinée performance that will include a post-show champagne and dessert reception with tickets ranging from $65 to $85. And, on New Year’s Eve, you can be a part of a 9 p.m. New Year’s Eve blowout performance, celebration and reception that will include complimentary wine, champagne, hors d’oeuvres and desserts, along with surprise entertainment in the lobby. New Year’s Eve tickets range in price from $75 to $125 and all are available now at the El Portal box office and by calling (818) 508-4200 or (866) 811-4111.

New Words

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ou might not find them in a dictionary yet, but they’re a part of the everyday American vocabulary. Here’s what they mean.

Bro Code: An etiquette for males to follow in their relationships with one another. A term popularized by Barney Stinson, a character from the television show, “How I Met Your Mother.”

Ego Surfing: Using search engines to find references to your name or website, or to view webpages that mention your name.

Technocamping: Taking a vacation from all digital technology, including e-mail, computers, cell phone, social media and video gaming.

The Most Important Thing To Know This Month

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hile December is filled like Santa’s sack with special observances, one that should not be ignored is National Influenza Vaccination Week that runs from December 7 to 13.

Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others.

During a regular flu season, about 90 percent of deaths occur in people 65 years and older.

The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. There are several flu vaccine options for the 20142015 flu season. Traditional flu vaccines made to protect against three different flu viruses (called “trivalent” vaccines) are available. In addition, flu vaccines made to protect against four different flu viruses (called “quadrivalent” vaccines) also are available.

According to the Centers for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, everyone who is at least six months of age should get a flu vaccine this season, especially: • People who are at high risk of developing serious complications (like pneumonia) if they get sick with the flu.

• People who have medical conditions including asthma, diabetes and chronic lung disease.

• People 65 years and older.

• People who live with or care for others who are at high risk of developing serious complications.

For more information about seasonal flu, click on www.cdc.gov/flu.

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8 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMbER 2014

Financial Fitness William Jordan

William Jordan is a nationally recognized wealth manager and a wellknown speaker on financial and investment topics. To request a meeting to discuss William’s “Seven Percent Solution,” contact his office at (949) 916-8000 or click on www.WJIca.com

The Holidays – A Perfect Time For Financial Discussions

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his month, as families gather for traditional holiday celebrations, the timing is ideal to have discussions across the generations. While I understand that talking turkey seems more likely than talking money, if you have adult children or elderly parents, it’s the most important of discussions, so here is some food for thought as you gather with family for a holiday feast.

Estate Planning

Possibly the most important discussion to have with your adult children is about your estate-planning decisions.

Too often these discussions are never held, because it can feel uncomfortable. And yet, few things can lead to such family conflict and emotional trauma as when heirs are surprised by discovering their parents’ estate plans after a death has occurred.

One client of mine lost her mother and, within a week, was sued by her brother. They found the mother’s will left a particular property to my client, and after discovering his mother’s intentions, the brother decided to contest the will.

This could have been avoided. If the mother had shared her intentions with both of her children while still alive, there would be no room for disagreement. Instead, the brother feels he has been wronged and so does my client.

This scenario is far more often the rule than the exception. In fact, it’s one of the reasons we suggest you never name one of your children as executor of your will or trust if you have more than one child. That very often leads to conflict, even among families with great relationships.

A better option is to utilize a corporate trustee to settle the estate, which is why we began offering such services to our clients. Better for the siblings to unite in frustration with our firm, which clearly and concisely implements the parents’ instructions, than for them to fight and sue one another.

Group Investment Discussion

On a potentially lighter note, holiday gatherings are a great time for everyone to share their best and worst investments of the soon-to-be-ending year. In many cases, the entire family gains the benefit and wisdom gleaned from one another’s experiences.

We have received a number of calls from friends or family of our clients who heard about some of our secureincome options and were impressed with yields exceeding seven percent. What if your family members have the majority of their safe money in CDs at one percent (or less) and don’t know there’s an option to earn seven percent?

Just ask this simple question: “What’s been your best and worst investment this year?” and watch as everyone learns and benefits from the discussion.

Remember, It’s More Than Money

As a final topic during this holiday season, keep in mind that life is about far more than money. So often, in times of economic uncertainty, people get caught up in the cares of the world. And yet, what is so interesting is that as we reflect on life, we seldom meditate on financial matters or their effects. Ask your family, what’s been the greatest blessing they received during the year, or the moments and memories they will most cherish? You will find the conversation quickly turns from money or property or possessions to family and friends and the joys of life.

Yes, money is important, and it certainly has an effect on most areas of life, but never forget the old saying that the best things in life truly are free.

New Year New You 2015

Start the year off right with small, manageable changes to your lifestyle including health, beauty,+ fitness The January issue of Life After 50 comes out Jan 5 Artwork due on December 22 Advertise to 100,000 Southern California readers age 50+ every month Advertise@lifeafter50.com call 310-822-1629 x 121 www.lifeafter50.com Follow us on Facebook

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It’s the Law Mitchell A. Karasov

Mitchell A. Karasov, Esq. has offices in Los Angeles, Ventura County and the Coachella Valley. He specializes in elder law with emphasis in estate planning, Medi-Cal eligibility, trust administration, probate, conservatorships of person or estate, estate and trust litigation and financial abuse litigation. For more information click on www. karasovelderlaw.com or call (818) 508-7192.

A Parent’s Care Is Paramount In Spite Of Sibling Squabbles

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My brother and I have never gotten along. We have nothing to do with one another and only tolerate each other’s presence for a few hours on holidays or at family functions. Recently, our inability to communicate and agree on anything has become an issue because our 83-year-old mother’s health deteriorated and she needed care. My mom named my brother as her power of attorney for healthcare and finances, because he lives closer to her. I was put in charge of her trust. The problem is my brother is hiring inappropriate caregivers, some of them being his out-of-work friends. I like these people, but they don’t know what they’re doing and I think my mom’s care is being put at risk. Recently, I refused to replenish the checking account my brother is in charge of, unless he hired through a professional home-care agency. The next thing I knew, I got an e-mail from my brother’s lawyer telling me I needed to immediately replenish the checking account, otherwise I would be endangering my mom’s health because she would be without caregivers. I hastily responded, stating I would only front the money if professional caregivers were brought in and that I was concerned my brother’s friends were neglecting my mother. His lawyer replied that if I didn’t replenish the account, he would have me removed as the trustee. He also made false accusations about me and said that after my removal, my brother would be named as the trustee. I tried to explain to him that this would all be completely unnecessary and the simple solution was to hire professional caregivers. Even after those e-mails, I decided I would still replenish the checking account until things were resolved. Then, much to my shock, I was served with a removal petition. I feel that I haven’t done anything wrong, but I’m told I will be immediately removed. All I want to do is make sure our mother has the care she deserves.

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See our digital issue at www.

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.com

For me, the important issue to resolve first is securing appropriate care for your mother. You need to consult with an attorney immediately, because you could be facing a suspension petition very soon. Even if the accusations pitted against you are false, it creates the need for you to secure legal representation. Furthermore, I don’t see the need for a professional trustee in this situation, even though you and your brother don’t have the best history. If the dispute is over who will care for your mother, then you could retain a geriatric-care manager to assess her needs and then propose a plan with options. Be prepared that the care manager may even determine that some of your brother’s “out of work” friends may be good caregivers with some training. If your brother won’t agree to a geriatric assessment, then you may have to pursue a conservatorship of the person.

This would request that his authority over her healthcare be temporarily suspended and that you be appointed to bring in a geriatric-care manager to assess the situation and provide a care plan you both would have to follow.

However, if you disagree with the recommendation, then one or both of you could seek court orders on a care plan. These steps should not only result in the appropriate care options for you mom, but also help you maintain your position as your mom’s trustee. I wish you and your family all the best.

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Bing Crosby Rediscovered: American Masters – New Documentary, PBS – Premieres Friday December 2 at 8 p.m. Repeats on Friday December 26 at 9 p.m.

This new documentary explores the life and legend of Bing Crosby, the iconic performer who is revealed to be a man far more complex than his public persona. Crosby’s estate granted the filmmakers unprecedented access to the entertainer’s personal and professional archives, including never-before-seen home movies, recordings, photos and more.

The Red Tent – Two-Night Miniseries, Lifetime – Premieres Sunday December 7 at 9 p.m. and concludes Monday December 8 at 9 p.m.

This new miniseries is based on the bestselling novel by Anita Diamant and takes place during the times of the Old Testament, told through the eyes of Dinah, the daughter of Leah and Jacob. The story begins with Dinah’s happy childhood spent inside the red tent where the women of her tribe gather and share the traditions and turmoil of ancient womanhood. As Dinah matures and experiences an intense love that subsequently leads to a devastating loss, the fate of her family is forever changed.

The Santa Con – New original movie, Lifetime – Premieres Saturday December 13 at 8 p.m.

Melissa Joan Hart directs and stars in this new holiday film about a smalltime con man, Nick DeMarcco, played by Barry Watson, who is ordered by his parole officer to take a minimum-wage job as a department store Santa during the holidays. When he hastily promises a young boy, Billy, that Santa will bring his estranged parents back together by Christmas, the boy’s sister is livid and can’t believe he would break a little boy’s heart with an empty promise.

After a long night of soul searching – with the help of an insightful female pastor – Nick decides to try and make good on his promise.

12 New Movies Of Christmas – 12 New Original Movies Marathon, Hallmark Channel – Begins Thursday December 25 at 6 a.m. through December 26 This marathon of original, new 2014 holiday movies made exclusively for the Hallmark Channel will keep the entire family entertained. So if you need a break from the hectic pace of the season, sit back and enjoy these lighthearted – and sometimes romantic – holiday-themed movies.

Michael Feinstein’s New Year’s Eve At The Rainbow Room – New Special, PBS – Airs Friday December 31 at 10 p.m. (check local listings) This year, you can ring in the New Year with style and old-fashioned glamour.

In this new special, entertainer and raconteur Michael Feinstein and a cast of guest performers will be recapturing the heyday of the glamorous New York nightclubs as he hosts this celebration from high atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza in the glittering, newly restored Rainbow Room.

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Photo courtesy Paramount Pictures, Inc.

The Best In December Television Viewing

By Sandi Berg

Tuned In To What’s On

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COVER PROFILE 

A Christmastime Chat With

JoBeth Williams

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Taking time out of holiday preparations for a “little chill,” the star of “The Big Chill” and “Poltergeist” shares her family’s Christmas traditions, memories of her career and thoughts on the passage of time Story by David Laurell • Photos by Keith Munyan / www.keithmunyan.com

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t’s late morning and JoBeth Williams is preparing for the photo shoot that will capture the images that appear on the cover and within this issue of Life After 50.

