Life After 50 November 2016

LOS ANGELES METRO NOVEMBER 2016

lifeafter50.com

southern california

Unjumbling

THE JUMBLE OF

MEDICARE

Be Grateful!

YOUR BEST

AGE IS NOW!

The American Story of

B.J. THOMAS

JERRY

WEST

A warrior for heart health

Let’s face it…

Alzheimer’s is tough

Let’s face it… together 24/7 844.HELP. ALZ alzgla.org

…including Inland Empire and parts of Ventura County

Don’t confuse us with other Alzheimer’s organizations.

Look for the

Contents

November 2016

10

18

22

Cover Profile

Departments

10 Jerry West

6 50-Plus: What You Need to Know

The legendary Laker is now a warrior for heart health.

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

Features

The best in November television.

18 Unjumbling The Jumble Of Medicare In 2017

Clarifying the basics and changes and what it means for you.

22 Be Grateful! Your Best Age Is NOW!

Psychotherapist Dr. Robi Ludwig says today is the day to be your best.

26 The Hallowed Hall Of Must-Knowtables – Alfred Lunt And Lynn Fontanne

Legendary notables that everyone, of every age, should know.

28 The Look Of Life After 50 – B.J. Thomas

The singer shares insight on his marriage, music and more.

28

32 Tuned In To What’s On

34 Let’s Get Out

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

38 Rick Steves’ Travels

Take a taste of Europe’s most tempting treats.

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 courtesy of Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

All material published within this issue of Life After 50 and on www.lifeafter50.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...

The Power Of A Little Gratefulness

W

hile preparing this issue of Life After 50, I was working remotely from New York, Boston and Canada, where I was conducting interviews and photo shoots for future stories. As anyone who travels frequently is well-aware, the process of getting from one place to another in today’s world could severely challenge the patience of Job. While some of the patience-challenging events I encountered during my travels were man-made, others included storms that resulted in a 24-hour delay in departing Nova Scotia and a two-hour wait on the runway of New York’s Kennedy Airport (that included a return to the gate and a four-hour delay in taking off). These are things my friends in the legal profession call force majeure, which basically means even God has issues when it comes to providing consistently good service.

And yet, as I have come to realize whenever I encounter frustrating blips, there are seemingly always positive things happening that have a way of counterbalancing anything bad, even a frightful nor’easter. Those things – usually small things – come from a person who possesses the awareness that something is askew and has the kindness and desire to correct it.

I encountered such a person in Nova Scotia when, wind-blown, frigid and more than a bit cranky, my wife and I stopped into a city market to thaw out. After getting coffee from a woman who was operating a little stall, we took a seat in a nearby common area. A few moments later, the woman appeared at our table with a big smile, told me she had just put on a new pot of coffee and would be right back with the fresher brew.

There was no reason for her to leave her stall, track me down, make that offer and then make good on it, but she did. I’m sure she has no recollection of doing it, and to most, her act would be viewed as being small and insignificant. But it wasn’t. It was a gesture of kindness that was rendered at just the right moment, which, in turn, conjured up a feeling of gratefulness that immediately changed my mood.

While traveling, I was editing stories for this issue, including Dr. Robi Ludwig’s feature on the importance of gratefulness. In her piece, Ludwig says we should always be thankful and grateful for even the smallest things, because by focusing on gratitude, we release brain chemicals that can have a positive effect on our overall mood and emotional well-being.

Now back in my Southern California office, putting the final touches on this issue, I know I have much to be thankful and grateful for – good health, my wife, friends, a job, a home – the list goes on and on. But those are the big things. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I’m finding myself a bit more aware of the many little things that occur each day that I should be thankful and grateful for. I’m also thinking about that Nova Scotian coffee vendor and how you never know, on any given day, by being just a little more aware and a tad kinder, we all have the power to give someone a reason to be grateful, to change their mood, their day, or, perhaps, if you hit it at just the right moment, even their life.

David Laurell, Editor-in-Chief

4 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

Publisher Valarie Anderson Editor-in-Chief David Laurell

Account Executives: San Diego County/Orange County Phil Mendelson Phil@LifeAfter50.com Travel/Los Angeles James Thomopoulos James@LifeAfter50.com

Associate Editors Steve Stoliar Claire Yezbak Fadden Art Director Michael Kraxenberger Graphic Designer Nour BouChakra

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

Editorial Assistant Max Andrews Controller Kacie Cobian Human Resources Andrea E. Baker Business Manager Linda Lam Billing Supervisor David Garcia VP Of Operations David Comden

To contact our editorial department: (818) 563-1007

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©2016 Southland Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved

A November Thought “If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness.

It will change your life mightily.”

– Gerald Good

50

Take A Shot

Plus

What You Need To Know

By Claire Yezbak Fadden and Max Andrews

Change Your Life In Five Minutes

M

any people have made positive changes in their lives by keeping a daily gratitude journal and, with Thanksgiving looming, many more would like to begin the process. Now, with the help of Intelligent Change, whose mission is to help people create positive habits, you can arm yourself with “The Five Minute Journal,” that will help you focus on the good in your life, become more mindful, grateful, and live with intention. With a simple structured format, “The Five Minute Journal” will help you start and end each day with gratitude, providing you with increased happiness and optimism. “The Five Minute Journal” was designed for those who have trouble sticking to a commitment and have started and stopped journals before. With this simple guided format, you’ll create a daily empowering habit that will assist you in focusing on taking the necessary steps towards bringing more positivity into your life. This fascinating guide was created based on the findings of The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley who worked in collaboration with the University of California, Davis to do a multi-year study on the science and practice of gratitude. Here is what they found: Maintaining a daily gratitude journal provided positive results in building stronger immune systems and lowering blood pressure; stimulating higher levels of positive emotions of joy, optimism and happiness; instilling more generosity and compassion, and diminishing the feelings of loneliness and isolation. To learn more about “The Five Minute Journal,” click on www.intelligentchange.com.

P

neumococcal disease, including pneumonia, bacteremia and bacterial meningitis, is a serious health threat. Each year, it causes the deaths of approximately 40,000 Americans, most of them over 65 years of age. U.S. Public Health Service data suggest that nearly half of those deaths could be prevented if people in high-risk groups were given the pneumococcal vaccine.

There are two vaccines for the most common types of bacterial pneumonia, one old and one new. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that a person get each shot, one year apart, then a booster of the old one five years later. You are then protected for life. The CDC also recommends a yearly flu vaccine, which protects against bacterial pneumonia. For more information about pneumonia or vaccines, click on www.cdc.gov/vaccines.

Remembering Marilyn

Fifty Candles

F

ifty years ago this month New Orleans received the NFL’s 16th franchise. The Beatles began recording sessions at Abbey Road Studio for their “Sergeant Pepper” album. Astronauts Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin returned to earth in Gemini XII. Sandy Koufax became the first three-time Cy Young Award winner in MLB history. NBC became the first network to televise their entire lineup in color. John Lennon met Yoko Ono at an avant-garde art exposition at Indica Gallery in London.

Muhammad Ali scored a TKO over Cleveland Williams in three rounds for the heavyweight title. Notable personalities born in November 1966 who are celebrating their 50th birthday this month include NFL player Troy Aikman, actors David Schwimmer, Bradley Gregg and Michael Kenneth Williams, Chef Gordon Ramsay, actresses Daisy Fuentes, Rachel True and Alison Doody, astronaut Mark T. Vande Hei and guitarist Paul Gilbert.

6 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

S

he was one of the most famous females of the 20th century. But there was more to Marilyn Monroe than fame, beauty and sex appeal.

That is made abundantly clear in Boze Hadleigh’s new book “Marilyn Forever” (Taylor Trade Publishing, 2016). Separated into four segments, “Victim,” “Vixen,” “Valentine” and “Venus,” the tome explores different stages of Monroe’s life and image. The book comprises hundreds of celebrity quotes which offer myriad viewpoints and insights about the controversial star who was brainier and braver than is generally thought. Pointing out that there is still much to learn about the blonde goddess who continues to fascinate a global audience, even 54 years after her untimely death, “Marilyn Forever” provides more than a few surprises. A sex symbol and enormously talented entertainer, she was praised, criticized, and adored during her lifetime. After her tragic and untimely death she became an enigmatic icon whose legacy continues to thrive.

A Little More You Need To Know

Where You Need To Go

‘Tis The Season To Get Magically Nutty

W

hat holiday season would be complete without enjoying a performance of “The Nutcracker.” This classic yuletide favorite, set on Christmas Eve in 1912, tells the story of a young girl named Clara who receives a magical nutcracker doll, and sets out on a wondrous journey to the Land of the Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. Toy soldiers, life-sized dancing dolls, and a fantastic dream with battling mice, dancing snowflakes, waltzing flowers and the delightful Sugar Plum Fairy stir the imagination. There are many performances throughout Southern California including the following: • America Ballet Theatre: December 10 to 20: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. $39plus. www.scfta.org.

• City Ballet of San Diego: December 8 to 24: Spreckels Theater, 121 Broadway, San Diego. Prices vary. www.cityballet.org.

• California Ballet Company: December 8 to 18: Civic Theatre, 1110 Third Ave., San Diego. $25-plus. www.sandiegotheatres.org.

• Inland Pacific Ballet: November 26 to December 4: Lewis Family Playhouse, 12505 Cultural Center Dr., Rancho Cucamonga. December 10 to 11: Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside. December 17 to 18: Bridges Auditorium, Pomona College, 450 North College Way, Claremont. $38-plus. www.ipballet.org.

• Long Beach Ballet: December 10 to 18: Long Beach Convention Center, 330 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. $34-plus. www.longbeachballet.com.

The Most Important Thing To Know This Month

Make Holiday Safety Your Top Priority

W

ith the holiday season upon us, the kitchen becomes the heart of most American homes as family and friends gather and pitch in with the preparation of meals and baked goods. With the kitchen being used more often than usual, especially by those who may not be familiar with it, keeping safety in mind is vitally important.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed

by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. Their statistics show that unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in fires, serious injuries and deaths.

As you start preparing your holiday schedule and organizing those big family feasts, remember, by following a few simple safety tips you can enjoy time with your loved ones and keep yourself and your family safe from fire.

• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking and check on your stovetop and oven frequently.

• Keep children away from the stove, hot food and liquids.

• Keep the kitchen floor clear of toys, pocketbooks or bags.

• Be sure cords from an electric knife, coffee maker or mixer are not dangling off the counter within reach of a child or pet.

• Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.

The National Fire Protection Association is a global nonprofit organization, established in 1896, devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. As part of NFPA’s mission they have produced easy-to-use educational programs, tools, and resources for all ages and audiences that can be accessed by clicking on www.nfpa.org.

• Los Angeles Ballet: December 3 and 4: Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. December 10 and 11: Dolby Theatre, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.

December 16 to 18: Royce Hall, 340 Royce Dr., UCLA Campus, Los Angeles. December 22 to 24: Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach. $36-plus. www.losangelesballet.org.

• Ventura County Ballet: November 21 and 22: Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard. December 4 to 6: Ventura College Performing Arts Center, 4700 Loma Vista Rd., Ventura. $35. www.venturacountyballet.com.

New Words You might not find all of these words in a dictionary yet, but they’re a part of the everyday American vocabulary. Here’s what they mean.

Prebuttal: A response formulated in anticipation of a criticism; a preemptive rebuttal.

Squee: A cry or squeal expressing great excitement or delight.

Yolo: An acronym for you only live once.

November 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 7

How to Exercise After 50

By Dr. Claude Matar Give us a call at (626) 844-4686 to schedule a free lymphatic system detox.

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Life

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For many patients with Macular Degeneration, the world has literally disappeared before their eyes. They have lost the ability to see and do many of the things they love, like being able to recognize the faces and facial expressions of friends and relatives, watch TV, cook, sightsee and read. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Macular Degeneration. However, if you suffer with the disease, there is hope. Thanks to low vision technology, Dr. Richard Shuldiner and Dr. Harold Ashcraft are helping patients reconnect to the things in life they love to see and do.

“The first step toward determining if a person would

benefit from a low vision evaluation is to speak to them personally” says Dr. Shuldiner, Optometrist, Clinical Director.

“If we determine the person may benefit from care, a low vision evaluation will be scheduled,” says Dr. Shuldiner.

“In California, low vision drivers can use Bioptic Telescope Glasses to read street and road signs and see traffic lights faster and easier”, says Dr. Ashcraft.

“This can allow some with conditions like macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy to continue driving”.

Call today to see if you could benefit from low vision technology.

Orange, Riverside, San Diego counties

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Richard Shuldiner O.D., F.A.A.O. (888) 610-2020 LowVisionCare.com

8 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

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You made it to 50 or beyond! Congratulations! But you may have noticed some things have changed with the body.

It may have gotten thicker in spots that you would prefer it were thinner in. And, the old standby actions that used to lose weight for you may not work like they did before. As Dylan said, “The times, they are a changing”.

Trouble is, there is no owners manual for a body after 50 (or any body for that matter). But the care and feeding of a body after 50 can be very different from what it was when you wore a younger man’s or woman’s clothes.

For starters, exercise done improperly can actually set you back physically rather than move you ahead. Your recovery rates have changed. It may take longer for the heart and other vital organs to recover from exercise, and thus it is much easier to overwork, and even damage the body this way.

One of the signs of this is that the body has gained weight and does not seem to lose it like it used to.

A necessary part of any exercise and weight loss regimen after 50 is an advanced system to monitor your body closely during a workout. What is needed is a system that can monitor your heart rate, flexibility and joint range of motion very closely during each workout. You do not just want a trainer to pound you into the ground, as some trainers think is the thing to do. Your progress and your body need to be watched closely—so you get the most out of each workout, without overtaxing the body. When this is done properly it means optimum fat burning each time, no recovery problems, and no soreness the next day. And more importantly, no damage to the immune system—which can happen when you work out beyond your body’s tolerance point.

When done correctly, the result is that the body gets stronger with each workout. You lose fat, gain strength, and even more importantly, increase your overall level of health.

Incidentally, proper workouts are a key way to combat osteoporosis. There are actually exercise protocols that enable you to build bone density—a key factor to address with age and weight gain.

Come to the Pasadena Weight Loss Center and try out our advanced personal training sessions. We have advanced systems that give you optimum workouts for your age and body, that help you lose weight and gain health steadily.

Visit us on the internet at http://www.pasadena-weight-loss-center.com/fast-fitness/ or call for a special offer on training—4 training sessions for just $29 each.

Visit the Pasadena Weight Loss Center at http://www.pasadena-weight-loss-center.com/fast-fitness to schedule your training sessions. Or call us at 626-844-4686 and mention Life After 50 to get 4 training sessions for just $29 per session.

CEDARS-SINAI IS INCLUDED IN MORE MEDICARE OPTIONS THAN EVER BEFORE. There are plenty of questions surrounding Medicare enrollment, but no matter your needs, Cedars-Sinai is here to help make sure you keep coverage for L.A.’s best doctors at L.A.’s most preferred hospital.

Open enrollment ends December 7.

Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 | cedars-sinai.edu/insurance

© 2016 Cedars-Sinai

November 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 9

Cover Profile

Jerry West The legendary Laker is now a Warrior, for his Northern California team and heart health Story by David Laurell Photos courtesy of Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

A

lthough 42 seasons have passed since he last took to the court as a Los Angeles Lakers player and 37 since he served as their coach, Jerry West is still a prominent feature at the team’s current home.

f

or lakers fans, many of whom weren’t even born during West’s days with the team, they are welcomed to the Star Plaza entrance of downtown los Angeles’ Staples Center by a seven-foot-tall bronze sculpture of West that stands with those of other local sports legends: Wayne Gretzky, Magic Johnson, oscar De la Hoya, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, luc robitaille, Shaquille o’Neal and broadcaster Chick Hearn.

Along with his work for the Warriors, he has also become a warrior spokesman for Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., encouraging people to learn more about the signs, symptoms, and risk of stroke due to atrial fibrillation, which is the most common serious heart rhythm abnormality in people over the age of 65.

Life After 50 recently caught up with West at his Bel Air, California home where he described what he considers to be a perfect day when he isn’t working.

Once inside the arena, West’s presence is again felt as his retired jersey bearing the number “44” hangs in the rafters over every game and, even on the court, as every ball dribbled, passed, dunked or swooshed bares his silhouetted image in the NBA’s logo.

This month, with the 71st season of the National Basketball Association well under way, West’s thoughts are no longer with the Lakers, but rather with seeing the Golden State Warriors, of which he is now an executive board member, once again regain the championship title they held two years ago and came one game short of last season.

There is also another thing that is never far from West’s thoughts: doing all he can to maintain a healthy heart.

That concern has been one which has occupied a space in West’s mind for over 25 years, when, in his early 50s, he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition called atrial fibrillation, or AFib, an irregular heartbeat that puts him in the company of over six million Americans who, due to the condition, have about one-in-three odds of having a stroke.

life After 50 (lA50): How do you think the season is looking for the Warriors?

froM WeST virGiNiA To THe GreAT WeSTerN forUM Born in West Virginia in 1938, West first gained national prominence when he served along with Oscar Robertson as the co-captain of the U.S. men’s basketball team, which took the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics.

