Life After 50 February 2016

LOS ANGELES METRO FEBRUARY 2016

southern california

lifeafter50.com

COULD YOUR

VALENTINE BE JUST A Click Away?

GET COOKING WITH

Anson Williams of “Happy Days” S IX LIFE-SAV ING

T IPS FO R A

HEART-HEALTHY

Lifestyle

Billie Jean

King

Courting Heart-Health

MUST SEE

AT LEAST ONCE in YOUR LIFETIME

ALL-NEW 2016 SHOW WITH LIVE ORCHESTRA

“ I’ve reviewed over 3,000 shows.

None can compare to what I saw tonight.”

—Richard Connema, renowned Broadway critic

“Absolutely the No.1 show in the world.

No other company or of any style can match this!”

— Kenn Wells, former lead dancer of the English National Ballet

“Absolutely the greatest of the great!

It must be experienced.”

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“This is the highest and best of what humans can produce.”

—Oleva Brown-Klahn, singer and musician

“Awe-Inspiring Sensation!”

“A MUST-SEE!”

—

— Broadway world

“Go see it to believe it, because otherwise, you are going to miss

the most important thing in your life.”

—Joe Heard, former White House photographer, watched Shen Yun 5 times

MAR 19- APR 30, 2016 Long Beach Thousand Oaks

Claremont Costa Mesa

Northridge Downtown LA

Bakersfield Santa Barbara

Phoenix, AZ Seattle, WA

Tickets: 800-880-0188 ShenYun.com/LA

Contents

February 2016

10

22

26

28

Cover Profile

Departments

10 Billie Jean King

6 50-Plus: What You Need to Know

Courting heart-health.

Features 18 The Heartfelt Differences of Women Life-saving tips for a heart-healthy lifestyle.

22 Could Your Valentine Be Just A Click Away?

How to make the search for love in cyberspace work for you.

26 The Hallowed Hall Of Must-Knowtables – Marion Davies Legendary notables that everyone, of every age, should know.

28 The Look Of Life After 50 – Anson Williams Get cooking “perfectly” with the star of “Happy Days.”

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

24 Tuned In To What’s On

The best in February television viewing.

34 Let’s Get Out

Looking to get out and about? Our February/March calendar has some great suggestions.

38 Rick Steves’ Travels

The Rock and Romance of Gibraltar.

42 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.

Cover photo by Michael Cole 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 professionals 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.

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Editor’s Note...

A heartwarming look at creating a masterpiece

A

fter reading this issue of Life After 50, you’ll have to admit it has a lot of heart!

From the legendary tennis pro Billie Jean King sharing information on atrial fibrillation to insight on the differences between men and woman when it comes to heart attack symptoms, we even take a look at how to best navigate the Internet when it comes to dealing with the romantic affairs of the heart.

Those stories stand as a fitting tribute to the icons of February – that bow-and-arrow-toting cherubic son of Venus and the sainted Bishop Valentinus of Terni – along with the presidential proclamation that it is American Heart Month.

Along with looking at the physical and romantic aspects of the heart, this issue also includes a visit with actor, director and entrepreneur Anson Williams of “Happy Days” fame, whose thoughts and advice on passionately and positively living life to the fullest show how much our thoughts influence our heart, from both a physical and a spiritual standpoint. Williams believes that everyone over 50 should be embracing life with excitement and living each day with a renewed commitment that it offers another opportunity to follow your passion to do something positive, for yourself and others.

“There are so many mountains to climb for boomers and it just kills me when I see people my age, and even younger, who are on the back nine just wandering around not knowing what to do with themselves,” said Williams. “I have friends who are in their 50s who look and act like old men. Their mind is aging them, because their body is following their thoughts.”

An advocate of the power and passion that can be released within us by positive thinking, the advice Williams offers can truly have as much of an effect on the heart as maintaining a good physical lifestyle and romantically partnering with someone.

“It’s all about the power of positive thinking,” said Williams. “You have to fill your mind with your passions and then your body follows along and gets excited about life.”

As you read our cover feature with King, you’ll learn that she sees aging as “an art.” That is, perhaps, the best way it can be described: that each of us has the power to employ our own unique creativity and talents to shape our lives. Bookending King’s comment, Williams offers the tools to aid in that creation: positivity, passion and excitement over all the things life gives us the chance to do to make our life over 50 a true masterpiece. Just the thought of that is truly heartwarming!

David Laurell, Editor-in-Chief

4 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

Publisher Valarie Anderson

Account Executives: San Diego County/Orange County Phil Mendelson Phil@LifeAfter50.com

Editor-in-Chief David Laurell

Los Angeles/ Valley

Associate Editors Steve Stoliar Claire Yezbak Fadden Art Director Michael Kraxenberger Editorial Assistant Max Andrews

David Low DavidLow@LifeAfter50.com For advertising/distribution inquiries contact: Valarie Anderson (310) 822-1629 x 121, Valarie@LifeAfter50.com

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©2016 Southland Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved

A February Thought

“Age does not protect you from love.

But love, to some extent, protects you from age.”

– Anais Nin

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February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 5

50

The Canine Cardio Connection

W

Plus

What You Need To Know

By Claire Yezbak Fadden and Max Andrews

A 50-Year Trek Of Friendship

W

hen actors Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner first crossed paths on the set of “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” little did they know that their next roles, in a new sciencefiction television series called “Star Trek” would forever change their lives.

In 79 television episodes and six feature films, the actors grew to know each other and became close friends. Over the course of a half-century, the men saw each other through personal and professional highs and lows. In the just-released “Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man” (Thomas Dunne Books, 2016) by William Shatner and David Fisher, Shatner tells the story of a man who was his friend for five decades, recounting anecdotes and untold stories of their lives on and off set.

As much a biography of Nimoy as a story of their friendship, this heartfelt book also shares stories from others who knew Nimoy well, to present a full picture of his “prosperous” life.

Fifty Candles

F

ifty years ago this month, the final episode of the television comedy series “Mister Ed” was broadcast; the U.S. National Hockey League announced expansion to 12 teams for the 1967 season; a military coup in Ghana brought the National Liberation Council to power and ousted President Kwame Nkrumah; the first operational weather satellite, ESSA-1 was launched; the Dow Jones hit a record 995 points, and the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England, where The Beatles got their start, closed its doors. Notable personalities born in February 1966 who are celebrating their 50th birthday this month include singer-songwriter Rick Astley, opera singer Amanda Roocroft, NFL players Daryl Johnston and Britt Hager, tennis pro Petra Huber, actresses Tea Leoni, Justine Bateman and Jennifer Grant, actor David Schwimmer, supermodel Cindy Crawford and Chef Gordon Ramsay.

6 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

hen it comes to improving your heart health and overall wellness, having a canine companion is just what the doctor ordered. According to a recent survey, dog owners take walks more frequently, for longer periods, at a quicker rate, and are more likely to enjoy an active lifestyle because of their canine companion. The survey revealed that one-quarter of people with dogs regularly make trips to parks and other outdoor areas. Having a dog, or any companion pet, can also provide the social support so crucial to sticking with an exercise program and ultimately improving your overall well-being. To get the most cardio benefit, you need to walk fast enough to get your heart rate up. The America Heart Association indicates that brisk walking is beneficial when done regularly for a total of 30 minutes or longer at least five days a week. Learn more about keeping your heart healthy by visiting www.americanheart.org.

The Top Five To Keep Sex Alive

A

s we gear up for Valentine’s Day, Shelley Emling, a senior editor at The Huffington Post, says it is a misperception that people lose interest in sex as they age. Emling points to study after study that show people want to maintain active sex lives well into their later years. And yet, there are factors such as a natural decline in energy levels that can make those over 50 feel sexually stalled. To prove that sexuality can still be alive and well as we age, Emling enlisted the help of Huff/Post50 sex bloggers to compile a list of suggestions for better sex. Here are their top five recommendations: 1. Stop being hung up on looks.

If you are worried about the sexiness of your post-50 body, you’re going to be distracted and not fully present in a sexual encounter. Stop caring about what you look like during sex and be grateful your body can give you so much pleasure.

2. Think beyond the traditional.

Oral sex, mutual masturbation, the use of personal lubricants, and the addition of sex toys are excellent ways to deepen sexual pleasure and intimacy.

Instead of bemoaning the fact that your body doesn’t respond the way it did in your 20s, get creative. To combat vaginal dryness, gynecologist Dr. Cheryl Iglesia suggests water-based and/or silicone-based lubricants.

3. Communicate, communicate, communicate.

The main driver of better sex after 50 is communication, and not just during sex but continually, during non-sexual settings like at the market, in a restaurant, on the phone, and via text and e-mails. Sexy talk leads to more sex, leading to more talk, leading to more sex, and a wonderful positive loop is created.

4. Pay attention to what you do before having sex.

Don’t eat a heavy meal. Carby, fatty and sugary foods can all trigger a pretty powerful slow-down signal to your brain as soon as these foods hit your gut. And don’t drink too much either. Drinking too much may dull your sensations, making sexual arousal more difficult.

5. Try something completely outside your comfort zone.

This recommendation comes with a caveat: In some states, having sex in a public place is a misdemeanor. So, while you should check your state’s laws first, pulling off a discreet quickie in a place other than your bedroom can be incredibly exciting. Even if you just take it to the living room or kitchen, the goal is to spice things up.

A Little More You Need To Know

The Most Important Thing To Know This Month

It’s Time To Declutter Your Computer

I Where You Need To Go Enjoy The Hijinks Of The Ultimate Court Jesters

T

his month, the world-famous Clown Kings of the Court, the Harlem Globetrotters bring their irreverent display of athleticism to Southern California, celebrating a 90-year tradition of shenanigans, smiles, sportsmanship and service.

In this one-of-a-kind sporting event, the Globetrotters showcase their ball-handling wizardry with rim-rattling dunks, trick shots, hilarious comedy and unequaled fan interaction. The roster of players for this milestone party includes Big Easy Lofton, Ant Atkinson, Hi-Lite Bruton, Thunder Law, Bull Bullard and Cheese Chisholm– plus female stars TNT Maddox and Sweet J Ekworomadu.

Throughout their history, the Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 122 countries and territories on six continents, providing fans with a completely different basketball experience. Proud inductees of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Globetrotters have entertained hundreds of millions of fans – among them popes, kings, queens, and presidents.

The anniversary schedule includes the following dates: February 13 and 14 in Anaheim at the Honda Center; February 16 and 22 at Saddleback College Gym Mission Viejo Tuesday; February 17 in Santa Barbara at the UCSB Events Center; February 20 in Ontario at Citizens Business Bank Arena, and February 21 in Los Angeles at the Staples Center. After the game, the Globetrotters will sign autographs and take photos with fans.

s your computer running slow? Are you having a hard time finding files because your desktop is cluttered with shortcuts?

Over time, unused files and programs clog the memory of your computer and cause confusion during retrieval and use of other files. They may also slow down your computer’s operation.

Cleaning out your computer is a task most of us just never get around to doing. That’s why since 2000, the Institute for Business Technology designated the second Monday in February as National Clean Out Your Computer Day. On February 8 (or any day in February that you choose), take some time out of your schedule to do the following to clean out your computers: • Organize your files and folders.

• Delete junk files.

• Delete duplicate files.

• Delete old files and programs you never use.

• While you’re in a cleaning mood, dust off your keyboard and bust the dust bunnies that may have accumulated around your computer.

For more information click on www.harlemglobetrotters.com.

New Words

Y

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

Here’s what they mean.

Home Skillet: A term of endearment for best friend, girlfriend or boyfriend.

Boo: A boyfriend, girlfriend or significant other.

Romcom: A romantic-comedy movie.

February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 7

A Special Wellness Report New Medicine Based On An 88-Year Old Theory By Albert Einstein Can Help Almost Everyone Who Is Sick Or Injured!

W

hat you are about to read may be the most important information you’ve ever read. Here is why. Albert Einstein was, quite possibly, the most intelligent person who ever lived. His theories and ideas were so far ahead of his time, that even now, the smartest scientists alive are still discovering his value.

One of his theories published in 1917, worked out the theory of how lasers function. However, it was not until May 16, 1960 (43 years later) that the first actual laser was developed by an American scientist. Since then, scientists and inventors have developed many types of lasers and all kinds of uses for them. They can be used as a scalpel that is so delicate, it can be used on the eyes of human beings. Lasers are used to read price codes at your local supermarkets. And they’re used to play music and video on your CD’s and DVD’s.

But now, there is a new type of laser so effective against human disease and injury that it is rapidly changing the practice of medicine. This is a new type of low-level laser which produces an unfocused light that has been...

Registered With The FDA To Be 100% Safe!

Low-level lasers use less than one watt of power and they produce what can best be described as a “Healing Light”. Here is a somewhat un-scientific description of how this “Healing Light” can potentially help reverse the damage done by human sickness and disease.

As you probably know, our entire bodies are made up of cells. The health of all human cells is based on energy. If your cells don’t receive enough energy, they will weaken and the body will become sick.

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That’s what a low-level laser device does. It reenergizes the cells in your body with the right kind and proper amount of healing energy. It may surprise you to learn that low level lasers are ...

Used By Doctors To Heal Their Patients In The Fastest Way Possible!

Could you guess what kind of doctors use the highest percent of low-level lasers on their patients? It’s doctors involved in sports medicine. Why? The answer is simple. You see, doctors involved in sports medicine often have to get their patients better in the fastest way humanly possible because every day he remains

“unhealthy” can cost the sports organization millions of dollars. But here’s something exciting! You don’t actually need to go to a doctor to get laser therapy.

If you want to you can buy one of these devices and use it on yourself. The best ones come with simple, easy-to-follow instructions and can be used by almost any person with average intelligence. Perhaps the best low-level lasers in the world have been invented by doctors who have studied lasers and human health for years and have discovered how they can be used...

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Laser experts believe low-level laser therapy will become the medicine of the future. If you hold a lowlevel laser device against the skin of your body and turn it on, you will be able to see the laser light... but... you will not be able to feel it. There probably won’t even be a sensation of warmth. Laser light is as gentle as the kiss of a butterfly. But, from a healing point of view, it is quite possible it is more effective than drugs or surgery.

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For some people, a free report and information like this can mark the beginning of an entirely new life... pain-free and full of energy. For others, it can make the difference of living a healthy life compared to a lowenergy life of sickness and disease. And, for those who live with enormous pain every day ... this free report could truly guide them to a miracle! But even if you are not sick, not injured, or not in pain, you should still order this report. After all, it is 100% free. And almost nobody lives out their life without having at least some kind of sickness or injury.

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Low-level laser therapy is not just the medicine of the future. For many people who know about it, it is the “medicine” they use now. The problem of trying to explain the healing powers of low-level laser therapy is...

It Works So Well On So Many Different Problems, It Seems Like It Couldn’t Possibly Be True!

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What you have just read is a very simplistic (almost childish) explanation of low-level laser therapy, of how it works, and what it can do for you. But this is something that needs to be explained to you much more accurately by a real expert. This is information which just might help relieve you of any disease and might possibly save your life and the life of your loved ones. And best of all, you can...

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February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 9 1/27/16 10:24 AM

Billie Jean

King Courting Heart-Health

By David Laurell

B

orn into a conservative Methodist family in 1943, Billie Jean King grew up in Long Beach, California where, as a young girl, she discovered her love and talent for tennis on the community’s municipal courts.

Parlaying that talent into a professional career, King would go on to be ranked as the world’s top women’s tennis player, winning 39 Grand Slam titles. The first female athlete to be named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, King founded the Women’s Tennis Association, Women’s Sports Foundation and served as a co-founder of World Team Tennis.

10 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

After marrying Lawrence King, whom she met while attending California State University, Los Angeles, when she was 22, King became acutely aware of something she had suspected for many years – that her sexual preference was for women. She kept that fact extremely secretive, knowing it would end her marriage, hurt her career and be totally unacceptable to her parents.

Establishing herself as one of the most vocal advocates for the empowerment of women, their rights and sexual equality, 1973 saw King step from the tennis world onto the world stage as she accepted an offer from tennis star Bobby Riggs to compete in a match billed as “The Battle of the Sexes.”

Riggs, then 55-years-old, had been a professional tennis player in the 1930s and 1940s. He had won the Wimbledon men’s singles title in 1939 and was considered to be the world’s top male tennis player throughout the 1940s. When his professional career ended, Riggs, a proud male chauvinist, became a self-described “hustler,” who played in promotional challenge matches. Always disparaging of women’s tennis, claiming that female athletes were far inferior to men, Riggs began a campaign in which he loudly bragged that even at his age he could take on and beat any of the current top female players.

The then-29-year-old King found Riggs’ act deplorable and rejected his challenge until the deal was sweetened with a lucrative “winner-take-all” offer of $100 thousand dollars. A pop culture event that garnered worldwide publicity and coverage, “The Battle of the Sexes,” took place at the Houston Astrodome in Texas on September 20, 1973. It was estimated that over 50 million people in 37 countries watched as King sent Riggs down in defeat in straight sets.

About that match, credited for significantly bringing about a greater recognition to women’s tennis as well as issues pertaining to woman’s rights and sexual equality, King has said: “I thought it would set us back 50 years if I didn’t win. It would [have ruined] the women’s [tennis] tour and affected all women’s self-esteem.”

While King rode the crest of women’s tennis throughout the remainder of the 1970s, her personal life was one of complications. She had begun a romantic affair with her secretary and was forced to acknowledge the relationship publicly in 1981 when, after a falling out, her lover outed her and filed a palimony lawsuit.

The first prominent professional female athlete to publicly admit to being a lesbian, King immediately lost millions of dollars in canceled endorsement contracts while having to deal with her parents’ disapproval.

Years later, publicly stating that her family was homophobic, King said she had tried to be open and honestly discuss her sexuality with them. Their refusal to even talk about the issue, much less be accepting, resulted in King dealing with an eating disorder.

Today, at the age of 72, King is very involved in the Women’s Sports Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. She serves on the President’s Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and, in 2009, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, by President Barack Obama, for her work advocating for the rights of women and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.

In 2013, President Obama also appointed King, along with openly gay hockey player Caitlin Cahow, to represent the United States at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, a move that has been interpreted as the president sending a signal over the controversies regarding Russia’s staunch resistance to the granting of any rights to members of the LGBT community. King was, however, forced to drop out of the delegation due to her mother’s poor health and eventual death on the day of the event’s opening ceremonies.

When not keeping up with what she calls “an extremely hectic” speaking engagement schedule, King splits her time today between residences in New York and Chicago with her longtime partner Ilana Kloss. She also heads up the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, created in 2014 to address the

Photo by Michael Cole critical issues required to achieve inclusive leadership that will lead to significant changes in how women and men operate in the world.

Always a passionate and outspoken advocate for the issues that resonate with her, King has also embraced a mission to address issues pertaining to a serious heart condition she shares with millions of Americans: atrial fibrillation, or AFib; an irregular heartbeat that puts her at one-in-three odds of having a stroke. Since being diagnosed with AFib, she has worked closely with her doctor to establish and maintain treatment that will help prevent a stroke and is speaking out to encourage others with AFib to do the same.

“More than half of AFib patients don’t believe they are at an increased risk of stroke,” says King. “That is why I have teamed up with Janssen [Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] to help those living with AFib by offering a simple tool they can use to calculate their stroke risk online. There are eight simple questions that can help those living with AFib talk to their doctor about stroke risk management.”

King recently sat down with Life After 50 to talk about AFib, which accounts for 15 to 20 percent of all strokes and is diagnosed in as many as six million people annually, making it the most common serious heart-rhythm abnormality in people over the age of 65. We began our conversation with King by asking about the first inclination she had that something was not right with her heart.

February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 11

“Aging is an art.

As we get older, we have to adapt... arrange our way of doing things for what the circumstances call for.”

Photo courtesy BJKLI

Billie Jean King (BJK): Back in the 1990s, I had just finished playing tennis with a friend of mine in New York and was getting out of a cab and I almost blacked out. I knew right away there was something wrong. My heart was pounding and bouncing around and there was no regular rhythm to it at all. I knew something was really wrong, because I had never felt anything like that before in my life and I was really scared. I told my friend who was with me that I needed help up the stairs and I kept saying: “There is something not right.” Then I went to my doctor who gave me an EKG. While he was doing that, he asked me to hold my breath and as soon as I did, I went into AFib again. That’s how it was discovered and as soon as I was diagnosed, my doctor got me right to a cardiologist.

Life After 50 (LA50): Tell us about your progression with AFib over the years.

BJK: The medications I was taking at the beginning were not helping. I had tried a whole lot of different things and nothing worked. Then I began having trouble with my heart beating too fast. My doctor told me I would have to stay on blood thinners for the rest of my life. He said whether I felt anything wrong with my heart or not, I had AFib and would have it for the rest of my life. So now I’m on daily blood thinners and have a full check-up with my doctor three or four times a year. As people get older, there is more of a chance that they may develop AFib, so you really have to pay attention and go to your doctor if you have even the slightest concern that something isn’t right.