With her hair still damp from a fresh wash and a face as bare of makeup as it was when she was born in Houston, Texas 66 years ago this month, she takes a seat in front of a full-length mirror in her bathroom and turns things over to her stylist.

“That’s my favorite spot in the house,” she says motioning to a chaise longue in the adjoining bedroom of her Bel-Air home, a 1928 Gerard Colcord-designed Spanish Hacienda that she and her husband, film director John Pasquin, have lived in since 1997. “I love to sit there with a book or my iPad and read and just look out the window. We’re so nestled away here that I feel like I’m far from L.A. and out in the country somewhere.”

Over the next hour, as her stylist goes about his work, Williams reveals far more than a magnificent pre-makeup complexion as she casually chats about a variety of subjects, from her family’s Christmas traditions to her career and the two films she is, perhaps, best known for – 1982’s “Poltergeist” and the following year’s “The Big Chill.”

holding two blouses, one white and one red. With the red one given the thumbs up, she returns to her seat in front of the mirror and the topic of conversation turns to the remake of “Poltergeist,” which is currently in production under the direction of Gil Kenan, stars Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt, and slated for a late July release.

THE JOBETH BACKSTORY The daughter of a wire and cable company manager who had a passion for opera, and his dietitian wife, young JoBeth’s interest in drama, which had been encouraged by her father, began in her early teens. Having made her professional stage debut at 18 with a Houston theatrical company, she matriculated at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island and, after earning a degree in English, went on to train as a member of Rhode Island’s Trinity Repertory Company before heading to New York to pursue her career in the mid-1970s.

Having garnered roles in various stage and television productions including the daytime dramas “Somerset” and “Guiding Light,” Williams was first noticed by filmgoers for an extremely brief but hilariously memorable scene in 1979’s “Kramer vs. Kramer” when, on the way to the bathroom wearing nothing but eyeglasses, she is confronted by Dustin Hoffman’s character’s young son, who nonchalantly asks her name and questions her fondness for fried chicken.

Williams’ breakout role came in 1982, when she was cast as Diane Freeling, the demon-fighting suburban housewife and mother in the Steven Spielbergproduced blockbuster, “Poltergeist.” That led to her being cast as Karen Bowens in Lawrence Kasdan’s baby boomer classic, “The Big Chill.”

An established star by the mid-1980s, Williams has been a consistent presence on both the large and small screen, earned three Primetime Emmy Award nominations, and has served as the president of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for a 1994 short film, “On Hope,” which marked her directorial debut.

Currently appearing on the NBC sitcom, “Marry Me,” as Myrna Schuffman, a controlling widow with a type-A personality who constantly clashes with her daughter-in-law, Williams will also star alongside Richard Dreyfuss in the TBS sitcom, “Your Family or Mine,” which will debut this coming summer.

JBW: Well, I thought it was a wonderful script, which it is, but, it wasn’t until I found myself working in that muddy swimming pool that I learned a real lesson: to always read a script VERY carefully [laughing]. When I first read the script, there was only one little line that simply said: “Diane falls into the muddy swimming pool.” That was all it said and then went on to the next scene.

What I never realized was that little line would translate into four days of being immersed in this hideous muck that began to stink by the second day. That scene was shot on the old MGM lot and at the end of each day, Craig and the kids and I were so goopy that we had to be hosed down and put in the back of a pick-up truck and driven to the showers. Ah, the glamour of show biz!

HER CAREER, CHRISTMAS AND MORE After her stylist completes his task and Williams checks her hair and makeup, she disappears into a walk-in closet just off the bathroom and then returns

JoBeth Williams (JBW): That will be interesting – to see what they do. I don’t know much about it, but I did get a call from Sam Rockwell just before they started filming. I don’t know him, but I’m an admirer of his work, and he called both me and Craig [Craig T. Nelson, who co-starred with Williams in the original film], which I thought was very sweet. He just wanted to say that he was going into the project with the utmost respect for what Craig and I did in the original. He said he thought our performances were perfect and that the film was a classic and that they were not trying to be us. I thought that was a really classy thing for him to do.

Life After 50 (LA50): That was! Do you recall what you were thinking about before you started filming – after you first read the script?

LA50: “Poltergeist” was your real breakout film. Not a bad way to breakout, in a film written and produced by Steven Spielberg! That had to have been exciting.

JBW: It was. There are two things I remember most about working with Steven, whom I loved working with. In the famous scene in which I get attacked and pulled up the wall and onto the ceiling, they built what is called a gimbal set.

It was a set that revolves 360 degrees and it was a copy, down to the smallest detail, of the set that was our bedroom – including the cottage-cheese ceiling.

Well, I guess when they built that set, nobody gave any thought to the fact that I was going to be dragged around that ceiling about 70 times. So as I was being rotated and dragged along the ceiling, my elbows and knees started to bleed from the scraping. I remember as we were filming, I was yelling out to Steven that I was bleeding and he said, “That’s alright, we can wipe it out so it will never show.” And I was like, ‘Okay, well thank you for your concern.” [laughing]. But he made up for it when we were shooting the swimming pool scene. It was supposed to be during a violent storm, so they had these giant 16-foot fans on the edge of the pool to create wind. I was terrified that one of those fans was going to fall in the water and electrocute us. I have always had a healthy fear of water and electricity. But Steven assured me it was safe and to prove that, whenever we were in the pool, he would stand in the water with us, just out of frame, so I would feel comfortable.  DECEMBER 2014 LIFEAFTER50.COM 15

LA50: While you and Craig were the stars of that film, perhaps, the most iconic image we all have of “Poltergeist” is of Heather O’Rourke as Carol Anne at the foot of your bed saying, “They’re here.”

JBW: Heather was just darling. I remember when we were first introduced, she took my hand and told me I would be her mommy on the set. My heart melted.

She had such a loving spirit. She never complained and we had a lot of difficult scenes in that movie. She was just five-years-old and they poured that goop all over her and at times it was cold and she had to scream and project that she was terrified. She was a natural. I loved her – everyone did. When she passed away, I spoke with her mother, who was, of course, devastated, and we talked about how Heather never complained about anything on the set. Her mother revealed that she was never a complainer – that she never even complained when she had that stomach problem that ended up killing her. Because she had been so stoic, they didn’t realize how serious it was. They just thought she was having some digestive problem. So by the time they got her to the hospital, it was too late. I was incredibly lucky to have had the chance to work with her.

Her innocence and trust and beauty was so real and, like you say, it made her the iconic face of that film. She continued to be a sweet soul till the end – never like some spoiled show biz kid.

in a way. We were very much like the characters we played.

LA50: The message of the film is dealing with the loss of hope and idealism.

Did you guys ever sit around and talk about that?

JBW: We did. We did four weeks of rehearsal before we began shooting, so we really got to know one another and there was a lot of discussions about our own personal idealism and what we had compromised on. We did a lot of talking about what we thought were the backgrounds and psyches of the characters.

LA50: Did any of you have any idea while making “The Big Chill” that it would go on to be such a success and classic?

JBW: I don’t think anyone ever gave that a thought. I certainly didn’t. I think we all felt like we were making a little art film. Remember, it had taken the push of Carson Productions to get Columbia to even consider making it, and the studio didn’t give us much attention. They didn’t think much of anything about

LA50: I’m guessing that, for an actress, there’s nothing like doing a film that becomes an iconic classic and then immediately following it up with another classic. How did your being cast as Karen in “The Big Chill” come about?

JBW: Larry [the film’s writer and director Lawrence Kasdan], who is the genius who wrote “Body Heat” and “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Return of the Jedi,” had actually written the part of Karen for me after he saw “Poltergeist.” He told me that while writing the script, he only had two actors in mind that he specifically wrote parts for – me and Jeff Goldblum’s character of Michael.

So Larry called me in and I read the script and, of course, I wanted to do it. You know seven studios had turned the script down, because they said it was just everybody sitting around talking and nobody does anything and there’s no action. But I thought it was a wonderful script with real characters that were like people I really knew. I thought people would really relate to the characters. Then, of course, there’s the cast – just great actors – Kevin Kline, whom I knew from my days in New York and had even dated for a short time.

Glennie [Glenn Close] had just done “The World According to Garp” and so she was a major discovery. Bill Hurt and Mary Kay Place, whom I admired.

Meg Tilly and Kevin Costner weren’t even known then. We had shot a lot of flashback scenes that Kevin was very prominent in, but they were all cut. The casting for that film was dead-on perfect.

LA50: What are your memories of doing that film?

JBW: It was a wonderful experience. All of us – the entire cast – we all lived together in condos outside of Beaufort, South Carolina where we were shooting. So we were all sort of just hanging together like friends, and I think that really helped in the way we came across in the movie. We were pretty isolated during the shoot and so we played Charades and Trivial Pursuit and Glennie and Mary Kay and I would play jokes on the guys. It was like college, 16 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMbER 2014

it until it opened at the Toronto Film Festival and the response was huge and we got the People’s Choice Award. It was only then that Columbia took notice and decided to do a press tour and put money into promotion and advertising. I think every one of us was shocked that the film did as well as it did.

LA50: Why do you think that 30 years after its release, it still holds up so well?

JBW: I think it is because it deals with a subject that everyone can relate to. Everyone goes through the loss of youthful idealism and the recognition that the reality of life is probably not going to be exactly what we envisioned and that we have to make compromises in ways we never thought we would.

It’s coming to grips with that, and the realization that it’s just a part of life – everyone’s life – and that it’s okay.

LA50: We’ve been talking about some of your iconic roles but, let’s talk about the one that never was. The role of Murphy Brown was written for you, wasn’t it?

JBW: Well, it was certainly written with me in mind. Diane English [the creator of “Murphy Brown”] is a good friend of mine. She talked to me about this great character she was creating and we met on a few occasions to talk about it. I thought it was a terrific character and she did offer the role to me. But it came at a time when I had just become a mother after trying for many years and I felt I didn’t want to put myself in a situation where I would have to go to a studio every day. With a newborn baby, I just didn’t want that demand on me, so I turned it down.

That was a hard thing to do, because I knew it was a great role. But as a new mother, I just didn’t want to commit to a series.

LA50: Have you ever regretted that decision?

JBW: It may not have been the smartest thing I ever did from a career standpoint. The show, of course, was a huge hit and I was very glad about that for Diane.

But I’ll admit, when I saw Candy [Candice Bergen] go on to win all her awards for the role, there were times I had twinges, when I would say to myself “You idiot! What were you thinking?” But do I really regret it? No, I’ve done okay.

LA50: Christmas is right around the corner. Do you and the family have any annual traditions?