West then went on to play his entire 14-year professional career as a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, who, during his era, were domiciled at the legendry Great Western Forum.

Voted 12 times into the All-NBA First and Second Teams, elected into the NBA All-Star Team 14 times, and chosen as the AllStar Most Valuable Player in 1972, the year that he won the only NBA Championship title of his career, West ended his playing career having scored 25,192 points, 6,238 assists and 5,366 rebounds in 932 games.

Having played in nine NBA Finals, he is, to this day, the only player in NBA history to be named the Finals Most Valuable Player – despite being on the losing team.

Since leaving the game as an active player, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980, saw the Lakers retire his jersey number in 1983, and was voted as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history in 1996. As a coach, West led the Lakers into three consecutive playoff campaigns and then went on to win seven NBA Championships as the team’s general manager. He has been credited with being the lead architect who built the 1980s Lakers dynasty under Coach Pat Riley by bringing in star players such as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy, and again in the 2000s, under Coach Phil Jackson, with Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.

Currently serving as an executive board member of the Golden State Warriors, who took the NBA Championship title and made it to the Finals last year, West is embracing the 2016-2017 season with championship expectations.

Jerry West (JW): I don’t have much down time, especially once the basketball season begins, but when I do have a day off, I enjoy sitting around with some friends and talking about unimportant things and laughing. I like to play gin and get out on the golf course to have some competitive fun with friends.

I’ve always been a very competitive person and hopefully I always will be.

JW: Hopefully we’ll have another successful year. There has been a lot of excitement with our addition of a player of Kevin Durant’s caliber.

He will play a big role in giving us hope that we will be very successful again this season. I really marvel at the abilities of some of our new players and, over the course of my career, I have seen the best of the best. lA50: Speaking of the best of the best, you were, of course, one of the NBA stars that readers of Life After 50 grew up marveling at. of all the greats you played with and have seen play the game since, is there any one player or players that stands out the most to you?

JW: I think the greatest player to ever play in the NBA was Michael Jordan. He embodied all-around excellence as a player and he had an incredible dedication to winning, which is why he won six world championships. If you are talking before Jordan – back in my era – I would say Bill Russell was right up there at the top. He just dominated the sport with his great winning spirit. But I think it’s important to point out that there is a lot more to identifying a great player than just looking at the amount of championships they have won. In every season, we have seen a number of NBA players that have been remarkable players – great athletes – who have had distinguished careers, but have never been a part of a championship team. When that is the case, many people look at a player like that and see them as a failure, but that’s not the case at all. There have been a lot of wonderful players in all eras, many who never won championships.

lA50: Along with your passion for basketball, you have also embraced the cause of educating people on heart disease and how to maintain heart health. We all know that stress is a major factor in maintaining our health, and it is an issue that so many people wrestle with. Being in the extremely competitive world of professional sports, how do you manage to keep stress in check?

JW: Unfortunately, I’m not very good at that, because I’m an extremely competitive person. I wish I could control my stress level better, especially when the Warriors are playing [laughs]. I probably go up to the Bay Area for 30 to 35 games a year. Being that I live in Los Angeles, I fly up on the day of the game and then, as soon as the game is over, I’m on my way back home.

That way, I don’t have to be around all of the hectic and stressful things that go on before and after games. I don’t have to interact with all of the people and issues that take place in the front office and deal with constant interview requests. I don’t have to interact with the press as much as I did as a player or a coach, which has been a blessing for me, because that is very stressful. lA50: Present company excepted, we hope.

JW: [laughing] This is different, because you are giving me the opportunity to talk about things that are important to me and that are helpful to people.

Like dealing with stress. By working with my doctor and listening to him and doing what he tells me to do, my health issues are under control. I have always felt I am a very disciplined person, and so I feel I have the discipline to do what is necessary to maintain my health and keep my stress level down, although I’m always very busy – too busy even for my liking, at times. But 12 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

stress is an important issue to deal with. I have just come off a highly pressurized summer where we were trying to regenerate a team. Back in my playing days, the pressure I put on myself as a player wasn’t healthy, but, to be honest, the pressure I put on myself now as an executive is even more pronounced, because you are trying to satisfy both a fan base and the team’s ownership. The thing that drives any team in any market is the quality of the team in terms of winning, and that means acquiring great talent. If you can acquire attractive players, it enhances a franchise’s ability to continue to grow and win. During my time with the Lakers, I was very involved – for over 40 years of my life – with the performance and legacy of that franchise. I had the privilege of working with that superb team, and yet, I got to a point in which stress was taking its toll and I was burned out due to the amount of pressure I was under and that I put on myself. As a player, I only had to worry about myself and my performance, but as a team executive, I had to worry about every player – picking the right players, acquiring and drafting the right players. There is a tremendous amount of pressure placed on everyone in professional sports to produce a winning team and, because I’m a Type A personality, I had doubled the pressure I was under. I was in my early 50s and I got to the point that I wasn’t feeling right – I felt out of breath and very tired. So I went to see my doctor, who diagnosed me with AFib. lA50: Beyond the symptoms you mentioned, did you feel that something was seriously wrong?

JW: Not at all. I was shocked when I was told I had AFib, because I had never had any heart issues and didn’t really even know what AFib was.

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SMOOTH SOUNDS OF SANTANA

A Tribute to The Beatles.

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NOVEMBER 8

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CASH, KILLER & THE KING

59TH STREET BRIDGE

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He informed me it was a heart disease and said it was very dangerous, because it put me at a high risk for having a stroke.

JW: The first thing he recommended was Warfarin. That was the drug everyone used to thin the blood and help prevent strokes. Now fortunately, for me, I was young enough and found out that I had AFib early enough, to begin treatment. I have had friends that, as they got older, into their 60s and 70s, couldn’t be treated with blood thinners.

I have always loved to learn new things and when I was diagnosed, I researched every bit of information available to me. I’ve looked at everything and discussed things with my doctor, especially the new generation of blood thinners, and I am now taking Xarelto. That has led me into a partnership with Janssen Pharmaceuticals to give me a platform to tell a story – my story. You know, most athletes don’t like to talk about their health issues. They want to project the image that, even after they retire, they are out there running around like warriors.

But as we get older and our careers get further behind us, even athletes who have been in great shape can be susceptible to heart problems like AFib. This new drug I’m taking, Xarelto, certainly has a lot of pluses for me. With the Warfarin, I had to be very careful about its interaction with food and it also can cause issues for people who have other diseases, like a respiratory disease. When I was on Warfarin, I would constantly have to go to the doctor to have my blood taken and have him check my prescription levels. Some days, he would have me take just one or two, and then the next day it could be a different amount. That has changed, now that I’m on Xarelto. I don’t have to run to the doctor to constantly have my blood taken. With Xarelto, I feel safe and secure that I am going to continue to have a healthy and active life. lA50: We talked about dealing with stress. What other things have you done to change your lifestyle since being diagnosed?

14 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016 PAL_007576_01_11_7_Sr_Print_4.625x11.5_R1_FINAL.indd 1

10/31/16 10:27 AM

JW: Well, I always had a pretty healthy lifestyle, but I have been able to get through dealing with my heart issue and keeping my stress level in better check, because I have had great medical care. I also continue to really work at maintaining a pretty heathy lifestyle. I eat right and work out and lift weights. I have someone come over to my house and work with me on stretching exercises and I get out and play golf. Ever since I was diagnosed with AFib, I have done all I can to maintain my health, with stress being perhaps the biggest challenge for me to deal with. But for me, I love to learn new things every day. I love to be active and competitive and I can’t imagine having a stroke and not being able to do the things I do that make me the person I am. The worst thing about strokes is that they are so debilitating, and it has been just heartbreaking for me to see friends of mine – active people – who can no longer be active or who have passed away from having a stroke. I’ve seen people I know who have had debilitating strokes and I just know I would never be able to survive being inactive. That’s a powerful incentive for me to do all I can to keep my stress level in check and maintain my health.

.5 P

lA50: You said it really shocked you when you received the diagnosis that you had Afib. What would be your recommendation to anyone who may be experiencing some of the things such as fatigue and shortness of breath that initially sent you to see your doctor?

JW: Get in to see your doctor immediately. The quicker people can identify any sort of a heart problem or irregularity and get on the proper medication, the better chance they have of preventing a stroke. When a clot forms in the heart due to an irregular heartbeat caused by AFib, it can travel to your brain causing a stroke. AFib increases the risk of stroke by four to five times and accounts for 15 to 20 percent of all strokes. I also suggest that people ask their doctor any questions they may have and do their own research to get as much information as possible. I have always been an information person and today, there are so many good resources. For anyone who wants more information about my story, they can go online to www.

MyAFibChoice.com and learn what I’m doing. But back to your question – and this is the most important thing – if you or someone you know is feeling out of breath, if your heart is beating harder or faster than normal, get in to see your doctor right away. The faster you can get on the proper medication, the more significantly you will reduce your risk of having a stroke. lA50: This month, as you sit at the Thanksgiving table with your family, what will you be most grateful for? blessed

TM

© LITTLESTAR

JW: That I have been with the opportunity to be able to give back to others. I came from a very meager background and my career in professional sports has allowed me to meet people I would have never had the chance to meet and do things I could have never otherwise done. I think the thing I’m most grateful for is that I have had the chance to help people, especially young people – to try to help them achieve their goals in life. I had lofty goals when I was young and I was able to achieve them with the help of others. I think giving back is the most important thing we can do with our lives. I had a brother who was killed in Korea, and at West

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Virginia University there is a place called the David West Learning Center. I was fortunate enough to have the financial resources to be able to give some money there for students to get a better chance in life. I also support the West Virginia University scholarship fund, which helps students in need. I always tell people to give back – to give of their time.

Look for the opportunity to talk to young kids and help them by telling them about things you have experienced in your life – what mistakes you made and what you have learned. I am so grateful for being able to give back to people and for everything that basketball has afforded me the opportunity to do. lA50: As the years have gone by, have you formulated any philosophy on the passage of time – on getting older?

JW: When I was in my 20s, I thought that people in their 50s were really old, much less people who are in their late 70s like I am now [laughs].

But today there are so many people in their 60s and 70s who don’t seem

to be old at all. That is because many people have better medical care, they understand the importance of taking better care of themselves, how important diet is, and the importance of keeping active and productive.

Someone recently said to me: “You’re old!” and I said, “Yes, I am old.

But I have a lot of energy, and I’m still living a very active and productive life at 78.” I am still continuing to read a lot and learn a lot. As long as I can maintain my health, I can be not just active, but actively involved in life. I have found that as I have gotten older, I am most passionate about helping other people – what I can do for them. I don’t know if it is a philosophy, but I think the most important thing we can do as we get older is to give back and to be humble. I have often said, when talking to kids, that I think the greatest trait a person can have is humility. I’m attracted to people who are highly competitive and successful, but still remain humble and make it a priority to give back.

for more information on Jerry West and Afib, click on www.MyAfibChoice.com.

16 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

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UnjUmbling the jUmble of mediCare in 2017

Clarifying the basics and changes of the current open enrollment period… and what it means for you Special to Life After 50 by Ronald Bolding, President and CEO of Inter Valley Health Plan

A

s Medicare recipients look to 2017 and beyond, they can expect changes, although they are expected to be modest, and the overarching approach to choosing benefits remains largely the same as in previous years: Understand what doctors, hospitals and prescriptions are covered in your plan; determine costs – both for premium and out-of-pocket expenses – and explore added benefits of each plan.

WHAT IS CHANGING?

Medicare operates on what is called a “feefor-service structure.” If changes materialize, it would start to operate more like Medicare Advantage plans, in which customers assign their Medicare benefits to a health plan and the plan provides services through its contracted providers.

Although there are no immediate changes of this sort on the horizon, you can expect to see some changes in the next couple of years as the government sees potential cost benefits in

18 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

moving the 70 percent or so of participants not currently on a Medicare Advantage plan over to an “Advantage like” plan for what they term “premium support.”

On a more micro level, we’re seeing a lot of industry consolidation – or attempts to consolidate. We are seeing some big health plans that are looking to join together to find economies of scale. Regulators are concerned that big-name providers and big-market share could increase cost for the consumer.

If they do occur, the impact upon individual Medicare beneficiaries would be fewer health plan choices. With reduced choices comes the possibility of increased costs.

Countrywide, society continues to face cost increases for pharmaceutical benefits. These increases impact all health plans, large and small. Pharmaceutical innovation is driving positive improvements for curing diseases. Of course, we applaud positive outcomes that new drugs and medicines deliver, but the challenge

is paying for these types of medical advances.

That’s an issue at the health plan level and, of course, for individuals.

This challenge has a significant impact on Medicare eligibles. On one hand, these curative processes and products address diseases that have affected people for many years. Older Americans may finally have relief for health issues they’ve been living with for years. On the other hand, we need to figure out how to make this relief affordable. Individuals must be diligent as they shop Medicare plans to make sure they find the right fit for their health and budgetary needs.

ENROLLMENT ISSUES

Despite changes, those we know of as well as those that may materialize in the near-future, there remains little change for Medicare Advantage enrollment. As a regional health plan, we understand people have had similar concerns over the past few years, with the greatest

focus continuing to be around the three “P”s: pocketbook, providers and pharmaceuticals.

Premium costs, co-pays, co-insurance and out-of-pocket maximums are at the forefront of concerns for older Americans. Medicare shoppers are looking for, and sometimes finding, plans where, for example, co-pays and out-ofpocket costs, have not increased or, better yet, have decreased. These plans do exist!

As a not-for-profit health plan for Medicare eligibles, Inter Valley Health Plan encourages individuals to explore options and look for plans that provide top-notch coverage at an affordable price that includes the extras. Look deep into what the offerings are, what benefits and features they include, and, perhaps most important, how current members view the service. At Inter Valley, our experience tells us, of the top 10 questions Medicare shoppers ask when exploring the various options, “Is my doctor part of your plan?” ranks number one. And numbers two, three, and probably four.

Question number five, or at least the second most-common question, comes from existing members, and that is: “Has my doctor changed?”

The doctor-patient relationship is strong and older adults have no interest in switching doctors when selecting a Medicare plan because most have a comfort level with their current doctor.

People should look for a Medicare health plan that not only includes their doctor but enhances the doctor-patient relationship as well. Look for information, perhaps through current clients, about the coordination of care that exists between the doctor and the health plan. Do your homework, because results vary.

Plans that are strong in their local communities have relationships that bolster healthcare and wellness by leveraging and coordinating services of doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and other providers.

The third most common question our members ask is whether benefits have changed.

Medicare is complicated and changes may be subtle. That’s why it’s important to read, or have someone like a Medicare specialist explain, information contained in bulletin packets you receive from your health plan. Make sure you understand the differences among health plans and also from one plan year to the next.

Next in the line of questions is about pharmacy: “Are the medicines I use covered under this plan?” and “What will my costs be for these and other medicines I am likely to use?”

Those are great questions, because they often uncover gaps in or differences between various plans. It’s important to know what’s covered and at what level.

Understanding pharmacy and Part C benefits is critical. Don’t forget, they need to be checked every year. Not checking the annual notice of change in your plan benefits and services is a big mistake that individuals make; and changes can have serious ripple effects. If you are comfortable with the level of benefits and services you currently have, it cannot be overstated enough the importance of checking for next year’s changes. Subtle as they might be, it can be costly if you don’t compare.

ARE YOU BEING SERVED?

While the focus on open enrollment may be choosing the right plan, the overarching goal should extend beyond that. The real purpose of this whole exercise is to make sure you have the best possible resources to maintain and enhance your health, wellness and well-being.

As a regional health plan, Inter Valley wants to make sure our community remains healthy and full of vitality; that they’re enjoying their lives and not spending time in the hospital or worrying about what might go wrong. As an example of that, Inter Valley works with clients, their doctor and others to make sure everyone is on the same page – that we all have the same objective. Then we coordinate activities and coverages that are designed to keep clients healthy and well.

Communication is key to a strong providerdoctor-patient relationship. Make sure it’s part of your health plan’s culture. Annual wellness visits play a vital role in helping older adults maintain their health and identify issues before they become problems. Make use of such visits that are included in your health plan coverage. Your yearly wellness review is a window into your well-being and an important part of preventing serious or even catastrophic problems down the road.

Learn more about and make use of other features and benefits your health plan makes available. For example, is dental offered? If so, use your regular cleaning benefit to maintain oral health.

Is there a gym benefit? Make use of it and increase your activity. Is chiropractic part of the offering?

Take advantage of it when you need it. Are glasses covered? Get a new pair if you need them. Does the plan have local offices and, perhaps, educational opportunities? Stop in, talk to a live person, and sign up for a free class on health issues or whatever topics are offered. Utilize these local resources and ask questions.

GOING FORWARD

Remember, Medicare is a lot more than co-pays and prescriptions. The goal is staying healthy. And Medicare can be an important part of that. Of course, plans will change over time, as will benefits, and unjumbling the jumble of plans may never be easy. But by addressing key core issues, you can be a better, and healthier, consumer.

TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT MEDICARE

Here are ways to start the process: As we get older, it’s always nice to have a good laugh with old friends as we think back on conversations we used to have as opposed to what we talk about now.