12 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

LA50: The statistics that show how prevalent AFib is amongst aging Americans is nothing short of staggering.

BJK: That’s right, and people need to know about it because one-out-ofthree people that have AFib will suffer a stroke – a serious one – a damaging one that can cause death or serious damage. That is why it’s so important for people to go to the Website [www.MyAfibRisk.com] and take the eightquestion quiz to find out if you may have AFib and what your stroke risk is. It takes less than a minute that can save your life.

LA50: Did either of your parents have heart issues?

BJK: Yes. Both of them. My dad had quadruple bypass surgery and he was never the same after that. Shortly before having that surgery, he had been playing racketball and he knew something wasn’t right. He had not told my mom that he had not been feeling well for a while and that he had been having some trouble breathing. But after playing racquetball that day, he was in bad shape, so my mom took him in and that’s when they found out he had a heart problem. Later on, my mother was also diagnosed with AFib as well. And here’s the thing: I’m sure that family history plays a big role in something like this, as it does with any medical issues, but I have learned that AFib can show up in someone with no history of heart problems. I’ve heard of stories of people with no prior problems who have just been totally sideswiped by this. It’s the same with breast cancer. I’ve read that 80 percent of women who get breast cancer have no family history of it. My personal opinion on this is that you never go by your family history. Your body is your

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Photo courtesy BJKLI body, so you have to listen to it and take care of it. You also have to listen to what your body is saying closely, because from what I understand, many people who experience AFib, especially women, just think they are having an anxiety attack. The most important thing you can do is to be aware and know where to get information. One-out-of three people that have AFib will have a stroke. That is a statistical fact. So you have to pay attention to your heart, and if you feel it bouncing around or feel lightheaded or short of breath, don’t sit around wondering if it may be an anxiety attack or something else.

Get help right away! Then be sure to ask a lot of questions and, if you are diagnosed with AFib, make sure you find out what blood thinner will work best for you.

LA50: You certainly haven’t allowed AFib to stand in your way when it comes to living an active life.

BJK: I take care of myself and yes, I do stay extremely busy. I do a lot of speaking engagements, but my core business is the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative. I travel a ton. I’m also always doing something for the Women’s Sports Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. I know many people would find my schedule and the amount of travel I do to be demanding, which it is. But I’m very good at adapting to things – always have been. I was the only kid in my fourth grade class that would go over to the map and tell everyone that I wanted to travel and point out all the places I would be going [laughs]. I never knew how I would do that, because I knew my parents sure couldn’t afford it. I was never sure about how I was going to travel to all those places, but I just always knew I would.

LA50: You and Ilana have been together for a long time. What do you two do to relax when you have some down time?

BJK: We have been together for 37 years and she is so great – she has been a real gift to me. When I do have the time, I enjoy working out and playing tennis. I’m really trying to play more than I have been. I was just saying last night that I would like be able to play at least two times a week. Now I just have got to figure out a way to carve out the time to do that, because if I don’t specifically carve out the time, it just won’t happen. But I’ve got to get back into it, because Ilana is a great player and she is also younger, so she can kill me [laughs].

LA50: You mentioned you enjoy working out. What does that consist of?

STUDIO PRODUCTION

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LA50: What about your diet? Do you adhere to anything special?

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BJK: I do the stationary bike and try not to pound on my joints, because I’ve had eight knee operations. I ride for about 45 minutes and that gets my heart going. I also do weight-resistance training to try to keep my muscles strong.

We lose a third of our muscle mass as we get older, so the weight training is really important.

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BJK: I’ve started to be very mindful of what I eat and how and when I eat.

I’ve started to count all my calories again, like I did when I was younger. I’m listing everything I eat and what time I’m eating. Then I add my activity time at the bottom of the sheet. I want to stay under 1,500 calories a day for right now and, because of my age, I may not ever want to go above that. I have to keep my weight down, because I’ve had shoulder surgery, foot surgery, knee surgeries, and weight becomes an issue when you have had surgeries like that and even more so as you get older. Maintaining my proper weight has a lot to do with my staying healthy and feeling good.

LA50: Talk a bit more about some of the other issues you have found that come with getting older.

CD: Gary Kelly

AE: George Miranda

PM: Mariah G.

AD: Ian N.

CD: Ian N.

PD: Maira Gutierrez

CW: Jason Rivanis

SM: Rosa Baer

APPROVAL

BJK: Aging is an art. As we get older, we have to adapt. We need to arrange our way of doing things for what the circumstances call for. I think that no matter what anyone has to deal with as they get older, they should always think: “What is the best thing I can do under the circumstance?” Then you have to put the time and effort into whatever gives your life its best quality.

I’ll tell you, emotionally I’m so much better now than when I was younger.

You go through different things during your life, but no matter what you are going through or dealing with, you have to make the best of it. You’ve got to work things through. We all have those days when we wake up and you don’t feel like doing something. But it is in that emotional and physical exertion that you have to gear up to be the best you can be each day. Athletes know that. Participating in any competitive sport teaches you to do that in everyday life – to push yourself when you feel you just can’t go on. You also have to stay totally interested in life and everything that is going on around you.

When I do speaking engagements, I always tell people, even kids, to stop trying to be INTERESTING, and instead be INTERESTED. I think life is more fulfilling when you are interested in what’s going on. That’s what keeps you engaged in life. I’ve always been like that. I drove my parents crazy when I was a kid, because I was always so interested in everything.

OK CHANGES

APPROVAL

Notes:1/2 PG 4C

OK CHANGES

LA50: You have lived through a time that saw you lose all your endorsements when it was revealed that you were a lesbian, to seeing great legal strides and social acceptance made for those in the LGBT community. That has to be gratifying for you to see.

BJK: I’m very happy about it and I think social media has made a huge difference in how far we have come and how things changed relatively quickly when the debate became open to everyone. The politicians heard that a great majority of Americans believed that peoples’ sexual preferences

February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 15 PAL_004661_01_2_1_Sr_Print_ Life_After_50_4.625x11.5_r1.indd 1

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were their own business and that it should be a non-issue. So for me, when that happened, it meant so much to me. I am so happy that I am still alive to see it happen, because many people whom I have known wanted to see that happen and never lived to see it. Everyone just needs to show respect for one another.

We all need to respect every human being and just let people be. I don’t judge others, because I know what that is like to be judged. Hey, I don’t judge anyone for ANYTHING, because I have enough trouble getting my own act together from day to day [laughs]. I think, as humans, we all have a tendency to pass judgment on those that are different from us in any way. I always remind myself not to make judgement on others for any reason. I work at that every single day.

LA50: As one of the early voices for women’s rights and equal rights, it must please you to see a woman running for president in both of the major political parties.

BJK: When I was 12-years-old, I had an epiphany. I knew right then that I was going to dedicate the rest of my life to equal rights for women. So, as a 12-year-old, I was already in the realm of understanding and working towards social justice for everyone. One of the dreams I had as a young girl was to see a woman elected president. I’ve always believed there have been many women who have been and are qualified to be president. I’m not one to push my political beliefs on anyone, but I am a big supporter of Hillary Clinton.

God knows she has the experience for the job. She knows better than any other candidate how Washington works – how the world works. I was a big supporter of hers in 2008, but I also really liked Obama, so that was difficult when they were going up against each other. But this time, it’s very different. I feel she is the most qualified person for the job and I really feel this is her time, so I will be out there working to help make that happen.

LA50: The night President Obama was elected, in what has become an iconic image, Americans saw a cutaway shot on television of the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who had been involved in the civil rights movement since he was in his early 20s, with tears streaming down his face as he watched an African-American elected president. One would have to believe that if Secretary Clinton were to be elected, you would be one of the people they would want to cut away to for your reaction.

Photo courtesy BJKLI

BJK: Well, that would be great. Really great! That I would have lived to see that dream come true for American women and young girls who would then know there is truly nothing they can’t do or aspire to.

LEARN MORE ABOUT AFIB Your risk of an AFib-related stroke can change as you get older. Find out what you can do to help protect yourself. If you have atrial fibrillation, you’re not alone. There are up to six million people with AFib in the United States today. Knowing that, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has partnered with many organizations to create helpful resources you can turn to for help and information. Whether you want to learn if you may be have risk factors or need more information about your condition, explore AFib treatment options, or simply connect with other people who are living with AFib, the resources you need are as close as clicking on to www.MyAfibRisk.com. For everyone that visits the site, Janssen will make a contribution to Mended Hearts, a non-profit peer-to-peer support network that helps heart disease patients, their families and caregivers.

16 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACOB ABRAMS. INSPIRATION BY ROSE HILLS. Like a silent stone sentry, the quaint St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Chapel watches over the green valley below. It’s just one of dozens of one-of-a-kind landmarks here that inspire photographers like Jacob Abrams, as well as countless families who have made this serene setting theirs forever. If you’d like to see more images from our recent photo contest, visit www.RoseHillsPhotos.com. If you’d like to see what captivated these artists’ imaginations first-hand, we invite you to come visit us in person. Call and we’ll arrange a personal pre-need property tour. Be inspired.

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The

Heartfelt Differences of

Women

Life-Saving Tips for a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Special to Life After 50 by Wendy Elliman

A

s every movie buff knows, heart attacks strike highly stressed portly guys in their 60s and frail older men. That scenario is familiar in hundreds of films: A man gasps with sudden, searing pain, clutches his chest, groans wretchedly and falls to the floor.

Although this cliché persists on the silver screen, we now know that it is, in fact, only partially correct. For many decades, Hollywood took its cue from doctors, who “believed that heart failure was a man’s disease,” says Dr. Chaim Lotan, the past president of Israel’s Heart Society who currently serves as the director of the cardiovascular division at the Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem.

“For women, it was thought breast cancer posed a far greater risk,” says Dr. Lotan. “Even as our understanding of heart disease grew and therapies improved, men remained the focus of research, statistics, diagnosis and treatment.”

For generations of physicians, chest pains in men indicated a precarious heart condition, whereas in women, they most likely signaled a simple panic attack. “It’s only in the past decade that the medical

18 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

profession has recognized its built-in bias,” says Dr. Lotan.

This recognition, he explains, has shed light into the area of heart disease in women. “We know now that heart disease kills as many women as it does men, if not more,” he says. “It is, in fact, the primary killer of women in the developed world, claiming one in four female deaths in the U.S. – fully double the number of those felled by breast cancer, and more than those killed by all cancers combined. We’ve also learned that women usually reach a far more advanced disease stage than men before seeking medical help, making risk of complications correspondingly higher. And, perhaps most significant of all to cardiologists, we’ve discovered that heart disease presents differently in the two genders. That is, men and women with the same condition suffer different symptoms.”

While women were once thought to develop coronary disease five to 10 years later than men, younger women are now known to be equally at risk. Many physicians, however, have yet to catch

up: Even with over eight million women globally dying each year from heart disease, some doctors still see stress rather than heart disease in their younger, female patients. So what should women be doing to help themselves?

KNOW THE SYMPTOMS First, says Dr. Lotan, all women should realize their potential risk, even those who are relatively young and have heart-healthy lifestyle habits: nonsmokers who exercise regularly, drink modestly, eat nutritiously and control their weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and stress levels. Second, all women should be aware of the vague and sometimes silent symptoms of heart attack in their gender so they can rapidly seek appropriate help.

The symptoms are these: • Most common is discomfort or pain anywhere in the chest. While it can feel truly unpleasant like a tightening vise, the sensation of squeezing or fullness is more ambiguous than the excruciating pain experienced by men on the chest’s left side.

• Women experience pain in their arms, back, neck or jaw more commonly than men – gradual or sudden pain that can come and go before growing intense.

• Abdominal pain or pressure (like an elephant sitting on you) is another signal, one often confused with heartburn, flu or stomach ulcer.

• Difficulty breathing, nausea or lightheadedness when inactive can indicate a heart attack is underway.

• Sweating – a cold sweat that feels stress-related, rather than one which comes from heat, exercise or hot flashes.

• Fatigue, even when sitting still. The kind of fatigue that would make even a walk to the bathroom a huge challenge.

Not everyone experiences all these symptoms, but, if a woman has discomfort in her chest, and especially if she has any of the other indications, she should get herself to an emergency room, ideally in an ambulance, as fast as possible.

UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE The new understanding that heart disease is as frequent in women as in men has raised central questions. One is: “Why does the disease present differently in the two genders?” And another: “Why do the risk factors differ?”

The answers are not yet in. Researchers have learned that many traditional risk factors for heart disease such as smoking, diabetes, depression and metabolic syndrome - fat around the abdomen with high blood pressure, blood sugar and triglycerides

pose greater risk to women than to men, but they do not know why.

Other factors belong exclusively or largely to women. Estrogen, that most female of hormones, has been fingered as one of the factors. A woman’s lower levels of estrogen after menopause may be a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease of the smaller blood vessels, something not picked up by standard coronary disease tests. This may explain why heart disease mortality has dropped more sharply for men than for women in the past 30 years.

Estrogen comes up again in the research findings of a British team that was published in late 2015.

The findings showed that women with a certain version of the BRCA 1 gene (the gene whose mutation predisposes to breast cancer) are more likely than women without it to have heart attacks and strokes (unlike men with this gene, who have no increased risk.) The researchers believe the gene combines with naturally occurring estrogen in women and may raise risk of heart disease.

Once diagnosed, there is little difference in how men and women are treated, with women benefitting immeasurably from the revolution of recent decades in treating this “man’s disease.”

Years ago, heart attack patients were typically hospitalized for three to four weeks and then sent home for a long recovery. A third of those patients died within a year. Today, catheterization opens clogged arteries in hours, saves heart muscle and gets patients back to work in days. Mortality is down and, whereas patients in their early 70s were once considered to be the upper limit for catheterization, it is now routinely performed successfully in patients in their 90s and older.

While effective interventions are available, women have to know about them to benefit. In the U.S., Hadassah’s Every Beat Counts™ program reaches thousands of women with educational

events and programs nationwide. But most effective of all is for women to take control of their own health and consciously keep their hearts healthy.

REDUCE THE RISK As with every other health issue, prevention will always surpass cure. “Every step walked, every cigarette unsmoked, every calorie uneaten contributes to heart-heath,” says Dr. Lotan. “An estimated 60 to 70 percent of heart attacks can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle.”

The ways to minimize the risk of heart disease, he says, are these: • Quit or don’t start smoking.

• Exercise regularly. Walking is probably simplest, but taking stairs instead of elevators, a bike instead of a car and doing sit-ups or push-ups while watching television are all useful, too.

• Watch your weight. A BMI of 25 and above or a waist circumference greater than 35 inches (89 cm) indicate overweight.

• Avoid saturated fats, cholesterol and salt.

• Take prescribed medications appropriately (blood pressure medications, blood thinners, aspirin).

• Manage high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Gaining knowledge of heart attack symptoms and what you should be doing to live a hearthealthy lifestyle is a great way of helping to make the movie that tells the tale of your life one that is heartwarming and lengthy.

THE HADASSAH MEDICAL ORGANIZATION

T

he Hadassah Medical Organization is a modern complex of two hospitals, diversified basic and clinical research facilities and medical, dental, nursing and occupational therapy schools. It was originated as a public health clinic set up by two American nurses whom Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc., sent to Jerusalem in 1912. Still under HWZOA auspices, the organization today has 850 physician-researchers, 1,940 nurses and 1,020 paramedical and support staff, who provide hospital services to a million people each year in over 1,000 inpatient beds, 31 operating rooms and nine intensive care units. A flagship of Israel’s healthcare system, the organization has developed and introduced dozens of

procedures, techniques and medical devices.

Blind to race, religion and nationality, it was nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize for building bridges to peace through equality in medical treatment. In 2013, the organization opened its Linda Joy Pollin Cardiovascular Wellness Center, a multidisciplinary undertaking with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, to prevent heart disease and promote heart health. Since its opening, the Pollin Center has been teaching women the importance of healthy living, cooking, eating and exercise.

For more information on the work of the Hadassah Medical Organization click on www.hadassah.org.

February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 19

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February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 21

Could Your Valentine Be Just A Click Away?

America’s top online dating expert on how to make the search for love in cyberspace work for you Special to Life After 50 by Julie Spira

T

oday, many people over 50 are single due to a divorce or the death of a spouse or partner, and are looking to meet someone new. If you’ve been out of the dating game for a while or haven’t been lucky with love online, I have been able to help thousands of people do just that with some very simple suggestions.

With Valentine’s Day upon us, this is the perfect time to either start or restart your search for that special someone. I can assure you, that person may just be a click away.

Whether you’re looking for a date, a causal relationship, a longterm relationship or marriage, online dating is the most efficient way to fill your date card and find a perfect companion.

Are you ready to get started? If so, here are my top recommendations for making online dating a success.

JOIN A DATING SITE There are thousands of dating sites to choose from, so I recommend one with a large amount of members. I have several that I recommend on www.CyberDatingExpert.com in our “Dating Network,” so take a look and also ask your friends which sites they’re using. Some sites I recommend for singles over 50 include www.Match.com, 22 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

www.eHarmony.com, and www.OurTime.com, a site exclusively for singles 50-plus.

Hint: If you’ve been on a dating site for over a year, it’s probably time for a facelift of your existing profile. Start over using a brand new e-mail address and a new catchy user name.

Daters tend to like to view the newest members, so you’ll appear more often in a search.

CREATE AN IRRESISTIBLE PROFILE Creating a great dating profile for singles is something I’ve been doing for over 20 years. I’ve researched and mastered the fine art of profile writing and digital courting. There’s a secret to my magic and you’re about to learn many of the details I teach in my online dating boot camps.

An irresistible profile is a snapshot of you. This includes a catchy screen name to grab someone’s attention, a bio that describes what makes you unique, a variety of profile photos in different settings and things such as preferences in body type, height, location, religion, education and work. Proofreading your profile is an absolute must. Research from proofreading site www.Grammarly.com and www.eHarmony.com revealed that a profile with two spelling errors was

14 percent less likely to receive a positive response.

Know the difference between “there” and “their,” and “you’re” and “your.”

Hint: You’re marketing yourself for a possible future mate, so make each keyword count and be specific about your passions, hobbies and desires.

POST GREAT PHOTOS Both men and women are visual and the selection online is vast. A recent www.Match.com survey showed that 87 percent of singles aged 50 to 70 said physical attraction between partners was a “must have.” If you can afford to get professional photos taken, do so. The typical cost will be about $300 to $400. If that’s not in your budget, grab a friend with a great digital camera or smart phone and have them take 100 photos of you in three different outfits. Your primary photo must be a headshot where you are smiling and looking into the eyes of your potential date. What doesn’t work is posting selfies, photos wearing sunglasses or group photos.

Remember, your potential date has a split second to decide whether to write to you or not. Blurry photos make you look lazy and you won’t be taken seriously. Your secondary photos should include activity shots and always include a full body shot.

Also, be cautious about using touched-up photos.

Everyone appreciates truth-in-advertising, and authenticity is key to finding lasting love online.

Hint: Women should wear a red outfit for their dating profile photo. A research study from the University of Rochester found that women wearing red increased the amount of responses from men.

Men should wear blue.

SELECT YOUR SEARCH CRITERIA Age, distance, interests and desires are big factors.

Being “geographically undesirable” can sometimes make or break a relationship. When it comes to your desired age range, I suggest expanding it by a few years in both directions. Some singles have climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro on their bucket list.

Others are happy staying home watching Netflix.

Some newly divorced or widowed are interested in marriage. Some are just looking to date. Some spend a lot of time with pets, friends, children and grandchildren; others don’t. In your dating profile, you’ll have the chance to select your passions.

If you’re too limited, you won’t be dating much.

Would you move for love? If so, expand your zip code to search in other regions. There’s not a one-size-fits rule with online dating. Most singles complain that many of the profiles just look the same, which is true. They’re filled with clichés of desiring beach walks, watching sunsets, and going from jeans to black tie. Dare to be different.

Hint: If you’re looking for a companion with similar interests, search for those specific activities and be proactive about contacting someone. Use the mutual activity you have in common in the subject line of your e-mail to increase the odds of getting a response.

LEAVE THE NOVEL BEHIND With online dating, brevity is best. Don’t focus on your entire life story. Instead, create a short bio about yourself in the range of 125 to 150 words for a traditional dating site, or two to three sentences on a mobile app. If your profile is too long, you won’t leave anything for the imagination and will have told your entire life story. Remember to keep a little mystery for the date.

Hint: Make your profile easy on the eyes and let your potential date know what it would be like to go on a date with you. If you see the word “I” too frequently in your profile, replace it with “we.”