JBW: We do. The boys and their dad go and get the tree and then the four of us decorate it. We have ornaments from when John and I first met, which is almost 40 years ago. We have ornaments we’ve made over the years. We trot it all out. Then we have a big party every year with over 100 people. I always bring in a pianist and we all gather around the piano in our living room and sing Christmas carols. Everyone always tells me that our party is their favorite, because it really gets them into the spirit of the season. Even my Jewish friends tell me that! I love Christmas music, both the religious and the secular songs we all grew up with. My dad was a singer. He had a beautiful tenor voice and sang in the church choir, so all of my memoires as a kid are tied to music and Christmas music was always the most special for me.

in the way I had felt it as a child, but with the ability to process it as an adult. It was so dear and really magical.

LA50: Do you know what you are getting John?

JBW: I don’t. He is very picky and he has everything he needs. He buys all of his Christmas presents online and while he’s buying for everyone else, he ends up seeing things he wants and, instead of making a list of what he wants, he just buys that stuff for himself. That infuriates me!

LA50: What about your list?

JBW: I hate to sound corny, but I have everything I need and want.

Maybe some books. I think maybe we’ll do a trip after Christmas, so that will be my gift. I already have too much stuff.

LA50: Are you the type that makes New Year’s resolutions?

JBW: Every year! Every year I make a list and usually they are the same things [laughs]. I guess I never really live up to them, because they end up on my list again and again. You know, eat less sugar and fat, cut down on the nightly Chardonnay, exercise more.

LA50: Do you adhere to any sort of diet or exercise regimen?

JBW: I try to, but I’m not rigid. I try not to eat fried or refined things. I don’t eat much bread. But I won’t give up red velvet cupcakes with sour cream icing. As for exercise, I’m a Pilates person, but I have to be careful, because I have back issues. I also walk and hike and try to do the treadmill.

LA50: JoBeth, as the years go by, have you adopted any sort of philosophy on getting older?

JBW: As an actress, you have to take into account how long you want to work.

I could retire now, but I would be bored to tears. I have been very lucky to be working as much as I am. I’m doing “Your Family or Mine” that will begin next summer and have a recurring on “Marry Me.” So I’m working and very LA50: What about Christmas Day? happy to be doing that. I’m also thrilled to be doing comedy, which is something people don’t think of when they think of me. So I want to keep working and try JBW: Well, we always open one present on Christmas Eve. That tradition began to keep looking as good as I can. Ultimately, the time will come that I will let when I was a little kid growing up in Houston. We would always go over to myself go gray and, when that time comes, I will go gracefully into that. I think my grandmother’s on Christmas Eve and exchange presents then. Then, on I still have a few more years before that happens, but when I am older, I hope Christmas Day – I remember when our boys were little and used to get up at I can still get parts and work. I guess my philosophy is that I want to live as four in the morning and rummage through their stockings. Now, even at their long as I can and feel good and keep moving. I’m happy when I’m working, I age – they’re 24 and 26 – they still love getting their stockings, but they don’t really love the work, although I don’t love the long hours. I’m like every actor: I get up anywhere near four anymore [laughs]. complain when I’m working and I complain when I’m not working. But that’s it, to just keep feeling well and working and moving.

LA50: Do you have a special Christmas memory?

LA50: Well what do you say we move downstairs and do your photos?

JBW: When my son Will was two, seeing Christmas through his eyes was magical. For the first time in many years, I really felt the magic of Christmas JBW: Sounds good. I’ll put on my red blouse and be right down. ª 18 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMbER 2014

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Your 2015 Life After 50 Gift List Assist From the most extreme to something special and a super stocking stuffer, Life After 50 has a unique suggestion for everyone on your holiday gift list Compiled by Max Andrews

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he days are rapidly dwindling for you to find that perfect gift for your family member or special someone. Knowing that it can be mind-numbing to come up with unique ideas for gifts, we have done a bit of research for you and provided three ideas for 10 22 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMBER 2014

different age groups from children to those living life after 80. Our categories include a gift idea for each age group that is “The Extreme Supreme,” when money is no object, along with “The Something Special” and “The Super Stocking Stuffer,” that are a bit more realistic options.

Children (four to eight) Kids (nine to 12) The Extreme Supreme Gift

The Genuine Robby The Robot This life-sized icon is a replica of Robby the Robot from the 1956 sci-fi classic, “Forbidden Planet.”

Robby is a seven-foot-tall, remote-controlled robot pre-programmed to deliver lines from the movie.

The sound can be connected to a home theater system, and you can even project your own voice through a wireless microphone that’s included. $49,999.99, www.hammacher.com.

The Something Special Gift

The Razor Ground Force Powered Ride-On Car This sleek silver-and-black Ground Force go-kart attains a maximum speed of 12 miles per hour, making it the perfect kart for zipping around. The Ground Force’s quiet variable-speed, chain-driven motor is powered by two 12-volt batteries, which deliver approximately 45 minutes of drive time per charge. The molded aluminum wheels and solid tires help the Ground Force run smoothly wherever it goes. $299.99, www.razor.com.

The Extreme Supreme Gift

A Grand Victorian Mansion Playhouse This playhouse offered by FAO Schwarz is straight out of a fairy tale. It includes a wraparound porch, a stained-glass window, window boxes, a skylight, a doorbell and a brass door-knocker. The interior resembles a real house with spongepainted walls, simulated hardwood floors, fireplace mantel and an upstairs loft accessed by ladder. $22,000, www.faoschwarz.com.

The Something Special Gift

LeapFrog’s Leapster GS Explorer This new and exciting learning game system is not only fun, but educational as well.

Jam-packed with preset games, it also has many downloadable features and apps to add more to the experience. This new version of the Leapster Explorer even includes a camera that is able to both take pictures and record videos. The games can help children learn everything from reading to geography. $49.99, www.leapfrog.com.

Images courtesy of the respective manufacturer and/or provider listed for each item.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

The Whimsical World Of Sheri Fink Books Sheri Fink’s enchanting storybooks are the perfect gift for children who are facing challenges and changes such as moving, starting a new school, marriage, divorce, new siblings or struggling with peer pressure. A best-selling, award-winning children’s author and creator of “The Whimsical World of Sheri Fink” children’s brand, Fink is also an international speaker. She writes books that inspire and delight children while planting seeds of selfesteem. Her children’s book series have received the Gold Mom’s Choice Award for excellence in family friendly entertainment. Autographed copies of her books are $22.95 each, www.WhimsicalWorldofSheriFink.com.

The Super Stuffing Stuffer Gift

VTech’s Kidizoom Smartwatch More than a watch, the Kidizoom Smartwatch is also a camera that lets your budding photographer take photos and videos as well as play learning games and tell time. They can also use the touch screen to explore their creativity with fun photo effects, frames and filters.

A voice recorder also lets kids record their voice and play with five voicechanging effects. $49.99, www.vtechkids.com.

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Twentysomethings Teens The Extreme Supreme Gift

The Slot Mods USA Ultimate Slot Car Raceway The teen in your family will be the envy of his or her peers when they invite friends over to play this 30 x 12-foot, 1:32 scale model of their favorite race track – Laguna Seca, Le Mans or the Nürburgring. Iconic structures, pit crews, period slot cars and much more will get them into the action while integrated track cameras capture and display it all on mini-screens. Racing legends Vic Elford and David Hobbs will even show up to co-host the inaugural race-night party. Available from Neiman Marcus, upon purchase the company will donate $3,500 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation, which supports youth arts education in communities across the country. $300,000, www.neimanmarcus.com.

The Something Special Gift

Nintendo 3DS XL The Nintendo 3DS XL system combines next-generation portable gaming with eye-popping 3D visuals. Take 3D photos, connect to friends, other players, or wireless hotspots with the wireless StreetPass and SpotPass communication modes. With 90 percent larger screens than the 3DS, 3DS XL is the ultimate 3D gaming and entertainment system. $199.99, www.nintendo.com.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

iFrogz Luxe Headphones With Mic Teens love headphones and with the iFrogz signature Luxe metallic look and velvet feel, they will enjoy a blend of perfect bass and crystal clear tones for full stereo sound. These sleek headphones also include a convenient, in-line singlebutton remote/microphone to control mobile devices. $39.99, www.ifrogz.com.

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The Extreme Supreme Gift

His And Hers Vilebrequin Quadskis The young married couple in your life won’t have to share jet skis or ATVs on their next vacation with this his and hers set of Vilebrequin Quadskis.

Hailed as the world’s best high-speed amphibians, these machines, which can accelerate up to 45 mph on land or water, convert from water cruisers to land lovers in under five seconds. $50,000, www.neimanmarcus.com.

The Something Special Gift

The Portable Smart Television Offered by Hammacher Schlemmer, this portable wireless television is also a tablet computer. A built-in digital TV tuner and antenna receive free, over-theair high-definition broadcasts and display them on the seven-inch screen.

The tablet allows users to browse the Internet or download apps. The device accesses the Internet via Wi Fi and its rechargeable battery provides up to two hours of power for watching television or six hours for surfing the Internet or using apps. It has front- and rear-facing cameras and Dolby digital sound. $199.95, www.hammacher.com.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

Death Wish Coffee: The Strongest Coffee in the World One’s 20s happen to coincide with college or university time, also known as that time in one’s life when sleep becomes a wholly optional and relative issue. If you’ve got a twentysomething on your list, this is the one coffee blend that’s guaranteed to keep them up and going. The producers claim this coffee brand, which is the world’s strongest coffee, is 200 times stronger than anything else on the market and can keep you up for as long as three days at a time. Caution: It’s not recommended for those who suffer from any cardiovascular conditions. $19.99 per pound, www.deathwishcoffee.com.

Thirtysomethings The Extreme Supreme Gift

The Vanity Fair Academy Awards Experience Do you have a thirtysomething couple on your list who are big film lovers? If so, here’s their chance to be a part of Hollywood’s biggest night.

Have them get their gown and tux ready for a weekend of star treatment that will begin at the Luxe Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel, where they’ll stay for three nights.

The following day, they will enjoy special excursions, drinks at the famous Sunset Tower, and dinner at Chateau Marmont. Then, on the day of the Academy Awards, they will receive pre-party spa pampering followed by hair, makeup, wardrobe styling and a jewelry loan that will culminate with invites to the night’s most coveted event: The Vanity Fair Party, where they will mix, mingle and revel with Oscar winners and silver-screen legends past and present. $425,000, exclusively offered by Neiman Marcus, www.neimanmarcus.com.

The Something Special Gift

A Portable Indoor/Outdoor Fireplace This is sheer modern elegance wrapped up in a unique portable gel fi replace.