It used to be all about your career and raising kids. Now your focus revolves around how to lower your cholesterol and what Medicare health plan to choose. Reality has hit, and with boomers turning 65 at a rate of about 8,000 a day, those health and Medicare conversations are pretty important to have with friends.

If you are new to Medicare, breathe a sigh of relief knowing there are a lot of great informational resources at your fingertips. The following issues are where your research should begin and what you should be discussing with your friends when it comes to Medicare:

KNOWING YOUR A, B, C AND Ds

As you begin the Medicare process you’ll be hearing about Medicare Parts A, B, C and D. Each letter designates a specific portion of healthcare coverage.

For example, Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, nursing home, hospice care and some home health. Part B covers primary care physicians, preventative care, ambulance, and durable medical equipment such as walkers and C-PAP machines.

Medicare Part D helps to subsidize prescription drug coverage. While Part C, is your Medicare Advantage Plan. It’s important to understand what Medicare covers and doesn’t cover.

WHAT COMPANY ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH?

In many cases, people like to have products and services close to home, and when it comes to your health, that is an important element. Ask your friends about what Medicare health plan they have chosen and if they are happy with it.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND COMPARE

Headquartered in Pomona, California, Inter Valley Health Plan strives to improve the quality of life for seniors throughout its service area and is one of the oldest managed healthcare plans in Southern California. The health plan offers its members free local resources right in their neighborhood. There are various Medicare and Information Vitality Centers in Southern California for members to visit and attend free educational classes on health and Medicare.

For more information on Inter Valley Health Plan, a schedule of free local classes in your area, and a Medicare Stress Relief Guide and Checklist, click on www.ivhp.com or call (800) 500-7018.

If you find a health plan that looks good, then dig around online, look for information about its reputation and how long the company has been around. Be sure to read testimonials, look at ratings, and go to their social media profiles. If they have local offices, take advantage of the close proximity and walk in and meet one of their representatives.

Come armed with your questions and see how well they do answering them for you. Doing your homework and having that personal faceto-face interaction should give you a sense of the company’s customer service, member benefits and overall strengths.

REMEMBER…the annual enrollment period for Medicare Advantage plans is open until December 7, 2016.

November 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 19

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Special to Life After 50

by Dr. Robi Ludwig

Be Grateful!

Your Best Age is NOW!

Psychotherapist Dr. Robi Ludwig says that mid-life and beyond is the best time of life to embrace the power that comes with gratitude

W

e often hear about the benefits of being grateful, especially as we get older. This month, as we celebrate Thanksgiving and begin the holiday season, the value of being appreciative and grateful is even more highlighted.

Being grateful would seem like an easy enough trait to acquire, and yet, given the busyness of our lives – working, traveling, tending to family issues, and doing all of the other little things that keep life moving smoothly – being grateful can get pushed aside and feel like just another “to do” thing on our already long list.

In my new book, “Your Best Age is Now: Embrace an Ageless Mindset, Reenergize Your Dreams, and Live a Soul-Satisfying Life” (HarperOne, 2016), I look at the changing face of mid-life and the best way to achieve a healthy mental space during this time of life. Fortunately, for all of us, the changing face of our mid-life and beyond years can be – should be – a really positive one.

In today’s world, once we’ve reached the mid-life milestone, we can truly realize our dreams. Modern mid-life is no longer defined as it once was: a time of loss, a time to be overlooked, or a time to give up on your dreams, because it’s all downhill from here. On the contrary, it turns out we can be better now in so many ways than we have ever been before, and that is something we can all agree to feel grateful about!

22 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

Today’s modern science has been a real game-changer for those over 50, giving us all the opportunity to not only live longer, but to live younger longer. There are inherent rewards to living mid-life in this new invigorated way. Feeling younger longer is the antidote to feeling hopeless, overlooked, and stagnant. This makes mid-life a vastly different time of life from what previous generations experienced.

Current research confirms that mid-life is the perfect time for us to flourish. It’s exactly at this point in our lives that we can combine the opportunities available to us with the experiences and responsibility we have gained to discover who we really are, what we really want, and to find out what our true purpose actually is.

It’s the perfect time to discover the kind of joy we couldn’t begin to imagine when we were younger, because, as we mature, we no longer are dependent of what everybody else thinks of us. We have learned to develop our own code of values, thoughts and creativity.

SO HOW DO YOU GET STARTED?

The real question for anyone whose 50th birthday is now behind them is: “What do we do with all of

this newfound ability we have, so that we can look and feel good while and maintaining a high level of vitality?”

To answer that question, it is important for all mid-lifers to know and to internalize positive attributes that are ours to own and enjoy. It is important that we figure out how to use these newfound power years and embrace all of the opportunities that they present. And a big part – perhaps the most important part – of embracing these opportunities is having the right kind of mindset.

One of the challenges of mid-life is that we often experience time differently. The future may not feel as hopeful as it once did. By the time we reach mid-life, with the maturity that comes with it, most of us have had our share of regrets over small things or even missed opportunities that completely changed the direction of our lives.

Rare is the person who makes it to 50 without, at some point, having been humbled by life’s challenges and disappointments. This may make it harder to reach our center of gratefulness in the way we would like to.

So, while this may sound like paradoxical advice, the best way to fully embrace gratefulness is to give ourselves permission to have moments of not feeling so grateful.

Life is challenging, and things won’t always go our way. That is simply a part of being human.

The natural and automatic response to this truth is to reject any feelings of gratefulness and instead feel annoyed, frustrated or even sorry for ourselves.

And you know what? That is completely fine!

Remember, as long as you don’t get too caught up in these emotions for too long, you are going to be all right.

Whenever life feels tumultuous, we need to find a way to navigate it and, according to the research I did for my recent book, mid-life is a time when we become the most capable of managing the polarities of living. I have found the best way to reorient feeling victimized is to find your grateful center.

And, you may ask, how do I do this?

It begins by adopting a spiritual perspective, which is the holy grail of mid-life. As a therapist who has been in private practice for over two decades, I am well aware that no one wants to think too much about their troubles. People want to feel happy, fulfilled and grateful more often than not, and I bet you do, too.

I have learned over the years that even the smallest adjustment can put a person on the right path. It’s not always the big leap or big change, but that small change that will make all the difference in bringing about a positive, grateful attitude, and thus in living a positive and grateful life.

You can become the type of grateful person you want to be by making minor yet important tweaks that will be life-changing. You can improve incrementally to be that happier and more grateful

person. Sound good? Okay, then let’s get started on a 10-point plan that will expand your capacity to be grateful and relish the rewards that come with it.

1

EVOLVE EMOTIONALLY

Your task during mid-life is to evolve emotionally. A self-centered viewpoint can leave you with a one-sided and inaccurate view of the world that will rob you of happiness. To evolve emotionally, you must be able to rise above what happens to you, so you can love more and give more. You can do this from moving from a “me” perspective to a “we” perspective that will help you better connect with others.

2

GET CONNECTED

3

GET ON A MENTAL HIGH

Adopting a spiritual perspective – whatever that personally means for you – helps you focus on what’s really important in terms of feeling connected to the world in a meaningful and purposeful way.

A spiritual perspective will also do wonders in elevating your mind, body and spirit. Tapping into a higher power greatly reduces feelings of depression, anxiety and psychological distress.

4

VIEW LIFE THROUGH A THERAPEUTIC LENS Embracing a spiritual perspective provides you with a therapeutic lens in which to look at your life. It underscores the valuable idea that you don’t always have to be in control and know exactly how things will turn out in order for things to actually turn out well.

5

GIVING GRANTS GRATITUDE

6

CREATE A MOTIVATIONAL MANTRA

Altruism – focusing on the needs of others instead of your own – takes on a special importance during mid-life. According to psychologist Abraham Maslow, the father of positive psychology, the true purpose of life is not to make ourselves perfect, but to rise above ourselves by connecting with others – to embrace the Golden Rule and be good to others while limiting our self-interests.

Just thinking about the words “community” and “relationships” can make you feel more altruistic and connected. Creating or collecting motivational sayings or words that speak to you can also be of help. They can become your mantra and will

MEET DR. ROBI LUDWIG Dr. Robi Ludwig’s academic credentials include a doctorate in psychology from California Southern University, a post-masters certificate in advanced clinical work from Hunter College, a masters degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Cedar Crest College. Her practical experience as a psychotherapist began in 1988 when she worked as a counselor for patients with severe psychiatric disorders. In both clinical settings and in her private practice, she has treated all forms of mental illness, substance abuse, grieving, sexual identity issues, job stress, emotional and sexual abuse problems as well as the more common social and parenting issues. Today, she is a nationally known psychotherapist and award-winning television reporter. A regular on numerous national networks and shows, she talks about psychological and lifestyle issues as well as the criminal mind. From “ET,” “TODAY,” “20/20,” “ABC World News,” “The View,” “Fox and Friends,” “The Steve Harvey Show” and many others, Dr. Ludwig has helped people better understand the complexities of the human condition.

In her latest book, “Your Best Age is Now: Embrace an Ageless Mindset, Reenergize Your Dreams, and Live a Soul-Satisfying Life,” she provides guidance for those in mid-life to reject the status quo, to become more “you” than ever before, and find the kind of happiness you never thought possible.

inspire you to become more giving, grateful and the type of person you’d like to be.

7

The following is an edited excerpt from “Your Best Year Is Now: Embrace an Ageless Mindset, Reenergize Your Dreams, and Live a Soul-Satisfying Life” Copyright ©2016 by Dr.Robi Ludwig, Psy.D., published by HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

DON’T GIVE NEGATIVITY ANY SPACE

Being altruistic helps you to feel grateful, which, in turn, counterbalances negativity. By dwelling on what you can do, every day, to help and be more connected to others, your mind will have less and less space for negativity to interfere.

8

KEEP ACTIVE AND JOURNAL

9

FOCUS ON THANKFULNESS

According to my research, along with being altruistic and connected with others, keeping gratitude journals and staying physically active results in people having far fewer physical ailments as they age. Their bodies feel better and their minds and more optimistic.

When you focus on feeling thankful – on being grateful for even the smallest things – you release brain chemicals that can have a positive effect on your overall mood and emotional well-being.

These are the same chemicals released when we are naturally happy and have also been linked to clearer thinking and better problem-solving.

10

ASK YOURSELF

So many times people seek answers from every source available other than themselves.

To begin any life-changing process, you must ask questions of yourself: • What areas of my life do I think need to be tweaked or changed to make my life happier and more rewarding?

• What are the best things about me and my life?

• What advice do I have for myself to help me become a more appreciative and grateful person?

I hope this information will help you see all of the promise and potential of living a full and productive life after 50, especially when it comes to feeling and becoming a more grateful and happy person. If there’s one thing I’d like you to take away from this piece, it is that mid-life is a beginning; it is the start of a whole new phase of your life that you should look forward to and embrace.

So, with Thanksgiving and the holiday season on the horizon, give yourself a great gift and take this time to write a new script for your life; one that includes being kind to yourself and to others.

As you put this script together, review some of the information covered here to help you support your goals. You will find that, within a short time, you will become a more grateful person, grateful for both yourself and your loved ones who are so fortunate to be a part of your life during this special time of year.

24 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

A

lthough people have been conditioned to think that “mid-life” is practically a four-letter word, the realities of mid-life today are far different from what our parents and grandparents experienced. The truth is, people in their 50s and 60s are living far more vibrant lives.

More important, instead of feeling that the best days of their lives are over, they can fill this unique time with promise, potential and even adventure.

People in mid-life are definitely not experiencing the universal malaise some would call a “mid-life crisis.”

No matter where we are in checking off the goals of a life well lived, those of us in mid-life are now at the age when we can use the wisdom we’ve secured to rebalance and reinvent our lives, taking stock of what we have accomplished and continuing to dream big about what’s in store.

geared toward young people; the fear that we won’t have options; or the fear that it’s simply too late for us to have the life we’ve always dreamed of.

Many people in mid-life worry they will get stuck in one place, or worse, their negative personality traits, which cause them emotional pain, will be impossible to change. This fear is based on the prevailing wisdom that people don’t change.

But the most current research finds that even fixed personality traits can evolve over time.

Understanding that we can continue to grow and change throughout our life span positively impacts how we experience ourselves now and in the future. Knowing that we still have time to transform ourselves, we feel more confident exploring the ways in which we can improve. It’s not too late for us to become a better, more polished version of ourselves.

The mistake we make is assuming who we were at 20 is who we have to be at 50 or 60. Yet, in reality, we’ve already changed. The wisdom you’ve gleaned just from being alive has made you a different So why are we still beating ourselves up, living person. Your environment and your experiences with anxiety, and, overall, feeling so bad? have influenced your priorities, what you want for During mid-life, many people, begin to feel yourself, and what you want for your future. This is negativity as defined by society, through external good news, because if you are unhappy with who forces such as work, dating sites, or the media you are now, you really can change.

– overall, of which, the typical person has little However, important change often comes slowly. control. Mid-life is a time in our lives when we You’ve already developed habits based on what begin to rethink the life choices we’ve made, works for you. Some of these are really good habits, evaluate our impact on others, and decide what we because they can speed things up and make life want to do with the rest of our life’s journey. easier. But if you are too inflexible in general, it’s These thoughts often surface because, for going to be hard to get through life in a successful many of us, this is the first time we contemplate way, regardless of what life phase you’re in. Yet or confront our own mortality. By this time, we’ve the changes you implement can lead to a better life. come to understand the finalities of life and all the You have an opportunity to give up the limitations anxieties that creep up can collide with our internal you see as fixed parts of your life and become the timeline. person you were always meant to be. In fact, this is This anxiety is often based on fear – the fear the perfect time to change and start feeling youthful, that as we age, we won’t be relevant in a world healthy, relevant, sexy, wanted, and unstoppable!

OUR FUTURE IS LOOKING GOOD

For more information on Dr. Robi Ludwig and her new book, click on www.drrobiludwig.com.

THE KECK EFFECT: MORE GRATEFUL MOMENTS Keck Medicine of USC is a nationally recognized academic health system dedicated to breakthrough research and treatments, with top rankings in seven specialties. Together, our team of physicians, surgeons, nurses and researchers are setting a new standard for comprehensive, customized patient care. That’s The Keck Effect — more ways to get you back to what you love.

With locations throughout Southern California, exceptional care is close to you.

During this year’s open enrollment, choose an insurance plan that includes Keck Medicine of USC. View participating plans at KeckMedicine.org/insurance.

Get expert health tips

Text KECK to 313131

KeckMedicine.org (800) USC-CARE

© 2016 Keck Medicine of USC

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T H H  M-K

By Steve Stoliar Illustration by Mark Hammermeister

A L  L F

Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne were considered to be the greatest acting team in the history of the American theatre, but their names remain largely unknown to millennials, gen-xers, and even many baby boomers.

While actors and actresses whose main contributions are on the big and small screen leave behind permanent records of their greatness, those who trod the boards – however famous and successful they may have been – suffer the disadvantage of having their brilliance end as the curtain closes on each performance.

A

lfred Davis Lunt, Jr. was born on August 12, 1892 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His father, who worked in the lumber business, came from longstanding Yankee stock, as did his mother, Harriet Washburn Briggs, whose ancestors arrived on the Mayflower. Alfred Sr. died in 1893, at which point Harriet married a Finnish doctor, Karl Sederholm, with whom she had another son and two daughters.

After surviving scarlet fever and the removal of a kidney in childhood, Lunt attended Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin, for two years and then transferred to Emerson College in Boston, where he developed a keen interest in acting. In 1912, at the age of 20, he joined Boston’s Castle Square Theatre repertory company, where he made his professional debut. He alternated between dramatic and comedic roles, paying his dues as he honed his acting chops.

In 1919, Lunt became a Broadway star when he landed the lead in Booth Tarkington’s comedy, “Clarence.” That same year, Lunt attended the Broadway comedy, “The Wooing of Eve,” where he spotted a pretty young actress named Lynn Fontanne.

Lillie Louise Fontanne was born on December 6, 1887 – five years before Lunt – in London, England. Her father, Jules Fontanne, was French, while her mother, Frances Ellen Thornley, was Irish. The Fontannes had two other

daughters, in addition to Lillie.

Fontanne studied under legendary British actress Ellen Terry, making her acting debut in 1905 as a chorus girl in “Cinderella.” Four years later, using the stage name “Lynn Fontanne,” she won her first role on the London stage in the Drury Lane Pantomime and, in 1910, appeared on the New York stage for the first time, before returning to England.

In 1916, she came back to New York at the invitation of her good friend, actress Laurette Taylor, who, after years of success in the early 1900s, would make a stunning comeback in 1945, originating the role of Amanda in the Tennessee Williams classic, “The Glass Menagerie.”

Lunt and Fontanne appeared onstage together for the first time in a 1919 summer stock production of the comedy, “A Young Man’s Fancy.” The following year, Fontanne appeared in “Chris,” an early version of Eugene O’Neill’s drama, “Anna Christie.” In 1921, Fontanne became a legitimate Broadway star by playing the title role in the comedy “Dulcy,” written by theatrical legends George S. Kaufman and Marc Connelly.

Lunt and Fontanne were married on May 26, 1922 in New York City.