ASK QUESTIONS Asking a question in your profile or in an e-mail gives a potential date an icebreaker and provides a greater likelihood of getting a response.

Hint: You can say something like: I enjoy hiking.

On weekends I usually hike Paseo Miramar in the Santa Monica Mountains, but haven’t hiked Franklin Canyon yet. Have you?

LEAVE THE DRAMA BEHIND With Internet dating, no one wants to date a “Debbie or Donnie Downer.” Sure you might have deserved more in a divorce settlement, but does your date need to know that? You’ll just come across as being bitter. Conversations about the ex are off-limits when it comes to dating, both online and offline. Financial and medical issues along with politics are touchy subjects. When it comes to disclosing medical issues, if you have a serious medical condition, it’s best to let your date know before you meet. As for other issues – important as they are – the goal of a first date is to have an enjoyable positive experience. If there is any spark, after a few dates, you will be sharing information that could impact the future of your relationship.

Hint: Confidence and positivity are the ultimate aphrodisiacs. Show that you’re happy when you meet someone. You’ll find it is usually contagious.

LOG ON AND SEARCH REGULARY The more engaged you are in the process, the greater chance you’ll meet someone. The more often you log on, “like” someone’s photos, and reply to e-mails, the more often you will appear in a search. Keep your e-mails to five sentences and make sure to ask a question, as it prompts your date to respond.

Hint: Don’t wait. Initiate. Women should be writing to men who will be flattered to see your e-mail in their inbox.

REPLY TO E-MAILS AND SCHEDULE A PHONE DATE Even if you’re not sure it’s a perfect match, if the person writing to you seems like someone you

could be friends with, then send them an e-mail.

Who knows? You might make a friend, a business acquaintance, or who knows, find that magical chemistry. As for when you should respond to an e-mail, if you’re serious about meeting someone, always respond within 24 hours. Remember if someone is writing to you online, they’re writing to several others at the same time. Playing too hard to get will likely backfire. Once you’ve exchanged a few e-mails, ask if they’d like to continue the conversation and schedule a phone call to hear their voice. I have a “cheat sheet” for my clients, so they have talking points and remember to be positive and upbeat. Talk about your favorite travel spots, musical artists, and things you are passionate about.

Hint: End the conversation after about 20 minutes. By that point, you’ll know if you have some sort of chemistry or not. If so, schedule a date. It’s time to take your relationship from online to offline.

START FILLING YOUR DATE CARD Decide what’s manageable for you and start going on a few dates a week. Think about the topics you want to talk about and get prepared for date night.

Remember to ask questions and listen. My friend and author, Valerie Geller, always says to be more interested than interesting.

Hint: Remember to cast a wide net and have fun. Online dating is a numbers game. Don’t get discouraged by a few bad dates. It just takes one.

Even if your date isn’t perfect for you, the more you date, the better dater you’ll become. You may also consider working with a dating coach to speed up the process and have someone to guide you while looking for love in cyberspace.

MEEt JULiE SPiRA

J

ulie Spira is America’s top online dating expert and digital matchmaker. She’s the CEO of www.Cyber-Dating Expert and has been helping singles find love online for over 20 years with her “Irresistible Coaching” programs. She’s the author of the bestseller “The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online” (Morgan James Publishing, 2009).

Click on www.CyberDating Expert.com or call (310) 433-7786 to find out how you can find love online.

You can also follow @JulieSpira on twitter, instagram, Facebook and Linkedin.

February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 23

American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson – New anthology series, FX – Premieres Tuesday February 2 at 10 p.m.

This limited series from co-creators, Ryan Murphy, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, aims to be a retelling of one of the most sensationalized murder trials in American history, without being too sensationalistic about it. Based on the book “The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson”

by Jeffrey Toobin, the series explores the chaotic behind-the-scenes dealings and maneuvering on both sides, and how a combination of prosecution overconfidence, defense shrewdness, and the Los Angeles Police Department’s turbulent history with the city’s African-American community gave a jury what it needed: reasonable doubt. The all-star cast includes John Travolta, Cuba Gooding Jr., Sarah Paulson, Connie Britton, David Schwimmer, Courtney B. Vance and Nathan Lane.

Madoff – New miniseries, ABC – Premieres Wednesday February 3 at 8 p.m.

Oscar winner Richard Dreyfuss stars as the disgraced financier in this twopart miniseries. Inspired by ABC News chief investigative correspondent Brian Ross’ reports and his book “The Madoff Chronicles,” it focuses on the rise and spectacular fall of the imprisoned swindler and the $65-billion Ponzi scheme he concocted. Madoff’s scheme is considered to be the largest financial scam in United States history, but the impact was global.

Losing billions of dollars for clients worldwide, including philanthropic foundations, celebrities, and retirement portfolios, the story of the fall of three-time NASDAQ Chair Bernie Madoff dominated headlines in 20082009. The miniseries explores the complicated family dynamics within the Madoff clan and exposes the motivations and mechanics behind the monumental fraud. Also starring are Blythe Danner, Tom Lipinski, Peter Scolari, Erin Cummings, Michael Rispoli, Frank Whaley, Charles Grodin and Lewis Black.

Kitten Bowl III – New special, Hallmark Channel – Sunday February 7 at noon

Hallmark Channel opens the stadium doors, presenting the nation’s most athletic, adorable and adoptable kittens in a claws-out, paws-out showdown. A Hallmark Channel special event premiering “Su-purr” Bowl Sunday, television personality, author and animal advocate Beth Stern returns to host this year’s gridiron championship. Joining her are play-by-play announcers John Sterling, iconic radio voice of the New York Yankees, and award-winning reporter, sports analyst and commentator Mary Carillo. NFL Most Valuable Player and four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Boomer Esiason will reprise his role as Feline Football League (FFL) Commissioner and ensure these “furr-ocious” felines follow the league’s ferocious rules.

Vinyl – New series, HBO – Premieres Sunday

February 14 at 9 p.m.

HBO’s big new series for 2016 is Terence Winter’s 1970s rock drama.

This series reteams Winter with his “Boardwalk Empire” and “Wolf of Wall Street” collaborator Martin Scorsese, who directed the pilot episode and will serve as an executive producer alongside rock legend Mick Jagger. While the show is brimming with talent behind the scenes, it has plenty in front of the camera as well. “Vinyl” is headed up by Bobby Cannavale as record producer Richie Finestra. He’ll be joined by Olivia Wilde, Ray Romano and Juno Temple as they navigate the powdery excesses of the New York music scene in the late 1970s.

Fuller House – New series, Netflix – Premieres Friday February 26

The Tanner family reboot will follow D.J. Tanner-Fuller as she moves back to the home featured in “Full House” after the death of her husband.

“Fuller House” will see D.J., her best friend Kimmy Gibbler and D.J.’s sister Stephanie trying to raise D.J.’s children in a plot setup similar to the original series. In “Fuller House,” the twist seems to be that the gender roles have been reversed in the spin-off from the original series, where characters played by Bob Saget, John Stamos and Dave Coulier attempted to raise Saget’s character’s children after a car accident killed his wife.

24 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

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February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 25

The Hallowed Hall of Must-Knowtables

By David Laurell Illustration by Mark Hammermeister

Marion

Davies

One of the great comedic actresses to transition from the silent film era into the talkies, Marion Davies was also a film producer and screenwriter, the longtime paramour of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, and a philanthropist whose charity work continues to this day.

T

he fifth and last child born to New York Judge Bernard J. Douras and his wife Rose, Marion Cecilia Douras entered the world on January 3, 1897, in Brooklyn, New York.

From an early age, Marion was fascinated by her older sisters’ theatrical performances in school productions and soon followed in their footsteps, both in performing and by changing her surname to Davies. The name was chosen by the young Douras girls, who saw it on a real estate sign in their Prospect Park neighborhood and felt it had a sophisticated sound that would help them in their professional endeavors.

As a teenager using the name “Marion Davies,” she appeared in theatrical productions at a convent-run high school, began modeling and pursuing a career in show business and, by the time she was 19, had been signed on as a Ziegfeld girl in the famous Ziegfeld Follies.

Using her work with the follies as a springboard, Davies first appeared on screen in 1917’s “Runaway, Romany,” which she also wrote. While “Runaway, Romany” was less than successful, it did serve as a stepping stone for Davies.

She parlayed that work into roles in two 1918 films, “The Burden of Proof” and “Cecilia of the Pink Roses,” the latter financed by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, who desperately wanted to make a name for himself in the film industry and establish a romantic relationship with the then-21-year-old Davies, who was 34 years his junior.

In 1919, Davies starred in the suspense drama, “The Cinema Murder,” which had been produced by Hearst’s company, Cosmopolitan Productions International Film Service, and distributed by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. That ushered in the time in which Hearst took control of Davies’ career and poured huge sums of money into the 1922 romantic epic, “When Knighthood Was in Flower,” which made her a star. During this time, Davies did begin a romantic relationship with the married Hearst that would last for three decades.

Moving to California, Davies took up residence with Hearst in his elaborate mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean in San Simeon. Known as “Hearst Castle,” the estate, its owner and his mistress became legendary for their elaborate parties, which included attendance by the biggest names from Hollywood and the business and political world such as Carole Lombard, Mary Pickford, Sonja Henie, Dolores del Rio, Charlie Chaplin, Bob Hope, Charles Lindbergh and President Calvin Coolidge.

While Davies continued to star in films throughout the mid-1920s, carving out a niche as a comedic actress who could convey laugher, as well as any thought or emotion, with her expressive eyes, there was reason for concern on the horizon.

With Warner Bros. as the trailblazers, the silent film era was falling victim to the “talkies.” This technology, which was revolutionizing the film industry, was not at all embraced by Davies, who had a slight speech impediment that caused her to stutter. That concern proved to be unfounded and Davies continued to turn in

This feature is intended for you to clip and give to your children or grandchildren because…they must-know!

26 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

commercially successful performances, most notably in two 1930 films: “Not So Dumb” and “The Florodora Girl.”

The relationship between Davies and Hearst – the worst-kept secret in Hollywood – would prove to be a double-edged sword to the actress. Because Hearst oversaw a national newspaper empire, no actress other than Davies received greater newspaper reviews and promotion in Hearst newspapers and newsreels, which were shown in theaters prior to feature films. But while the publicity Hearst generated for Davies made her a household name, her involvement with him clearly hurt her when it came to working with major studios. Hearst had tried to strong-arm executives at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to cast Davies in the role of Elizabeth Barrett in their 1934 film, “The Barretts of Wimpole Street.” Louis B. Mayer, the head of MGM, resented Hearst’s involvement and cast Norma Shearer in the coveted role; not that Davies would have been right for it anyway. That caused a rift between the studio and Hearst who, in retaliation, refused to promote or review any MGM film; a move that, to Hearst’s chagrin, proved to have minimal impact on the studio.

As the 1930s came to an end, Hearst began experiencing financial difficulties and Davies came to his rescue by selling much of a jewelry collection estimated to be worth over one million dollars.

In 1937, with her career in decline, the then-40-year-old Davies appeared in what would be her final film, “Ever Since Eve.” She entered the 1940s despondent and heavily relying on alcohol to deal with her struggling career and the ever-mounting complications of her relationship with Hearst and his family, who always greatly disapproved of the longstanding affair.

In 1947, Hearst, in declining health, was forced to leave San Simeon for Los Angles, where he could receive the proper medical care. He died in Beverly Hills on August 14, 1951, at the age of 88 and his family barred Davies from attending his funeral.

Eleven weeks later, at the age of 54, Davies married an actor of little renown, Horace Brown, a union that, while never a happy one, would last until her death.

Always inclined to have good financial, business and charitable sense, Davies, who had suffered from polio in the 1940s, first began her charity work in 1952 when she donated $1.9 million dollars to establish a children’s care clinic at UCLA, which was changed to The Mattel Children’s Hospital in 1998. She also established the Marion Davies Foundation to fund research for children’s diseases and the Marion Davies Clinic at UCLA Medical Center.

In 1956, Davies had a minor stroke, and later underwent surgery for a bone infection in her jaw. Less than two weeks after having the jaw surgery, she fell in her hospital room breaking her leg.

Never making a complete comeback from her medical issues, Davies was rarely seen in public in the latter years of the 1950s, although she did make one final television appearance on NBC’s “Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood” on January 10, 1960. Shortly thereafter she was diagnosed with the stomach cancer that would claim her life on September 22, 1961, at the age of 64.

Davies’ funeral, held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hollywood, was attended by over 200 people. Following the funeral, she was entombed in a private mausoleum in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Beginning in the 1920s, there has been whispered speculation that Davies and Hearst had a child together – something neither of them ever publicly addressed during their lives. The child, a girl, was rumored to be Patricia Lake (née Van Cleve), who was always introduced as Davies’ niece.

On October 3, 1993, just hours before dying of lung cancer, Lake instructed her son that upon her passing, he was to publicly announce that she was, in fact, Davies and Hearst’s biological daughter.

According to the Lake family, after becoming pregnant by Hearst in the early 1920s, Davies went to Europe to give birth in secret at a hospital outside of Paris. The child was then turned over to Davies’ sister Rose and her husband George Van Cleve who raised her as their daughter. Davies reportedly told Lake of her true parentage when she was 11 years old and Hearst confirmed the same on her wedding day when both Davies and Hearst joined forces to give her away.

LEARN MORE • “The Times We Had: Life with William Randolph Hearst”

by Marion Davies (Ballantine Books, 1977). An autobiography gathered from tapes recorded a decade before Davies’ death.

• “Marion Davies” by Fred Lawrence Guiles (McGraw-Hill, 1972) • “The Chief: The Life of William Randolph Hearst”

by David Nasaw (Mariner Books, 2001)

Mark Hammermeister is an award-winning artist. His work is available for purchase at www.markdraws.com February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 27

Get Cooking with

Anson Williams

From Potsie to panning up perfect portion recipes, the “Happy Days” star serves up his thoughts on aging…positively, passionately and productively Story and photos by David Laurell

G

iving credence to the line from Albert Hammond’s 1972 song, “It Never Rains in Southern California,” it is not just raining in Malibu, it’s pouring. The dark storm clouds hovering over the Pacific serve as a starkly contrasting backdrop to the bright smile being flashed by actor, director and entrepreneur Anson Williams as he sits in a quiet corner of the Malibu Beach Inn’s dining room.

“I have so much going on – things that I’m passionate and excited about,” says Williams, who first came into public consciousness as Potsie Weber on “Happy Days.” “If you have a passion for something and are excited about what you’re doing, you are automatically in a better place,” he continues. “It’s all cause and effect. That’s the best self-help advice ever given, that the lives we live are the effects of every action we take, that we are what we think. That is what it’s all about when it comes to staying vital as we get older. Your thoughts stimulate your mind and then your body follows.”

While Williams is best-known for his role on “Happy Days,” what may come as a surprise to many is that the majority of his work in the

28 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

entertainment business has been behind-the-scenes as a television director of after-school specials, made-for-television movies and popular episodic television shows including “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Melrose Place,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: Voyager,” “Xena: Warrior Princess,” “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “Charmed” and “7th Heaven.”

The other big surprise about the Los Angles native is that his birth name was not Williams but Heimlich, as in Dr. Henry Heimlich, Williams’ cousin (whom he calls “Uncle Henry”) who developed the lifesaving maneuver for treating choking victims.

“He has had a huge influence on my life,” Williams says of Dr. Heimlich. “He was my inspiration for coming up with ideas for products that help people. Things that help them naturally – that help their body work better for them.”

Still the splitting image of the “Happy Days” character he played on the iconic series that was in production for a decade beginning in 1974, Williams, now 66, is the father of five and a successful entrepreneur who oversees Starmaker

Products, the consumer products company he founded.

“I’ve been very successful in the consumer product business,” says Williams. “Although, until I was 50 I didn’t even know what that was,” he adds with a laugh. “Since then, we have introduced over 40 products and I find what I do to be very similar to entertainment. You create a product that fills a void – you address a problem that needs a solution – and then you create a storyline that connects that product with the people who need it. I’ve found it to be very exciting to create something from nothing and then incorporate the creative process to bring it to those whose lives can benefit from it. There is something very empowering and satisfying about doing that.”

Among the numerous products Williams’ company has created is Cool Flash, a completely natural topical gel that has gone through heavy clinical studies. The product brings down a person’s skin temperature when they become overheated or during a hot flash. “We’ve done this without the use of drugs,” says Williams. “That is what I am very proud of, to be able to create and offer products that help people without their having to get on the pharmaceutical merry-go-round. I’m thrilled to

know that some of the things I will leave behind when I’m gone will help people live better lives and even save lives. That’s my passion.”

THE PERFECT PORTION SOLUTION Along with putting the final touches on a soon-tobe-revealed product he says will rival the Heimlich maneuver in saving lives for car, truck and motorcycle drivers, Williams will be spending this month rolling out a revolutionary new cookbook based on his own need to stay fit and within his desired weight while enjoying the foods he loves.

Selected by QVC to be launched on Super Bowl Sunday, Williams’ cookbook, “The Perfect Portion Cookbook,” offers recipes for 150 of America’s favorite comfort foods, from lasagna to apple turnovers, all with perfect portion control using a simple 100-calorie counting system.

“The idea for this cookbook came to me when I was directing ‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager,’ ” Williams recalls. “On the set of every film or television show, craft service is so damaging. There’s just endless food and noshing, which is horrible for your body and your health.

Every time you walk past the craft service table you grab something, which is what I did and really started ballooning up. Then I finally got to the point that I realized just how much damage I was doing to my health and I knew that wasn’t working for me. I have to stay healthy. I have four daughters still at home to support.”

Williams says the answer to getting his eating under control popped into his head while shopping at a market near his Malibu home. “As I was walking through the aisles, it became clear to me how many snacks and foods there are that come in 100-calorie packs,” he reveals. “It’s like the 100-calorie pack is a part of the fabric of our country. I thought: What if you could have all the wonderful comfort foods we all love – chicken pot pies and chili and key lime pie, you name it – all in 100-calorie portions? That way you could say you want a 400-calorie entree and have four portions of the pot pie or of the chili. How easy would that be? So I started formulating that idea in my head and my business partner, JoAnna Connell, began working with Bob Warden, who we met through QVC. He thought it was a great idea, to take the most-loved comfort foods known to man, make them a little healthier but just as tasty, and make each one in a perfect 100-calorie portion.”

Along with Warden, a New York Times bestselling cookbook author and television foodie personality, Williams partnered up with Mona Dolgov, a nutritionist, cookbook author and marketer for the food and kitchen appliance industry, to transform his idea into reality.

“As for creating recipes for a cookbook, I know less than nothing about cooking,” Williams says laughing. “But Bob and Mona know everything

there is to know and we all believed the concept was brilliant. So the book is ready to go and it’s beautiful – really impressive with recipes that are delicious. It’s not a diet cookbook; it’s a lifestyle cookbook. So you can have pasta and mac and cheese and chicken fried steak and cheesecake, anything, and then tailor the portions to what works for you from a calorie standpoint and be totally satisfied. Down the line, we may even look into doing a frozen food brand of perfect portions that I believe would be ingenious.”

making mistakes and learning from them. There are so many mountains to climb for boomers and it just kills me when I see people my age, and even younger, who are on the back nine just wandering around not knowing what to do with themselves. I have friends who are in their 50s who look and act like old men. Their mind is aging them, because their body is following their thoughts. It’s back to cause and effect. They have nothing to stimulate them. I know people who sit around wondering what they can do. You can do everything – anything you want!”

Williams makes his way out to the hotel’s rain-soaked patio that is now drenched in the Malibu sunshine it is far more accustomed to.

“It’s all about the power of positive thinking,” he says as he looks out over the ocean. “You have to fill your mind with your passions and then your body follows along and gets excited about life.”

He pauses for a moment and, looking for all the world like Potsie Weber, gives the “thumbs up” sign.

“Cause and effect,” he repeats. “Cause and effect.”

PREACHING PASSIONATE POSITIVITY As the rain stops, the storm clouds clear and the sun breaks through, bathing the coast in a golden hue, Williams looks out towards the Malibu pier.

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

eNteRtAINMeNt MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19

ROMEO AND JULIET The greatest love story of all time seduces audiences with its romantic aura as much today as when it was written. A Noise Within, 3352 E Foothill Blvd. Pasadena. $40-$62.

Through May 8. (626) 356-3100. anoisewithin.org.

CLOSER THAN EVER Filled with hilarious and poignant songs about dating, parenting, aging and dreams both fulfilled and unrequited, this musical is a “how-to” manual for life. With each song a self-contained story inspired by real-life experiences, its message to value the little things in life remains timeless. International City Theatre, Long Beach Performing Arts Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach.

Thurs.-Sun through March 6. $35-$49. (562) 436-4610. internationalcitytheatre.org.