Floating glass panels are held in place by a brushed nickel base that houses

cans of gel fuel (sold separately). The glass panels provide an unobstructed view of the magnificent flame while adding a modern loft appearance. The gel fuel can also be replaced with decorative pillar candles. $309.00, www. seventhavenue.com.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

Ribs From Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous Barbeque in Memphis Not since Adam has a rib been more famous than those served up by the folks at Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous. Since 1948, barbeque lovers including presidents, heads of foreign countries and The Rolling Stones have made a pilgrimage to Memphis just to eat at the Rendezvous. One of Elvis’ faves, you can now provide your thirtysomethings with the same ribs the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll loved. Their most popular gift item is two slabs of their famous ribs and their world-famous Rendezvous barbeque sauce, which are shipped in dry ice.

There are also loads of great side dishes available. $105.00, www.hogsfly.com.

Fortysomethings The Extreme Supreme Gift

The Celebrity Robotic Avatar For that fortysomething couple who love to entertain, this adultsized robotic avatar, controlled via an intuitive wireless remote, will be the perfect dinner party assistant. His fluid, lifelike movements, smooth dance moves, and engaging personality will add star power to any event.

He rolls forward, backward, and spins 360º at three different speeds, dancing alone or with a partner who stands on his sturdy platform. The robot engages in clever impromptu banter with guests (delivered from the operator with a discreet wireless microphone), his synthesized voice carrying clearly from six speakers in his head and body. LEDs in his mouth light as he talks, giving his speech a more natural quality. His routine can also be completely preprogrammed, from body movements and dialogue to music and sound effects. $345,000, www.hammacher.com.

The Something Special Gift

The Joe Namath Rapid Cooker Whether cooking a favorite meal at home or preparing a feast while tailgating at the big game, the Joe Namath Rapid Cooker by EdenPURE is something special. This cooker creates restaurant-quality food wherever you are. Simple, fast, and portable, this cooker uses infrared commercial technology that quickly heats and cooks food from the top down, like a broiler. With temperatures ranging from 300° F to 1,400° F and adjustable cooking zones, you can do anything from searing a steak to melting cheese.

Built in the U.S.A. with professionalgrade stainless steel, this cooker brings the taste of the finest steakhouses and restaurants to any table. You can also order Joe Namath N.Y. Steaks, which go through a strict quality-control process to ensure that only the most excellent USDA beef is provided. From the cooker to the meats, every product is backed by Broadway Joe’s famous guarantee of satisfaction. $397.00, www. namathproducts.com.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

A Wireless Eye Massager With Soothing Sounds The Wireless Eye Massager with Soothing Sounds uses a combination of intelligent air pressure, vibration massage, point massage and gentle infrared heat to soothe away stress, strain and aches.

Just slip it on after a hard day and it rubs, presses, warms and massages your entire ocular region to rejuvenate tired eyes.

It even has built-in speakers and prerecorded nature sounds to help you relax. $129.99, www. sharperimage.com.



DECEMBER 2014 LIFEAFTER50.COM 25

Sixtysomethings Fiftysomethings The Extreme Supreme Gift

A Fragrance Journey To Paris Do you have to buy for the special someone whose clothing, home decor and car suits them perfectly?

If so, isn’t it time they also had a signature scent that does the same? This quest to fragrance utopia begins with two first-class tickets to Paris, where your special someone will meet with sixth-generation master perfumer Olivier Creed of the House of Creed to create the ultimate custom scent. While in The City of Light, they will dine with Creed, enjoy five-star accommodations, white-glove car service, private tours and other experiences befitting this extreme gift. A few months later, their custom fragrance will arrive at their doorstep in 24 14-karat goldgilded six-liter flacons and 12 14-karat gold-accented leather atomizers. Offered exclusively by Neiman Marcus, the company will donate $5,000 to The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation to support youth arts education in communities across the country. $475,000, www.neimanmarcus.com.

The Extreme Supreme Gift

Luxurious Linens From Leontine If you have someone on your list who demands the fi nest things, this gift from the Leontine Linens Home Trousseau is the present for them. This gift begins with a personal in-home visit from the company’s founder, Jane Scott Hodges, where together, with your special someone, they will select bed, bath, and table linens to create a perfectly appointed home. $55,000, exclusively offered by Neiman Marcus, www.neimanmarcus.com.

The Something Special Gift

A Pedego Electric Bike Pedego bikes give riders exercise disguised as fun. They combine style and function to open cycling to those who might otherwise not be getting the benefits from bike riding. Many people would like to ride a bike, but find it impractical

The Something Special Gift

Custom Handmade Furniture by Dolenz & Daughters Fine Furniture Every American who is in their 50s today grew up with The Monkees, so if you have a fiftysomething on your list, stop monkeying around and get them something really special – a custom-crafted piece of furniture actually made by a real-life Monkee! Dolenz & Daughters Fine Furniture is a family-owned business founded in 2013 by Georgia Dolenz and her father, Micky Dolenz of The Monkees.

Georgia and Micky actually design and handcraft furniture in their home. They source only the highest-quality materials and use traditional woodworking techniques. They design each piece from scratch and donate a percentage of the proceeds from each sale to a variety of charities close to their hearts. $60 to $1,000.00, www.dolenzanddaughters.com.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

The Tony Bennett And Lady Gaga “Cheek To Cheek” Collector’s Edition Box Set For the Tony Bennett fan on your list, this is a very special edition of his latest Number One album, “Cheek To Cheek.” This collector’s edition box set includes a vinyl record of “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” and “Cheek To Cheek,” an embroidered, monogrammed handkerchief with Tony’s initials and Gaga’s lipstick print, “Cheek To Cheek” sheet music autographed by Tony, personal snapshots of Tony and Gaga, a vinyl version of the standard album, a “Cheek To Cheek LIVE! Concert” DVD, an 8x10 art print housed in a vellum envelope, and a commemorative newspaper all housed in a black leather-finished box. $149.99, www.ladygaga.shop. bravadousa.com.

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or impossible because of hills, distance, health reasons, knee problems, or aging.

Pedego electric bikes make biking much more accessible. Pedal or not, Pedego’s electric throttle gives assistance when the rider needs it for hills, headwinds or if they are tired. There’s a huge variety of fun colors, including pink, turquoise, coral, red, orange, blue, neon green, and more. Fun and practical styles include cruiser, commuter, mountain, cargo, and tandem bikes. And, coming soon, is the new Boomerang, built just for boomers with an extra-low step through. Pedego bikes are equipped with a battery that can be charged simply by plugging it in. From $2,095.000, www.pedegoelectricbikes.com.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic Moments, and Assorted Hijinks

By Dick Cavett What do Steve Jobs, Elizabeth Taylor, James Gandolfini, Gore Vidal, and John Lennon have in common? They’re all featured characters in legendary talk show host Dick Cavett’s new book, “Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic Moments and Assorted Hijinks” (Henry Holt, 2014). In his latest volume, the erudite host of “The Dick Cavett Show” shares his recollections of the famous figures he encountered throughout his career. We tag along as Cavett spends an afternoon with Stan Laurel in his modest apartment, spars with Muhammad Ali at his training camp, and comes to know a young Steve Jobs – who wooed him to be Apple’s first celebrity pitchman. He also revisits his Midwestern upbringing, offers piquant commentary on contemporary politics, the indignities of travel, the nature of comedy writing, and the utter improbability of being alive at all. For those who grew up with and love Cavett, who will be featured on the cover of the January issue of Life After 50, this book proves he remains as quick-witted and bold-minded as ever as he shares his reflections and reminiscences about Hollywood legends, American cultural icons, and the absurdities of everyday life. $26.00, www.dickcavettshow.com.

Seventysomethings The Extreme Supreme Gift

A 2015 Bentley Continental GT If you have a seventysomething on your list and money is of no object, why not give them the opportunity to get around in style in a 2015 Bentley Continen-

tal GT? Just the name “Bentley” says it all when it comes to style and luxury.

From their first glimpse of this car – the fastest, most powerful two-door coupé that Bentley makes – they will know you truly cared to give the very best. $227,600.00, www.bentleymotors.com.

The Something Special Gift

The 100 Greatest Classics Audio Book This palm-sized library contains audio versions of the 100 greatest classic books. The lightweight player comes pre-loaded with unabridged texts by noteworthy authors including Charles Dickens, Mark Twain and Jane Austen. In addition to classic novels such as “Moby-Dick” and “Treasure Island,” the collection features short stories by O. Henry and Kipling, plays by Ibsen and Shakespeare, and philosophical treatises by Nietzsche and Aristotle. Its full 600 hours of entertainment also include 50 classical music favorites by Mozart, Chopin and other immortal composers. This portable device makes it easy to catch up on the classics on the go; it even comes with an adapter so it can be played through a car radio. $99.95, www.hammacher.com.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

Unique Items For The Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin Or Rat Pack Fan You would be hard-pressed to find a seventysomething who doesn’t love the music of Ol’ Blue Eyes or Dino, and at Deans and Franks, you can find anything from vintage items pertaining to the legendary crooners to one-of-a-kind treasures actually signed or owned by them. As much a shrine and museum as a shop, the Deans and Franks web store offers an amazing array of gifts for the fans of these two men who defined an era – not only as entertainers, but of the totally cool attitude. The web store constantly adds more items and rarities which, at any given time, offers almost 700 items in more than 65 different categories. If you have a specific request for a Sinatra, Martin or Rat Pack item, they are the “go to” source to find it for you. $45.00 and up, www.deansandfranks.com.

Eightysomethings The Extreme Supreme Gift

A Silversea’s World Cruise Most travelers’ lifelong dream is a world cruise – especially one that crosses both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and makes an entire circle around the planet.

That is what distinguishes Silversea’s 2015 World Cruise. The itinerary of this cruise is nothing short of astonishing – 115 days, 50 ports in 30 countries, including the jewels of French Polynesia, the orangutans of Borneo, the Buddhas of Borobudur, Vietnam and the great cities of Asia, both east and west coasts of Africa, and an array of far-flung cultures and world wonders that are truly breathtaking in scope. If you know someone whose dream has been to completely circumnavigate the globe, give them the gift of a cruise on the Silver Whisper as she sails from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, from Polynesia to New Zealand and Australia, from Bali and Borneo to China and Southeast Asia, and across the Indian Ocean to the most mysterious continent of all – Africa. This is truly is a gift that dreams are made of. $58,950 per person, www.silversea.com.

The Something Special Gift

A grandPad Tablet Computer Built just for seniors and customized with only the content that seniors need and want, the grandPad Tablet Computer is easy and fun to use. This is the perfect gift to help your parent connect with family and friends. The grandPad gives a senior everything they need. Their content is downloaded automatically from the Internet, there are no passwords to remember, it is safe from viruses and telemarketers, and it is always connected. They can call friends and family by simply clicking on their picture, send and receive video calls, send and receive safe, spam-free e-mail by speaking message, get photos and videos of friends and family, and even music from their favorite musicians.