Although they were virtually inseparable during their 55-year marriage, the Lunts never had children, and theirs was long-rumored to be a so-called “lavender

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

26 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

marriage,” wherein a gay man weds a lesbian.

The couple worked side-by-side in 27 Broadway productions, beginning with “Sweet Nell of Old Drury” in 1922, with Lunt playing King Charles II and Fontanne playing Lady Castlemaine.

The following year, they co-starred in Ferenc Molnar’s comedy, “The Guardsman,” and the Lunts became the toast of Broadway, going on to star in witty comedies by the likes of Noel Coward, S.N. Behrman and Robert E. Sherwood.

From the mid-1920s on, Lunt and Fontanne appeared almost exclusively together onstage. In 1925, they scored another success in a revival of George Bernard Shaw’s comedy, “Arms and the Man.” In 1927, the Lunts took a break from their comedic roles, co-starring in a dramatic version of Dostoyevsky’s classic “The Brothers Karamozov.” In one of her rare solo roles, Fontanne originated the role of Nina in Eugene O’Neill’s 1928 offbeat drama, “Strange Interlude” to critical and commercial acclaim.

As the 1920s gave way to the ‘30, the Lunts scored another success in Robert E. Sherwood’s 1931 romantic comedy, “Reunion in Vienna.” That same year, they made a rare excursion into the world of motion pictures, costarring in the film version of their stage triumph, “The Guardsman.”

For their efforts, both were nominated for an Academy Award, but Lunt lost out to Fredric March for “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” while Fontanne lost to her friend, Helen Hayes, for “The Sin of Madelon Claudet.” The Lunts’ only other big screen role was a brief turn as themselves in the 1943 World War II all-star production, “Stage Door Canteen.”

One of the Lunt’s greatest Broadway triumphs came in 1933 with Noel Coward’s witty ménage a trois, “Design For Living,” which Coward wrote specifically for himself and the Lunts. They also scored a huge successes with a revival of Shakespeare’s comedy, “The Taming of the Shrew,” in 1935, with Lunt as Petruchio and Fontanne as his obstinate wife, Katherina.

The following year, the couple had a hit in another Robert Sherwood comedy, “Idiot’s Delight,” and in 1938, they co-starred in a revival of Chekhov’s heavy Russian drama, “The Seagull.”

Other hits in the 1940 and ‘50s followed, including “There Shall Be No Night,” “Candle in the Wind,” “The Pirate,” “O Mistress Mine,” “Ondine” and “Quadrille.”

In May of 1958, the Globe Theater at Broadway and 46th Street was renamed the LuntFontanne in their honor.

Lunt and Fontanne officially retired from the stage in 1960 – after a healthy run in “The Visit,” staged, appropriately, on the boards of the LuntFontanne Theater. In 1964, the couple were presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom

by President Lyndon Johnson.

Although they did no further stage or film work, the Lunts did perform on numerous radio shows and in some live television productions, both winning Emmy Awards for their co-starring roles in the 1965 television production of “The Magnificent Yankee,” in which

they played Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Wendell Holmes.

In February of 1970, the Lunts were scheduled to appear on “The Dick Cavett Show” to help promote a Broadway revival of Noel Coward’s classic, “Private Lives.” The day before the taping, Fontanne phoned Cavett, asking if it would be alright if they “brought a friend” who was visiting from England. Cavett assumed she wanted to be sure their friend had a decent seat in the audience. That wasn’t what she meant. The “friend” was Noel Coward, who was brought out onstage, along with the Lunts. Cavett did a superb job of handling all three legendary stars providing viewers with 90 minutes of the most charming, witty and fascinating conversation ever broadcast.

The following day, Fontanne called Cavett to apologize if Lunt had seemed “a little off” during the show explaining that just before coming to the studio for the taping he had gotten word that his brother had died. Cavett has said he noticed no trace of grief or distraction in Lunt’s appearance, a tribute the show business adage that, no matter what occurs in real life, “the show must go on.”

Lunt died of cancer on August 3, 1977 – nine days before his 85th birthday. Six years later, Fontanne died of pneumonia at the age of 95. She was buried alongside her legendary actor husband at Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

LEARN MORE • “Design For Living: Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne”

by Margot Peters (Knopf, 2003) • “The Fabulous Lunts: A Biography of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne”

by Jared Brown (Atheneum, 1986) • “Stagestruck: The Romance of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne” Maurice Zolotow (Harcourt, Brace & World, 1965)

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

The

Great

American Story

of

B.J. Thomas

Best known for his hit “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” the singer shares insight on his iconic song, marriage, music and much more

S

By David Laurell • Photo courtesy of Jim Pierson

ince first appearing on the American music scene in the mid-1960s, B.J. Thomas has charted with songs in the pop, country and gospel genres. While he is best known for his hit songs including “Hooked on a Feeling,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” “Rock and Roll Lullaby,” and “(Hey, Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” he has also carved out a niche as a purveyor of some of the most-beloved Christmas music.

Those holiday offerings are a part of the Thomas catalogue that has seen the singer, who turned 74 this past summer, sell more than 70 million records, garner five Grammy Awards, two Dove Awards and be ranked by Billboard magazine as one of the top 50 most-played artists over the past half century.

Born in Hugo, Oklahoma and raised in Houston, Texas, Thomas’ first foray into music came as a teenager when he became a member of his church choir and then joined a few upstart musical groups, including The Triumphs.

In 1966, Thomas and The Triumphs released an album, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” which featured a cover of the Hank Williams song of the same name. The single sold over a million copies and launched Thomas off on a solo career that, in 1968, saw him score a second million-seller with “Hooked on a Feeling.”

28 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

The following year, Thomas recorded what would become his signature song, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” a Burt Bacharach and Hal David collaboration that had been written for the 20th Century-Fox film, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” The song was featured in one of the most memorable scenes in the George Roy Hill-directed film in which Paul Newman, as Butch Cassidy, performs a series of bicycle stunts to the delight of the outlaws’ female companion, Etta Place, played

by Katharine Ross. Recreating the Newman and Ross scene with his wife, singer and songwriter Gloria Richardson Thomas, for the album cover, “Raindrops” went on to hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1970, sell over a million copies, give Thomas his third gold record, and win the Academy Award for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture. The song has also been inducted into the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences’ Grammy Hall of Fame, which honors recordings that are deemed to have lasting qualitative or historical significance.

This month, Thomas and Gloria will be celebrating their 48th wedding anniversary.

Renowned as one of the most-enduring marriages in music, the couple overcame an extremely difficult period and separation in the 1970s, during which

Thomas had become so dependent on drugs and alcohol, his very life was in jeopardy. They have both credited their 1975 acceptance of Christianity for the reconciliation and success of their marriage, as well as his sobriety.

Life After 50 recently caught up with Thomas at his Texas home just as he returned from a performance at the Golden Nugget Casino in Atlantic City. We began our visit by asking him about his current touring schedule.

B. J. Thomas (BJT): I still tour quite a bit. I’m on the road a lot. I do a lot of one-nighters all over the country and even internationally. We’ve been everywhere from Australia to Hong Kong and I still really enjoy getting out there and performing.

Life After 50 (LA50): What is life like when you’re here at home?

BJT: Well, I’m a very lucky guy. I love my home and I have a great family. Gloria and I have a great marriage and we’re celebrating 48 years.

Our three daughters live nearby, so I get to see them and spend time with my grandkids often. I play a little golf when I get the chance, and that’s about it. I live a very lovely and simple life, apart from my music, which can get dramatic at times.

But when I’m here at home, my life is simple and loving and it’s the most beautiful part of my life.

LA50: As you and Gloria begin your 49th year of marriage, tell us how, even in spite of some difficult times, you have made your relationship work.

BJT: Well, we’re still in love with one another.

There is still a lot of passion left in our relationship.

And we are – always have been – very family oriented. Along with our daughters and our four grandchildren, we are a very close-knit family. We get together a lot and go on trips together. I just think making a marriage work comes from keeping the love alive and having a close family.

LA50: Your songs have become a part of the lives and memories of so many Life After 50 readers, especially “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head.” How did you and that song come together?

BJT: When I had my first hit record, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” I was signed by Scepter Records in New York. Among the major players at Scepter were Burt Bacharach and Hal David. At the time, Scepter’s mainstay artist was Dionne Warwick, who was working with Burt and Hal. So when I signed with them, one of the first things they wanted to do was have Burt and Hal write songs for me and produce a session. So I crossed paths with them here and there and just thought they were great guys. I was in awe of them. Then, after “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” I had another hit record, “Hooked on a Feeling.” When that record sold over a million copies, Dionne took my two gold records in to show Burt and said: “See these gold records? You better start writing something for this guy!” That was what had me on their mind when Burt composed the music and Hal wrote the lyrics to “Raindrops” for the score of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” They had been thinking about who they would use for “Raindrops” and I was perfectly positioned to do it. And that’s how it came to be. I felt so fortunate to have had the opportunity to be a part of that movie and it was all about just being at the right place at the right time. Gosh, when you think about it, they could have gone with any number of singers.

Burt and Hal had worked with some of the biggest names and any singer would have been thrilled to have gotten to work with them.

LA50: For those who know the film, it is your song, and that scene, with Newman and Ross, that first comes to mind whenever they think of it.

BJT: I think “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” was one of the greatest Westerns ever filmed and “Raindrops”is a song that makes such a great point. It’s a very American point – that although the rain may be falling on you and you may have some struggles and hardships – difficulties – to deal with throughout your life – you really don’t have any problems as long as you are free. I think that message really resonates with Americans. It’s kind of a truism that every American connects with: that we all have to deal with difficulties, some that even come with our freedom, but that we’re never going to stop the problems by complaining and that we’ll

never be defeated if we just keep on going – that we have nothing to worry about as long as we have our freedom. I am so proud to be connected with that song and its message. I hesitate to say the word “honored,” but at this point in my life and career, that’s what I am: honored to have recorded that song, been a part of that movie, and have had the chance to work with Mr. Bacharach and Mr. David.

LA50: I don’t think I will ever hear “Raindrops” again and think of it the same way. I never thought of it as a patriotic song.

BJT: I don’t know if it’s really a patriotic song, but it’s an American song – that tells an American story.

LA50: You are so associated with “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” Did you ever get to visit the set and get to know Robert Redford and Paul Newman?

BJT: It’s so funny you would ask about that, because I never even met them! I was in the same room with them once – the night of the Academy Awards – but it was a big room and I never got the chance to meet them. I remember a conversation I had with Burt, telling him that I never got to meet Redford and Newman, and he laughed and said he had never met them either [laughs]. He never even met the director! I had always wished I would have had the chance to meet those guys and formed some kind of a relationship with them. My feelings were a little hurt about that for a while, but I felt a bit better when I found out Burt hadn’t met them either.

So no, I never got to meet them, but I sure have always looked up to both of them for their work in that film and so many other things they did.

LA50: I know it resonates with your fans when they get to hear you sing “Raindrops” live in concert. What other songs bring about that sort of a feeling?

BJT: One that is always well received, and that I really love myself, is “Rock and Roll Lullaby.”

That song was written by the husband and wife songwriting team of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and it came to me through Steve Tyrell who produced it. Steve and I had been childhood buddies. We grew up playing in these little Texas bands. We never played in the same band but we always knew what one another was doing.

Then, as he got older, Steve began working on the other side of the microphone, in the control room, as a producer and the A and R [artists and repertoire] director for Scepter Records. Steve had been producing an album for me, and he had a great relationship with Barry and Cynthia, who he had worked with in in Memphis. We were doing my album “Billy Joe Thomas,” which would be my last record for Scepter. This was in 1972, and we were recording that album at the Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village. That was when he tapped Barry and Cynthia for a song and they brought us, “Rock and Roll Lullaby.” I always love to perform that song in concert. It is a favorite with audiences and it is one of my favorites, too. When I perform that song – so many of my songs – all those memories come up from within me, too. It really has a dramatic effect on me, and the audience as well.

LA50: B.J., can you weigh in on why you feel that, as people get older, they still keep up on theatre, and film, and what books may be on the current bestseller list, but their musical interests seam to arrest and they stop being open to new music.

BJT: I believe music is emotional, and I think, for those of us who are over 50, we relate in a very emotional way to the music of our youth – the music we grew up with. Music is always changing – technically, lyrically – and that’s good. But I think most people are emotionally tied to the music they were listening to as they first began finding themselves and learning who they are and when they fell in love for the first time. Those kind of emotions are hard, if not impossible, to compete with. Also, the music of the 1960s and ’70s was very good music. It had an emotion and a simplicity that isn’t there in today’s music. I travel all over the world and everywhere you go, they are still playing and listening to American and British music from the ’60s and ‘70s. So I think we all just tend to cling to the music of our youth in an emotional way, and maybe also in a nostalgic way. I always say every generation believes their music is the best, and that we who grew up in the ‘60s and ‘70s just happen to be the only ones who are right [laughs.]

LA50: Are there any contemporary artists you enjoy?

BJT: I like Adele and I actually appreciate many contemporary artists, although I can’t say I listen to anyone on a regular basis. I don’t have a complete understanding of hip hop and rap music, but over the years, I have connected with quite a few rap and hip hop songs and have found that some of them have an emotional and deep meaning to them. But overall, I’m still a fan of the older stuff.

LA50: Your string of Christmas albums have become hugely popular with people.

BJT: Well, Christmas has always been a very special time for me, because of my children, and now my grandchildren. I have always loved the way Christmas brings friends and family together and I have always loved Christmas music, because it just makes you feel wonderful.

November 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 29

LA50: Johnny Mathis has said that having people include his Christmas music in their personal holiday celebrations is one of the nicest things that has ever happened to him. You must have the same feeling.

BJT: I do feel very privileged that my Christmas music – all of my music – is heard over a very wide scope of our world. I just love that. I think that the best part of me, of who I am at my best, has been in my music. I’ve always tried to be a good person, but sometimes I kind of took the long way to get there.

But I have always felt I was the best I could be as a person when I was performing and recording. I’m so grateful I’ve had the chance to do what I do, because no matter what has ever gone on in my personal life – the drama, or whatever kind of troubles I was having – none of that was ever a part of my music.

Through music, I can be the best person I can be and I feel that is amplified when I do Christmas music.

LA50: As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, what is it that you are most grateful for at this point in your life?

BJT: My family – my children, and the wonderful marriage I have with Gloria. I’m also grateful for all I have gotten to do and still get to do in my career.

I’m grateful to be living in this wonderful country.

I have a lot of things to be thankful for. I think as Americans we all do. It is wonderful to live in America. And I’m thankful for the love I get from the

people that have followed me over the years and have embraced my music. Those are the things that make me grateful, and a very, very, very, lucky person.

LA50: As each day passes, we all get a little bit older. Have you adopted any thoughts or a philosophy about aging?

BJT: Well, the first thing you have to deal with is the challenge of staying healthy. I try to eat correctly.

I don’t eat late, which is mainly to protect my voice from the damage of acid reflux. I play golf and I stay active. I’m in the gym three days a week with a trainer. I also got a rowing machine at the house here. As you get older, you have to pay more attention to taking care of your body. They say age is just a number, but to keep it just a number, you have to treat your body right and so I do the best I can with what I have. Beyond the physical aspect, I think the most important thing is to live by the Golden Rule. I try to love other people and do right by them. I think the biggest challenge we have in life is to also love ourselves and keep a positive attitude. Every morning when I get up, I say: “I love everyone, everyone loves me, and I love myself. I forgive everyone, everyone forgives me, and I forgive myself.” I say that as a habit. Look, I don’t want to pass myself off as being some kind of a saint, because I’m not. But just having a positive attitude and having a good feeling about life and

other people is a great thing no matter what your age, and I think that gets even more important as we get older.

LA50: Just like “Raindrops,” yours is a great American story.

BJT: Well thank you. I’ll take that! I’ll gladly take that!

For more information on B.J. Thomas, click on www.bjthomas.com

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30 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

For those who are suffering from feelings of depression, sadness, hopelessness, memory loss, concentration difficulties, lack of energy, or loss of interest and pleasure in activities, UCLA is conducting a 12-month research study comparing levomilnacipran (FETZIMA) to placebo for treatment of geriatric depression. If you are 60 years of age or older, you may qualify. A complete psychiatric evaluation, physical exam, and one MRI scan are provided as a part of the study. All participants will be given either levomilnacipran (FETZIMA) or a placebo (an inactive substance). You will be compenFor those who are suffering from feelings of depression, sadness, hopelessness, sated up to $200 and parking will be reimbursed. memory loss, concentration difficulties, lack of energy, or loss of interest and pleasure in activities; UCLA is conducting a 12-month research study comparing For more information, call UCLA at: (310) 794-9523 or (310) 794-4619. levomilnacipran (FETZIMA) to placebo for treatment of geriatric depression. If you are 60 years of age or older, you may qualify. A complete psychiatric evaluation, physical exam, and one MRI scan are provided as a part of the study.