February/March potent confection of physical theater and verbal gymnastics — a father-daughter story for the ages that explores the power of love and forgiveness. Odyssey Theatre 1, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. Dates vary through April 10. $34. (310) 477-2055 x2. odysseytheatre.com.

AN ACT OF GOD The King of the Universe is tackling His greatest challenge yet: Live-Theatre in Los Angeles. In this comedy, the Almighty and His devoted angels answer some of the deepest questions that have plagued mankind since Creation. Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Dates vary through March 13. $25-$115. (213) 628-2772. centertheatregroup.org.

GLENDALE NOON CONCERTS Chobraty Brass Duo. Sanctuary of Glendale City Church, 610 E. California Ave., Glendale, Glendale. Free. (818) 242-2113. glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot.com.

LA/Ventura

FATHER, SON AND HOLY COACH Terri Hanauer directs John Posey in a new production of his critically acclaimed comedy about a former football star who attempts to live vicariously through his son. Odyssey Theatre 2, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. Weekends through March 20. $25.

(323) 960-7724. plays411.com/holycoach.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20 TEMPEST REDUX Celebrate El Niño with a perfect storm of comedy, romance, mystery and magic. Derived from Shakespeare’s fantasy, “The Tempest,” this freshly conceived reconstruction is a

ANOTHER ROLL OF THE DICE As a reporter in the ‘30s, Damon Runyon moved among bootleggers, gamblers, hustlers, actors, showgirls and gangsters. In this new musical, Runyon’s mugs and dames, scams and swindles, are once again matched with songs by the great Frank Loesser, the original “Guys and Dolls” composer. The Colony Theatre, 555 N. Third St., Burbank.

Through March 20. Prices vary. (818) 5587000. colonytheatre.org.

THE LETTERMEN Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. $38-$58. (888) 645-5006. sabantheatre.org.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21 MAN COVETS BIRD What are the songs of birds and men? Find out in this internationally acclaimed tale of friendship — an irresistible mix of storytelling, live music and animation that enchants kids and touches adults. 24th Street Theatre,

DREAM CATCHER Roy is the youngest member on a team of high-level engineers brought in to launch the most important project of his young career: the construction of a solar energy plant in the middle of the Mojave Desert. He finds himself in the center of a crisis when the discovery of long-buried Native American artifacts threaten to bring the billion-dollar operation to a halt.

The Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Avenue, Los Angeles. $15–$35. Sat.-Mon. through March 21. (323) 663-1525. fountaintheatre. com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16 FLY With a focus on hope, endurance and accomplishment, this story tells of the first African-American Army Air Corp fighters known as the Tuskegee Airmen who flew over the skies of Europe and North Africa during World War II. The Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave. Pasadena. Through Feb. 21. Prices vary. (626) 356-7529. pasadenaplayhouse.org.

BARCELONA When a young American tourist has a wild night out with an elegant Spaniard, what begins as a drunken fling becomes a searing and seductive look at two lost souls seeking solace in each other. Bess Wohl’s biting humor uncovers the individual tragedies and triumphs that build us up as well as tear us down. Gil Cates Theater, 10886 Le Conte Ave. Los Angeles. Through March 13. $32-$76.

(310) 208-5454. geffenplayhouse.com.

34 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18

THE MOUNTAINTOP

On April 3, 1968, after delivering one of his most memorable speeches, an exhausted Martin Luther King, Jr. retires to his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. As a storm rages outside, a mysterious hotel maid brings Dr. King a cup of coffee and prompts him to confront his life, his past, his legacy and the plight and future of his people. The Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles.

Thurs.-Sun. through April 10. $30. (323) 852-1445. matrixtheatre.com.

CALeNDAR

February/March LA/Ventura

1117 West 24th St., Los Angeles. Sundays through March 20. $10-$24. (213) 745-6516. www.24thstreet.org” www.24thstreet.org.

WESTERN MUSIC ASSOCIATION SHOWCASE 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, FEBRUARY 23 VENTURA BLUEGRASS JAMS Milano’s Italian Restaurant, Patio, Ventura Harbor Village, 1559 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura.

(805) 658-0388. milanositalianrestaurant. com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27

BLOOD Robert Allan Ackerman directs the world premiere of a political thriller with music about the “Japanese Tainted Blood Scandal,” in which 2,000 people died of AIDS after the U.S. knowingly sold contaminated blood to Japan.

The Garage Company at The Complex, 6476 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles. Weekends through April 3. $25-$30. (323) 960-7745. plays411.com/blood.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29 LITTLE RIVER BAND One of Australia’s most significant bands since the 1970s shares their powerful vocals, high-energy guitar harmonies, to perform classic hit songs such as “It’s a Long Way There,” “Reminiscing” and “Lady.” Pepperdine University, Smothers Theatre, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. $40-$65. arts. pepperdine.edu.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23

JERSEY BOYS

This is the true story of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks--Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi--became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons wrote their own songs, invented their own sound and sold 175 million records worldwide - all before they were 30. The show features their hits including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Oh What A Night,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “Working My Way Back To You.” Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Fred Kavli Theatre, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Through Feb. 28. $39-plus. (800)745-3000civicartsplaza.com.

MARCH

FRIDAY, MARCH 4

TUESDAY, MARCH 1 SEX WITH STRANGERS When frustrated novelist Olivia meets fasttalking blogger Ethan – known more for his sexual prowess than his prose – she worries she will become just another chapter in his little black book. Their funny and flirty union blurs the lines between rewrites, romance and royalties – proving you can’t judge a book by its author. Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles.

Through April 10. $60-$76. (310) 208-5454. geffenplayhouse.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2 GLENDALE NOON CONCERTS Sanctuary of Glendale City Church, 610 E. California Ave., Glendale, Glendale. Free. (818) 242-2113. glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot. com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 3 MEET THE OPAH Researchers have recently discovered that the opah (Lampris guttatus), a large, oddly shaped mid-water fish, warms up nearly its entire body through the constant flapping of large pectoral fins that it uses for continuous swimming. This talk by Nick Wegner, a research fisheries biologist, focuses on the numerous adaptations that allow for this unique ability and what it means for this large mid-water fish. The Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. $5. (562) 590-3100. aquariumofpacific.org.

perils of family life. Written over a century ago, this early George Bernard Shaw play is charming and comically surprising.

No man (or woman) is an island in this warm, wise and most modern play. A Noise Within, 3352 E Foothill Blvd. Pasadena. $40-$62. Through May 15. (626) 356-3100. anoisewithin.org.

TUESDAY, MARCH 8 VENTURA BLUEGRASS JAMS Milano’s Italian Restaurant, Patio, Ventura Harbor Village, 1559 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura. (805) 658-0388. milanositalianrestaurant.com.

THE WIZARD OF OZ Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and Toto take the stage in this production based on the classic 1939 film.

Musical favorites include “Over The Rainbow,” “Munchkinland,” “Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead,” “We’re Off To See the Wizard” and “The Merry Old Land Of Oz.” Palmdale Playhouse, 38334 10th St. East, Palmdale. $15-$20. (661) 267-5684. cityofpalmdale.org/playhouse.

SUNDAY, MARCH 6 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.

YOU NEVER CAN TELL A lunch unlike any other reveals a family secret–uncovering both the pleasures and

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9 JOHN HIATT The Rose, 300 East Colorado Blvd, Unit 101, Pasadena. $380$58. (888) 645-5006. roseconcerts.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 10 CLOUD NINE In the wilds of 19th century Africa, the colonizers are restless in more ways than one. Friends and family flirt and fumble with power, gender and sexuality, hilariously pushing against the boundaries of Victorian imperialism. Fast forward 100 years to the concrete jungle of London, where the Victorian legacy finally explodes in a blast of sexual awakening, self-acceptance and delectable humor. Antaeus Theatre Company, 5112 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Thurs.-Sun. through April 24. $30-$34. (818) 506-1983. antaeus.org.

February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 35

CALeNDAR

February/March LA/Ventura DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES ART WALK This self-guided, public art walk brings art lovers and community friends together in downtown Los Angeles. 411 S. Main St., between Second and Ninth Streets, Los Angeles. Free. downtownartwalk.org.

SATURDAY, MARCH 12 RE-PETE 2016 The Songs and Spirit of Pete Seeger. Sing along at an encore performance of this tribute to late singer/songwriter and activist Pete Seeger. Starring Geer family singers Peter Alsop, Ellen Geer, Melora Marshall, Willow Geer, Earnestine Phillips, Gerald C. Rivers and special guests. Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. $10-$25. (310) 455-2322. theatricum.com.

JIM JEFFERIES The Canyon, 28912 Roadside Dr., Agoura Hills. $34-$59. (818) 879-5016. canyonclub.net.

CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL Welcome spring with this two-day celebration featuring Japanese cuisine, origami, a cherry tree sale, discovery stations and other activities. June Kuramoto performs on the koto, the national instrument of Japan. Enjoy the sounds of Japanese flute performed by musician George Abe. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge.

Also March 13. $6-$9. (818) 949-4200. descansogardens.org.

SUNDAY, MARCH 13 SECOND SUNDAY CONCERT Pasadena Central Library, 285 E Walnut, Pasadena. Free. (626) 398-0658.

eXHIBItIONs DIGUISE: MASKS AND GLOBAL AFRICAN ART This exhibition, organized by the Seattle Art Museum (SAM), brings together contemporary artists working in Africa and America. Over the past two years, SAM’s Curator of African and Oceanic Art Pamela McClusky, and Consultant Curator Erika Dalya Massaquoi, sought out artists who are probing the notion of disguise in their work. Twelve artists were selected to represent the core themes of the show and eight of those artists were commissioned to produce new visions and sounds for the exhibition. The Fowler Museum at UCLA, North Campus, Los Angeles. Wed.-Sun. through March 13. Free. (310) 825-4361. fowler.ucla.edu.

A PATH APPEARS Actions for a Better World. Designed to inspire

36 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

visitors to find their own paths to making a difference in the world, this exhibition explores four critical humanitarian issues—education, health, jobs and empowerment—and reveals how organizations, both local and global, are developing workable solutions to these worldwide challenges. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles.

Through Feb. 21. $7-$10. (310) 440-4500. skirball.org.

FAREWELL, EDEN: NATURE IN A PORST-WILD WORLD This exhibit features works of art by contemporary artists who are seeking to divine and define the emerging new relationships between nature and the city, between nature and humankind. Descanso Gardens, Sturt Haaga Gallery’s, 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge. Tues.Sun. through April 3. $6-$9. (818) 949-4200. descansogardens.org.

A WORLD OF STRANGERS: CROWDS IN AMERICAN ART Crowds are the temporary groups that strangers form at baseball games, parades, riots and on city streets. Fickle and ephemeral, crowds can be joyous, destructive, or somber. In this exhibition of about 20 works, artists have represented groups of people as patterns of dots, murky silhouettes and teeming, river-like currents of cars. The Huntington, Huntington Art Gallery, 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino. Through April 4. $19-$25. huntington.org.

THE NATURE OF WILLIAM S. RICE Arts and Crafts Painter and Printmaker. This exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the private world of William S. Rice (1873–1963), an artist and avid naturalist known for his ability to refine nature to its simplest forms. Featuring some 50 watercolors and block prints, the works, some on public view for the first time, illuminate the techniques and approaches Rice used to singularly capture and depict the California landscape. Pasadena Museum of Art, 490 East Union Street, Pasadena. Through April 3. $5-$7. Wed.-Sun. (626) 568-3665. pmcaonline.org.

many of his most beloved songs. The Grammy Museum at L.A. Live, Special Exhibits Gallery, Second Floor, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. Through February 2016. $12-$13.

(213) 765-6803. grammymuseum.org.

NEW ACQUISITIONS Featuring the Kaufman Collection, this exhibit presents nearly 60 paintings, sculptures and works on paper. Organized thematically, the artworks are set alongside quotes that describe aspects of experience and identity in the West. These words support, challenge or complicate the artworks, creating a dialogue that reminds us that a work of art—like any form of representation—does not always tell the whole story. The Autry National Center, Norman F. Sprague, Jr. Gallery, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park, Los Angeles.

Through July 9. $6-$10. (323) 667-2000. theautry.org.

RAVI SHANKAR: A LIFE IN MUSIC This display features a collection of sitars played by Shankar throughout his life and career; performance attire, including outfits worn at Woodstock in 1969 and the Concert for Bangladesh, rare photographs from the Shankar family collection as well as original correspondences, writings and music. The Grammy Museum at L.A. Live, Fourth Floor, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. Through Spring 2016. $12-$13. (213) 765-6803. grammymuseum.org.

LEGENDS OF MOTOWN: CELEBRATING THE SUPREMES Founded as The Primettes, The Supremes became Motown’s most consistent hit makers

and the most popular female group of the ‘60s. The polished singing style of original members Mary Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard bridged the worlds of pop and soul. On display are rare photographs from the personal collection of Mary Wilson, concert posters, tour books, fan memorabilia and an assortment of performance gowns, including the Turquoise Freeze dresses worn during a 1967 appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” The Grammy Museum at L.A. Live, Third Floor, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles.

Through Spring 2016. $12-$13. (213) 7656803. grammymuseum.org.

JELLIES Delve into the mysterious world of sea jellies through this new exhibition. Often referred to as “jellyfish,” sea jellies are actually invertebrates or animals without backbones.

Explore the amazing life of these gelatinous animals and learn about their importance to our ocean planet through new exhibits, educational programs, a film and even art.

Ever wondered what a jelly feels like? You can even safely touch them. The Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach.

Through April 30. $26-$29. (562) 590-3100. aquariumofpacific.org.

Get the Word Out. E-mail your announcements to Claire Fadden, cfadden@lifeafter50.com 60 days prior (or even earlier) to your event. Include a brief description, location, date, time, cost, phone and website. Submission does not guarantee publication.

Y.C. HONG: ADVOCATE FOR CHINESE-AMERICAN INCLUSION This exhibition offers a deeper sense of the life of an extraordinary figure in Chinese-American history. Through some 75 items, including historical documents, correspondence, photographs, maps and ledgers, this exhibit examines Chinese-American immigration in early 20th century Los Angeles. The Huntington, Library West Hall, 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino. Through March 21. $19-$25. huntington.org.

SINATRA: AN AMERICAN ICON This multimedia exhibit explores the life and career of the multiple Grammy Award-winner, tracing 100 years of Sinatra’s legacy, from Hoboken, New Jersey, through superstardom.

This display features artifacts from the Sinatra family’s personal collection, including neverbefore-seen photos, family mementos, rare correspondence, personal items, artwork and recordings, as well as original artifacts from Capitol Studios, where Sinatra recorded

THE ARTIST’S GARDEN

American Impressionism and the Garden Movement, 1887–1920. Focusing on paintings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this exhibition explores the connections between the American Impressionist movement and the emergence of gardening as a middle-class leisure pursuit. The show features a hand-picked selection of 17 paintings from the exhibition that originated at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Art. The Huntington, MaryLou and George Boone Gallery, 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino. Through May 9. $19-$25. huntington.org.

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February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 37

Rick Steves’ Travels The Rock and Romance of Gibraltar Rick St eveS’ t RavelS

By Rick Steves

W

henever I find myself in southern Spain, I can’t resist a visit to the British colony of Gibraltar and that famous rock standing boldly above the sea.

The Rock of Gibraltar is a geographical icon – a limestone promontory that rises 1,398 feet above the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The property of the United Kingdom, most of the rock’s higher ground includes a labyrinth of tunnels and a nature reserve that serves as home to an estimated 300 Barbary macaques.

For most people, their first visit to Gibraltar comes with the surprise that the 30,000 inhabitants who live along the three-mile lip of land under the Rock of Gibraltar are not Spanish but English. In fact, quirky Gibraltar is determinedly not Spanish at all. The colony is actually part-British and partGibraltarian. Gibraltarians have their own currency (It’s the pound sterling but, like the Scots, they have their own version) and their own Web domain (gi).

Gibraltar also serves as the headquarters of Europe’s Anglican Church.

Gibraltar’s economy, once dominated by the military, is now based mostly on tourism and quickie weddings. Only 48 hours’ notice is required to acquire the proper documentation for a marriage license in Gibraltar that is legally British. Actor Sean Connery was married here. And, of course, as any Beatle fan worth their salt knows, Mr. and Mrs. John Lennon also “got married in Gibraltar near Spain,” as was documented in the 1969 song, “The Ballad of John and Yoko.”

38 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

While the British military presence in Gibraltar is now dwarfed by the presence of sun-seekers, the colony is encrusted with military memories – stout ramparts, war memorials, and 30 miles of defenserelated tunnels that were drilled into the colony’s famous rock. As you drive the military roads that take you to the summit of the rock, you notice big rusted iron rings spiked into the pavement every 20 yards. These rings were designed to enable soldiers to hoist up the giant cannons that once helped the Brits seal off the Mediterranean.

In spite of its British correctness — which many Americans find annoying — the town of Gibraltar is a humble one. For sightseers, the attraction is, of course, the rock itself, with its viewpoint on the summit, gregarious macaques (whose presence here supposedly assured the continued British control of the colony), and siege galleries. Several hundred yards of the tunnels are open, giving tourists a chance to hike across the face of the rock and actually peer out from the cannon holes back at Spain. A gondola lifts visitors to the summit, or you can join a taxi tour instead. Gibraltar’s taxi drivers are trained to give an interesting tour around the rock with several stops, grand views, and — the highlight for many — interaction with those precocious macaques.

Old England seems to permeate the culture and tales of Gibraltar. As I once taxied high above the port, my driver pointed down to a tiny breakwater and said: “That’s where they pickled Admiral Nelson after the Battle of Trafalgar.” While he won that

battle, Nelson did lose his life in the process, and, according to local legend, his body was preserved in a barrel of spirits for the trip back to London.

The Gibraltar business sense, as its culture, is quirky and not suitable to everyone’s taste. The hotels are twice as expensive as those across the border in Spain — and not as comfortable. And then there’s the food. For well over a decade, I’ve been saying that English food is no longer as bad as its reputation. However, as a disclosure, I must state: “Except in Gibraltar.” This is, by no means, a desirable destination for a gastronome.

And as far as the prices for food — or just about anything — businesses pad their bottom line by gouging anyone who spends Euros. Gibraltar business people are quick to say they happily take Euros. It is only when you are presented with your bill and make payment that you realize there is about a 20-percent loss in the exchange rate.

Nevertheless, Gibraltar tourism is booming. It is a corner of the world that should, by all means, be explored, and will always be an exotically romantic local from which to have one’s marriage certificate issued.

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.

February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 39

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February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 41

And Finally...

The Bookworm’s Best A Life After 50 book review

by Terri “The Bookworm” Schlichenmeyer

Drinking in America: Our Secret History

By Susan Cheever

F

or most people, the spirit moved you at least once. It moved you to babble more than normal, gladhand a little too much, and generally become much more gregarious or affectionate. The spirit moved you and you paid dearly for it, with something you said or did, or, at the very least, with the way you felt the next morning – the cottonmouth and pounding headache.

If you can relate, pick up a copy of the new book “Drinking in America” by Susan Cheever and you’ll see that you’re in good historical company.

It all started, says Cheever, with the Pilgrims. They set off from England to America in 1620 and arrived late in the fall, cold, hungry, and “running out of beer.” That wouldn’t have been a problem, except that beer for the Pilgrims was rather important, and so one of the first things they constructed in the New World was a brew house.

Within a decade after their first (very rough) winter, the Pilgrims were joined by the Puritans, a group that was more aristocratic than the Pilgrim “riff-raff.” They helped ensure that the New World had taverns in which everyone drank, including children and even infants.

“By the time of the Revolution,” writes Cheever, “the Colonists’ drinking habits had escalated until each was drinking almost twice as much as the average person drinks today.” George Washington was happy to profit from alcohol, but John Adams’ family suffered from inherited alcoholism and, by the early 1800s, drinking to excess was beginning to be seen as a bad thing. In 1805, the doctor to the Founding Fathers encouraged temperance. Then again, he also believed that alcoholism caused spontaneous combustion.

Americans rebelled over whiskey taxation before they ran to rum “with a side of cider,” thanks to Johnny Appleseed. Alcohol affected how Native Americans perceived white newcomers, who gave them stronger liquor than they could make themselves. Booze was a means for slaveholders to control their slaves, a way for doctors to perform surgery during the Civil War, and a method for settlers to bond. It was famously prohibited (although few took the ban seriously), and it affected the health of countless men and women. Alcohol might have caused the death of a president and it almost brought this country to the brink of war.