They can play Solitaire, memory games, and more, plug it in to any headphones for better listening, and use a special stylus designed for ease of use. A non-contract $60-per-month grandPad subscription includes the grandPad tablet computer, a wireless charging dock, a case and stylus, built-in Internet service and 24/7 U.S.-based customer support, www.grandpad.net.

The Super Stocking Stuffer Gift

The Isometric Resistance Upper Body Strengthener This is the isometric resistance trainer that provides a muscle-strengthening upper body workout that is gentle on joints. Users simply pull or push on the static handlebars without moving upper body joints, creating the same strength-enhancing resistance as free weights, but without the strain or detrimental impact. Ideal for improving bone density and mitigating muscle loss, the device allows users to create their preferred resistance. It has a programmable timer and it monitors applied force and displays the readings on the integrated backlit LCD, allowing users to set goals and determine progress.

The device enables up to 23 exercises that strengthen and tone the arms, shoulders, chest, and back. $79.95, www.hammacher.com.  DECEMBER 2014 LIFEAFTER50.COM 27

Season’s Greetings from

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WARNING:

The Holidays Can Be Hazardous To Your Health

Tips for giving your body what it needs to stay healthy during this busy season

By Dr. John Young

I

t’s a sad statistical fact: The holidays, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, can be a treacherous time when it comes to our health.

This time of year brings a spike in heart attacks and other cardiac issues. The incidence of pneumonia cases also spikes – in both cold and warm climates. And deaths from natural causes are higher than other times of the year. In fact, more people die of natural causes on Christmas Day than any other day of the year.

While those numbers are well-documented, the causes are not.

Stress definitely plays a role, particularly if one’s immune system is 30 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMbER 2014

weakened. If you look at how most of us eat from Halloween through New Year’s Day, it’s easy to see how the immune system takes a beating and otherwise healthy people become more susceptible to illness during the holidays.

It’s BasIc BIochemIstry During the holidays, we all tend to eat a lot more refined sugar, which is a carbohydrate that’s been stripped of all the vitamins, minerals and proteins that make up a complete carbohydrate. Our bodies can’t use that, so the cells in

our digestive organs work overtime, burning up a lot of energy, vitamins and minerals to digest it, and they get nothing back in return. So, eventually, they grow weak.

So, you may ask, can we have a little sugar and still maintain good health?

The good news is: WE CAN! The occasional slice of pumpkin pie is fine as long as you’re also feeding your cells with the nutrients they need – the minerals, vitamins, good quality protein, amino acids, essential fatty acids – to stay healthy.

Here are some of my top tips for staying healthy throughout the holidays and the entire year: GET YOUR VITAMIN D Vitamin D is actually a hormone, not a vitamin, and one of our best sources for it is sunshine. Unfortunately, many people work indoors all day, so they get little sun exposure. When they do go outside, they wear long sleeves and sunblock to protect against skin cancer. And, of course, in the wintertime, people in cold climes tend to stay inside. As a result, many of us are vitamin D deficient and should be taking supplements. Vitamin D is crucial to many physiological systems, including our immune defenses. It helps fight bacterial and viral infections, including the flu. It supports our cardiovascular system; optimal vitamin D levels can reduce hypertension, heart attacks and stroke.

If I feel I’m coming down with a cold, I’ll take 40,000 units of vitamin D at bedtime. The next morning, I usually feel like a new person.

EAT YOUR PROTEIN You should be eating one gram for every 2.2 pounds of your body weight on a daily basis. In the United States, we think a healthy diet means eating a lot of fruits and vegetables – which is true. But that doesn’t mean we can forget protein.

Our immune system is made up of proteins – our bones are 40 percent protein.

Thus, we need protein to stay healthy. When calculating your protein intake, consider this: an egg has about eight grams, and eight ounces of fish, chicken, beef or pork have about 30 grams.

One caution: I never recommend that anyone take more than 100 grams of protein a day.

GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP, EXERCISE, AND MANAGE YOUR STRESS Yup, some doctors’ orders never change. Rest, exercise and finding effective, healthy ways to cope with stress are simple ways to pamper your cells. One of the many cellular benefits of exercise is that it increases the oxygen in our bloodstream. Every cell in our body requires oxygen, so consider exercise as another means of feeding your cells. It’s also important to manage stress during the holidays.

With unchecked stress, our body releases large amounts of cortisol which, among other things, suppresses the immune system. Take time out to meditate, listen to music, or take a walk in the woods. It feels  good – and it’s good for you.

GETTING THROUGH THE MOST STRESSFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

By Colin Christopher

I

t’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but the holiday season, for many, is the most stressful time of the year. From visits with family and out-of-town guests, buying gifts for everyone on your list, cooking, decorating and more, the holidays sometimes bring more stress than they do joy.

As a clinical hypnotherapist certified by the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners, here are my tips to reduce stress and make it through the next few weeks:

DON’T PROCRASTINATE

You can reduce stress with a little bit of planning and getting an early start.

If you wait until the last minute and find yourself pressed for time, you’re going to experience more stress.

LEARN TO SAY “NO”

If you have a hard time telling people “no,” you’re going to find yourself overcommitted, tired, unable to do the things you really want to do and stressed out. It’s okay to say “no” if you don’t want to do something or don’t have the time to do it.

TAKE A MOMENT FOR YOURSELF

During the holidays, we have so many commitments to our family, friends, visitors, office parties and more, that people tend to forget about themselves. Even as little as 20 to 30 minutes each day to do something you enjoy or to go for a walk by yourself will refresh you, relieve stress and help you enjoy the holidays.

BREATHE

If you’re feeling overly anxious or stressed, take a few minutes to slow your breathing down. Breathe in through your diaphragm (stomach area), hold for a few seconds, and slowly release through your mouth.

APPRECIATE THE MOMENT

We tend to get so caught up in the moment that it’s over before we know it.

Take time to step back and enjoy the time with your family, playing with your kids, and just being thankful for all you have. You’ll naturally feel less stressed and more satisfied when you are thankful for everything around you.

LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS For more information and tips on keeping healthy during the holidays, click on www.lifeafter50.com and read Lisa Ferentz’s feature, “Working Through Self-Destructive Behaviors During the Holidays.”

Some people place very high expectations on the holidays. They picture everything playing out in a specific or perfect way and find themselves disappointed and stressed out when things don’t go according to plan. Lower your expectations and just let life happen. You’ll feel less stressed and have more fun.

Colin Christopher is a clinical hypnotherapist, hypnosis instructor and author of the book “Success Through Manipulation: Subconscious Reactions That Will Make or Break You.” For more information click on www.colinontv.com.

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A Koz For Celebration Musician and composer Dave Koz celebrates the holiday season, his new album, and life with love and gratitude Story and Photos

By David Laurell

M

ultiple Grammy Award-nominated saxophonist and composer Dave Koz sinks into a plush sage-green couch in his Beverly Hills home.

“I’ve been doing Christmas music for a long time,” says the San Fernando Valley-born, UCLA graduate who, as a platinum-selling recording artist, has just released his latest Christmas album, “The 25th of December” (Concord Records, 2014). “This is my fifth Christmas album and I’ll be doing my 17th annual Christmas tour this month — which is quite an achievement for a nice Jewish boy,” he adds with a smile.

Koz glances over towards the ebony grand piano that occupies the windowed corner of his living room.

“I wanted this album to be something new and fresh — like I invited listeners to my house for the best holiday party with this group of phenomenally talented artists,” he explains. “I pictured us all retiring to the living room after dinner, gathering around the piano, and everybody getting up and doing a song while I played a little saxophone with them.”

It truly would be the best holiday party ever as Koz’s new album presents duets with some of the most legendary and prominent pop and jazz artists of our time including Johnny Mathis, Eric Benét, Gloria Estefan, Heather Headley, Richard Marx, Kenny G, BeBe Winans, India.Arie, Trombone Shorty, Jonathan Butler, Fantasia and Stevie Wonder.

“Right from the start, I told Rickey Minor, who produced the album, that I wouldn’t even consider going into the studio unless I was going to do something different — something that activated a new dimension of my musicality. That’s what goes on in my head when I make every new record. I feel like I’m at a point in my career that the world has enough Dave Koz music, so if

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I’m going to go to the trouble to make a new album, it had better be something fresh — that I haven’t already done, or there’s just no reason for me to do it, or the fans to buy it. Rickey got that, and the result is an album that represents a whole lot of love. It’s across the board in its diversity and it unites everyone who was a part of this project by our love and gratitude for this time of year and the music of this season and what it represents. I have great respect for how important these songs are to people.”

Koz says he was thrilled to have gotten such a great response from those he invited to perform on his latest Christmas offering and, unabashedly admits to having been often awed during its production.

“Watching Stevie Wonder play and sing my music was kind of otherworldly,” he reveals. “I actually did pinch myself while that was happening. And then, to have Johnny Mathis involved…”

Koz’s voice trails off and he takes a second to compose himself.

“I don’t have words for Johnny. I always get choked up when I talk about him. He’s such a beautiful and pure soul.”

Reaching for his phone from the coffee table he quickly does a search of old messages with a look that says he’s preparing to reveal one of his mosttreasured possessions. “Here, check it out,” he says as he holds his phone up. “I called John last June and told him about my idea for a Christmas album and then I got this:” “Hello my beautiful friend. This is Johnny Mathis. I would love to sing for you again. I can’t wait. Let’s do it. Let me know when and where and I’ll be there.”

“I will never delete that,” Koz says with a laugh.

As for the “when and where” Mathis asked to be apprised of, that response came quickly and the legendary singer found himself in the studio with Koz within 24 hours of making that call.

“That day, in the studio with John, was one of the greatest of my career,” says Koz. “It all came together so fast and organically without all the planning and negotiating that is usually involved in these projects. I think that is sometimes how real magic happens. I had told Rickey I wanted Mathis to do ‘It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ and Rickey said ‘Yes! Call him.’ The next day, John came in to have a meeting about the song. He wasn’t planning on recording that day. He just wanted to discuss it, do a run-through, pick a key and have a game plan. But because Rickey is such a genius, he said we were going to have a band there and be ready to record. So John showed up looking like

he had just stepped off a beach in Hawaii. We went into the studio and without any real plan, just started doing it. I’m playing the sax, he’s in the next booth singing, the musicians are in the studio, and within two hours — magic! — we had a take we all loved.”

Following up on his earlier comment that making beloved Christmas music is quite an accomplishment for a Jewish boy, Koz says he never gives that much thought.