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Gypsy – New Production, PBS – Premieres

Friday November 11 at 9 p.m. (check local listings)

The Public Broadcasting System’s “Great Performances” is presenting this recent revival production of the classic American musical, “Gypsy,” starring Imelda Staunton. The show tells the story of ambitious show business mother, Rose, who treks across America with her daughters, Baby June and Louise, in search of success with their homespun vaudeville act. The show is loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of famous burlesque entertainer, Gypsy Rose Lee, and features lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and music by Jule Styne. Staunton plays Mama Rose and turns the overbearing stage mother thing up full blast, channeling all sorts of over-the-top rage, frustration and sadness into the role.

mars – New Miniseries, National Geograhic – Premieres Friday November 11 at 9 p.m.

This six-part, Ron Howard-produced hybrid miniseries depicts a fictitious first mission to Mars by human astronauts in the year 2033. The dramatic scenes are intercut with interviews of some of today’s leading space exploration experts, including Neil deGrasse Tyson, Elon Musk, NASA administrator Charles Bolden, X-Prize Foundation head Peter Diamandis, “The Martian” author Andy Weir, and over a dozen additional scientists, business leaders, and government officials.

Good Behavior – New Series, TNT – Premieres Tuesday November 15 at 9 p.m.

This adaptation of Blake Crouch’s “Letty Dobesh” book series by Chad Hodge finds “Downton Abbey’s” Michelle Dockery playing a complicated thief and con artist, Letty Dobesh, whose life is always one wrong turn and one bad decision from implosion, which is just how she likes it. Fresh out of prison, she’s attempting to stay afloat. But when she overhears a hit man being hired to kill a man’s wife, she sets out to derail the job, sending her on a wild collision course with the charming killer, and entangling them both in a dangerous, seductive relationship.

Shooter – New Series, USA Network – Premieres Tuesday November 15 at 9 p.m..

The Best In NovemBer Television viewing

By Sandi Berg

Ryan Phillippe stars as former Marine sniper, Bob Lee Swagger, who comes out of exile to help prevent an attempt on the president’s life only to get caught in a major conspiracy, in this adaptation of Stephen Hunter’s novel “Point of Impact,” which had been previously adapted into a 2007 theatrical film of the same name starring Mark Wahlberg. Omar Epps and Tom Sizemore also star in the 10-episode series.

Christmas Angels In Training – New Hallmark Hall of Fame, Hallmark Channel – Saturday November 26 at 8 p.m.

Hallmark Channel celebrates the 65th anniversary of the acclaimed “Hallmark Hall of Fame,” the longest-running and most award-winning series in the history of television, with this new Christmas offering. The film is an upbeat, screwball comedy about a young woman who is plucked from life just a moment too soon, and is led by her guardian angel on a journey of what her life could have been. Upon her untimely death, Eve Morgan, played by Kristin Davis, a workaholic finds herself tethered to her guardian angel, played by Shirley MacLaine, who is learning to become a Christmas angel in Heaven. Despite being the worst recruit in the history of Christmas, Eve is assigned the difficult task of helping a struggling singer named Max use his musical gifts to heal old family wounds. As Max begins to overcome his issues, Eve begins to embrace the meaning of Christmas, heal wounds of her own, and perhaps find love along the way.

32 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

Tuned In To What’s on

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(619) 570-1100 www.CaliforniaBallet.org November 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 33

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

eNteRtAINMeNt WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 GLENDALE NOON CONCERTS Sanctuary of Glendale City Church, 10 E. California Ave., Glendale, Glendale.

Free. (818) 242-2113. glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot.com.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

rollicking bluegrass sounds of The Get Down Boys. 24th Street Theatre, 1117 West 24th St., Los Angeles. Sat.-Sun. through Dec. 11. $10-$24. (213) 745-6516. 24thstreet.org.

GINO VANNELLI Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. $39-$125. (888) 645-5006. sabantheatre.org.

THE HOUR WE KNEW NOTHING OF EACH OTHER Twelve actors, 450 characters and no dialogue: a play without words by Europe’s great experimental playwright, Peter Handke. Surprising, funny, fast and physical, this is theater to set the imagination on fire. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. Dates vary. through Dec. 11. $25–$34. (310) 477-2055 x2. odysseytheatre.com.

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. Prices vary. (562) 467-8818. cerritoscenter.com.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20 WAITING FOR GRACE An award-winning comedy about love and marriage in the 21st century. What if true love never happens? Or worse… what if it does?

Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. Dates vary. through Dec. 12. $30.

(323) 960-7788. waitingforgrace.com.

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.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21 REINDEER ROMP See real reindeer in Los Angeles, and enjoy a flurry of seasonal festivities and yuletide

LA/Ventura

November/December flourishes, plus occasional visit by Santa Claus. All activities, except Santa photos, free with paid admission. The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Griffith Park, 5333 Zoo Dr., Los Angeles. Dates vary through Jan. 8. Prices vary. (323) 644-6042. lazoo.org.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22 VENTURA BLUEGRASS JAMS Milano’s Italian Restaurant, Patio, Ventura Harbor Village, 1559 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura.

(805) 658-0388. milanositalianrestaurant.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23 HOLIDAY ICE RINK IN PERSHING SQUARE Get your glide on at this holiday season at L.A.’s biggest outdoor community skating rink. Enjoy festive, free events including a holiday concert series, the Snoopy Showcase, deejay nights, a Winter Holiday Festival, championship skating exhibitions and broomball games. Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive, Los Angeles. Through Jan. 18. $9/one-

L.A. ZOO LIGHTS While zoo animals themselves are asleep, L.A. Zoo Lights depicts them in displays made of millions of lights that beckon you to stroll through a section of the zoo and be surrounded by dazzling sights and colors.

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Griffith Park, 5333 Zoo Dr., Los Angeles. Dates vary through Jan. 8. Prices vary. (323) 6446042. lazoo.org.

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN This musical parodies the horror film genre. The story follows bright young Dr. Frankenstein as he attempts to complete his grandfather’s masterwork and bring a corpse to life. Includes memorable tunes like “The Transylvania Mania,” “He Vas My Boyfriend” and “Puttin’ On The Ritz.” Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Los Angeles.

Weekends through Dec. 17. Prices vary. kenwoodplayers.org.

RICKLES AND REGIS “Mr. Warmth” Don Rickles’s 90th Birthday Laughfest, classic stories, film clips and fun, hosted by Regis Philbin. The Canyon, 28912 Roadside Dr., Agoura Hills. $24-$58.

(818) 879-5016. canyonclub.net.

BLOOD This political thriller with music shares the tale of the 1980s 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 Dec. 18, $25-$30. (323) 960-7745. plays411.com/blood.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19 HANSEL AND GRETEL BLUEGRASS A new version of the classic story set in depression-era Kentucky and featuring the

34 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17

THE LATINA CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

You thought your holidays with the family were dramatic. Try these three hilarious, touching and surprisingly personal Christmas stories of holidays past told by Latina comedians, Sandra Valls, Diana Yanez and Maria Russell. These three great friends have a holiday season get-together that includes plenty of tequila and stories of childhood Christmas dramas. As they share their sassy tales of the season as first-generation Americans, they’ll deck the halls with guacamole. LATC, 514 S Spring St., Los Angeles.

Dates vary through Dec. 18. $24-$32. (866) 811-4111. http://thelatc.org.

CALeNDAR

November/December LA/Ventura and fish. Guests can see Santa Diver with sharks and watch aquarium animals receive their special treats and enrichment gifts. Enjoy holiday music, crafts, special presentations, unique photo opportunities and shopping. The Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. Also Dec. 4. $27-$30. (562) 5903100. aquariumofpacific.org.

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

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1

BROADWAY CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND

This seasonal favorite show features glittering costumes, a dazzling cast and the highest kicking chorus girls this side of the North Pole. Start the holidays in style as Santa and his merry helpers take you on an unforgettable nostalgic journey. Songs include “White Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Have Yourself A Very Merry Christmas,” “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting),” “Jingle Bells,” “Away in a Manger,” “Silent Night,” “Deck The Halls,” “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” and “O Holy Night.” Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Through Dec. 4. Prices vary. (800)745-3000. broadwayinthousandoaks.com.

IRISH TENOR HOLIDAY SHOW Accompanied by an orchestra, the Celtic music kings perform their traditional repertoire, Irish favorites and seasonal classics. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. $55$75. (562) 467-8818. cerritoscenter.com.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7

hour skate session. $4 skate rental. (213) 624-4289. pershingsquareicerink.com.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24 THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE A darkly comic tale of Maureen Folan, a plain and lonely woman in her early 40s, and Mag, her manipulative, aging mother, whose interference in Maureen’s first and potentially last loving relationship sets in motion a train of events that are as tragically funny as they are horrific. Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum at the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Through Dec. 18. Prices vary.

(213) 628-2772. centertheatregroup.org.

Little Drummer Boy,” with the sounds of the legendary rock singer/songwriter in a tribute parody that is both touching and hilarious.

Falcon Theatre, 4252 Riverside Dr., Burbank.

Prices vary. Dates vary through Jan. 15. (818) 955-8101. falcontheatre.com.

DECEMBER THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 LITTLE DRUMMER BOWIE The Troubies reimagine a holiday show favorite, mashing up the journey of Ziggy, “The

POMONA HARVEST FESTIVAL Hundreds of artisans showcasing more than 24,000 handcrafted originals, stage entertainment, a Kidzone, strolling performers, contests, a pumpkin patch, specialty foods, and more. Pomona Fairplex Expo 4, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona. Also Dec.3-4. $7-$9.

(800) 346-1212. harvestfestival.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3 HOLIDAY TREATS FOR THE ANIMALS Santa Diver delivers an ocean of gifts to the penguins, sea otters, seals, sea lions, lorikeets

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25 ENCHANTED: FOREST OF LIGHT Descanso’s hallmark oak trees and botanic collections are the stars of the show in this large-scale interactive light experience.

Stroll along a one-mile walk to view 10 displays, including some that allow visitors to manipulate the lights and sounds. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge. Dates vary through Jan. 8. $24plus. (818) 949-4200. descansogardens.org.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

SANTA NIGHTS Visit Santa’s workshop in the red barn.

Also photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Camarillo Ranch House, 201 Camarillo Ranch Rd., Camarillo. Also Dec. 12, 14, 19. Free.

(805) 389-8182. camarilloranch.org.

GLENDALE NOON CONCERTS Sanctuary of Glendale City Church, 610 E. California Ave., Glendale, Glendale.

Free. (818) 242-2113. glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 PAUL ANKA Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. Also Dec. 11. $68-$125. (888) 645-5006. sabantheatre.org.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11

CULVER CITY TREE LIGHTING Celebrate the season of goodwill at this annual event. See Santa Claus as he makes a very special visit all the way from the North Pole. There will be hot cider, hot cocoa, cookies and other festive treats to make everyone feel merry. Local choirs perform and the mayor will light the 22-foot artificial Rocky Mountain pine tree with over 7,500 warmwhite LED lights. Town Plaza, Culver Blvd. at Van Buren Pl., Downtown, Culver City. Free. downtownculvercity.com.

LEON RUSSELL The Canyon, 28912 Roadside Dr., Agoura Hills. $24-$58. (818) 879-5016. canyonclub.net.

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

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13 VENTURA BLUEGRASS JAMS Milano’s Italian Restaurant, Patio, Ventura Harbor Village, 1559 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura.

(805) 658-0388. milanositalianrestaurant.com.

November 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 35

CALeNDAR

November/December LA/Ventura

eXHIBItIONs THE BOX PROJECT: UNCOMMON THREADS This exhibition features pieces by three dozen acclaimed international artists including Richard Tuttle, Cynthia Schira, Helena Hernmarck, James Bassler, Gyöngy Laky, Gerhardt Knodel, Sherri Smith, N. Dash, Nancy Koenigsberg and John Garrett. It showcases the artists’ ingenious use of fiber, while exploring the collector-artist relationship.

Fowler Museum, 308 Charles E. Young Dr. N., Los Angeles. Wed.-Sun.- through Jan. 15. (310) 825-4361. fowler.ucla.edu.

Angeles-based artists have never exhibited together. Pasadena Museum of Art, Back Gallery, 490 East Union Street, Pasadena.

Through Feb. 19. $5-$7. Wed.-Sun. (626) 5683665. pmcaonline.org.

on display range from political subject matter to paper plates, clothing and shopping bags.

Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. Through March 12. Prices vary. (310) 440-4500. skirball.org.

SHARING CULTURE, CREATING COMMUNITY This exhibition explores the history of the Descanso Japanese Garden and celebrates how Japanese-style gardens energize diverse communities to create, interact and reflect.

Descanso Gardens, Sturt Haaga Gallery, 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge.

Through Jan. 29. $6-$9. (818) 949-4200. descansogardens.org.

SHINING LIKE A NATIONAL GUITAR The 1920s were an exciting time for breakthroughs in entertainment technology, with the prominence of radio and talking movies. However, electric amplification of musical instruments was still rare and unreliable. Guitarists struggled to play a melody over the sound of other instruments.

This was the challenge that George Beauchamp, a vaudeville Hawaiian guitarist, presented to John Dopyera, a musical instrument designer and repairman in Los

GEOGRAPHIES OF WONDER Evolution of the National Park Idea, 1933– 2016. This exhibition depicts the unceasing public enthusiasm for national park spaces, as well as the steady pace of change in the concept of a national park that grew to include national lakeshores and seashores, wild and scenic rivers, battlefields, industrial sites, parkways and trails. This display illuminates the great paradox established by the National Park Service’s founding legislation: how to make the lands under its management available for public enjoyment, while at the same time ensuring the preservation of those lands for the use of future generations.

HORSES AND DRAGONS While Pegasus is a mythical creature, did you know that winged horses really do exist in the ocean? Or, that male seadragons carry eggs until they hatch, and that seahorses can change color? Explore the mysterious realm of dragons and horses that dwell under the sea through these new exhibits, featuring about a dozen species of seahorses and seadragons and their relatives. See and learn more about the unusual animals in the Syngnathid group, which includes the sea moth (also known as Pegasus), seahorses, seadragons, pipefish and razorfish through exhibit displays. The Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way,

Huntington Library, Art Collection and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, West Hall, San Marino. Prices vary. Through Feb. 13.

(626) 405-2100. huntington.org.

Long Beach. Through March 31. (562) 5903100. aquariumofpacific.org.

CREATURE From slick avatars and popular icons to images rooted in mythology and animal instincts, the installation of more than 50 works features works by some 25 artists. This exhibition offers an array of lenses through which to view the human experience, some scientifically based and others drawing inspiration from cultural representations of how living things change over time. The Broad, First Floor Gallery, 221 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Through March 19. Dark Mondays.

Free. thebroad.org.

A SKY IN THE PALM OF A HAND This exhibition pairs Lloyd Hamrol’s sitespecific, industrial felt sculptures and Joan Perlman’s abstract paintings and prints, creating an immersive, multimedia environment that provides a platform to consider the related ideas and sharp distinctions between two artists’ investigations of materials, processes, impermanence, and landscape. Though Hamrol and Perlman have an ongoing, collegial dialogue, the two Los

36 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

Angeles. Following a few failed attempts, Dopyera developed a unique acoustic resonator instrument using a spun aluminum cone instead of a wooden top to amplify the vibrating strings, resulting in a louder, sweeter sounding instrument. The Grammy Museum at L.A. Live, Fourth Floor, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. Through Spring 2017. $12-$13. (213) 765-6803. grammymuseum.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.

TATAU: MARKS OF POLYNESIA This exhibition explores the beauty of Samoan tattoos as well as the key role they play in the preservation and propagation of Samoan culture. Japanese American National Museum, 100 North Central Ave., Los Angeles. Through Jan. 8. $5-$9. (213) 625-0414. janm.org.

REVOLUTIONARY VISION Explore the intertwined legacies of f/64, California’s premier photo-modernist group, and Richard Misrach, one of the state’s most well-known contemporary photographers.

Includes works by Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, Richard Misrach, Edward Weston, and others who present changing visions of the Western landscape. The Autry National Center, Norman F. Sprague, Jr. Gallery, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park, Los Angeles. Through Jan. 8. $6-$10.

(323) 667-2000. theautry.org.

POP FOR THE PEOPLE Roy Lichtenstein in L.A. This exhibition features prints from Lichtenstein’s Bull Profile and Surrealist series, as well as the iconic Sunrise and Shipboard Girl. Additional works

LEGENDS OF MOTOWN: CELEBRATING THE MIRACLES

This exhibit uncovers the remarkable career of The Miracles, Motown’s first successful recording act, through artifacts from the personal collection of Claudette Robinson, the first female artist to ink a record deal with Motown, making her the “First Lady of Motown.” This display offers an intimate look into the group’s early career and their later rise as Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. The Grammy Museum at L.A. Live, Third Floor Mike Curb Gallery, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. Through Summer 2017. $12-$13.

(213) 765-6803. grammymuseum.org.

“…pulverizingly funny” — THE WALL STREET JOURNAL “…a battery of yuks that barely lets up” — VARIETY

October 19 – November 20 From the gifted pen of America’s favorite playwright, Neil Simon, comes one of his funniest plays. As you clutch your sides in laughter, you’ll see why The New York Times hailed LAUGHTER as “one of Simon’s best, most enduring and endearing plays.”