We are, by and large, a nation that likes our booze, and in “Drinking in America,” you’ll see how that’s nothing new: We come from a long line of party animals. And yet, some of us aren’t necessarily proud of that. Cheever adds a personal spin throughout her book in anecdotes about her father, who was an alcoholic, and the struggles he had. Those observations act as a buffer between her tales of booze, bars, people who encouraged drinking, those against it, and how alcohol changed America, which all makes for a compelling read that goes down like a smooth glass of merlot after a long day.

Whether you’re a drinker or a teetotaler, this is a fascinating nip of history that I highly recommend… if the spirit moves you.

“Drinking in America: Our Secret History” by Susan Cheever,.2015, Twelve, $28, 259 pages The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer who lives on a hill with two dogs and more than 12,000 books. You can read more of her book reviews 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 the release of “Valley of the Dolls,” the debut novel of writer Jacqueline Susann. The word “dolls” was a euphemism for the female characters’ reliance on narcotics and how the pills were akin to a young girl clinging to her dolls for comfort. The word also represented how the women were “played with as toys” by the misogynist men in their lives. The book became the most successful work of fiction of 1966, sitting atop the bestseller list for 22 weeks. Since then, it has sold more than 30 million copies, making it one of the best-selling books of all time. The first roman à clef by a female author to achieve this level of success, its sales were fueled by aggressive and innovative promotion conceived by Susann and her husband, press agent Irving Mansfield. Susann traveled worldwide promoting the novel, appearing on talk shows and doing book signings. While it was reported – and always adamantly denied – that Susann invested huge sums of her own money to have her book bought up in every major city sparking its bestseller status, she did admit to writing down the name and address of every person she met at book signings and sending them thank you cards promoting her two immediate follow-ups, “The Love Machine” and “Once Is Not Enough.” In 1967, seven years before Susann’s death, “Valley of the Dolls” was adapted into a film of the same name that starred Susan Hayward, Barbara Parkins, Sharon Tate, Patty Duke, Paul Burke, and Lee Grant.

42 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

Just A Thought Before We Go

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Contents

February 2016

10

22

26

28

Cover Profile

Departments

10 Billie Jean King

6 50-Plus: What You Need to Know

Courting heart-health.

Features 18 The Heartfelt Differences of Women Life-saving tips for a heart-healthy lifestyle.

22 Could Your Valentine Be Just A Click Away?

How to make the search for love in cyberspace work for you.

26 The Hallowed Hall Of Must-Knowtables – Marion Davies Legendary notables that everyone, of every age, should know.

28 The Look Of Life After 50 – Anson Williams Get cooking “perfectly” with the star of “Happy Days.”

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

24 Tuned In To What’s On

The best in February television viewing.

34 Let’s Get Out

Looking to get out and about? Our February/March calendar has some great suggestions.

38 Rick Steves’ Travels

The Rock and Romance of Gibraltar.

42 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.

Cover photo by Michael Cole 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 professionals 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.

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Editor’s Note...

A heartwarming look at creating a masterpiece

A

fter reading this issue of Life After 50, you’ll have to admit it has a lot of heart!

From the legendary tennis pro Billie Jean King sharing information on atrial fibrillation to insight on the differences between men and woman when it comes to heart attack symptoms, we even take a look at how to best navigate the Internet when it comes to dealing with the romantic affairs of the heart.

Those stories stand as a fitting tribute to the icons of February – that bow-and-arrow-toting cherubic son of Venus and the sainted Bishop Valentinus of Terni – along with the presidential proclamation that it is American Heart Month.

Along with looking at the physical and romantic aspects of the heart, this issue also includes a visit with actor, director and entrepreneur Anson Williams of “Happy Days” fame, whose thoughts and advice on passionately and positively living life to the fullest show how much our thoughts influence our heart, from both a physical and a spiritual standpoint. Williams believes that everyone over 50 should be embracing life with excitement and living each day with a renewed commitment that it offers another opportunity to follow your passion to do something positive, for yourself and others.

“There are so many mountains to climb for boomers and it just kills me when I see people my age, and even younger, who are on the back nine just wandering around not knowing what to do with themselves,” said Williams. “I have friends who are in their 50s who look and act like old men. Their mind is aging them, because their body is following their thoughts.”

An advocate of the power and passion that can be released within us by positive thinking, the advice Williams offers can truly have as much of an effect on the heart as maintaining a good physical lifestyle and romantically partnering with someone.

“It’s all about the power of positive thinking,” said Williams. “You have to fill your mind with your passions and then your body follows along and gets excited about life.”

As you read our cover feature with King, you’ll learn that she sees aging as “an art.” That is, perhaps, the best way it can be described: that each of us has the power to employ our own unique creativity and talents to shape our lives. Bookending King’s comment, Williams offers the tools to aid in that creation: positivity, passion and excitement over all the things life gives us the chance to do to make our life over 50 a true masterpiece. Just the thought of that is truly heartwarming!

David Laurell, Editor-in-Chief

4 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

Publisher Valarie Anderson

Account Executives: San Diego County/Orange County Phil Mendelson Phil@LifeAfter50.com

Editor-in-Chief David Laurell

Los Angeles/ Valley

Associate Editors Steve Stoliar Claire Yezbak Fadden Art Director Michael Kraxenberger Editorial Assistant Max Andrews

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A February Thought

“Age does not protect you from love.

But love, to some extent, protects you from age.”

– Anais Nin

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February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 5 1/27/16 10:24 AM

50

The Canine Cardio Connection

W

Plus

What You Need To Know

By Claire Yezbak Fadden and Max Andrews

A 50-Year Trek Of Friendship

W

hen actors Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner first crossed paths on the set of “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” little did they know that their next roles, in a new sciencefiction television series called “Star Trek” would forever change their lives.

In 79 television episodes and six feature films, the actors grew to know each other and became close friends. Over the course of a half-century, the men saw each other through personal and professional highs and lows. In the just-released “Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man” (Thomas Dunne Books, 2016) by William Shatner and David Fisher, Shatner tells the story of a man who was his friend for five decades, recounting anecdotes and untold stories of their lives on and off set.

As much a biography of Nimoy as a story of their friendship, this heartfelt book also shares stories from others who knew Nimoy well, to present a full picture of his “prosperous” life.

Fifty Candles

F

ifty years ago this month, the final episode of the television comedy series “Mister Ed” was broadcast; the U.S. National Hockey League announced expansion to 12 teams for the 1967 season; a military coup in Ghana brought the National Liberation Council to power and ousted President Kwame Nkrumah; the first operational weather satellite, ESSA-1 was launched; the Dow Jones hit a record 995 points, and the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England, where The Beatles got their start, closed its doors. Notable personalities born in February 1966 who are celebrating their 50th birthday this month include singer-songwriter Rick Astley, opera singer Amanda Roocroft, NFL players Daryl Johnston and Britt Hager, tennis pro Petra Huber, actresses Tea Leoni, Justine Bateman and Jennifer Grant, actor David Schwimmer, supermodel Cindy Crawford and Chef Gordon Ramsay.

6 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

hen it comes to improving your heart health and overall wellness, having a canine companion is just what the doctor ordered. According to a recent survey, dog owners take walks more frequently, for longer periods, at a quicker rate, and are more likely to enjoy an active lifestyle because of their canine companion. The survey revealed that one-quarter of people with dogs regularly make trips to parks and other outdoor areas. Having a dog, or any companion pet, can also provide the social support so crucial to sticking with an exercise program and ultimately improving your overall well-being. To get the most cardio benefit, you need to walk fast enough to get your heart rate up. The America Heart Association indicates that brisk walking is beneficial when done regularly for a total of 30 minutes or longer at least five days a week. Learn more about keeping your heart healthy by visiting www.americanheart.org.

The Top Five To Keep Sex Alive

A

s we gear up for Valentine’s Day, Shelley Emling, a senior editor at The Huffington Post, says it is a misperception that people lose interest in sex as they age. Emling points to study after study that show people want to maintain active sex lives well into their later years. And yet, there are factors such as a natural decline in energy levels that can make those over 50 feel sexually stalled. To prove that sexuality can still be alive and well as we age, Emling enlisted the help of Huff/Post50 sex bloggers to compile a list of suggestions for better sex. Here are their top five recommendations: 1. Stop being hung up on looks.

If you are worried about the sexiness of your post-50 body, you’re going to be distracted and not fully present in a sexual encounter. Stop caring about what you look like during sex and be grateful your body can give you so much pleasure.

2. Think beyond the traditional.

Oral sex, mutual masturbation, the use of personal lubricants, and the addition of sex toys are excellent ways to deepen sexual pleasure and intimacy.

Instead of bemoaning the fact that your body doesn’t respond the way it did in your 20s, get creative. To combat vaginal dryness, gynecologist Dr. Cheryl Iglesia suggests water-based and/or silicone-based lubricants.

3. Communicate, communicate, communicate.

The main driver of better sex after 50 is communication, and not just during sex but continually, during non-sexual settings like at the market, in a restaurant, on the phone, and via text and e-mails. Sexy talk leads to more sex, leading to more talk, leading to more sex, and a wonderful positive loop is created.

4. Pay attention to what you do before having sex.

Don’t eat a heavy meal. Carby, fatty and sugary foods can all trigger a pretty powerful slow-down signal to your brain as soon as these foods hit your gut. And don’t drink too much either. Drinking too much may dull your sensations, making sexual arousal more difficult.

5. Try something completely outside your comfort zone.

This recommendation comes with a caveat: In some states, having sex in a public place is a misdemeanor. So, while you should check your state’s laws first, pulling off a discreet quickie in a place other than your bedroom can be incredibly exciting. Even if you just take it to the living room or kitchen, the goal is to spice things up.

A Little More You Need To Know

The Most Important Thing To Know This Month

It’s Time To Declutter Your Computer

I Where You Need To Go Enjoy The Hijinks Of The Ultimate Court Jesters

T

his month, the world-famous Clown Kings of the Court, the Harlem Globetrotters bring their irreverent display of athleticism to Southern California, celebrating a 90-year tradition of shenanigans, smiles, sportsmanship and service.

In this one-of-a-kind sporting event, the Globetrotters showcase their ball-handling wizardry with rim-rattling dunks, trick shots, hilarious comedy and unequaled fan interaction. The roster of players for this milestone party includes Big Easy Lofton, Ant Atkinson, Hi-Lite Bruton, Thunder Law, Bull Bullard and Cheese Chisholm– plus female stars TNT Maddox and Sweet J Ekworomadu.

Throughout their history, the Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 122 countries and territories on six continents, providing fans with a completely different basketball experience. Proud inductees of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Globetrotters have entertained hundreds of millions of fans – among them popes, kings, queens, and presidents.

The anniversary schedule includes the following dates: February 13 and 14 in Anaheim at the Honda Center; February 16 and 22 at Saddleback College Gym Mission Viejo Tuesday; February 17 in Santa Barbara at the UCSB Events Center; February 20 in Ontario at Citizens Business Bank Arena, and February 21 in Los Angeles at the Staples Center. After the game, the Globetrotters will sign autographs and take photos with fans.

s your computer running slow? Are you having a hard time finding files because your desktop is cluttered with shortcuts?

Over time, unused files and programs clog the memory of your computer and cause confusion during retrieval and use of other files. They may also slow down your computer’s operation.

Cleaning out your computer is a task most of us just never get around to doing. That’s why since 2000, the Institute for Business Technology designated the second Monday in February as National Clean Out Your Computer Day. On February 8 (or any day in February that you choose), take some time out of your schedule to do the following to clean out your computers: • Organize your files and folders.

• Delete junk files.

• Delete duplicate files.

• Delete old files and programs you never use.

• While you’re in a cleaning mood, dust off your keyboard and bust the dust bunnies that may have accumulated around your computer.

For more information click on www.harlemglobetrotters.com.

New Words

Y

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

Here’s what they mean.

Home Skillet: A term of endearment for best friend, girlfriend or boyfriend.

Boo: A boyfriend, girlfriend or significant other.

Romcom: A romantic-comedy movie.

February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 7

A Special Wellness Report New Medicine Based On An 88-Year Old Theory By Albert Einstein Can Help Almost Everyone Who Is Sick Or Injured!

W

hat you are about to read may be the most important information you’ve ever read. Here is why. Albert Einstein was, quite possibly, the most intelligent person who ever lived. His theories and ideas were so far ahead of his time, that even now, the smartest scientists alive are still discovering his value.

One of his theories published in 1917, worked out the theory of how lasers function. However, it was not until May 16, 1960 (43 years later) that the first actual laser was developed by an American scientist. Since then, scientists and inventors have developed many types of lasers and all kinds of uses for them. They can be used as a scalpel that is so delicate, it can be used on the eyes of human beings. Lasers are used to read price codes at your local supermarkets. And they’re used to play music and video on your CD’s and DVD’s.

But now, there is a new type of laser so effective against human disease and injury that it is rapidly changing the practice of medicine. This is a new type of low-level laser which produces an unfocused light that has been...

Registered With The FDA To Be 100% Safe!

Low-level lasers use less than one watt of power and they produce what can best be described as a “Healing Light”. Here is a somewhat un-scientific description of how this “Healing Light” can potentially help reverse the damage done by human sickness and disease.

As you probably know, our entire bodies are made up of cells. The health of all human cells is based on energy. If your cells don’t receive enough energy, they will weaken and the body will become sick.

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For you to be healthy, what your cells need is exactly the right kind and the right amount of energy. Every time you get injured or become sick, the energy flow to your cells is disrupted. Until the proper type and amount of energy is restored, you will remain sick or injured.

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Used By Doctors To Heal Their Patients In The Fastest Way Possible!

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“unhealthy” can cost the sports organization millions of dollars. But here’s something exciting! You don’t actually need to go to a doctor to get laser therapy.

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Billie Jean

King Courting Heart-Health

By David Laurell

B

orn into a conservative Methodist family in 1943, Billie Jean King grew up in Long Beach, California where, as a young girl, she discovered her love and talent for tennis on the community’s municipal courts.

Parlaying that talent into a professional career, King would go on to be ranked as the world’s top women’s tennis player, winning 39 Grand Slam titles. The first female athlete to be named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, King founded the Women’s Tennis Association, Women’s Sports Foundation and served as a co-founder of World Team Tennis.

10 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

After marrying Lawrence King, whom she met while attending California State University, Los Angeles, when she was 22, King became acutely aware of something she had suspected for many years – that her sexual preference was for women. She kept that fact extremely secretive, knowing it would end her marriage, hurt her career and be totally unacceptable to her parents.

Establishing herself as one of the most vocal advocates for the empowerment of women, their rights and sexual equality, 1973 saw King step from the tennis world onto the world stage as she accepted an offer from tennis star Bobby Riggs to compete in a match billed as “The Battle of the Sexes.”

Riggs, then 55-years-old, had been a professional tennis player in the 1930s and 1940s. He had won the Wimbledon men’s singles title in 1939 and was considered to be the world’s top male tennis player throughout the 1940s. When his professional career ended, Riggs, a proud male chauvinist, became a self-described “hustler,” who played in promotional challenge matches. Always disparaging of women’s tennis, claiming that female athletes were far inferior to men, Riggs began a campaign in which he loudly bragged that even at his age he could take on and beat any of the current top female players.

The then-29-year-old King found Riggs’ act deplorable and rejected his challenge until the deal was sweetened with a lucrative “winner-take-all” offer of $100 thousand dollars. A pop culture event that garnered worldwide publicity and coverage, “The Battle of the Sexes,” took place at the Houston Astrodome in Texas on September 20, 1973. It was estimated that over 50 million people in 37 countries watched as King sent Riggs down in defeat in straight sets.

About that match, credited for significantly bringing about a greater recognition to women’s tennis as well as issues pertaining to woman’s rights and sexual equality, King has said: “I thought it would set us back 50 years if I didn’t win. It would [have ruined] the women’s [tennis] tour and affected all women’s self-esteem.”

While King rode the crest of women’s tennis throughout the remainder of the 1970s, her personal life was one of complications. She had begun a romantic affair with her secretary and was forced to acknowledge the relationship publicly in 1981 when, after a falling out, her lover outed her and filed a palimony lawsuit.

The first prominent professional female athlete to publicly admit to being a lesbian, King immediately lost millions of dollars in canceled endorsement contracts while having to deal with her parents’ disapproval.

Years later, publicly stating that her family was homophobic, King said she had tried to be open and honestly discuss her sexuality with them. Their refusal to even talk about the issue, much less be accepting, resulted in King dealing with an eating disorder.

Today, at the age of 72, King is very involved in the Women’s Sports Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. She serves on the President’s Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and, in 2009, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, by President Barack Obama, for her work advocating for the rights of women and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.

In 2013, President Obama also appointed King, along with openly gay hockey player Caitlin Cahow, to represent the United States at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, a move that has been interpreted as the president sending a signal over the controversies regarding Russia’s staunch resistance to the granting of any rights to members of the LGBT community. King was, however, forced to drop out of the delegation due to her mother’s poor health and eventual death on the day of the event’s opening ceremonies.

When not keeping up with what she calls “an extremely hectic” speaking engagement schedule, King splits her time today between residences in New York and Chicago with her longtime partner Ilana Kloss. She also heads up the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, created in 2014 to address the

Photo by Michael Cole critical issues required to achieve inclusive leadership that will lead to significant changes in how women and men operate in the world.

Always a passionate and outspoken advocate for the issues that resonate with her, King has also embraced a mission to address issues pertaining to a serious heart condition she shares with millions of Americans: atrial fibrillation, or AFib; an irregular heartbeat that puts her at one-in-three odds of having a stroke. Since being diagnosed with AFib, she has worked closely with her doctor to establish and maintain treatment that will help prevent a stroke and is speaking out to encourage others with AFib to do the same.

“More than half of AFib patients don’t believe they are at an increased risk of stroke,” says King. “That is why I have teamed up with Janssen [Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] to help those living with AFib by offering a simple tool they can use to calculate their stroke risk online. There are eight simple questions that can help those living with AFib talk to their doctor about stroke risk management.”

King recently sat down with Life After 50 to talk about AFib, which accounts for 15 to 20 percent of all strokes and is diagnosed in as many as six million people annually, making it the most common serious heart-rhythm abnormality in people over the age of 65. We began our conversation with King by asking about the first inclination she had that something was not right with her heart.

February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 11

“Aging is an art.

As we get older, we have to adapt... arrange our way of doing things for what the circumstances call for.”

Photo courtesy BJKLI

Billie Jean King (BJK): Back in the 1990s, I had just finished playing tennis with a friend of mine in New York and was getting out of a cab and I almost blacked out. I knew right away there was something wrong. My heart was pounding and bouncing around and there was no regular rhythm to it at all. I knew something was really wrong, because I had never felt anything like that before in my life and I was really scared. I told my friend who was with me that I needed help up the stairs and I kept saying: “There is something not right.” Then I went to my doctor who gave me an EKG. While he was doing that, he asked me to hold my breath and as soon as I did, I went into AFib again. That’s how it was discovered and as soon as I was diagnosed, my doctor got me right to a cardiologist.

Life After 50 (LA50): Tell us about your progression with AFib over the years.

BJK: The medications I was taking at the beginning were not helping. I had tried a whole lot of different things and nothing worked. Then I began having trouble with my heart beating too fast. My doctor told me I would have to stay on blood thinners for the rest of my life. He said whether I felt anything wrong with my heart or not, I had AFib and would have it for the rest of my life. So now I’m on daily blood thinners and have a full check-up with my doctor three or four times a year. As people get older, there is more of a chance that they may develop AFib, so you really have to pay attention and go to your doctor if you have even the slightest concern that something isn’t right.

12 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

LA50: The statistics that show how prevalent AFib is amongst aging Americans is nothing short of staggering.

BJK: That’s right, and people need to know about it because one-out-ofthree people that have AFib will suffer a stroke – a serious one – a damaging one that can cause death or serious damage. That is why it’s so important for people to go to the Website [www.MyAfibRisk.com] and take the eightquestion quiz to find out if you may have AFib and what your stroke risk is. It takes less than a minute that can save your life.

LA50: Did either of your parents have heart issues?

BJK: Yes. Both of them. My dad had quadruple bypass surgery and he was never the same after that. Shortly before having that surgery, he had been playing racketball and he knew something wasn’t right. He had not told my mom that he had not been feeling well for a while and that he had been having some trouble breathing. But after playing racquetball that day, he was in bad shape, so my mom took him in and that’s when they found out he had a heart problem. Later on, my mother was also diagnosed with AFib as well. And here’s the thing: I’m sure that family history plays a big role in something like this, as it does with any medical issues, but I have learned that AFib can show up in someone with no history of heart problems. I’ve heard of stories of people with no prior problems who have just been totally sideswiped by this. It’s the same with breast cancer. I’ve read that 80 percent of women who get breast cancer have no family history of it. My personal opinion on this is that you never go by your family history. Your body is your

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California optometrists, Dr. Richard Shuldiner and Dr. Harold Ashcraft are using miniaturized telescopes which are mounted in glasses to help Patient using telescopic glasses people who have lost vision to drive and read signs. from macular degeneration functioning” says Dr. Ashcraft, and other eye conditions. a low vision optometrist in Los “Some of my patients Angeles. Even if it’s driving. consider me the last stop for “The major benefit of bioptic people who have vision loss” telescope low vision glasses is said Dr. Shuldiner “most magnifying road signs, traffic people don’t know that there lights and other distance objects are low vision optometrists necessary for safe driving”. who have extensive experience Dr’s Ashcraft and Shuldiner in helping those with vision are members of The International loss.We help people with Academy of Low Vision macular degeneration, diabetic Specialists (www.IALVS.com) retinopathy, RP and other eye and have extensive experience diseases regain function and in working with the visually independence.” impaired.