“Some of the greatest composers and lyricists and artists to have ever created Christmas music have been Jewish,” he reasons. “I greatly respect the religious basis of Christmas, but I believe there is another element that comes with the Christmas season — the ability to bring people together. I think religion divides and separates people. We see the painfulness of that in our world every day. But music is a powerful tool that can bring people together and Christmas music really does that. No matter what your religious beliefs, Christmas music reminds every one of their childhood — simple and innocent times. These songs aren’t just words and notes on a page. They are a gateway for us to travel back in time, like an aroma that takes you back to your grandmother’s kitchen.

They are songs that are powerful and can produce the miracle of love and bringing people together. I’ve seen that happen in ways that have blown me away, and it happened with this album. I’ll never forget doing this album, because it was so filled with love. It was an amazing personal advance for me.”

Taking Christmas To His Fans Preparing for his 2014 Christmas tour, Koz says that while traveling during the holidays can be a challenge, he “rolls with it.”

“I do miss being home throughout December,” he says. “But it’s sort of a yin-yang thing because I also really love being out on the road and performing and meeting people.”

As to the people he meets at his shows, Koz says his audiences are incredibly diverse. “I’m really proud of that,” he says. “We’ve been doing the Koz sea cruises since 2005. This year, we cruised Alaska with 2,100 people who crossed all ethnicities and ages — African-Americans, Asians, older couples, young couples and singles, gay men and lesbians. It is an honor to be able to attract such a diverse audience and then corral that energy and see people come together.

I really love the meet-and-greets we do. I love to meet the fans and get the chance to thank them, especially those who have been there from the beginning — that’s coming up on 25 years — since my first album came out in 1990.”

Queried on the allegiance of his fans, Koz says that jazz audiences are typically not fickle. “If you continue to stay fresh and grow as an artist and keep your audience interested in what you’re doing, there is the opportunity to have a very long career in the world of jazz,” he opines, “I’m very grateful for that.”

Koz’s Personal Playlist

While jazz may be the genre he is most associated with, Koz says his personal tastes in music have been, and still are, all over the place.

have the time to discover new artists. There was a time when we would all listen to the radio and go to record stores. Those days are over. Today, even the release of a record by a big name artist isn’t an event like it once was and will only sell maybe a tenth of what it would have in the past. The idea of buying music is foreign to people today — especially young people. They love music, but they don’t buy it.”

Wearing The Badge Of Age

“I grew up in a musical household,” he says. “My parents loved all of the classic singers — Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald. My sister listened to pop music. She was a big fan of Chicago, who was the first band that opened my ears to that sound — the use of horns. My brother was the jazz guy. He was also into progressive rock. He loved guys like Gino Vannelli and Michael Franks and the Brecker Brothers. So just walking down the hallway of my house, passing the various bedrooms, I would hear a lot of very different music.

I think, because I was the youngest, my tastes were influenced by all of theirs and became an amalgam of everything I heard.”

Asked what he listens to today he laughs. “I’m still all over the place. I recently got a new car — a Tesla.

It was a late 50th birthday present to myself and I just love it. That car has Slacker Radio and all you have to do is say whatever song you can ever think of and it will just pop up and play. So talk about being all over the place. I’m always throwing out titles like crazy, although I’ll admit it: the first thing I ever did was to see if I came up. Thank God, I did. But I never get tired of the old classics like Dean and Frank. I’m into meditative music and I’m really into Janelle Monáe, who has a lot of jazz influences but would really be considered an R&B artist. I think she is just fantastic, like a female James Brown with all of that energy and imagination. I’m also a huge fan of Bruno Mars, who I think is unbelievable. I would love to make music with him. There is a lot of great music out there today — Aloe Blacc, Frank Ocean. John Legend, John Mayer, Lady Gaga, whom I just love.”

Having crossed into his 50s in 2013, Koz says he is aware that many people his age do not stay abreast of current music. “I think the reason for that is simple,” he opines. “There’s just too much. The faucet is always on full blast. There is a mass amount of music coming out and no one can keep up with it all. Today, there are 80, 90 maybe 100,000 albums put out every year, so when people get older and busy with their lives, they just don’t

As for living life after 50, Koz says, unlike many people in the entertainment world, he has totally embraced it.

“I was recently talking to a friend of mine who just turned 60 and he said the secret to staying young is to keep moving. The moment you slow down — when you stop taking the stairs and take the elevator, when you don’t expose yourself to something new, when you stop traveling and meeting new people or stop working — that’s when you quickly become old.

When my dad was 50, he was like an old person, but I have friends today who are in their 70s and 80s and even older who I would have a hard time keeping up with. My friend Ginny Mancini, Henry Mancini’s widow, is 90 and she is out everywhere doing everything. She has all her wits about her, is tireless, going from one benefit to another, taking 60 people on a trip to Vail. She is really alive at 90. Norman Lear is another friend who comes to mind. He’s 92 and is currently out doing a book tour.”

Asked if he has adopted any philosophy on the passage of time, Koz says he is simply enjoying life more than ever.

“I like getting older,” he declares. “I never thought I would, but I’m happy and proud to be featured in Life After 50 magazine because I wear each year as a badge. I think having a great attitude and outlook on life — whatever stage of life you are in — is the key. I am at a point in my life that I’m so grateful and filled with appreciation. The older I get, the more I appreciate things. I am trying to truly savor every little moment of my days. My 30s were fantastic and then they were eclipsed by my 40s.

And you know what? Once I got over the milestone of actually turning 50, I was really ready to embrace this time of my life with a confidence and a contentment and feeling of relaxation that has been just great. I know who I am. I know what I do. I’m always trying to access new challenges and I’m just enjoying it all with a spirit of trust — a lot of trusting that I’m exactly where I should be at this time in my life. So I’m filled with gratitude and love and doing a lot of smiling.”  The Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2014 will come to the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts on December 19 and 20. Tickets are available at www.cerritoscenter.com or by calling (562) 467-8818.

The evenings will also include a special VIP experience that includes a meet-and-greet and an autographed copy of “The 25th of December.” For more details, call (877) 6069222 or click on www.davekoz.com.

DECEMBER 2014 LIFEAFTER50.COM 37

New Year New You 2015 The January issue of Life After 50 comes out Jan 5 Artwork due on December 22 Advertise to 100,000 Southern California readers age 50+ every month Advertise@lifeafter50.com call 310-822-1629 x 121 www.lifeafter50.com Follow us on Facebook 38 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMBER 2014

Start the year off right with small, manageable changes to your lifestyle including health, beauty + fitness

Let’s Get OUt A Preview of Upcoming Events for December/January By Claire Yezbak Fadden

San Diego/Orange County/Inland Empire

December 2014/January 2015

eNteRtAINMeNt MONDAY, DECEMBER 15 DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! This wonderful, whimsical musical is based upon the classic Dr. Seuss book. The Old Globe Theatre is once again transformed into the snow-covered Whoville, right down to the last can of Who-hash. The family favorite musical features “This Time of Year,” “Santa for a Day” and “Fah Who Doraze.” The Old Globe, Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage, Old Globe Theatre, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $29-plus. Through Dec. 27. (619) 234-5623. theoldglobe.org.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS More than 400 animated angels, elves and carolers come alive in a cascade of color featuring nearly four million lights decorating the facade of the historic Mission Inn. Horse-drawn carriage rides, ice skating, live entertainment including Dickens’ Carolers, an elaborately decorated Christmas tree, and of course, Santa Claus. Mission Inn, 3649 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside. Through Jan. 6.

(800) 843-7755. missioninn.com.

WINTER WONDERETTES When Santa turns up missing, the Wonderettes must use their talent and creative ingenuity, plus some great holiday tunes such as “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Run Rudolph Run,” “Winter Wonderland” and 20 other seasonal favorites, to save their holiday party. Welk Resorts Theatre, 8860 Lawrence Welk Dr., Escondido. Dates vary through Dec. 28. $45-$75. (888) 802-7469. welktheatre.com.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16 DIXIE’S TUPPERWARE PARTY Dixie Longate stars as the fast-talking Tupperware lady who has packed up her catalogues and left her children in an Alabama trailer park to journey across America. Longate throws a good, old fashioned Tupperware party filled with outrageously funny tales, heartfelt accounts, free giveaways, audience participation and the most fabulous assortment of Tupperware ever sold on a theater stage. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Samueli, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. Through Dec. 21. $49-plus.

(714) 556-2787. scfta.org.

SECOND CITY’S NUTCRACKING HOLIDAY REVUE The perfect antidote to the annual office party. This hilarious new holiday production captures all the magic, mystery and mayhem of the season with original songs, sketches and improv. La Jolla Playhouse, UCSD Campus, Mandell Weiss Forum, 2910 La Jolla Village Dr., La Jolla. $87-$99. Through Dec. 21. (858) 550-1010. lajollaplayhouse.org.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 15

CELTIC WOMAN: HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

Celebrate this holiday season with the celestial voices of multi-platinum Irish singing sensation. Featuring music from the all-female music ensemble’s second Christmas album, “Home for Christmas,” including holiday favorites, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “Silent Night.” An enchanting and festive evening filled with mesmerizing music, performance and holiday cheer.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. $59-plus. (714) 556-2787. scfta.org.

SKATING BY THE SEA Outdoor ice skating overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The Hotel Del Coronado’s oceanfront Windsor Lawn is transformed into a spectacular ice rink with skating sessions offered daily. Hotel del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado. $16-$23. Through Jan. 4. hoteldel.com.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17 NORTHERN LIGHTS The story, centers on a Minnesota family celebration in 1962. Three generations adjust their traditional holiday plans after the pipes burst at the family home. Surprise guests, family discoveries and a magnificent night sky all make for one memorable Christmas. Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. $22-plus. Through Dec. 28. (619) 437-6000. lambsplayers.org.

JUNGLE BELLS The San Diego Zoo’s annual event includes a Northern Frontier Forest inside the Polar Bear Plunge habitat filled with decorated trees to entertain during the day and a light display that will delight at night. Listen to the animals “sing” during the Wegeforth Bowl show, “Carols at Camp Critters.” San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, 2920 Zoo Dr., San Diego.

Free with admission. (619) 231-1515. Dates vary through Jan. 4. sandiegozoo.org.

GARDEN OF LIGHTS After the sun goes down, some 100,000 sparkling lights illuminate the garden transforming it into a dazzling winter wonderland. Join in the fun that includes horse-drawn wagon rides, holiday crafts, marshmallow roasting, visits with Santa

and live music. Members $8-$10. San Diego Botanic Garden, 230 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas. Through Dec. 23, also Dec. 26-30. (760) 436-3036. sdbgarden.org.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18 DRIVING AND DEMENTIA Learn when it is time for your loved one to stop driving, and tips on how to have this difficult conversation. Alzheimer’s Association, 6632 Convoy Ct., San Diego.

Free. Register (800) 272-3900. alz.org/ sandiego.