Great Holiday Songs of the 50s and More “Powerful…distinctive style” — VARIETY

The Girl Singers bring to life popular holiday songs of the 50’s including “Santa Baby,” “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” as well as favorites to sing along to like “Winter Wonderland,” “Silver Bells” and more. A wonderful holiday musical for the entire family!

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DECEMBER 6 – 24

something for everyone: Variety Nights at North Coast Rep richard lederer’s

film noir unscripted November 7, 7:30pm

zootopia: A centennial celebraton November 14, 7:30pm

Starting with an audience suggestion and creating completely improvised, full‑length plays in the styles of the world’s greatest writers.

A fun evening.

Union-Tribune language columnist Richard Lederer offers a history of our 100 year‑old zoo and the animals that run, crawl, swim and fly through our English language.

impro theatre’s

Group Sales: (858) 481‑2155, ext. 202 987 Lomas Santa Fe Dr, Solana Beach

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Same Driveway as Vista Paint

November 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 37

Rick Steves’ Travels The Tempting Treats of Europe

By Rick Steves

RICK ST EVES’ T RAVELS

B

eginning with Halloween and running through the end of the year, most Americans, even the health- and dietconscious ones, tend to indulge in more sweet treats than they do at other times. Many of those folks, especially the true confectionary connoisseurs, know that some of the most indulgent of all sweets come from the countries of Europe.

Belgians are renowned as connoisseurs of fine chocolate, and Italy’s gelato is nothing short of edible art. In France, travelers look for tempting pâtisseries where they can indulge in éclairs, fruit tartes, and macarons, and a trip to Germany is never complete without the consumption of a slice of the country’s famous Black Forest cake, a mouthwatering concoction with alternating layers of Schnapps-soaked chocolate cake, cherries, and whipped cream.

If you have a sweet tooth and are planning a European trip, I recommend that while visiting various cities you dig a little deeper to uncover a bounty of lesser-known treats that will sweeten your time abroad. In Portugal, a wonderful local pastry is the cream tart called pastel de nata.

Popular all over Portugal, this delicacy was born in Lisbon’s Belém district, where locals have been coming to the famous pastry shop Casa Pasteis de Belém since 1837 to get them warm out of the oven. Here you’ll also find various concoctions made from egg yolk and sugar, such as barriga de freiras (nuns’ belly) and papo de anjo (angel’s double chin).

38 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

For a quintessential taste of Lisbon, duck into one of the funky hole-in-the-wall shops throughout town and ask for ginjinha, a sweet liquor made from the sour cherry-like ginja berry, sugar, and Schnapps.

In Rome’s colorful Trastevere neighborhood, pop into Biscottificio Artigiano Innocenti, a traditional bakery that’s been there since the 1940s that bake the seasonal cookies Italians love including vanilla meringues known as baci di Giulietta (Juliet’s kisses) and sospiri di Romeo (Romeo’s sighs) which are chocolate cookies filled with hazelnuts.

Along with gelato, other Italian desserts (dolci) will vie for you devotion. Try bignè, a cream puff-like pastry filled with zabaione (egg yolks, sugar, and Marsala wine) or crostata di ricotta, a cheesecake-like dessert with ricotta, sweet Marsala wine, cinnamon, and bits of chocolate. Torta della Nonna (grandmother’s cake) has a creamy custard filling and is topped with pine nuts. In Siena, look for panforte, a rich, chewy concoction of nuts, honey, and candied fruits that impresses even fruitcakehaters; and a chewy, white macaroon and almond cookie called ricciarelli. Throughout Italy, you’ll see vendors at little booths serving up grattachecca, shaved ice flavored with sweet syrups like limoncocco (lemon and coconut with fresh chunks of coconut).

Visitors to Norway, Sweden, or Denmark may not realize before they arrive how much Scandinavians love sweets. Bakeries (konditori) — often marked by a golden pretzel hanging above the door — fill their window cases with cakes, tarts, cookies, and pastries. The most popular ingredients are marzipan, almonds, hazelnuts, chocolate, and fresh berries. Many cakes are covered with sheets of solid marzipan.

Scandinavian chocolate is some of the best in Europe. In Denmark, seek out Anthon Berg’s dark chocolate and marzipan treats, as well as Toms’ chocolate-covered caramels. In Sweden, look for Marabou milk chocolate. The Freia Company, Norway’s chocolate goddess (named for the Norse goddess Freya), makes wonderful delights such as Smil soft caramels and Firkløver milk chocolate with hazelnuts. Licorice and gummy candies are also popular. Black licorice (lakrits) is at its best here, except for (salty licorice), which is not for the timid. Black licorice flavors everything from ice cream to chewing gum to liqueur.

As a traveler, you naturally want to relish the iconic locations of Europe, but while you’re there, don’t miss out on tasting some of the sweetest, creamiest, crispiest and most decadent culinary delights the world has to offer.

Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and radio. You can e-mail him at rick@ricksteves.com and visit his website at www.ricksteves.com.

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And Finally...

The Bookworm’s Best A Life After 50 book review

by Terri “The Bookworm” Schlichenmeyer

They Left Us Everything

By Plum Johnson

Y

our grandmother’s jewelry will be yours.

Someday, you were told as a kid, you’d be the proud owner of her necklace, pins, rings and other jewels.

But in her new memoir, “They Left Us Everything,” Plum Johnson points out that some of the most-treasured things we inherit are not tangible.

Nineteen years, one month, and 26 days. That was exactly how long Johnson had been taking care of her elderly parents when it finally brought her to her knees physically and emotionally. At 93, her mother was forgetful and needy, and the daily trip alone was daunting: Johnson lived 45 minutes away from the family home – too close for her, too far for her mother.

Johnson’s parents had purchased their 4,000-square-foot house in 1952, and had since done almost nothing to it.

Aside from adding storage areas and some bookcases, it was nearly the same as it had been at the turn of the century.

To Johnson’s chagrin, though, the one thing they did do over the years was to fill it with sports gear, keepsakes, gifts, clothes, books, and five decades of family bric-a-brac.

Yes, she’d tried to clean up the mess once or twice, but it was a huge task, both physically and emotionally. Her late father, a war hero with a “dark side,” kept every reminder of his military service. Johnson’s mother, with her breezy, devil-may-care attitude, was sometimes vindictive and didn’t give a darn about anything except voicing her criticism of Johnson’s life.

How, Johnson wondered, could two people who were so different fall in love and stay together for the rest of their days?

There were so many questions – and even more, after Johnson’s mother died. The answers Johnson hoped for she thought might be found during a clean-up of the 23-room mess. Johnson, who was the only one of her siblings with few obligations, moved back into her childhood home and started the sorting process.

Tucked away amidst an abundance of junk she found old love letters and ancient magazines, expired food and “pocket litter” such as receipts from 1953. As she went through clothes-jammed closets and as her brothers periodically stopped by to claim paintings and other items, she learned a lesson: the greatest inheritances aren’t always found in tangible items.

If you are a baby boomer, “They Left Us Everything” will give you goosebumps. It’s the rare boomer, I think, who won’t see themselves in Johnson’s story.

First of all, it’s the quintessential mother-daughter-strife story, complete with old criticisms that don’t make sense and new awakenings that came too late. It’s also about that awkward “parenting-our-parents” thing that so many boomers are now faced with, made bearable by Johnson’s willingness to say what most people in that situation think, but don’t often come out and say.

This book is brutally honest, irritating, funny and rewarding. It will touch a nerve as no other you have ever read, especially if you’re a boomer with an elderly parent in need of care. Be forewarned, however, and approach this story with an open mind and heart and tissues at the ready, because “They Left Us Everything” is a real jewel.

“They Left Us Everything” by Plum Johnson, Putnam, 2016, $26, 279 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 author Truman Capote staged a bash that would become forever known as “The Party of the Century.” Dubbed “The Black and White Ball,” the elaborate masquerade party with a guest list that included a Who’s Who of politics, entertainment and the literary world, was held on November 28, 1966 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City in honor of The Washington Post publisher, Katharine Graham.

Recounted in the book, “Party of the Century” (Wiley, 2007) by Deborah Davis, the affair was inspired by author Dominick Dunne, who had thrown a black and white party in 1964 for his 10th wedding anniversary, and the “ascot scene” from “My Fair Lady.” The event’s midnight dinner consisted of scrambled eggs, sausages, biscuits, pastries, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken hash and 450 bottles of Taittinger Champagne.

Credited with starting an upsurge in social and charitable masquerade parties and black and white ball recreations, Capote’s event inspired Princess Yasmin Aga Khan to host a recreation in 1991 at Tavern on the Green as a charity event for the Alzheimer’s Association. Christie’s Auction House also recreated the Black and White Ball in 2006 at Rockefeller Center to coincide with their selling of The Plaza’s contents. Christie’s event followed Capote’s schedule and menu exactly, right down to entertainment by the Peter Duchin Orchestra, which had performed at the original gathering.

42 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

Just A Thought Before We Go “It is not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, that is the true measure of our thanksgiving.”

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Contents

November 2016

10

18

22

Cover Profile

Departments

10 Jerry West

6 50-Plus: What You Need to Know

The legendary Laker is now a warrior for heart health.

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

Features

The best in November television.

18 Unjumbling The Jumble Of Medicare In 2017

Clarifying the basics and changes and what it means for you.

22 Be Grateful! Your Best Age Is NOW!

Psychotherapist Dr. Robi Ludwig says today is the day to be your best.

26 The Hallowed Hall Of Must-Knowtables – Alfred Lunt And Lynn Fontanne

Legendary notables that everyone, of every age, should know.

28 The Look Of Life After 50 – B.J. Thomas

The singer shares insight on his marriage, music and more.

28

32 Tuned In To What’s On

34 Let’s Get Out

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

38 Rick Steves’ Travels

Take a taste of Europe’s most tempting treats.

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 courtesy of Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

All material published within this issue of Life After 50 and on www.lifeafter50.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...

The Power Of A Little Gratefulness

W

hile preparing this issue of Life After 50, I was working remotely from New York, Boston and Canada, where I was conducting interviews and photo shoots for future stories. As anyone who travels frequently is well-aware, the process of getting from one place to another in today’s world could severely challenge the patience of Job. While some of the patience-challenging events I encountered during my travels were man-made, others included storms that resulted in a 24-hour delay in departing Nova Scotia and a two-hour wait on the runway of New York’s Kennedy Airport (that included a return to the gate and a four-hour delay in taking off). These are things my friends in the legal profession call force majeure, which basically means even God has issues when it comes to providing consistently good service.

And yet, as I have come to realize whenever I encounter frustrating blips, there are seemingly always positive things happening that have a way of counterbalancing anything bad, even a frightful nor’easter. Those things – usually small things – come from a person who possesses the awareness that something is askew and has the kindness and desire to correct it.

I encountered such a person in Nova Scotia when, wind-blown, frigid and more than a bit cranky, my wife and I stopped into a city market to thaw out. After getting coffee from a woman who was operating a little stall, we took a seat in a nearby common area. A few moments later, the woman appeared at our table with a big smile, told me she had just put on a new pot of coffee and would be right back with the fresher brew.

There was no reason for her to leave her stall, track me down, make that offer and then make good on it, but she did. I’m sure she has no recollection of doing it, and to most, her act would be viewed as being small and insignificant. But it wasn’t. It was a gesture of kindness that was rendered at just the right moment, which, in turn, conjured up a feeling of gratefulness that immediately changed my mood.

While traveling, I was editing stories for this issue, including Dr. Robi Ludwig’s feature on the importance of gratefulness. In her piece, Ludwig says we should always be thankful and grateful for even the smallest things, because by focusing on gratitude, we release brain chemicals that can have a positive effect on our overall mood and emotional well-being.

Now back in my Southern California office, putting the final touches on this issue, I know I have much to be thankful and grateful for – good health, my wife, friends, a job, a home – the list goes on and on. But those are the big things. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I’m finding myself a bit more aware of the many little things that occur each day that I should be thankful and grateful for. I’m also thinking about that Nova Scotian coffee vendor and how you never know, on any given day, by being just a little more aware and a tad kinder, we all have the power to give someone a reason to be grateful, to change their mood, their day, or, perhaps, if you hit it at just the right moment, even their life.

David Laurell, Editor-in-Chief

4 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

Publisher Valarie Anderson Editor-in-Chief David Laurell

Account Executives: San Diego County/Orange County Phil Mendelson Phil@LifeAfter50.com Travel/Los Angeles James Thomopoulos James@LifeAfter50.com

Associate Editors Steve Stoliar Claire Yezbak Fadden Art Director Michael Kraxenberger Graphic Designer Nour BouChakra

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©2016 Southland Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved

A November Thought “If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness.

It will change your life mightily.”

– Gerald Good

50

Take A Shot

Plus

What You Need To Know

By Claire Yezbak Fadden and Max Andrews

Change Your Life In Five Minutes

M

any people have made positive changes in their lives by keeping a daily gratitude journal and, with Thanksgiving looming, many more would like to begin the process. Now, with the help of Intelligent Change, whose mission is to help people create positive habits, you can arm yourself with “The Five Minute Journal,” that will help you focus on the good in your life, become more mindful, grateful, and live with intention. With a simple structured format, “The Five Minute Journal” will help you start and end each day with gratitude, providing you with increased happiness and optimism. “The Five Minute Journal” was designed for those who have trouble sticking to a commitment and have started and stopped journals before. With this simple guided format, you’ll create a daily empowering habit that will assist you in focusing on taking the necessary steps towards bringing more positivity into your life. This fascinating guide was created based on the findings of The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley who worked in collaboration with the University of California, Davis to do a multi-year study on the science and practice of gratitude. Here is what they found: Maintaining a daily gratitude journal provided positive results in building stronger immune systems and lowering blood pressure; stimulating higher levels of positive emotions of joy, optimism and happiness; instilling more generosity and compassion, and diminishing the feelings of loneliness and isolation. To learn more about “The Five Minute Journal,” click on www.intelligentchange.com.

P

neumococcal disease, including pneumonia, bacteremia and bacterial meningitis, is a serious health threat. Each year, it causes the deaths of approximately 40,000 Americans, most of them over 65 years of age. U.S. Public Health Service data suggest that nearly half of those deaths could be prevented if people in high-risk groups were given the pneumococcal vaccine.

There are two vaccines for the most common types of bacterial pneumonia, one old and one new. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that a person get each shot, one year apart, then a booster of the old one five years later. You are then protected for life. The CDC also recommends a yearly flu vaccine, which protects against bacterial pneumonia. For more information about pneumonia or vaccines, click on www.cdc.gov/vaccines.

Remembering Marilyn

Fifty Candles

F

ifty years ago this month New Orleans received the NFL’s 16th franchise. The Beatles began recording sessions at Abbey Road Studio for their “Sergeant Pepper” album. Astronauts Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin returned to earth in Gemini XII. Sandy Koufax became the first three-time Cy Young Award winner in MLB history. NBC became the first network to televise their entire lineup in color. John Lennon met Yoko Ono at an avant-garde art exposition at Indica Gallery in London.

Muhammad Ali scored a TKO over Cleveland Williams in three rounds for the heavyweight title. Notable personalities born in November 1966 who are celebrating their 50th birthday this month include NFL player Troy Aikman, actors David Schwimmer, Bradley Gregg and Michael Kenneth Williams, Chef Gordon Ramsay, actresses Daisy Fuentes, Rachel True and Alison Doody, astronaut Mark T. Vande Hei and guitarist Paul Gilbert.

6 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

S

he was one of the most famous females of the 20th century. But there was more to Marilyn Monroe than fame, beauty and sex appeal.

That is made abundantly clear in Boze Hadleigh’s new book “Marilyn Forever” (Taylor Trade Publishing, 2016). Separated into four segments, “Victim,” “Vixen,” “Valentine” and “Venus,” the tome explores different stages of Monroe’s life and image. The book comprises hundreds of celebrity quotes which offer myriad viewpoints and insights about the controversial star who was brainier and braver than is generally thought. Pointing out that there is still much to learn about the blonde goddess who continues to fascinate a global audience, even 54 years after her untimely death, “Marilyn Forever” provides more than a few surprises. A sex symbol and enormously talented entertainer, she was praised, criticized, and adored during her lifetime. After her tragic and untimely death she became an enigmatic icon whose legacy continues to thrive.

A Little More You Need To Know

Where You Need To Go

‘Tis The Season To Get Magically Nutty

W

hat holiday season would be complete without enjoying a performance of “The Nutcracker.” This classic yuletide favorite, set on Christmas Eve in 1912, tells the story of a young girl named Clara who receives a magical nutcracker doll, and sets out on a wondrous journey to the Land of the Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. Toy soldiers, life-sized dancing dolls, and a fantastic dream with battling mice, dancing snowflakes, waltzing flowers and the delightful Sugar Plum Fairy stir the imagination. There are many performances throughout Southern California including the following: • America Ballet Theatre: December 10 to 20: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. $39plus. www.scfta.org.

• City Ballet of San Diego: December 8 to 24: Spreckels Theater, 121 Broadway, San Diego. Prices vary. www.cityballet.org.

• California Ballet Company: December 8 to 18: Civic Theatre, 1110 Third Ave., San Diego. $25-plus. www.sandiegotheatres.org.