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Photo courtesy BJKLI body, so you have to listen to it and take care of it. You also have to listen to what your body is saying closely, because from what I understand, many people who experience AFib, especially women, just think they are having an anxiety attack. The most important thing you can do is to be aware and know where to get information. One-out-of three people that have AFib will have a stroke. That is a statistical fact. So you have to pay attention to your heart, and if you feel it bouncing around or feel lightheaded or short of breath, don’t sit around wondering if it may be an anxiety attack or something else.

Get help right away! Then be sure to ask a lot of questions and, if you are diagnosed with AFib, make sure you find out what blood thinner will work best for you.

LA50: You certainly haven’t allowed AFib to stand in your way when it comes to living an active life.

BJK: I take care of myself and yes, I do stay extremely busy. I do a lot of speaking engagements, but my core business is the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative. I travel a ton. I’m also always doing something for the Women’s Sports Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. I know many people would find my schedule and the amount of travel I do to be demanding, which it is. But I’m very good at adapting to things – always have been. I was the only kid in my fourth grade class that would go over to the map and tell everyone that I wanted to travel and point out all the places I would be going [laughs]. I never knew how I would do that, because I knew my parents sure couldn’t afford it. I was never sure about how I was going to travel to all those places, but I just always knew I would.

LA50: You and Ilana have been together for a long time. What do you two do to relax when you have some down time?

BJK: We have been together for 37 years and she is so great – she has been a real gift to me. When I do have the time, I enjoy working out and playing tennis. I’m really trying to play more than I have been. I was just saying last night that I would like be able to play at least two times a week. Now I just have got to figure out a way to carve out the time to do that, because if I don’t specifically carve out the time, it just won’t happen. But I’ve got to get back into it, because Ilana is a great player and she is also younger, so she can kill me [laughs].

LA50: You mentioned you enjoy working out. What does that consist of?

STUDIO PRODUCTION

Job #: PAL 004661_01

LA50: What about your diet? Do you adhere to anything special?

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BJK: I do the stationary bike and try not to pound on my joints, because I’ve had eight knee operations. I ride for about 45 minutes and that gets my heart going. I also do weight-resistance training to try to keep my muscles strong.

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BJK: I’ve started to be very mindful of what I eat and how and when I eat.

I’ve started to count all my calories again, like I did when I was younger. I’m listing everything I eat and what time I’m eating. Then I add my activity time at the bottom of the sheet. I want to stay under 1,500 calories a day for right now and, because of my age, I may not ever want to go above that. I have to keep my weight down, because I’ve had shoulder surgery, foot surgery, knee surgeries, and weight becomes an issue when you have had surgeries like that and even more so as you get older. Maintaining my proper weight has a lot to do with my staying healthy and feeling good.

LA50: Talk a bit more about some of the other issues you have found that come with getting older.

CD: Gary Kelly

AE: George Miranda

PM: Mariah G.

AD: Ian N.

CD: Ian N.

PD: Maira Gutierrez

CW: Jason Rivanis

SM: Rosa Baer

APPROVAL

BJK: Aging is an art. As we get older, we have to adapt. We need to arrange our way of doing things for what the circumstances call for. I think that no matter what anyone has to deal with as they get older, they should always think: “What is the best thing I can do under the circumstance?” Then you have to put the time and effort into whatever gives your life its best quality.

I’ll tell you, emotionally I’m so much better now than when I was younger.

You go through different things during your life, but no matter what you are going through or dealing with, you have to make the best of it. You’ve got to work things through. We all have those days when we wake up and you don’t feel like doing something. But it is in that emotional and physical exertion that you have to gear up to be the best you can be each day. Athletes know that. Participating in any competitive sport teaches you to do that in everyday life – to push yourself when you feel you just can’t go on. You also have to stay totally interested in life and everything that is going on around you.

When I do speaking engagements, I always tell people, even kids, to stop trying to be INTERESTING, and instead be INTERESTED. I think life is more fulfilling when you are interested in what’s going on. That’s what keeps you engaged in life. I’ve always been like that. I drove my parents crazy when I was a kid, because I was always so interested in everything.

OK CHANGES

APPROVAL

Notes:1/2 PG 4C

OK CHANGES

LA50: You have lived through a time that saw you lose all your endorsements when it was revealed that you were a lesbian, to seeing great legal strides and social acceptance made for those in the LGBT community. That has to be gratifying for you to see.

BJK: I’m very happy about it and I think social media has made a huge difference in how far we have come and how things changed relatively quickly when the debate became open to everyone. The politicians heard that a great majority of Americans believed that peoples’ sexual preferences

February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 15 PAL_004661_01_2_1_Sr_Print_ Life_After_50_4.625x11.5_r1.indd 1

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were their own business and that it should be a non-issue. So for me, when that happened, it meant so much to me. I am so happy that I am still alive to see it happen, because many people whom I have known wanted to see that happen and never lived to see it. Everyone just needs to show respect for one another.

We all need to respect every human being and just let people be. I don’t judge others, because I know what that is like to be judged. Hey, I don’t judge anyone for ANYTHING, because I have enough trouble getting my own act together from day to day [laughs]. I think, as humans, we all have a tendency to pass judgment on those that are different from us in any way. I always remind myself not to make judgement on others for any reason. I work at that every single day.

LA50: As one of the early voices for women’s rights and equal rights, it must please you to see a woman running for president in both of the major political parties.

BJK: When I was 12-years-old, I had an epiphany. I knew right then that I was going to dedicate the rest of my life to equal rights for women. So, as a 12-year-old, I was already in the realm of understanding and working towards social justice for everyone. One of the dreams I had as a young girl was to see a woman elected president. I’ve always believed there have been many women who have been and are qualified to be president. I’m not one to push my political beliefs on anyone, but I am a big supporter of Hillary Clinton.

God knows she has the experience for the job. She knows better than any other candidate how Washington works – how the world works. I was a big supporter of hers in 2008, but I also really liked Obama, so that was difficult when they were going up against each other. But this time, it’s very different. I feel she is the most qualified person for the job and I really feel this is her time, so I will be out there working to help make that happen.

LA50: The night President Obama was elected, in what has become an iconic image, Americans saw a cutaway shot on television of the Reverend Jesse Jackson, who had been involved in the civil rights movement since he was in his early 20s, with tears streaming down his face as he watched an African-American elected president. One would have to believe that if Secretary Clinton were to be elected, you would be one of the people they would want to cut away to for your reaction.

Photo courtesy BJKLI

BJK: Well, that would be great. Really great! That I would have lived to see that dream come true for American women and young girls who would then know there is truly nothing they can’t do or aspire to.

LEARN MORE ABOUT AFIB Your risk of an AFib-related stroke can change as you get older. Find out what you can do to help protect yourself. If you have atrial fibrillation, you’re not alone. There are up to six million people with AFib in the United States today. Knowing that, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has partnered with many organizations to create helpful resources you can turn to for help and information. Whether you want to learn if you may be have risk factors or need more information about your condition, explore AFib treatment options, or simply connect with other people who are living with AFib, the resources you need are as close as clicking on to www.MyAfibRisk.com. For everyone that visits the site, Janssen will make a contribution to Mended Hearts, a non-profit peer-to-peer support network that helps heart disease patients, their families and caregivers.

16 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

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February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 17

The

Heartfelt Differences of

Women

Life-Saving Tips for a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Special to Life After 50 by Wendy Elliman

A

s every movie buff knows, heart attacks strike highly stressed portly guys in their 60s and frail older men. That scenario is familiar in hundreds of films: A man gasps with sudden, searing pain, clutches his chest, groans wretchedly and falls to the floor.

Although this cliché persists on the silver screen, we now know that it is, in fact, only partially correct. For many decades, Hollywood took its cue from doctors, who “believed that heart failure was a man’s disease,” says Dr. Chaim Lotan, the past president of Israel’s Heart Society who currently serves as the director of the cardiovascular division at the Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem.

“For women, it was thought breast cancer posed a far greater risk,” says Dr. Lotan. “Even as our understanding of heart disease grew and therapies improved, men remained the focus of research, statistics, diagnosis and treatment.”

For generations of physicians, chest pains in men indicated a precarious heart condition, whereas in women, they most likely signaled a simple panic attack. “It’s only in the past decade that the medical

18 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

profession has recognized its built-in bias,” says Dr. Lotan.

This recognition, he explains, has shed light into the area of heart disease in women. “We know now that heart disease kills as many women as it does men, if not more,” he says. “It is, in fact, the primary killer of women in the developed world, claiming one in four female deaths in the U.S. – fully double the number of those felled by breast cancer, and more than those killed by all cancers combined. We’ve also learned that women usually reach a far more advanced disease stage than men before seeking medical help, making risk of complications correspondingly higher. And, perhaps most significant of all to cardiologists, we’ve discovered that heart disease presents differently in the two genders. That is, men and women with the same condition suffer different symptoms.”

While women were once thought to develop coronary disease five to 10 years later than men, younger women are now known to be equally at risk. Many physicians, however, have yet to catch

up: Even with over eight million women globally dying each year from heart disease, some doctors still see stress rather than heart disease in their younger, female patients. So what should women be doing to help themselves?

KNOW THE SYMPTOMS First, says Dr. Lotan, all women should realize their potential risk, even those who are relatively young and have heart-healthy lifestyle habits: nonsmokers who exercise regularly, drink modestly, eat nutritiously and control their weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and stress levels. Second, all women should be aware of the vague and sometimes silent symptoms of heart attack in their gender so they can rapidly seek appropriate help.

The symptoms are these: • Most common is discomfort or pain anywhere in the chest. While it can feel truly unpleasant like a tightening vise, the sensation of squeezing or fullness is more ambiguous than the excruciating pain experienced by men on the chest’s left side.

• Women experience pain in their arms, back, neck or jaw more commonly than men – gradual or sudden pain that can come and go before growing intense.

• Abdominal pain or pressure (like an elephant sitting on you) is another signal, one often confused with heartburn, flu or stomach ulcer.

• Difficulty breathing, nausea or lightheadedness when inactive can indicate a heart attack is underway.

• Sweating – a cold sweat that feels stress-related, rather than one which comes from heat, exercise or hot flashes.

• Fatigue, even when sitting still. The kind of fatigue that would make even a walk to the bathroom a huge challenge.

Not everyone experiences all these symptoms, but, if a woman has discomfort in her chest, and especially if she has any of the other indications, she should get herself to an emergency room, ideally in an ambulance, as fast as possible.

UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE The new understanding that heart disease is as frequent in women as in men has raised central questions. One is: “Why does the disease present differently in the two genders?” And another: “Why do the risk factors differ?”

The answers are not yet in. Researchers have learned that many traditional risk factors for heart disease such as smoking, diabetes, depression and metabolic syndrome - fat around the abdomen with high blood pressure, blood sugar and triglycerides

pose greater risk to women than to men, but they do not know why.

Other factors belong exclusively or largely to women. Estrogen, that most female of hormones, has been fingered as one of the factors. A woman’s lower levels of estrogen after menopause may be a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease of the smaller blood vessels, something not picked up by standard coronary disease tests. This may explain why heart disease mortality has dropped more sharply for men than for women in the past 30 years.

Estrogen comes up again in the research findings of a British team that was published in late 2015.

The findings showed that women with a certain version of the BRCA 1 gene (the gene whose mutation predisposes to breast cancer) are more likely than women without it to have heart attacks and strokes (unlike men with this gene, who have no increased risk.) The researchers believe the gene combines with naturally occurring estrogen in women and may raise risk of heart disease.

Once diagnosed, there is little difference in how men and women are treated, with women benefitting immeasurably from the revolution of recent decades in treating this “man’s disease.”

Years ago, heart attack patients were typically hospitalized for three to four weeks and then sent home for a long recovery. A third of those patients died within a year. Today, catheterization opens clogged arteries in hours, saves heart muscle and gets patients back to work in days. Mortality is down and, whereas patients in their early 70s were once considered to be the upper limit for catheterization, it is now routinely performed successfully in patients in their 90s and older.

While effective interventions are available, women have to know about them to benefit. In the U.S., Hadassah’s Every Beat Counts™ program reaches thousands of women with educational

events and programs nationwide. But most effective of all is for women to take control of their own health and consciously keep their hearts healthy.

REDUCE THE RISK As with every other health issue, prevention will always surpass cure. “Every step walked, every cigarette unsmoked, every calorie uneaten contributes to heart-heath,” says Dr. Lotan. “An estimated 60 to 70 percent of heart attacks can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle.”

The ways to minimize the risk of heart disease, he says, are these: • Quit or don’t start smoking.

• Exercise regularly. Walking is probably simplest, but taking stairs instead of elevators, a bike instead of a car and doing sit-ups or push-ups while watching television are all useful, too.

• Watch your weight. A BMI of 25 and above or a waist circumference greater than 35 inches (89 cm) indicate overweight.

• Avoid saturated fats, cholesterol and salt.

• Take prescribed medications appropriately (blood pressure medications, blood thinners, aspirin).

• Manage high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Gaining knowledge of heart attack symptoms and what you should be doing to live a hearthealthy lifestyle is a great way of helping to make the movie that tells the tale of your life one that is heartwarming and lengthy.

THE HADASSAH MEDICAL ORGANIZATION

T

he Hadassah Medical Organization is a modern complex of two hospitals, diversified basic and clinical research facilities and medical, dental, nursing and occupational therapy schools. It was originated as a public health clinic set up by two American nurses whom Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc., sent to Jerusalem in 1912. Still under HWZOA auspices, the organization today has 850 physician-researchers, 1,940 nurses and 1,020 paramedical and support staff, who provide hospital services to a million people each year in over 1,000 inpatient beds, 31 operating rooms and nine intensive care units. A flagship of Israel’s healthcare system, the organization has developed and introduced dozens of

procedures, techniques and medical devices.

Blind to race, religion and nationality, it was nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize for building bridges to peace through equality in medical treatment. In 2013, the organization opened its Linda Joy Pollin Cardiovascular Wellness Center, a multidisciplinary undertaking with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, to prevent heart disease and promote heart health. Since its opening, the Pollin Center has been teaching women the importance of healthy living, cooking, eating and exercise.

For more information on the work of the Hadassah Medical Organization click on www.hadassah.org.

February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 19

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February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 21

Could Your Valentine Be Just A Click Away?

America’s top online dating expert on how to make the search for love in cyberspace work for you Special to Life After 50 by Julie Spira

T

oday, many people over 50 are single due to a divorce or the death of a spouse or partner, and are looking to meet someone new. If you’ve been out of the dating game for a while or haven’t been lucky with love online, I have been able to help thousands of people do just that with some very simple suggestions.

With Valentine’s Day upon us, this is the perfect time to either start or restart your search for that special someone. I can assure you, that person may just be a click away.

Whether you’re looking for a date, a causal relationship, a longterm relationship or marriage, online dating is the most efficient way to fill your date card and find a perfect companion.

Are you ready to get started? If so, here are my top recommendations for making online dating a success.

JOIN A DATING SITE There are thousands of dating sites to choose from, so I recommend one with a large amount of members. I have several that I recommend on www.CyberDatingExpert.com in our “Dating Network,” so take a look and also ask your friends which sites they’re using. Some sites I recommend for singles over 50 include www.Match.com, 22 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

www.eHarmony.com, and www.OurTime.com, a site exclusively for singles 50-plus.

Hint: If you’ve been on a dating site for over a year, it’s probably time for a facelift of your existing profile. Start over using a brand new e-mail address and a new catchy user name.

Daters tend to like to view the newest members, so you’ll appear more often in a search.

CREATE AN IRRESISTIBLE PROFILE Creating a great dating profile for singles is something I’ve been doing for over 20 years. I’ve researched and mastered the fine art of profile writing and digital courting. There’s a secret to my magic and you’re about to learn many of the details I teach in my online dating boot camps.

An irresistible profile is a snapshot of you. This includes a catchy screen name to grab someone’s attention, a bio that describes what makes you unique, a variety of profile photos in different settings and things such as preferences in body type, height, location, religion, education and work. Proofreading your profile is an absolute must. Research from proofreading site www.Grammarly.com and www.eHarmony.com revealed that a profile with two spelling errors was

14 percent less likely to receive a positive response.

Know the difference between “there” and “their,” and “you’re” and “your.”

Hint: You’re marketing yourself for a possible future mate, so make each keyword count and be specific about your passions, hobbies and desires.

POST GREAT PHOTOS Both men and women are visual and the selection online is vast. A recent www.Match.com survey showed that 87 percent of singles aged 50 to 70 said physical attraction between partners was a “must have.” If you can afford to get professional photos taken, do so. The typical cost will be about $300 to $400. If that’s not in your budget, grab a friend with a great digital camera or smart phone and have them take 100 photos of you in three different outfits. Your primary photo must be a headshot where you are smiling and looking into the eyes of your potential date. What doesn’t work is posting selfies, photos wearing sunglasses or group photos.

Remember, your potential date has a split second to decide whether to write to you or not. Blurry photos make you look lazy and you won’t be taken seriously. Your secondary photos should include activity shots and always include a full body shot.

Also, be cautious about using touched-up photos.

Everyone appreciates truth-in-advertising, and authenticity is key to finding lasting love online.

Hint: Women should wear a red outfit for their dating profile photo. A research study from the University of Rochester found that women wearing red increased the amount of responses from men.

Men should wear blue.

SELECT YOUR SEARCH CRITERIA Age, distance, interests and desires are big factors.

Being “geographically undesirable” can sometimes make or break a relationship. When it comes to your desired age range, I suggest expanding it by a few years in both directions. Some singles have climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro on their bucket list.

Others are happy staying home watching Netflix.

Some newly divorced or widowed are interested in marriage. Some are just looking to date. Some spend a lot of time with pets, friends, children and grandchildren; others don’t. In your dating profile, you’ll have the chance to select your passions.

If you’re too limited, you won’t be dating much.

Would you move for love? If so, expand your zip code to search in other regions. There’s not a one-size-fits rule with online dating. Most singles complain that many of the profiles just look the same, which is true. They’re filled with clichés of desiring beach walks, watching sunsets, and going from jeans to black tie. Dare to be different.

Hint: If you’re looking for a companion with similar interests, search for those specific activities and be proactive about contacting someone. Use the mutual activity you have in common in the subject line of your e-mail to increase the odds of getting a response.

LEAVE THE NOVEL BEHIND With online dating, brevity is best. Don’t focus on your entire life story. Instead, create a short bio about yourself in the range of 125 to 150 words for a traditional dating site, or two to three sentences on a mobile app. If your profile is too long, you won’t leave anything for the imagination and will have told your entire life story. Remember to keep a little mystery for the date.

Hint: Make your profile easy on the eyes and let your potential date know what it would be like to go on a date with you. If you see the word “I” too frequently in your profile, replace it with “we.”

ASK QUESTIONS Asking a question in your profile or in an e-mail gives a potential date an icebreaker and provides a greater likelihood of getting a response.

Hint: You can say something like: I enjoy hiking.

On weekends I usually hike Paseo Miramar in the Santa Monica Mountains, but haven’t hiked Franklin Canyon yet. Have you?

LEAVE THE DRAMA BEHIND With Internet dating, no one wants to date a “Debbie or Donnie Downer.” Sure you might have deserved more in a divorce settlement, but does your date need to know that? You’ll just come across as being bitter. Conversations about the ex are off-limits when it comes to dating, both online and offline. Financial and medical issues along with politics are touchy subjects. When it comes to disclosing medical issues, if you have a serious medical condition, it’s best to let your date know before you meet. As for other issues – important as they are – the goal of a first date is to have an enjoyable positive experience. If there is any spark, after a few dates, you will be sharing information that could impact the future of your relationship.

Hint: Confidence and positivity are the ultimate aphrodisiacs. Show that you’re happy when you meet someone. You’ll find it is usually contagious.

LOG ON AND SEARCH REGULARY The more engaged you are in the process, the greater chance you’ll meet someone. The more often you log on, “like” someone’s photos, and reply to e-mails, the more often you will appear in a search. Keep your e-mails to five sentences and make sure to ask a question, as it prompts your date to respond.