STRIKING TWELVE Ring in the holidays with Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fable “The Little Match Girl” with a modern-day New Year’s Eve twist. Laguna Playhouse, Moulton Theatre Main Stage, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach. Through Dec. 28. $36-$66.

(949) 497-2787. lagunaplayhouse.com.

NIGHTLY SNOWFALL Ho! Ho! Ho! Watch it snow in Chula Vista.

The event features caroling groups and nightly snowfall. Village Walk at Eastlake, 878 Eastlake Parkway, Chula Vista.

Through Dec. 24. Free. (800) 214-3020. shopvillagewalk.com.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19 IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE The unforgettable folks of Bedford Falls come to life in this toe-tapping tribute to a beloved American tale. The true spirit of Christmas touches George Bailey and all who witness his amazing encounter with a wayward angel. LifeHouse Theater,

1135 N. Church St., Redlands. Weekends through Dec. 30. $14-$18. (909) 335-3037 ext. 21. lifehousetheater.com.

HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS Dinner, entertainment and raffles. San Dimas Community Center, 245 E. Bonita Ave., San Dimas. $7. (909) 394-6290.

THE NUTCRACKER Festival Ballet Theatre’s breathtaking production features superb colorful sceneries and dazzling costumes, which make this age-old tradition sparkle like new. This full-length, traditional production features a cast of professional dancers and more than 100 Southern California children. Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine. Through Dec. 24. $42-$45. (949) 854-4646. thebarclay.org.

WIN, PLACE OR DIE . . .

Interactive mystery comedy dinner theater set at the Thoroughbred Club at Upson Downs Race Track. Everyone who’s anyone is here, including movie stars, a gossip columnist, a politician, a debt-ridden track owner and a jockey who may be in for the ride of his life.

Mystery Cafe Dinner Theater, Imperial House Restaurant, 505 Kalmia St., San Diego. $60. Also Dec. 20. (619) 466-2200. mysterycafe.net.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20 COUNTRY LIVE! Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, 42051 Main St., Temecula. $15. (866) 653-8696. temeculatheater.org.

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CALENDAR

December 2014/January 2015 San Diego/Orange County/Inland Empire TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7

FIESTA NAVIDAD This joyous show honors and celebrates the unique cultural traditions of Mexico. The program features mariachi music as well as with cherished holiday songs including “Feliz Navidad” and “Noche de Paz.” Also features the tradition of La Posada, the reenactment of Joseph and Mary’s pilgrimage to Bethlehem. With Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. $29-plus.

(714) 556-2787. scfta.org.

HERSHEY FELDER AS IRVING BERLIN Called “the greatest songwriter that has ever lived,” by George Gershwin, Berlin is known for innumerable American classics such as “White Christmas,” “God Bless America,” “Anything You Can Do,” and “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails.” Laguna Playhouse, Moulton Theatre Main Stage, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach. Through Feb. 8. $36$66. (949) 497-2787. lagunaplayhouse.com.

THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA CHRISTMAS Get into the holiday spirit with gospel tinged versions of seasonal favorites along with gospel classics in a joyous evening of soul stirring music. California Center for the Arts, Escondido, Concert Hall, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. $25-$50.

(800) 988-4253. artcenter.org.

WOW: FIRST WEDNESDAYS: JIMMY AND ENRIQUE Guitarist Jimmy Patton and percussionist Enrique Platas have combined their talents to form this award-winning duo, performing music with an international flair as they incorporate flamenco, Middle Eastern, salsa, calypso, Brazilian, and other world rhythms. California Center for the Arts, Escondido, Center Theater, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. $12. (800) 988-4253. artcenter.org.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS This American music group, founded by Chip Davis, is known for blending classical music and rock, and for theirs modern recordings of traditional Christmas music. San Diego Civic Theatre, Third and B St., 1100 Third Ave., downtown San Diego. Prices vary. (619) 5701100. broadwaysd.com.

JAZZ AT THE MERC Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, 42051 Main St., Temecula. $15. (866) 653-8696. temeculatheater.org.

CLASSICS AT THE MERC Chamber performances by the region’s best professional musicians. Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, 42051 Main St., Temecula. Sundays. $12. (866) 6538696. temeculatheater.org.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30

CHINA’S LOST CIVILIZATION: THE MYSTERY OF SANXINGDUI

During the summer of 1986, construction workers accidentally uncovered an astounding cache of more than 200 ancient jades, weapons, burned animal bones, some 60 elephant tusks, monumental bronzes and a life-sized statue of a nobleman at Sanxingdui, about 24 miles outside of the Sichuan Province capitol of Chengdu. Objects in the exhibition date to about 1200 BC, a time when it was thought that the cradle of Chinese civilization existed 745 miles to the northeast on the Yellow River in China’s Central Plain region. Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana. Through March 15. $12. (714) 567-3679. bowers.org.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21 INTIMATE CLASSICS Featuring Sirena Huang, Paul Galbraith, Jeffrey Siegel, Jiayan Sun and Han Bin Yoon, the singular series focuses on virtuosos of various classical instruments including the violin, guitar, piano, and cello. California Center for the Arts, Escondido at The Center Theater, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido.

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Prices vary. Sundays through May 3. (800) 988-4253. artcenter.org.

LIVE JAZZ ON THE PATIO Joe Bigham and Friends. Bernardo Winery, Tasting Room Patio, 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte, San Diego. Free. bernardowinery.com.

KINKY BOOTS This inspirational story follows a struggling shoe factory owner who works to turn his business around with help from Lola, a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos. Together, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible … proving that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world. Inspired by a true story, the musical features a joyous, score

by Cyndi Lauper. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. Through Jan. 11. $29-plus. (714) 5562787. scfta.org.

JANUARY

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3 COUNTRY LIVE! Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, 42051 Main St., Temecula. $15. (866) 653-8696. temeculatheater.org.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 4 LIVE JAZZ ON THE PATIO Whitney Shay. Bernardo Winery, Tasting Room Patio, 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte, San Diego. Free. bernardowinery.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10 SPEAKEASY AT THE MERC Traditional jazz of the ‘20s-‘40s featuring Second Hand Jazz with vocalist Rosalie Porter, in rotation with other traditional jazz artists. Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, 42051 Main St., Temecula. Sundays. $12-$15. (866) 6538696. temeculatheater.org.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 11 LIVE JAZZ ON THE PATIO Chini and Camberos. Bernardo Winery, Tasting Room Patio, 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte, San Diego. Free. bernardowinery.com.

CLASSICS AT THE MERC Chamber performances by the region’s best professional musicians. Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, 42051 Main St., Temecula. Sundays. $12. (866) 6538696. temeculatheater.org.

EXHIBITIONS INGENIOUS! THE WORLD OF DR. SEUSS The highly popular traveling Dr. Seuss exhibition will include signature elements for the Balboa Park Centennial, emphasizing San Diego as the renowned author’s home and Theodor Geisel as the world’s most celebrated children’s author and an innovator. The lively and whimsical exhibition features rare early works, ephemera, illustration and editorial cartoons, as well as two newly released Geisel illustrations. The Seuss-land gallery features giant bronze Seuss character sculptures, anchoring interactive family activities that emphasize the important

CALENDAR

December 2014/January 2015 San Diego/Orange County/Inland Empire themes and innovative nature of Seuss books. San Diego History Museum, Casa De Balboa, Balboa Park, 1649 El Prado, San Diego. Through Dec. 31, 2015. $6-$8.

(619) 232- 6203. sandiegohistory.org.

NAKED Twentieth Century Nudes from the Dijkstra Collection. Taken from the wide-ranging art collection of Bram and Sandra Dijkstra, this exquisite group of works contributes to the museum-wide focus on artwork concerning figurative and portrait themes.

This group of works spans the 20th century including figurative paintings, drawings, and photographs specifically featuring the nude human figure, created by a wide array of artists Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. Through March 8. $5-$8.

(760) 435-3720. oma-online.org.

MY SISTER’S VOICE Forty large-scale, high-resolution black and white photographs present intense portraits of a culturally diverse, international and local group of women who demonstrate how deeply women participate in society at all levels.

These women range in age from 18 to 92, showcasing the courage, wisdom and talents of women of all ages in our society and global discourse. Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside. Through Feb. 8. $5-$8.

(760) 435-3720. oma-online.org.

SCENIC VIEW AHEAD The Westways Cover Art Program, 19281981. One of the largest exhibitions of works from the member magazine of the Automobile Club of Southern California. The cover art program began in 1928, with the Auto Club commissioning paintings from major artists working in Southern California for the cover of each issue of its member magazine. With 55 artworks on view, the exhibition traces prominent styles of art through most of the twentieth century, such as California scene painting, pop art, and assemblage art. The Irvine Museum, 18881 Von Karman Ave., Ground Floor, Irvine.

Tues-Sat. through Jan. 15. (949) 476-2565. irvinemuseum.org.

DIRTY DANCING - THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE

This record-breaking live theatre sensation, explodes with heart-pounding music, passionate romance and sensational dancing.

Featuring hit songs, “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey Baby,” “Do You Love me?” and “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.” San Diego Civic Theatre, Third and B St., 1100 Third Ave., downtown San Diego. Through Jan. 11. Prices vary. (619) 570-1100. broadwaysd.com.

of time, matter and space. The exhibition features marble sculptures from her Cage and Collars series, the fragility and fluidity of which are a stark contrast to the heavy materials from which they are made. It also includes X-ray mandala LED illuminated prints, an installation of scholar stones, and a “cabinet of curiosities” consisting of objects and drawings that have played a part in the artist’s imaginative and working processes. Laguna Art Museum, Main Level Gallery, 307 Cliff Dr., Laguna Beach.

Through Jan. 25. Closed Wednesdays. $5$7. (949) 494-8971. lagunaartmuseum.org.

IN THE REALM OF NATURE Kay Sekimachi (1926-) and Bob Stocksdale (1913-2003). Throughout her 60-year career, Sekimachi has created unique works of art using skeletal leaves, hornet’s nest paper and grass. The exhibition includes examples of her translucent sculptural hangings and room dividers, along with other woven forms— accordion-formatted books, vibrant scrolls, seamless nesting boxes and jewelry.

Hailed as a father of American woodturning, Stocksdale revitalized the craft of latheturned bowls. In his works, Stocksdale unveiled a compelling beauty in diseased and rare woods. Mingei International Museum, Balboa Park 1439 El Prado, San Diego. Through March 15. Closed Mondays. $5-$8. (619) 239-0003. mingei.org.

THE AVANT-GARDE COLLECTION In the 1960s it was cutting-edge to employ imagery from popular culture, and by the 1970s performance and installation were the bywords of innovation. In the 1980s new media and appropriation appeared on everybody’s radar for the first time, while the 1990s in retrospect were all about identity politics and post-colonialism.