• Inland Pacific Ballet: November 26 to December 4: Lewis Family Playhouse, 12505 Cultural Center Dr., Rancho Cucamonga. December 10 to 11: Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside. December 17 to 18: Bridges Auditorium, Pomona College, 450 North College Way, Claremont. $38-plus. www.ipballet.org.

• Long Beach Ballet: December 10 to 18: Long Beach Convention Center, 330 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. $34-plus. www.longbeachballet.com.

The Most Important Thing To Know This Month

Make Holiday Safety Your Top Priority

W

ith the holiday season upon us, the kitchen becomes the heart of most American homes as family and friends gather and pitch in with the preparation of meals and baked goods. With the kitchen being used more often than usual, especially by those who may not be familiar with it, keeping safety in mind is vitally important.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed

by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. Their statistics show that unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in fires, serious injuries and deaths.

As you start preparing your holiday schedule and organizing those big family feasts, remember, by following a few simple safety tips you can enjoy time with your loved ones and keep yourself and your family safe from fire.

• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking and check on your stovetop and oven frequently.

• Keep children away from the stove, hot food and liquids.

• Keep the kitchen floor clear of toys, pocketbooks or bags.

• Be sure cords from an electric knife, coffee maker or mixer are not dangling off the counter within reach of a child or pet.

• Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.

The National Fire Protection Association is a global nonprofit organization, established in 1896, devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. As part of NFPA’s mission they have produced easy-to-use educational programs, tools, and resources for all ages and audiences that can be accessed by clicking on www.nfpa.org.

• Los Angeles Ballet: December 3 and 4: Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. December 10 and 11: Dolby Theatre, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.

December 16 to 18: Royce Hall, 340 Royce Dr., UCLA Campus, Los Angeles. December 22 to 24: Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Redondo Beach. $36-plus. www.losangelesballet.org.

• Ventura County Ballet: November 21 and 22: Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard. December 4 to 6: Ventura College Performing Arts Center, 4700 Loma Vista Rd., Ventura. $35. www.venturacountyballet.com.

New Words You might not find all of these words in a dictionary yet, but they’re a part of the everyday American vocabulary. Here’s what they mean.

Prebuttal: A response formulated in anticipation of a criticism; a preemptive rebuttal.

Squee: A cry or squeal expressing great excitement or delight.

Yolo: An acronym for you only live once.

November 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 7

How to Exercise After 50

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Life

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“The first step toward determining if a person would

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8 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

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LowVisionLosAngeles.com

You made it to 50 or beyond! Congratulations! But you may have noticed some things have changed with the body.

It may have gotten thicker in spots that you would prefer it were thinner in. And, the old standby actions that used to lose weight for you may not work like they did before. As Dylan said, “The times, they are a changing”.

Trouble is, there is no owners manual for a body after 50 (or any body for that matter). But the care and feeding of a body after 50 can be very different from what it was when you wore a younger man’s or woman’s clothes.

For starters, exercise done improperly can actually set you back physically rather than move you ahead. Your recovery rates have changed. It may take longer for the heart and other vital organs to recover from exercise, and thus it is much easier to overwork, and even damage the body this way.

One of the signs of this is that the body has gained weight and does not seem to lose it like it used to.

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When done correctly, the result is that the body gets stronger with each workout. You lose fat, gain strength, and even more importantly, increase your overall level of health.

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November 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 9

Cover Profile

Jerry West The legendary Laker is now a Warrior, for his Northern California team and heart health Story by David Laurell Photos courtesy of Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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lthough 42 seasons have passed since he last took to the court as a Los Angeles Lakers player and 37 since he served as their coach, Jerry West is still a prominent feature at the team’s current home.

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or lakers fans, many of whom weren’t even born during West’s days with the team, they are welcomed to the Star Plaza entrance of downtown los Angeles’ Staples Center by a seven-foot-tall bronze sculpture of West that stands with those of other local sports legends: Wayne Gretzky, Magic Johnson, oscar De la Hoya, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, luc robitaille, Shaquille o’Neal and broadcaster Chick Hearn.

Along with his work for the Warriors, he has also become a warrior spokesman for Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., encouraging people to learn more about the signs, symptoms, and risk of stroke due to atrial fibrillation, which is the most common serious heart rhythm abnormality in people over the age of 65.

Life After 50 recently caught up with West at his Bel Air, California home where he described what he considers to be a perfect day when he isn’t working.

Once inside the arena, West’s presence is again felt as his retired jersey bearing the number “44” hangs in the rafters over every game and, even on the court, as every ball dribbled, passed, dunked or swooshed bares his silhouetted image in the NBA’s logo.

This month, with the 71st season of the National Basketball Association well under way, West’s thoughts are no longer with the Lakers, but rather with seeing the Golden State Warriors, of which he is now an executive board member, once again regain the championship title they held two years ago and came one game short of last season.

There is also another thing that is never far from West’s thoughts: doing all he can to maintain a healthy heart.

That concern has been one which has occupied a space in West’s mind for over 25 years, when, in his early 50s, he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition called atrial fibrillation, or AFib, an irregular heartbeat that puts him in the company of over six million Americans who, due to the condition, have about one-in-three odds of having a stroke.

life After 50 (lA50): How do you think the season is looking for the Warriors?

froM WeST virGiNiA To THe GreAT WeSTerN forUM Born in West Virginia in 1938, West first gained national prominence when he served along with Oscar Robertson as the co-captain of the U.S. men’s basketball team, which took the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics.

West then went on to play his entire 14-year professional career as a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, who, during his era, were domiciled at the legendry Great Western Forum.

Voted 12 times into the All-NBA First and Second Teams, elected into the NBA All-Star Team 14 times, and chosen as the AllStar Most Valuable Player in 1972, the year that he won the only NBA Championship title of his career, West ended his playing career having scored 25,192 points, 6,238 assists and 5,366 rebounds in 932 games.

Having played in nine NBA Finals, he is, to this day, the only player in NBA history to be named the Finals Most Valuable Player – despite being on the losing team.

Since leaving the game as an active player, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980, saw the Lakers retire his jersey number in 1983, and was voted as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history in 1996. As a coach, West led the Lakers into three consecutive playoff campaigns and then went on to win seven NBA Championships as the team’s general manager. He has been credited with being the lead architect who built the 1980s Lakers dynasty under Coach Pat Riley by bringing in star players such as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy, and again in the 2000s, under Coach Phil Jackson, with Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.

Currently serving as an executive board member of the Golden State Warriors, who took the NBA Championship title and made it to the Finals last year, West is embracing the 2016-2017 season with championship expectations.

Jerry West (JW): I don’t have much down time, especially once the basketball season begins, but when I do have a day off, I enjoy sitting around with some friends and talking about unimportant things and laughing. I like to play gin and get out on the golf course to have some competitive fun with friends.

I’ve always been a very competitive person and hopefully I always will be.

JW: Hopefully we’ll have another successful year. There has been a lot of excitement with our addition of a player of Kevin Durant’s caliber.

He will play a big role in giving us hope that we will be very successful again this season. I really marvel at the abilities of some of our new players and, over the course of my career, I have seen the best of the best. lA50: Speaking of the best of the best, you were, of course, one of the NBA stars that readers of Life After 50 grew up marveling at. of all the greats you played with and have seen play the game since, is there any one player or players that stands out the most to you?

JW: I think the greatest player to ever play in the NBA was Michael Jordan. He embodied all-around excellence as a player and he had an incredible dedication to winning, which is why he won six world championships. If you are talking before Jordan – back in my era – I would say Bill Russell was right up there at the top. He just dominated the sport with his great winning spirit. But I think it’s important to point out that there is a lot more to identifying a great player than just looking at the amount of championships they have won. In every season, we have seen a number of NBA players that have been remarkable players – great athletes – who have had distinguished careers, but have never been a part of a championship team. When that is the case, many people look at a player like that and see them as a failure, but that’s not the case at all. There have been a lot of wonderful players in all eras, many who never won championships.

lA50: Along with your passion for basketball, you have also embraced the cause of educating people on heart disease and how to maintain heart health. We all know that stress is a major factor in maintaining our health, and it is an issue that so many people wrestle with. Being in the extremely competitive world of professional sports, how do you manage to keep stress in check?

JW: Unfortunately, I’m not very good at that, because I’m an extremely competitive person. I wish I could control my stress level better, especially when the Warriors are playing [laughs]. I probably go up to the Bay Area for 30 to 35 games a year. Being that I live in Los Angeles, I fly up on the day of the game and then, as soon as the game is over, I’m on my way back home.

That way, I don’t have to be around all of the hectic and stressful things that go on before and after games. I don’t have to interact with all of the people and issues that take place in the front office and deal with constant interview requests. I don’t have to interact with the press as much as I did as a player or a coach, which has been a blessing for me, because that is very stressful. lA50: Present company excepted, we hope.

JW: [laughing] This is different, because you are giving me the opportunity to talk about things that are important to me and that are helpful to people.

Like dealing with stress. By working with my doctor and listening to him and doing what he tells me to do, my health issues are under control. I have always felt I am a very disciplined person, and so I feel I have the discipline to do what is necessary to maintain my health and keep my stress level down, although I’m always very busy – too busy even for my liking, at times. But 12 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

stress is an important issue to deal with. I have just come off a highly pressurized summer where we were trying to regenerate a team. Back in my playing days, the pressure I put on myself as a player wasn’t healthy, but, to be honest, the pressure I put on myself now as an executive is even more pronounced, because you are trying to satisfy both a fan base and the team’s ownership. The thing that drives any team in any market is the quality of the team in terms of winning, and that means acquiring great talent. If you can acquire attractive players, it enhances a franchise’s ability to continue to grow and win. During my time with the Lakers, I was very involved – for over 40 years of my life – with the performance and legacy of that franchise. I had the privilege of working with that superb team, and yet, I got to a point in which stress was taking its toll and I was burned out due to the amount of pressure I was under and that I put on myself. As a player, I only had to worry about myself and my performance, but as a team executive, I had to worry about every player – picking the right players, acquiring and drafting the right players. There is a tremendous amount of pressure placed on everyone in professional sports to produce a winning team and, because I’m a Type A personality, I had doubled the pressure I was under. I was in my early 50s and I got to the point that I wasn’t feeling right – I felt out of breath and very tired. So I went to see my doctor, who diagnosed me with AFib. lA50: Beyond the symptoms you mentioned, did you feel that something was seriously wrong?

JW: Not at all. I was shocked when I was told I had AFib, because I had never had any heart issues and didn’t really even know what AFib was.

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He informed me it was a heart disease and said it was very dangerous, because it put me at a high risk for having a stroke.

JW: The first thing he recommended was Warfarin. That was the drug everyone used to thin the blood and help prevent strokes. Now fortunately, for me, I was young enough and found out that I had AFib early enough, to begin treatment. I have had friends that, as they got older, into their 60s and 70s, couldn’t be treated with blood thinners.

I have always loved to learn new things and when I was diagnosed, I researched every bit of information available to me. I’ve looked at everything and discussed things with my doctor, especially the new generation of blood thinners, and I am now taking Xarelto. That has led me into a partnership with Janssen Pharmaceuticals to give me a platform to tell a story – my story. You know, most athletes don’t like to talk about their health issues. They want to project the image that, even after they retire, they are out there running around like warriors.

But as we get older and our careers get further behind us, even athletes who have been in great shape can be susceptible to heart problems like AFib. This new drug I’m taking, Xarelto, certainly has a lot of pluses for me. With the Warfarin, I had to be very careful about its interaction with food and it also can cause issues for people who have other diseases, like a respiratory disease. When I was on Warfarin, I would constantly have to go to the doctor to have my blood taken and have him check my prescription levels. Some days, he would have me take just one or two, and then the next day it could be a different amount. That has changed, now that I’m on Xarelto. I don’t have to run to the doctor to constantly have my blood taken. With Xarelto, I feel safe and secure that I am going to continue to have a healthy and active life. lA50: We talked about dealing with stress. What other things have you done to change your lifestyle since being diagnosed?

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JW: Well, I always had a pretty healthy lifestyle, but I have been able to get through dealing with my heart issue and keeping my stress level in better check, because I have had great medical care. I also continue to really work at maintaining a pretty heathy lifestyle. I eat right and work out and lift weights. I have someone come over to my house and work with me on stretching exercises and I get out and play golf. Ever since I was diagnosed with AFib, I have done all I can to maintain my health, with stress being perhaps the biggest challenge for me to deal with. But for me, I love to learn new things every day. I love to be active and competitive and I can’t imagine having a stroke and not being able to do the things I do that make me the person I am. The worst thing about strokes is that they are so debilitating, and it has been just heartbreaking for me to see friends of mine – active people – who can no longer be active or who have passed away from having a stroke. I’ve seen people I know who have had debilitating strokes and I just know I would never be able to survive being inactive. That’s a powerful incentive for me to do all I can to keep my stress level in check and maintain my health.

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lA50: You said it really shocked you when you received the diagnosis that you had Afib. What would be your recommendation to anyone who may be experiencing some of the things such as fatigue and shortness of breath that initially sent you to see your doctor?

JW: Get in to see your doctor immediately. The quicker people can identify any sort of a heart problem or irregularity and get on the proper medication, the better chance they have of preventing a stroke. When a clot forms in the heart due to an irregular heartbeat caused by AFib, it can travel to your brain causing a stroke. AFib increases the risk of stroke by four to five times and accounts for 15 to 20 percent of all strokes. I also suggest that people ask their doctor any questions they may have and do their own research to get as much information as possible. I have always been an information person and today, there are so many good resources. For anyone who wants more information about my story, they can go online to www.

MyAFibChoice.com and learn what I’m doing. But back to your question – and this is the most important thing – if you or someone you know is feeling out of breath, if your heart is beating harder or faster than normal, get in to see your doctor right away. The faster you can get on the proper medication, the more significantly you will reduce your risk of having a stroke. lA50: This month, as you sit at the Thanksgiving table with your family, what will you be most grateful for? blessed

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JW: That I have been with the opportunity to be able to give back to others. I came from a very meager background and my career in professional sports has allowed me to meet people I would have never had the chance to meet and do things I could have never otherwise done. I think the thing I’m most grateful for is that I have had the chance to help people, especially young people – to try to help them achieve their goals in life. I had lofty goals when I was young and I was able to achieve them with the help of others. I think giving back is the most important thing we can do with our lives. I had a brother who was killed in Korea, and at West

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Virginia University there is a place called the David West Learning Center. I was fortunate enough to have the financial resources to be able to give some money there for students to get a better chance in life. I also support the West Virginia University scholarship fund, which helps students in need. I always tell people to give back – to give of their time.

Look for the opportunity to talk to young kids and help them by telling them about things you have experienced in your life – what mistakes you made and what you have learned. I am so grateful for being able to give back to people and for everything that basketball has afforded me the opportunity to do. lA50: As the years have gone by, have you formulated any philosophy on the passage of time – on getting older?

JW: When I was in my 20s, I thought that people in their 50s were really old, much less people who are in their late 70s like I am now [laughs].

But today there are so many people in their 60s and 70s who don’t seem

to be old at all. That is because many people have better medical care, they understand the importance of taking better care of themselves, how important diet is, and the importance of keeping active and productive.

Someone recently said to me: “You’re old!” and I said, “Yes, I am old.

But I have a lot of energy, and I’m still living a very active and productive life at 78.” I am still continuing to read a lot and learn a lot. As long as I can maintain my health, I can be not just active, but actively involved in life. I have found that as I have gotten older, I am most passionate about helping other people – what I can do for them. I don’t know if it is a philosophy, but I think the most important thing we can do as we get older is to give back and to be humble. I have often said, when talking to kids, that I think the greatest trait a person can have is humility. I’m attracted to people who are highly competitive and successful, but still remain humble and make it a priority to give back.

for more information on Jerry West and Afib, click on www.MyAfibChoice.com.

16 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

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UnjUmbling the jUmble of mediCare in 2017

Clarifying the basics and changes of the current open enrollment period… and what it means for you Special to Life After 50 by Ronald Bolding, President and CEO of Inter Valley Health Plan

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s Medicare recipients look to 2017 and beyond, they can expect changes, although they are expected to be modest, and the overarching approach to choosing benefits remains largely the same as in previous years: Understand what doctors, hospitals and prescriptions are covered in your plan; determine costs – both for premium and out-of-pocket expenses – and explore added benefits of each plan.

WHAT IS CHANGING?

Medicare operates on what is called a “feefor-service structure.” If changes materialize, it would start to operate more like Medicare Advantage plans, in which customers assign their Medicare benefits to a health plan and the plan provides services through its contracted providers.

Although there are no immediate changes of this sort on the horizon, you can expect to see some changes in the next couple of years as the government sees potential cost benefits in

18 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

moving the 70 percent or so of participants not currently on a Medicare Advantage plan over to an “Advantage like” plan for what they term “premium support.”

On a more micro level, we’re seeing a lot of industry consolidation – or attempts to consolidate. We are seeing some big health plans that are looking to join together to find economies of scale. Regulators are concerned that big-name providers and big-market share could increase cost for the consumer.

If they do occur, the impact upon individual Medicare beneficiaries would be fewer health plan choices. With reduced choices comes the possibility of increased costs.