Hint: Don’t wait. Initiate. Women should be writing to men who will be flattered to see your e-mail in their inbox.

REPLY TO E-MAILS AND SCHEDULE A PHONE DATE Even if you’re not sure it’s a perfect match, if the person writing to you seems like someone you

could be friends with, then send them an e-mail.

Who knows? You might make a friend, a business acquaintance, or who knows, find that magical chemistry. As for when you should respond to an e-mail, if you’re serious about meeting someone, always respond within 24 hours. Remember if someone is writing to you online, they’re writing to several others at the same time. Playing too hard to get will likely backfire. Once you’ve exchanged a few e-mails, ask if they’d like to continue the conversation and schedule a phone call to hear their voice. I have a “cheat sheet” for my clients, so they have talking points and remember to be positive and upbeat. Talk about your favorite travel spots, musical artists, and things you are passionate about.

Hint: End the conversation after about 20 minutes. By that point, you’ll know if you have some sort of chemistry or not. If so, schedule a date. It’s time to take your relationship from online to offline.

START FILLING YOUR DATE CARD Decide what’s manageable for you and start going on a few dates a week. Think about the topics you want to talk about and get prepared for date night.

Remember to ask questions and listen. My friend and author, Valerie Geller, always says to be more interested than interesting.

Hint: Remember to cast a wide net and have fun. Online dating is a numbers game. Don’t get discouraged by a few bad dates. It just takes one.

Even if your date isn’t perfect for you, the more you date, the better dater you’ll become. You may also consider working with a dating coach to speed up the process and have someone to guide you while looking for love in cyberspace.

MEEt JULiE SPiRA

J

ulie Spira is America’s top online dating expert and digital matchmaker. She’s the CEO of www.Cyber-Dating Expert and has been helping singles find love online for over 20 years with her “Irresistible Coaching” programs. She’s the author of the bestseller “The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online” (Morgan James Publishing, 2009).

Click on www.CyberDating Expert.com or call (310) 433-7786 to find out how you can find love online.

You can also follow @JulieSpira on twitter, instagram, Facebook and Linkedin.

February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 23

American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson – New anthology series, FX – Premieres Tuesday February 2 at 10 p.m.

This limited series from co-creators, Ryan Murphy, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, aims to be a retelling of one of the most sensationalized murder trials in American history, without being too sensationalistic about it. Based on the book “The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson”

by Jeffrey Toobin, the series explores the chaotic behind-the-scenes dealings and maneuvering on both sides, and how a combination of prosecution overconfidence, defense shrewdness, and the Los Angeles Police Department’s turbulent history with the city’s African-American community gave a jury what it needed: reasonable doubt. The all-star cast includes John Travolta, Cuba Gooding Jr., Sarah Paulson, Connie Britton, David Schwimmer, Courtney B. Vance and Nathan Lane.

Madoff – New miniseries, ABC – Premieres Wednesday February 3 at 8 p.m.

Oscar winner Richard Dreyfuss stars as the disgraced financier in this twopart miniseries. Inspired by ABC News chief investigative correspondent Brian Ross’ reports and his book “The Madoff Chronicles,” it focuses on the rise and spectacular fall of the imprisoned swindler and the $65-billion Ponzi scheme he concocted. Madoff’s scheme is considered to be the largest financial scam in United States history, but the impact was global.

Losing billions of dollars for clients worldwide, including philanthropic foundations, celebrities, and retirement portfolios, the story of the fall of three-time NASDAQ Chair Bernie Madoff dominated headlines in 20082009. The miniseries explores the complicated family dynamics within the Madoff clan and exposes the motivations and mechanics behind the monumental fraud. Also starring are Blythe Danner, Tom Lipinski, Peter Scolari, Erin Cummings, Michael Rispoli, Frank Whaley, Charles Grodin and Lewis Black.

Kitten Bowl III – New special, Hallmark Channel – Sunday February 7 at noon

Hallmark Channel opens the stadium doors, presenting the nation’s most athletic, adorable and adoptable kittens in a claws-out, paws-out showdown. A Hallmark Channel special event premiering “Su-purr” Bowl Sunday, television personality, author and animal advocate Beth Stern returns to host this year’s gridiron championship. Joining her are play-by-play announcers John Sterling, iconic radio voice of the New York Yankees, and award-winning reporter, sports analyst and commentator Mary Carillo. NFL Most Valuable Player and four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Boomer Esiason will reprise his role as Feline Football League (FFL) Commissioner and ensure these “furr-ocious” felines follow the league’s ferocious rules.

Vinyl – New series, HBO – Premieres Sunday

February 14 at 9 p.m.

HBO’s big new series for 2016 is Terence Winter’s 1970s rock drama.

This series reteams Winter with his “Boardwalk Empire” and “Wolf of Wall Street” collaborator Martin Scorsese, who directed the pilot episode and will serve as an executive producer alongside rock legend Mick Jagger. While the show is brimming with talent behind the scenes, it has plenty in front of the camera as well. “Vinyl” is headed up by Bobby Cannavale as record producer Richie Finestra. He’ll be joined by Olivia Wilde, Ray Romano and Juno Temple as they navigate the powdery excesses of the New York music scene in the late 1970s.

Fuller House – New series, Netflix – Premieres Friday February 26

The Tanner family reboot will follow D.J. Tanner-Fuller as she moves back to the home featured in “Full House” after the death of her husband.

“Fuller House” will see D.J., her best friend Kimmy Gibbler and D.J.’s sister Stephanie trying to raise D.J.’s children in a plot setup similar to the original series. In “Fuller House,” the twist seems to be that the gender roles have been reversed in the spin-off from the original series, where characters played by Bob Saget, John Stamos and Dave Coulier attempted to raise Saget’s character’s children after a car accident killed his wife.

24 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

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February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 25

The Hallowed Hall of Must-Knowtables

By David Laurell Illustration by Mark Hammermeister

Marion

Davies

One of the great comedic actresses to transition from the silent film era into the talkies, Marion Davies was also a film producer and screenwriter, the longtime paramour of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, and a philanthropist whose charity work continues to this day.

T

he fifth and last child born to New York Judge Bernard J. Douras and his wife Rose, Marion Cecilia Douras entered the world on January 3, 1897, in Brooklyn, New York.

From an early age, Marion was fascinated by her older sisters’ theatrical performances in school productions and soon followed in their footsteps, both in performing and by changing her surname to Davies. The name was chosen by the young Douras girls, who saw it on a real estate sign in their Prospect Park neighborhood and felt it had a sophisticated sound that would help them in their professional endeavors.

As a teenager using the name “Marion Davies,” she appeared in theatrical productions at a convent-run high school, began modeling and pursuing a career in show business and, by the time she was 19, had been signed on as a Ziegfeld girl in the famous Ziegfeld Follies.

Using her work with the follies as a springboard, Davies first appeared on screen in 1917’s “Runaway, Romany,” which she also wrote. While “Runaway, Romany” was less than successful, it did serve as a stepping stone for Davies.

She parlayed that work into roles in two 1918 films, “The Burden of Proof” and “Cecilia of the Pink Roses,” the latter financed by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, who desperately wanted to make a name for himself in the film industry and establish a romantic relationship with the then-21-year-old Davies, who was 34 years his junior.

In 1919, Davies starred in the suspense drama, “The Cinema Murder,” which had been produced by Hearst’s company, Cosmopolitan Productions International Film Service, and distributed by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation. That ushered in the time in which Hearst took control of Davies’ career and poured huge sums of money into the 1922 romantic epic, “When Knighthood Was in Flower,” which made her a star. During this time, Davies did begin a romantic relationship with the married Hearst that would last for three decades.

Moving to California, Davies took up residence with Hearst in his elaborate mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean in San Simeon. Known as “Hearst Castle,” the estate, its owner and his mistress became legendary for their elaborate parties, which included attendance by the biggest names from Hollywood and the business and political world such as Carole Lombard, Mary Pickford, Sonja Henie, Dolores del Rio, Charlie Chaplin, Bob Hope, Charles Lindbergh and President Calvin Coolidge.

While Davies continued to star in films throughout the mid-1920s, carving out a niche as a comedic actress who could convey laugher, as well as any thought or emotion, with her expressive eyes, there was reason for concern on the horizon.

With Warner Bros. as the trailblazers, the silent film era was falling victim to the “talkies.” This technology, which was revolutionizing the film industry, was not at all embraced by Davies, who had a slight speech impediment that caused her to stutter. That concern proved to be unfounded and Davies continued to turn in

This feature is intended for you to clip and give to your children or grandchildren because…they must-know!

26 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

commercially successful performances, most notably in two 1930 films: “Not So Dumb” and “The Florodora Girl.”

The relationship between Davies and Hearst – the worst-kept secret in Hollywood – would prove to be a double-edged sword to the actress. Because Hearst oversaw a national newspaper empire, no actress other than Davies received greater newspaper reviews and promotion in Hearst newspapers and newsreels, which were shown in theaters prior to feature films. But while the publicity Hearst generated for Davies made her a household name, her involvement with him clearly hurt her when it came to working with major studios. Hearst had tried to strong-arm executives at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to cast Davies in the role of Elizabeth Barrett in their 1934 film, “The Barretts of Wimpole Street.” Louis B. Mayer, the head of MGM, resented Hearst’s involvement and cast Norma Shearer in the coveted role; not that Davies would have been right for it anyway. That caused a rift between the studio and Hearst who, in retaliation, refused to promote or review any MGM film; a move that, to Hearst’s chagrin, proved to have minimal impact on the studio.

As the 1930s came to an end, Hearst began experiencing financial difficulties and Davies came to his rescue by selling much of a jewelry collection estimated to be worth over one million dollars.

In 1937, with her career in decline, the then-40-year-old Davies appeared in what would be her final film, “Ever Since Eve.” She entered the 1940s despondent and heavily relying on alcohol to deal with her struggling career and the ever-mounting complications of her relationship with Hearst and his family, who always greatly disapproved of the longstanding affair.

In 1947, Hearst, in declining health, was forced to leave San Simeon for Los Angles, where he could receive the proper medical care. He died in Beverly Hills on August 14, 1951, at the age of 88 and his family barred Davies from attending his funeral.

Eleven weeks later, at the age of 54, Davies married an actor of little renown, Horace Brown, a union that, while never a happy one, would last until her death.

Always inclined to have good financial, business and charitable sense, Davies, who had suffered from polio in the 1940s, first began her charity work in 1952 when she donated $1.9 million dollars to establish a children’s care clinic at UCLA, which was changed to The Mattel Children’s Hospital in 1998. She also established the Marion Davies Foundation to fund research for children’s diseases and the Marion Davies Clinic at UCLA Medical Center.

In 1956, Davies had a minor stroke, and later underwent surgery for a bone infection in her jaw. Less than two weeks after having the jaw surgery, she fell in her hospital room breaking her leg.

Never making a complete comeback from her medical issues, Davies was rarely seen in public in the latter years of the 1950s, although she did make one final television appearance on NBC’s “Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood” on January 10, 1960. Shortly thereafter she was diagnosed with the stomach cancer that would claim her life on September 22, 1961, at the age of 64.

Davies’ funeral, held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hollywood, was attended by over 200 people. Following the funeral, she was entombed in a private mausoleum in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Beginning in the 1920s, there has been whispered speculation that Davies and Hearst had a child together – something neither of them ever publicly addressed during their lives. The child, a girl, was rumored to be Patricia Lake (née Van Cleve), who was always introduced as Davies’ niece.

On October 3, 1993, just hours before dying of lung cancer, Lake instructed her son that upon her passing, he was to publicly announce that she was, in fact, Davies and Hearst’s biological daughter.

According to the Lake family, after becoming pregnant by Hearst in the early 1920s, Davies went to Europe to give birth in secret at a hospital outside of Paris. The child was then turned over to Davies’ sister Rose and her husband George Van Cleve who raised her as their daughter. Davies reportedly told Lake of her true parentage when she was 11 years old and Hearst confirmed the same on her wedding day when both Davies and Hearst joined forces to give her away.

LEARN MORE • “The Times We Had: Life with William Randolph Hearst”

by Marion Davies (Ballantine Books, 1977). An autobiography gathered from tapes recorded a decade before Davies’ death.

• “Marion Davies” by Fred Lawrence Guiles (McGraw-Hill, 1972) • “The Chief: The Life of William Randolph Hearst”

by David Nasaw (Mariner Books, 2001)

Mark Hammermeister is an award-winning artist. His work is available for purchase at www.markdraws.com February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 27

Get Cooking with

Anson Williams

From Potsie to panning up perfect portion recipes, the “Happy Days” star serves up his thoughts on aging…positively, passionately and productively Story and photos by David Laurell

G

iving credence to the line from Albert Hammond’s 1972 song, “It Never Rains in Southern California,” it is not just raining in Malibu, it’s pouring. The dark storm clouds hovering over the Pacific serve as a starkly contrasting backdrop to the bright smile being flashed by actor, director and entrepreneur Anson Williams as he sits in a quiet corner of the Malibu Beach Inn’s dining room.

“I have so much going on – things that I’m passionate and excited about,” says Williams, who first came into public consciousness as Potsie Weber on “Happy Days.” “If you have a passion for something and are excited about what you’re doing, you are automatically in a better place,” he continues. “It’s all cause and effect. That’s the best self-help advice ever given, that the lives we live are the effects of every action we take, that we are what we think. That is what it’s all about when it comes to staying vital as we get older. Your thoughts stimulate your mind and then your body follows.”

While Williams is best-known for his role on “Happy Days,” what may come as a surprise to many is that the majority of his work in the

28 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

entertainment business has been behind-the-scenes as a television director of after-school specials, made-for-television movies and popular episodic television shows including “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Melrose Place,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: Voyager,” “Xena: Warrior Princess,” “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “Charmed” and “7th Heaven.”

The other big surprise about the Los Angles native is that his birth name was not Williams but Heimlich, as in Dr. Henry Heimlich, Williams’ cousin (whom he calls “Uncle Henry”) who developed the lifesaving maneuver for treating choking victims.

“He has had a huge influence on my life,” Williams says of Dr. Heimlich. “He was my inspiration for coming up with ideas for products that help people. Things that help them naturally – that help their body work better for them.”

Still the splitting image of the “Happy Days” character he played on the iconic series that was in production for a decade beginning in 1974, Williams, now 66, is the father of five and a successful entrepreneur who oversees Starmaker

Products, the consumer products company he founded.

“I’ve been very successful in the consumer product business,” says Williams. “Although, until I was 50 I didn’t even know what that was,” he adds with a laugh. “Since then, we have introduced over 40 products and I find what I do to be very similar to entertainment. You create a product that fills a void – you address a problem that needs a solution – and then you create a storyline that connects that product with the people who need it. I’ve found it to be very exciting to create something from nothing and then incorporate the creative process to bring it to those whose lives can benefit from it. There is something very empowering and satisfying about doing that.”

Among the numerous products Williams’ company has created is Cool Flash, a completely natural topical gel that has gone through heavy clinical studies. The product brings down a person’s skin temperature when they become overheated or during a hot flash. “We’ve done this without the use of drugs,” says Williams. “That is what I am very proud of, to be able to create and offer products that help people without their having to get on the pharmaceutical merry-go-round. I’m thrilled to

know that some of the things I will leave behind when I’m gone will help people live better lives and even save lives. That’s my passion.”

THE PERFECT PORTION SOLUTION Along with putting the final touches on a soon-tobe-revealed product he says will rival the Heimlich maneuver in saving lives for car, truck and motorcycle drivers, Williams will be spending this month rolling out a revolutionary new cookbook based on his own need to stay fit and within his desired weight while enjoying the foods he loves.

Selected by QVC to be launched on Super Bowl Sunday, Williams’ cookbook, “The Perfect Portion Cookbook,” offers recipes for 150 of America’s favorite comfort foods, from lasagna to apple turnovers, all with perfect portion control using a simple 100-calorie counting system.

“The idea for this cookbook came to me when I was directing ‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager,’ ” Williams recalls. “On the set of every film or television show, craft service is so damaging. There’s just endless food and noshing, which is horrible for your body and your health.

Every time you walk past the craft service table you grab something, which is what I did and really started ballooning up. Then I finally got to the point that I realized just how much damage I was doing to my health and I knew that wasn’t working for me. I have to stay healthy. I have four daughters still at home to support.”

Williams says the answer to getting his eating under control popped into his head while shopping at a market near his Malibu home. “As I was walking through the aisles, it became clear to me how many snacks and foods there are that come in 100-calorie packs,” he reveals. “It’s like the 100-calorie pack is a part of the fabric of our country. I thought: What if you could have all the wonderful comfort foods we all love – chicken pot pies and chili and key lime pie, you name it – all in 100-calorie portions? That way you could say you want a 400-calorie entree and have four portions of the pot pie or of the chili. How easy would that be? So I started formulating that idea in my head and my business partner, JoAnna Connell, began working with Bob Warden, who we met through QVC. He thought it was a great idea, to take the most-loved comfort foods known to man, make them a little healthier but just as tasty, and make each one in a perfect 100-calorie portion.”

Along with Warden, a New York Times bestselling cookbook author and television foodie personality, Williams partnered up with Mona Dolgov, a nutritionist, cookbook author and marketer for the food and kitchen appliance industry, to transform his idea into reality.

“As for creating recipes for a cookbook, I know less than nothing about cooking,” Williams says laughing. “But Bob and Mona know everything

there is to know and we all believed the concept was brilliant. So the book is ready to go and it’s beautiful – really impressive with recipes that are delicious. It’s not a diet cookbook; it’s a lifestyle cookbook. So you can have pasta and mac and cheese and chicken fried steak and cheesecake, anything, and then tailor the portions to what works for you from a calorie standpoint and be totally satisfied. Down the line, we may even look into doing a frozen food brand of perfect portions that I believe would be ingenious.”

making mistakes and learning from them. There are so many mountains to climb for boomers and it just kills me when I see people my age, and even younger, who are on the back nine just wandering around not knowing what to do with themselves. I have friends who are in their 50s who look and act like old men. Their mind is aging them, because their body is following their thoughts. It’s back to cause and effect. They have nothing to stimulate them. I know people who sit around wondering what they can do. You can do everything – anything you want!”

Williams makes his way out to the hotel’s rain-soaked patio that is now drenched in the Malibu sunshine it is far more accustomed to.

“It’s all about the power of positive thinking,” he says as he looks out over the ocean. “You have to fill your mind with your passions and then your body follows along and gets excited about life.”

He pauses for a moment and, looking for all the world like Potsie Weber, gives the “thumbs up” sign.

“Cause and effect,” he repeats. “Cause and effect.”

PREACHING PASSIONATE POSITIVITY As the rain stops, the storm clouds clear and the sun breaks through, bathing the coast in a golden hue, Williams looks out towards the Malibu pier.

“Everything I’m doing today excites me,” he says. “That’s how everyone over 50 should be embracing life. I have a real personal peeve about the societal definition of baby boomers that too many buy into that subconsciously limits them from doing all sorts of new things. We are such an empowered force who have so much to offer. I’m in better physical shape today than I was in my 30s. I’m more on my game than ever before when it comes to ideas. That comes with the worldliness and experience you gain by both having had successes as well as failures – from

For more information on “The Perfect Portion Cookbook” and to order your copy, click on www.theperfectportion.com.

February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 29

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For more information on the shows visit NorthCoastRep.org Box Office: (858) 481-1055 Group Sales: (858) 481-2155, ext. 202 • 987 Lomas Santa Fe Dr., Solana Beach February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 33

Let’s Get OUt

San Diego/Orange County/Inland Empire

February/March

A Preview of Upcoming Events for February/March By Claire Yezbak Fadden

eNteRtAINMeNt MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 OC CHILL Located at the popular outdoor shopping destination, this only outdoor ice skating rink in Orange County. Irvine Spectrum, 71 Fortune Drive, Irvine. $19 includes skate rental or bring your own skates and save $4. (949) 7535180. shopirvinespectrumcenter.com/skate.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16 WHALE WATCHING Witness the longest mammal migration in the world, when approximately 20,000 gray whales pass San Diego on their annual 10,000-mile round-trip journey from the

Bering Sea to the lagoons of Baja California.

Learn about gray whale baleen, barnacles and prey from Birch Aquarium at Scripps naturalists. Leaves daily from San Diego Bay. $40-plus. Through April 17. (619) 234-4111. flagshipsd.com. (858) 534-7336.