Due to the pluralist tendencies of the 21st century that make the notion of avant-garde seem quaint, the challenge for artists to produce work that conceals the influence of generations past is more demanding than ever. Orange County Museum of Art, 850 San Clemente Dr., Newport Beach. Through Jan. 4. $10-$12.

(949) 759-1122. ocma.net.

ELIZABETH TURK: SENTIENT FORMS In a multi-media installation, Turk continues her exploration of the recurring themes

NEW VISIONS Art and Invention in the 19th Century.

Photography captured people, places and architecture of the 19th century.

This exhibition displays how pioneering photographers brought the world to people with images. The Grand Tour of Europe, Egypt and the Holy Lands, and the American West are presented in the selection that includes featured artists: James Anderson, Eadweard Muybridge, Samuel Bourne, Francis Frith and William Henry Jackson. Museum of Photographic Arts, Balboa Park, 1649 El Prado, San Diego. Through Feb. 8. $7-$8. (619) 2387559. mopa.org.

by Bierstadt, Moran, Russell, Remington and Henry F. Farney are featured with artworks from the Taos Society of Artists, Santa Fe Art Colony, and California Impressionists including E.I. Couse, Walter Ufer, Edgar Payne, Carl Oscar Borg, Guy Rose, Granville Redmond, and Maynard Dixon among others.

Palm Springs Art Museum, Annenberg Wing, 101 Museum Dr., Palm Springs.

Through Jan. 4. $4-$5. (760) 322-4800. psmuseum.org.

LITA ALBUQUERQUE: PARTICLE HORIZON The exhibition highlights Pigment Figure No. 1, consisting of a human figure in a horizontal position and is made of plaster and covered in blue pigment. The figure lies in a state of suspended reality, at one time referencing the past self, at another alluding to the future, the never-ending now. The sculpture and the earth around it give form and shape to the matter that surrounds and composes the everyday. Laguna Art Museum, Segerstrom Gallery, 307 Cliff Dr., Laguna Beach. Through Jan. 25. Closed Wednesdays. $5-$7. (949) 494-8971. lagunaartmuseum.org.

THE DISCOVERY OF KING TUT The discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 is considered the most famous discovery in the history of archaeology, and in modern times, the context of its discovery has been lost.

The exhibit allows visitors to experience a rush of excitement as they step into a moment only ever witnessed by Howard Carter, Lord Carnarvon and a handful of others. Through stunning and scientifically produced replicas, the exhibition invites visitors to enjoy the magnificent splendor of these priceless Egyptian treasures. San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego. 15-$27. Through April 26. (619) 232-3821. sdnhm.org.

A GRAND ADVENTURE: AMERICAN ART OF THE WEST The exhibit brings together 40 significant classic and traditional artworks from private collections. The artworks span nearly 100 years dating from the latter half of the 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century. Landscape and genre paintings of the American West

Get the Word Out. E-mail your announcements to Claire Fadden, cfadden@lifeafter50.com.

Include a brief description, location, date, time, cost, phone and website. Submission does not guarantee publication. Deadline for the January/ February calendar is December 1.

DECEmbEr 2014 LIFEAFTEr50.COm 41

42 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMbER 2014

Rick Steves’ Travels Visiting The Not-So-Little-Town Of Bethlehem

By Rick Steves

W

hile multitudes of tourists visit Palestine, I’d estimate that 90 percent of them do so in a rush from Jerusalem to Bethlehem just to see the Church of the Nativity in Manger Square. Then they return directly to Israel without spending a single shekel in restaurants or hotels in the West Bank.

Obviously, there’s much more to experience in this country.

I understand that the region’s hardscrabble vibe may be a bit too edgy for some Americans, however it’s amazing how, after a couple of days in Palestine, you feel right at home. Walking through the wall from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, all you need is your passport. Palestine uses Israeli currency. Just cross the border, haggle with the taxis, and after spending about $5 and 10 minutes, you’re standing at the spot where Jesus was born. If there were no border or traffic to deal with, you could bicycle from the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in about 15 minutes.

If you visit this historic hamlet, you’ll find that Bethlehem is no longer just the “little town” of Christmas-carol fame. It’s a sprawling Palestinian city that is almost indiscernible from greater Jerusalem. It’s not a pretty town — most homes and businesses stand behind security walls and fences — but Bethlehem has a special energy and a very

cool Arabic vibe, especially in the early evening. The Arab market is colorful, and the skyline is a commotion of both crescents and crosses — a reminder that the town, while almost totally Arab, remains a mix of Muslims and Christians.

Not all Arabs are Muslims, a fact that surprises some. When meeting an Arab Christian, many Western tourists ask when the family converted. The answer is usually, “About 2,000 years ago, back when Jesus’ disciples were doing missionary work around here.”

Another surprise is on Bethlehem’s main square.

For over 100 years, the Mosque of Omar has shared Manger Square with the Church of the Nativity. Jesus and Mary are both a big deal for Muslims. I once had a joyous interview with an imam after filming a prayer service in his mosque. He explained, “Bethlehem is holy for Muslims as well as Christians. For Muslims, Jesus is a major prophet. We also revere Mother Mary.

In fact, an entire chapter in the Quran is named for her.”

As we sat cross-legged on the carpet of his mosque, I asked him to let me hear how he talks to God (but in English) and his prayer literally brought me to tears.

Across the square in the Church of the Nativity, Christian pilgrims waited to touch, kiss, and pray upon the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. In A.D. 326, Roman Emperor Constantine sent his mother, St. Helena, to establish three churches in the Holy Land: Church of the Nativity, Church of the Holy Sepulchre

(where Jesus was crucified), and one on the Mount of Olives (where Jesus is said to have ascended into heaven).

Today, Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity is the oldest because the others were destroyed, then rebuilt. It is regarded as the oldest Christian church in daily use.

While our image of “no room at the inn” is brick and wood, the “inn” of Bible fame was very likely a series of caves. And “no room” likely meant that a woman about to give birth would not be welcome in the main quarters, as birth (like menstruation) was considered an unclean thing. Mary was thus sent out to give birth to Jesus in the manger cave, amongst the animals. So a cavern beneath the church — the Grotto of the Nativity — is the focal point of your visit.

You take the steps by the church altar down into what’s been regarded since the second century as the site of Christ’s birth. A silver star in the floor marks the spot.

I’m glad when visiting Bethlehem I didn’t just blitz in for a quick look. There’s a resilience, a welcoming spirit, and a warmth that is striking. Everywhere we went, we’d hear, over and over, “Welcome to Palestine.” It was as if people were thrilled just to have a name for their country and someone from the outside there to see it.

Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and radio.

You can e-mail him at rick@ricksteves.com and visit his website at www.ricksteves.com.

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DECEmbEr 2014 LIFEAFTEr50.COm 45

And Finally...

The Bookworm’s Best A Life After 50 book review

by Terri “The Bookworm” Schlichenmeyer

Unretirement: How Baby Boomers Are Changing the Way We Think About Work, Community, and the Good Life

By Chris Farrell

F

or much of your life, you dreamed about not having to work. Retirement would be great. It would stretch out for years — a horizon with no alarm clock and no deadlines.

Well, now that retirement time is here, what will you do with it?

Chances are, says author Chris Farrell, believe it or not, you’ll go to work. And in his new book “Unretirement,” he says you’ll do it because you want to, not because you have to.

It’s a statistic that has some politicians worried: within the next 15 years, say demographers, the 65-plus population of America will be nearly equivalent to the current population of New York, California, and Texas combined. That’s a lot of retirees, and a fortune to be paid out in benefits.

For quite some time, economists and pessimists have expressed doubts that Social Security will survive the retirement of the baby boomers. Others bemoan the amount of retirement savings that many boomers don’t have. According to Farrell, however, these fears ignore the fact that most boomers are rethinking the way retirement will work for them.

Farrell opines that for boomers, the last third of life is being reimagined and reinvented into “unretirement.” They are, for instance, looking at Social Security as a supplement, rather than a sole income – and even then, they’re putting off collecting it. That’s the way it should be, he says: “Social Security is sound – it only needs some tweaks to shore up its finances for the long haul – but because of longer lifespans and better health, retirees should be encouraged to file later, unless they absolutely can’t wait.”

And as for those late filers? They’re seeing work in a whole different way. The rate of senior entrepreneurship is up, and so is gradual retirement. They’re staying on the job longer, are finding second (or even third) careers, or are volunteering.

And despite the fact that age discrimination is a real issue, many workplaces have finally recognized the experience and reliability of older workers who are, in many cases, perfectly happy with part-time jobs that don’t offer benefits. In short, Farrell writes, boomers have been “behind many changes in the workplace over the past four decades,” and they’re definitely not done.

Your IRA is fat and you like it that way. But how, when the time comes, will you use it? After reading “Unretirement,” you might have a different answer to that question.

With intriguing statistics and a thoughtful tone, Farrell pooh-poohs pundits who decry the viability of Social Security and avow the belief that retirement-resistant seniors take jobs from younger workers by showing that doom-and-gloom prophesies and myths aren’t warranted or true. Along the way, he examines healthcare and the Affordable Care Act, aging, home ownership, mentorship with (and from) younger workers, the history of retirement itself, and how other countries perceive their “gray revolution.”

While I’d say that this book is a must-read for boomers, it’s also, surprisingly, something that gen xers should also check out. If you’ve already retired, are about to, or have worked all your life so you don’t have to work someday, “Unretirement” is unmissable.

“Unretirement: How Baby Boomers Are Changing the Way We Think about Work, Community, and the Good Life” by Chris Farrell, 2014, Bloomsbury, $26, 256 pages The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer, who lives on a hill with two dogs and more than 12,000 books. You can read all of Terri’s book reviews, updated weekly, at www.lifeafter50.com. Just click on “Entertainment” and then “Book Reviews.”

A Look Back

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his month marks the passing of 50 years since Americans were first charmed by the 1964 Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin production of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Featuring “Animagic” characters, the television special was originally produced for “The General Electric Fantasy Hour.” Animagic was a stop-motion technique that Bass and Rankin’s company, Videocraft, employed in which three-dimensional figures were animated via the process of singleframe photography. The story was based on the little misfit reindeer that was created in 1939 by Robert L. May, a marketing and advertising copywriter for the now-defunct Montgomery Ward department store chain, and the subsequent song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” written by Johnny Marks. Having written holiday hits such as “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” Marks was tapped to write the songs for the special’s soundtrack and delivered another sack of tunes that have gone on to become Yuletide classics, including “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” and “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” With a script adapted by award-winning screenwriter Romeo Muller, this production is a timeless classic that has become a holiday tradition with millions of American families.

46 LIFEAFTER50.COM DECEMBER 2014

Just A Thought Before We Go

“For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.”

– Robert Burns