GUARDS AT THE TAJ At morning’s first light, a new edifice representing the soaring power of the empire will be unveiled, the glorious Taj Mahal. But for the two hapless guards assigned to protect the palace, morning will set the wheels in motion for a ghoulishly funny existential crisis that will shake their faith in God, the empire and each other. La Jolla Playhouse, UCSD Campus, Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Dr., La Jolla. Dates vary through Feb, 28. Prices vary. (858) 550-1010. lajollaplayhouse.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 RED It’s 1958, and Mark Rothko, abstract expressionist, is at the height of his glory.

In a converted gym deep in New York City’s Bowery, he has begun work on the biggest commission in the history of modern art—and everything is at stake. Rothko’s movement has stomped out cubism, but pop art looms threateningly on the horizon.

South Coast Repertory, Segerstrom Stage, 655 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa.

Dates vary through Feb. 21. $22-plus.

(714) 708-5555. scr.org.

THE LAST MATCH The U.S. Open tennis semifinals are underway.

As the back-and-forth action unfolds, the story journeys inside the minds of two extraordinary players to reveal the lives and the relationships that led to this defining moment. The Old Globe Theatre, Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $29-plus. Through March 13. (619) 234-5623. theoldglobe.org.

JAZZ WEDNESDAYS Local Legends concert featuring Ron Kobayashi with vocalist Darryl Walker.

Laguna Beach Live!, 891 Laguna Canyon Road. Laguna Beach. $25. (949) 715-9713. lagunbeachlive.org.

the nonsense. LifeHouse Theater, 1135 N. Church St., Redlands. Thurs.-Sun. through March 20. $14-$18. (909) 335-3037 ext. 21. lifehousetheater.com.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19 FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Tevye the milkman tries to protect his daughters and his way of life from a changing world. The musical deals with serious issues such as persecution, poverty and the struggle to hold on to one’s beliefs in the midst of a hostile and chaotic environment. Welk Resorts Theatre, 8860 Lawrence Welk Dr., Escondido.

Through April 24. $49-plus. (888) 8027469. welktheatre.com.

LAS CAFETERAS The band fuses the unique sound of East Los Angeles with Afro-Mexican rhythms, zapateado and powerful lyrics, blending poetry with the regional folk music style of traditional Son Jarocho for a vibrant remix.

California Center for the Arts, Escondido, Center Theater, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. Prices vary. (800) 988-4253. artcenter.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17

WICKED

Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One – born with emerald-green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. This musical tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. Through March 6. $44-plus. (714) 556-2787. scfta.org.

34 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

THE METROMANIACS In 18th century Paris, young people like Damis have gone métromanie—crazy for poetry. Indeed, Damis has fallen in love with a mysterious poetess sight unseen, charmed by her verse alone. But unbeknownst to him, his beloved is actually a middle-aged gentleman named Francalou.

The Old Globe Theatre, Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $29-plus. Through March 6. (619) 234-5623. theoldglobe.org.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND Journey to the curious world of Wonderland where things are not always what they seem. All the favorite madcap characters are here, but Alice discovers truth amidst

PINOCCHIO In this new, highly theatrical adaptation, four actors play the roles to tell the story of the misbehaving puppet on his way to becoming a real boy. Get set for lots of clowning and physical comedy, and don’t be surprised when everyday objects like paintbrushes and ladders are transformed into all the necessary props and costumes. South Coast Repertory, Julianne Argyros Stage, 655 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. Through Feb. 21. $26-plus. (714) 708-5555. scr.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20 COUNTRY LIVE! AT THE MERC Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, 42051 Main St., Temecula. Sundays. $12. (866) 653-8696. temeculatheater.org.

CALeNDAR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 LOUIS AND KEELY: LIVE AT THE SAHARA American musical sensations Louis Prima and Keely Smith pioneered the lounge act in Las Vegas in the ‘50s and ‘60s. This show features many of the duo’s greatest hits including “That Ol’ Black Magic,” “Hey Boy Hey Girl” and “What is This Thing Called Love.” Even Frank Sinatra appears in this new American musical play, featuring a hot seven-piece live band. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach.

Dates vary through March 26. Prices vary.

(949) 497-2787. lagunaplayhouse.com.

NOW YOU SEE IT This outrageously funny farce by Georges Feydeau, takes audiences on a dizzying escapade fueled by jealousy bordering on paranoia, a philandering husband, hypnotism, a spurned lover and a scandalous discovery.

Furiously fast and clever, this visual and verbal treat is guaranteed to tickle your funny bone.

North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Suite D, Solana Beach.

Wed.-Sun. through March 20. Prices vary.

(858) 481-1055. northcoastrep.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25 THE CHIEFTAINS The traditional Irish band, led by Paddy Moloney, master of the pipes and tin whistle, is backed by Matt Molloy on flute and Kevin Conneff on bodhran drum. California Center for the Arts, Escondido, Concert Hall, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. Prices vary. (800) 988-4253. artcenter.org.

February/March San Diego/Orange County/Inland Empire JAZZ AT THE MERC Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, 42051 Main St., Temecula. $15. (866) 653-8696. temeculatheater.org.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5

THE DAN BAND The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. Prices vary. (949) 4968930. thecoachhouse.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27

SUNDAY, MARCH 6

YOUNG DUBLINERS The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. Prices vary. (949) 4968930. thecoachhouse.

COMPOSTING WORKSHOP Learn how to use your yard clippings as a resource, naturally achieve a beautiful, health yard and garden and reduce your use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Living Coast Discovery Center, 100, Gunpowder Point Dr., Chula Vista. Shuttle to entrance from parking lot. $9-$14. Sundays. (619) 409-5900.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 CABERET AT THE MERC Rising Stars. Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, 42051 Main St., Temecula. $20. (866) 653-8696. temeculatheater.org.

MARCH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2 JAZZ WEDNESDAYS Brazilian guitarist and vocalist Téka and the New Bossa Quartet. Laguna Beach Live!, 891 Laguna Canyon Road.

Laguna Beach. $25. (949) 715-9713. lagunabeachlive.org.

FRIDAY, MARCH 4 THE MIRACLE WORKER The story of Helen Keller and her remarkable teacher, Anne Sullivan are told in this American classic tale. Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. Through April 10. Prices vary. (619) 437-6000. lambsplayers.org.

DAVID CROSBY Using only his voice and guitar, legendary singer-songwriter David Crosby performs a repertoire spanning his entire career, including new songs from his solo album, “Croz” and his 1971 solo debut, “If I Could Only Remember My Name.” He will also perform selections from The Byrds, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. $39-plus. (714) 5562787. scfta.org.

COUNTRY LIVE! AT THE MERC Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, 42051 Main St., Temecula.

Sundays. $12. (866) 653-8696. temeculatheater.org.

thelivingcoast.org.

THURSDAY, MARCH 10 LIVE AT THE MUSEUM YuEun Kim and Ines Thome. Laguna Beach Live, The Ranch at Laguna Beach, 31106 S. Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach. Prices vary. (949) 715-9713. lagunabeachlive.org.

THE HISTORY (AND MYSTERY) OF THE UNIVERSE Recognize your place as a crew member on Spaceship Earth as it speeds through the universe. Your captain is R. Buckminster Fuller, one of the most remarkable thinkers in American history. San Diego Repertory Theatre at the Lyceum Space, 79 Horton Plaza, San Diego. Dates vary through April 3.

Prices vary. (619) 544-1000. sdrep.org.

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW A satirical tribute to the science fiction and B-list horror movies of the 20th century, the show centers around two naïve lovers, Brad and Janet. Seeking shelter from a thunderstorm, they find themselves thrust into the laboratory of the cross-dressing mad scientist Dr. Frank ‘N’ Furter. Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St., San Diego. Dates vary through May 1. $34. (619) 337-1525. cygnettheatre.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 11

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28

LADINO SOUL

Crime, passion, murder and seduction are the dramatic themes woven through Ladino Soul’s repertoire. “Ladino” refers to the language spoken by Spanish Jews, expelled from Spain in 1492. Performed by internationally-acclaimed soprano Ronit WidmanLevy and guitar virtuoso, Angel Romero, the music of Ladino Soul travels through time and space, finding its sails between the Mediterranean Aegean, and Adriatic Seas, from Spain to Turkey, North Africa to the Middle-East. California Center for the Arts, Escondido, Center Theater, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. Prices vary. (800) 988-4253. artcenter.org.

COMEDY AT THE MERC PseudoRandomNoise! performs improvisational comedy. Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, 42051 Main St., Temecula. $12. (866) 653-8696. temeculatheater.org.

ROSANNE CASH Fresh from winning three Grammy awards, Cash performs songs from her album, “The River and The Thread,” and other favorites.

February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 35

CALeNDAR

February/March San Diego/Orange County/Inland Empire Cash’s sound draws equally from country, blues, gospel, folk and rock for a sound that is all her own. Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation, 15498 Espola Rd., Poway. $49-$69. (858) 668-4798. powayarts.org.

SATURDAY, MARCH 12

KRISTIN CHENOWETH Backed by a 12-piece orchestra, Chenoweth performs a collection of beloved songs from stage, film and her first live album, “Coming Home.” Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. $39-plus. (714) 556-2787. scfta.org.

SUNDAY, MARCH 13 LOREENA MCKENNITT TRIO Traditionally performing with her band in large concert halls around the world, this unique series features McKennitt in the trio formation that garnered her a 2012 Grammy nomination for “Troubadours on the Rhine.”

Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. $49-plus. (714) 5562787. scfta.org.

LAURA ELLIS: IN A JAZZ MOOD Ellis and her Jazz Noir band perform vintage jazz melodies including “That Old Black Magic,” “The Heat is On” and “Route 66.” Club M-Moonlight Cabaret, Moonlight Amphitheatre Stage, 1200 Vale Terrace Dr. Vista, $80. (760) 724-2110. moonlightstage.com.

eXHIBItIONs SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21 HELEN LUNDEBERG: A RETROSPECTIVE Featuring approximately 70 paintings, this exhibition surveys Lundeberg’s career, beginning with her landmark Post-Surrealist paintings of the 1930s. By the late 1950s Lundeberg was working on a larger scale. She simplified her style into broad, flat areas of color and, though never a pure abstractionist, played a key part in the “hard-edge” tendency in mid-century painting. Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Dr., Laguna Beach. Through May 30.

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

NEIL SHIGLEY: INVISIBLE PEOPLE, INVISIBLE STRUCTURES This exhibition focuses on his portraits of San Diego’s homeless population. Shigley’s works include large-scale graphic, block prints and graceful hyper-detailed graphite drawings portraying the faces of San Diego’s homeless population. San Diego History Center, Casa

36 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

SUNDAY, MARCH 13

MEL BROOKS…BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN!

Join Mel Brooks for an exclusive, inside look at his storied career, and the making of the legendary and groundbreaking movie “Blazing Saddles.” This outrageous masterpiece, considered one of the top comedy films of all time, will be presented on the big screen followed by a live conversation and audience Q and A with Mel Brooks himself. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. $49-plus. (714) 556-2787. scfta.org.

craft icons that represent each of the 50 states. These objects highlight distinctive materials, excellence of workmanship, and makers’ imaginations. Exploring regional and national craft traditions while expressing each state’s unique contribution to the richness of the American experience, this exhibition celebrates the variety of craft found in America. Mingei International Museum, Balboa Park, 1439 El Prado, San Diego. Through Feb. 21. $7-$10.

(619) 239-0003. mingei.org.

De Balboa, Balboa Park, 1649 El Prado, San Diego. Through April 10. $6-$8. (619) 2326203. sandiegohistory.org.

THE HISTORY AND THE HAIR STORY 400 Years Without A Comb. This exhibition follows hair trends from Africa, into the slave trade, through the civil rights movement and to modern times. Artifacts on display include old flattening irons, wooden combs, hair implements, products, historical accounts, advertisements, original artwork and photos.

The California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. Thurs.Sun. through March 6. $8. (760) 839-4138. artcenter.org.

COAST TO CACTUS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA This new, permanent exhibition showcases an amazing diversity of plant and animal life found along the southern California coastline, mountains and deserts. Using specimens from the museum’s scientific collections, hands-on exhibits, live animals and innovative media, this exhibit illustrates the region’s richness by journeying through these habitats and the plants and animals that live in them. San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego. $15-$27. (619) 2323821. sdnhm.org.

centuries in the Americas before it was discovered in 16th century Mexico

by Hernán Cortés and other Spanish conquistadores. The bug’s juice was found to create a red dye unparalleled by any other in nature, thus changing art, science, fashion and history forever. Bowers Museum, Mary Muth Wing 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana. Through March 20. $10-$15. (714) 5673679. bowers.org.

THE RED THAT COLORED THE WORLD This exhibition tells the extraordinary story of the cochineal bug, which had been in use for

MADE IN AMERICA: CRAFT ICONS OF THE 50 STATES This exhibition, over two years in the making, features traditional and contemporary iconic

R. LUKE DUBOIS — NOW New York-based DuBois has produced a prodigious body of work ranging from musical composition and collaborative performance to large-scale public installations, film and generative computer works. This survey demonstrates that he operates at the intersections of the visual, the performative and the time-based. Orange County Museum of Art, 850 San Clemente Dr., Newport Beach. Wed.-Sun. through Feb. 28. $10. (949) 7591-1122. ocma.net.

Get the Word Out. E-mail your announcements to Claire Fadden, cfadden@lifeafter50.com 60 days prior (or even earlier) to your event.

Include a brief description, location, date, time, cost, phone and website. Submission does not guarantee publication.

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Rick Steves’ Travels The Rock and Romance of Gibraltar Rick St eveS’ t RavelS

By Rick Steves

W

henever I find myself in southern Spain, I can’t resist a visit to the British colony of Gibraltar and that famous rock standing boldly above the sea.

The Rock of Gibraltar is a geographical icon – a limestone promontory that rises 1,398 feet above the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The property of the United Kingdom, most of the rock’s higher ground includes a labyrinth of tunnels and a nature reserve that serves as home to an estimated 300 Barbary macaques.

For most people, their first visit to Gibraltar comes with the surprise that the 30,000 inhabitants who live along the three-mile lip of land under the Rock of Gibraltar are not Spanish but English. In fact, quirky Gibraltar is determinedly not Spanish at all. The colony is actually part-British and partGibraltarian. Gibraltarians have their own currency (It’s the pound sterling but, like the Scots, they have their own version) and their own Web domain (gi).

Gibraltar also serves as the headquarters of Europe’s Anglican Church.

Gibraltar’s economy, once dominated by the military, is now based mostly on tourism and quickie weddings. Only 48 hours’ notice is required to acquire the proper documentation for a marriage license in Gibraltar that is legally British. Actor Sean Connery was married here. And, of course, as any Beatle fan worth their salt knows, Mr. and Mrs. John Lennon also “got married in Gibraltar near Spain,” as was documented in the 1969 song, “The Ballad of John and Yoko.”

38 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

While the British military presence in Gibraltar is now dwarfed by the presence of sun-seekers, the colony is encrusted with military memories – stout ramparts, war memorials, and 30 miles of defenserelated tunnels that were drilled into the colony’s famous rock. As you drive the military roads that take you to the summit of the rock, you notice big rusted iron rings spiked into the pavement every 20 yards. These rings were designed to enable soldiers to hoist up the giant cannons that once helped the Brits seal off the Mediterranean.

In spite of its British correctness — which many Americans find annoying — the town of Gibraltar is a humble one. For sightseers, the attraction is, of course, the rock itself, with its viewpoint on the summit, gregarious macaques (whose presence here supposedly assured the continued British control of the colony), and siege galleries. Several hundred yards of the tunnels are open, giving tourists a chance to hike across the face of the rock and actually peer out from the cannon holes back at Spain. A gondola lifts visitors to the summit, or you can join a taxi tour instead. Gibraltar’s taxi drivers are trained to give an interesting tour around the rock with several stops, grand views, and — the highlight for many — interaction with those precocious macaques.

Old England seems to permeate the culture and tales of Gibraltar. As I once taxied high above the port, my driver pointed down to a tiny breakwater and said: “That’s where they pickled Admiral Nelson after the Battle of Trafalgar.” While he won that

battle, Nelson did lose his life in the process, and, according to local legend, his body was preserved in a barrel of spirits for the trip back to London.

The Gibraltar business sense, as its culture, is quirky and not suitable to everyone’s taste. The hotels are twice as expensive as those across the border in Spain — and not as comfortable. And then there’s the food. For well over a decade, I’ve been saying that English food is no longer as bad as its reputation. However, as a disclosure, I must state: “Except in Gibraltar.” This is, by no means, a desirable destination for a gastronome.

And as far as the prices for food — or just about anything — businesses pad their bottom line by gouging anyone who spends Euros. Gibraltar business people are quick to say they happily take Euros. It is only when you are presented with your bill and make payment that you realize there is about a 20-percent loss in the exchange rate.

Nevertheless, Gibraltar tourism is booming. It is a corner of the world that should, by all means, be explored, and will always be an exotically romantic local from which to have one’s marriage certificate issued.

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.

February 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 39

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And Finally...

The Bookworm’s Best A Life After 50 book review

by Terri “The Bookworm” Schlichenmeyer

Drinking in America: Our Secret History

By Susan Cheever

F

or most people, the spirit moved you at least once. It moved you to babble more than normal, gladhand a little too much, and generally become much more gregarious or affectionate. The spirit moved you and you paid dearly for it, with something you said or did, or, at the very least, with the way you felt the next morning – the cottonmouth and pounding headache.

If you can relate, pick up a copy of the new book “Drinking in America” by Susan Cheever and you’ll see that you’re in good historical company.

It all started, says Cheever, with the Pilgrims. They set off from England to America in 1620 and arrived late in the fall, cold, hungry, and “running out of beer.” That wouldn’t have been a problem, except that beer for the Pilgrims was rather important, and so one of the first things they constructed in the New World was a brew house.

Within a decade after their first (very rough) winter, the Pilgrims were joined by the Puritans, a group that was more aristocratic than the Pilgrim “riff-raff.” They helped ensure that the New World had taverns in which everyone drank, including children and even infants.

“By the time of the Revolution,” writes Cheever, “the Colonists’ drinking habits had escalated until each was drinking almost twice as much as the average person drinks today.” George Washington was happy to profit from alcohol, but John Adams’ family suffered from inherited alcoholism and, by the early 1800s, drinking to excess was beginning to be seen as a bad thing. In 1805, the doctor to the Founding Fathers encouraged temperance. Then again, he also believed that alcoholism caused spontaneous combustion.

Americans rebelled over whiskey taxation before they ran to rum “with a side of cider,” thanks to Johnny Appleseed. Alcohol affected how Native Americans perceived white newcomers, who gave them stronger liquor than they could make themselves. Booze was a means for slaveholders to control their slaves, a way for doctors to perform surgery during the Civil War, and a method for settlers to bond. It was famously prohibited (although few took the ban seriously), and it affected the health of countless men and women. Alcohol might have caused the death of a president and it almost brought this country to the brink of war.

We are, by and large, a nation that likes our booze, and in “Drinking in America,” you’ll see how that’s nothing new: We come from a long line of party animals. And yet, some of us aren’t necessarily proud of that. Cheever adds a personal spin throughout her book in anecdotes about her father, who was an alcoholic, and the struggles he had. Those observations act as a buffer between her tales of booze, bars, people who encouraged drinking, those against it, and how alcohol changed America, which all makes for a compelling read that goes down like a smooth glass of merlot after a long day.

Whether you’re a drinker or a teetotaler, this is a fascinating nip of history that I highly recommend… if the spirit moves you.

“Drinking in America: Our Secret History” by Susan Cheever,.2015, Twelve, $28, 259 pages The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer who lives on a hill with two dogs and more than 12,000 books. You can read more of her book reviews 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 the release of “Valley of the Dolls,” the debut novel of writer Jacqueline Susann. The word “dolls” was a euphemism for the female characters’ reliance on narcotics and how the pills were akin to a young girl clinging to her dolls for comfort. The word also represented how the women were “played with as toys” by the misogynist men in their lives. The book became the most successful work of fiction of 1966, sitting atop the bestseller list for 22 weeks. Since then, it has sold more than 30 million copies, making it one of the best-selling books of all time. The first roman à clef by a female author to achieve this level of success, its sales were fueled by aggressive and innovative promotion conceived by Susann and her husband, press agent Irving Mansfield. Susann traveled worldwide promoting the novel, appearing on talk shows and doing book signings. While it was reported – and always adamantly denied – that Susann invested huge sums of her own money to have her book bought up in every major city sparking its bestseller status, she did admit to writing down the name and address of every person she met at book signings and sending them thank you cards promoting her two immediate follow-ups, “The Love Machine” and “Once Is Not Enough.” In 1967, seven years before Susann’s death, “Valley of the Dolls” was adapted into a film of the same name that starred Susan Hayward, Barbara Parkins, Sharon Tate, Patty Duke, Paul Burke, and Lee Grant.

42 LIFEAFTER50.COM February 2016

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