Countrywide, society continues to face cost increases for pharmaceutical benefits. These increases impact all health plans, large and small. Pharmaceutical innovation is driving positive improvements for curing diseases. Of course, we applaud positive outcomes that new drugs and medicines deliver, but the challenge

is paying for these types of medical advances.

That’s an issue at the health plan level and, of course, for individuals.

This challenge has a significant impact on Medicare eligibles. On one hand, these curative processes and products address diseases that have affected people for many years. Older Americans may finally have relief for health issues they’ve been living with for years. On the other hand, we need to figure out how to make this relief affordable. Individuals must be diligent as they shop Medicare plans to make sure they find the right fit for their health and budgetary needs.

ENROLLMENT ISSUES

Despite changes, those we know of as well as those that may materialize in the near-future, there remains little change for Medicare Advantage enrollment. As a regional health plan, we understand people have had similar concerns over the past few years, with the greatest

focus continuing to be around the three “P”s: pocketbook, providers and pharmaceuticals.

Premium costs, co-pays, co-insurance and out-of-pocket maximums are at the forefront of concerns for older Americans. Medicare shoppers are looking for, and sometimes finding, plans where, for example, co-pays and out-ofpocket costs, have not increased or, better yet, have decreased. These plans do exist!

As a not-for-profit health plan for Medicare eligibles, Inter Valley Health Plan encourages individuals to explore options and look for plans that provide top-notch coverage at an affordable price that includes the extras. Look deep into what the offerings are, what benefits and features they include, and, perhaps most important, how current members view the service. At Inter Valley, our experience tells us, of the top 10 questions Medicare shoppers ask when exploring the various options, “Is my doctor part of your plan?” ranks number one. And numbers two, three, and probably four.

Question number five, or at least the second most-common question, comes from existing members, and that is: “Has my doctor changed?”

The doctor-patient relationship is strong and older adults have no interest in switching doctors when selecting a Medicare plan because most have a comfort level with their current doctor.

People should look for a Medicare health plan that not only includes their doctor but enhances the doctor-patient relationship as well. Look for information, perhaps through current clients, about the coordination of care that exists between the doctor and the health plan. Do your homework, because results vary.

Plans that are strong in their local communities have relationships that bolster healthcare and wellness by leveraging and coordinating services of doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and other providers.

The third most common question our members ask is whether benefits have changed.

Medicare is complicated and changes may be subtle. That’s why it’s important to read, or have someone like a Medicare specialist explain, information contained in bulletin packets you receive from your health plan. Make sure you understand the differences among health plans and also from one plan year to the next.

Next in the line of questions is about pharmacy: “Are the medicines I use covered under this plan?” and “What will my costs be for these and other medicines I am likely to use?”

Those are great questions, because they often uncover gaps in or differences between various plans. It’s important to know what’s covered and at what level.

Understanding pharmacy and Part C benefits is critical. Don’t forget, they need to be checked every year. Not checking the annual notice of change in your plan benefits and services is a big mistake that individuals make; and changes can have serious ripple effects. If you are comfortable with the level of benefits and services you currently have, it cannot be overstated enough the importance of checking for next year’s changes. Subtle as they might be, it can be costly if you don’t compare.

ARE YOU BEING SERVED?

While the focus on open enrollment may be choosing the right plan, the overarching goal should extend beyond that. The real purpose of this whole exercise is to make sure you have the best possible resources to maintain and enhance your health, wellness and well-being.

As a regional health plan, Inter Valley wants to make sure our community remains healthy and full of vitality; that they’re enjoying their lives and not spending time in the hospital or worrying about what might go wrong. As an example of that, Inter Valley works with clients, their doctor and others to make sure everyone is on the same page – that we all have the same objective. Then we coordinate activities and coverages that are designed to keep clients healthy and well.

Communication is key to a strong providerdoctor-patient relationship. Make sure it’s part of your health plan’s culture. Annual wellness visits play a vital role in helping older adults maintain their health and identify issues before they become problems. Make use of such visits that are included in your health plan coverage. Your yearly wellness review is a window into your well-being and an important part of preventing serious or even catastrophic problems down the road.

Learn more about and make use of other features and benefits your health plan makes available. For example, is dental offered? If so, use your regular cleaning benefit to maintain oral health.

Is there a gym benefit? Make use of it and increase your activity. Is chiropractic part of the offering?

Take advantage of it when you need it. Are glasses covered? Get a new pair if you need them. Does the plan have local offices and, perhaps, educational opportunities? Stop in, talk to a live person, and sign up for a free class on health issues or whatever topics are offered. Utilize these local resources and ask questions.

GOING FORWARD

Remember, Medicare is a lot more than co-pays and prescriptions. The goal is staying healthy. And Medicare can be an important part of that. Of course, plans will change over time, as will benefits, and unjumbling the jumble of plans may never be easy. But by addressing key core issues, you can be a better, and healthier, consumer.

TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT MEDICARE

Here are ways to start the process: As we get older, it’s always nice to have a good laugh with old friends as we think back on conversations we used to have as opposed to what we talk about now.

It used to be all about your career and raising kids. Now your focus revolves around how to lower your cholesterol and what Medicare health plan to choose. Reality has hit, and with boomers turning 65 at a rate of about 8,000 a day, those health and Medicare conversations are pretty important to have with friends.

If you are new to Medicare, breathe a sigh of relief knowing there are a lot of great informational resources at your fingertips. The following issues are where your research should begin and what you should be discussing with your friends when it comes to Medicare:

KNOWING YOUR A, B, C AND Ds

As you begin the Medicare process you’ll be hearing about Medicare Parts A, B, C and D. Each letter designates a specific portion of healthcare coverage.

For example, Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, nursing home, hospice care and some home health. Part B covers primary care physicians, preventative care, ambulance, and durable medical equipment such as walkers and C-PAP machines.

Medicare Part D helps to subsidize prescription drug coverage. While Part C, is your Medicare Advantage Plan. It’s important to understand what Medicare covers and doesn’t cover.

WHAT COMPANY ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH?

In many cases, people like to have products and services close to home, and when it comes to your health, that is an important element. Ask your friends about what Medicare health plan they have chosen and if they are happy with it.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND COMPARE

Headquartered in Pomona, California, Inter Valley Health Plan strives to improve the quality of life for seniors throughout its service area and is one of the oldest managed healthcare plans in Southern California. The health plan offers its members free local resources right in their neighborhood. There are various Medicare and Information Vitality Centers in Southern California for members to visit and attend free educational classes on health and Medicare.

For more information on Inter Valley Health Plan, a schedule of free local classes in your area, and a Medicare Stress Relief Guide and Checklist, click on www.ivhp.com or call (800) 500-7018.

If you find a health plan that looks good, then dig around online, look for information about its reputation and how long the company has been around. Be sure to read testimonials, look at ratings, and go to their social media profiles. If they have local offices, take advantage of the close proximity and walk in and meet one of their representatives.

Come armed with your questions and see how well they do answering them for you. Doing your homework and having that personal faceto-face interaction should give you a sense of the company’s customer service, member benefits and overall strengths.

REMEMBER…the annual enrollment period for Medicare Advantage plans is open until December 7, 2016.

November 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 19

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Special to Life After 50

by Dr. Robi Ludwig

Be Grateful!

Your Best Age is NOW!

Psychotherapist Dr. Robi Ludwig says that mid-life and beyond is the best time of life to embrace the power that comes with gratitude

W

e often hear about the benefits of being grateful, especially as we get older. This month, as we celebrate Thanksgiving and begin the holiday season, the value of being appreciative and grateful is even more highlighted.

Being grateful would seem like an easy enough trait to acquire, and yet, given the busyness of our lives – working, traveling, tending to family issues, and doing all of the other little things that keep life moving smoothly – being grateful can get pushed aside and feel like just another “to do” thing on our already long list.

In my new book, “Your Best Age is Now: Embrace an Ageless Mindset, Reenergize Your Dreams, and Live a Soul-Satisfying Life” (HarperOne, 2016), I look at the changing face of mid-life and the best way to achieve a healthy mental space during this time of life. Fortunately, for all of us, the changing face of our mid-life and beyond years can be – should be – a really positive one.

In today’s world, once we’ve reached the mid-life milestone, we can truly realize our dreams. Modern mid-life is no longer defined as it once was: a time of loss, a time to be overlooked, or a time to give up on your dreams, because it’s all downhill from here. On the contrary, it turns out we can be better now in so many ways than we have ever been before, and that is something we can all agree to feel grateful about!

22 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

Today’s modern science has been a real game-changer for those over 50, giving us all the opportunity to not only live longer, but to live younger longer. There are inherent rewards to living mid-life in this new invigorated way. Feeling younger longer is the antidote to feeling hopeless, overlooked, and stagnant. This makes mid-life a vastly different time of life from what previous generations experienced.

Current research confirms that mid-life is the perfect time for us to flourish. It’s exactly at this point in our lives that we can combine the opportunities available to us with the experiences and responsibility we have gained to discover who we really are, what we really want, and to find out what our true purpose actually is.

It’s the perfect time to discover the kind of joy we couldn’t begin to imagine when we were younger, because, as we mature, we no longer are dependent of what everybody else thinks of us. We have learned to develop our own code of values, thoughts and creativity.

SO HOW DO YOU GET STARTED?

The real question for anyone whose 50th birthday is now behind them is: “What do we do with all of

this newfound ability we have, so that we can look and feel good while and maintaining a high level of vitality?”

To answer that question, it is important for all mid-lifers to know and to internalize positive attributes that are ours to own and enjoy. It is important that we figure out how to use these newfound power years and embrace all of the opportunities that they present. And a big part – perhaps the most important part – of embracing these opportunities is having the right kind of mindset.

One of the challenges of mid-life is that we often experience time differently. The future may not feel as hopeful as it once did. By the time we reach mid-life, with the maturity that comes with it, most of us have had our share of regrets over small things or even missed opportunities that completely changed the direction of our lives.

Rare is the person who makes it to 50 without, at some point, having been humbled by life’s challenges and disappointments. This may make it harder to reach our center of gratefulness in the way we would like to.

So, while this may sound like paradoxical advice, the best way to fully embrace gratefulness is to give ourselves permission to have moments of not feeling so grateful.

Life is challenging, and things won’t always go our way. That is simply a part of being human.

The natural and automatic response to this truth is to reject any feelings of gratefulness and instead feel annoyed, frustrated or even sorry for ourselves.

And you know what? That is completely fine!

Remember, as long as you don’t get too caught up in these emotions for too long, you are going to be all right.

Whenever life feels tumultuous, we need to find a way to navigate it and, according to the research I did for my recent book, mid-life is a time when we become the most capable of managing the polarities of living. I have found the best way to reorient feeling victimized is to find your grateful center.

And, you may ask, how do I do this?

It begins by adopting a spiritual perspective, which is the holy grail of mid-life. As a therapist who has been in private practice for over two decades, I am well aware that no one wants to think too much about their troubles. People want to feel happy, fulfilled and grateful more often than not, and I bet you do, too.

I have learned over the years that even the smallest adjustment can put a person on the right path. It’s not always the big leap or big change, but that small change that will make all the difference in bringing about a positive, grateful attitude, and thus in living a positive and grateful life.

You can become the type of grateful person you want to be by making minor yet important tweaks that will be life-changing. You can improve incrementally to be that happier and more grateful

person. Sound good? Okay, then let’s get started on a 10-point plan that will expand your capacity to be grateful and relish the rewards that come with it.

1

EVOLVE EMOTIONALLY

Your task during mid-life is to evolve emotionally. A self-centered viewpoint can leave you with a one-sided and inaccurate view of the world that will rob you of happiness. To evolve emotionally, you must be able to rise above what happens to you, so you can love more and give more. You can do this from moving from a “me” perspective to a “we” perspective that will help you better connect with others.

2

GET CONNECTED

3

GET ON A MENTAL HIGH

Adopting a spiritual perspective – whatever that personally means for you – helps you focus on what’s really important in terms of feeling connected to the world in a meaningful and purposeful way.

A spiritual perspective will also do wonders in elevating your mind, body and spirit. Tapping into a higher power greatly reduces feelings of depression, anxiety and psychological distress.

4

VIEW LIFE THROUGH A THERAPEUTIC LENS Embracing a spiritual perspective provides you with a therapeutic lens in which to look at your life. It underscores the valuable idea that you don’t always have to be in control and know exactly how things will turn out in order for things to actually turn out well.

5

GIVING GRANTS GRATITUDE

6

CREATE A MOTIVATIONAL MANTRA

Altruism – focusing on the needs of others instead of your own – takes on a special importance during mid-life. According to psychologist Abraham Maslow, the father of positive psychology, the true purpose of life is not to make ourselves perfect, but to rise above ourselves by connecting with others – to embrace the Golden Rule and be good to others while limiting our self-interests.

Just thinking about the words “community” and “relationships” can make you feel more altruistic and connected. Creating or collecting motivational sayings or words that speak to you can also be of help. They can become your mantra and will

MEET DR. ROBI LUDWIG Dr. Robi Ludwig’s academic credentials include a doctorate in psychology from California Southern University, a post-masters certificate in advanced clinical work from Hunter College, a masters degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Cedar Crest College. Her practical experience as a psychotherapist began in 1988 when she worked as a counselor for patients with severe psychiatric disorders. In both clinical settings and in her private practice, she has treated all forms of mental illness, substance abuse, grieving, sexual identity issues, job stress, emotional and sexual abuse problems as well as the more common social and parenting issues. Today, she is a nationally known psychotherapist and award-winning television reporter. A regular on numerous national networks and shows, she talks about psychological and lifestyle issues as well as the criminal mind. From “ET,” “TODAY,” “20/20,” “ABC World News,” “The View,” “Fox and Friends,” “The Steve Harvey Show” and many others, Dr. Ludwig has helped people better understand the complexities of the human condition.

In her latest book, “Your Best Age is Now: Embrace an Ageless Mindset, Reenergize Your Dreams, and Live a Soul-Satisfying Life,” she provides guidance for those in mid-life to reject the status quo, to become more “you” than ever before, and find the kind of happiness you never thought possible.

inspire you to become more giving, grateful and the type of person you’d like to be.

7

The following is an edited excerpt from “Your Best Year Is Now: Embrace an Ageless Mindset, Reenergize Your Dreams, and Live a Soul-Satisfying Life” Copyright ©2016 by Dr.Robi Ludwig, Psy.D., published by HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

DON’T GIVE NEGATIVITY ANY SPACE

Being altruistic helps you to feel grateful, which, in turn, counterbalances negativity. By dwelling on what you can do, every day, to help and be more connected to others, your mind will have less and less space for negativity to interfere.

8

KEEP ACTIVE AND JOURNAL

9

FOCUS ON THANKFULNESS

According to my research, along with being altruistic and connected with others, keeping gratitude journals and staying physically active results in people having far fewer physical ailments as they age. Their bodies feel better and their minds and more optimistic.

When you focus on feeling thankful – on being grateful for even the smallest things – you release brain chemicals that can have a positive effect on your overall mood and emotional well-being.

These are the same chemicals released when we are naturally happy and have also been linked to clearer thinking and better problem-solving.

10

ASK YOURSELF

So many times people seek answers from every source available other than themselves.

To begin any life-changing process, you must ask questions of yourself: • What areas of my life do I think need to be tweaked or changed to make my life happier and more rewarding?

• What are the best things about me and my life?

• What advice do I have for myself to help me become a more appreciative and grateful person?

I hope this information will help you see all of the promise and potential of living a full and productive life after 50, especially when it comes to feeling and becoming a more grateful and happy person. If there’s one thing I’d like you to take away from this piece, it is that mid-life is a beginning; it is the start of a whole new phase of your life that you should look forward to and embrace.

So, with Thanksgiving and the holiday season on the horizon, give yourself a great gift and take this time to write a new script for your life; one that includes being kind to yourself and to others.

As you put this script together, review some of the information covered here to help you support your goals. You will find that, within a short time, you will become a more grateful person, grateful for both yourself and your loved ones who are so fortunate to be a part of your life during this special time of year.

24 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

A

lthough people have been conditioned to think that “mid-life” is practically a four-letter word, the realities of mid-life today are far different from what our parents and grandparents experienced. The truth is, people in their 50s and 60s are living far more vibrant lives.

More important, instead of feeling that the best days of their lives are over, they can fill this unique time with promise, potential and even adventure.

People in mid-life are definitely not experiencing the universal malaise some would call a “mid-life crisis.”

No matter where we are in checking off the goals of a life well lived, those of us in mid-life are now at the age when we can use the wisdom we’ve secured to rebalance and reinvent our lives, taking stock of what we have accomplished and continuing to dream big about what’s in store.

geared toward young people; the fear that we won’t have options; or the fear that it’s simply too late for us to have the life we’ve always dreamed of.

Many people in mid-life worry they will get stuck in one place, or worse, their negative personality traits, which cause them emotional pain, will be impossible to change. This fear is based on the prevailing wisdom that people don’t change.

But the most current research finds that even fixed personality traits can evolve over time.

Understanding that we can continue to grow and change throughout our life span positively impacts how we experience ourselves now and in the future. Knowing that we still have time to transform ourselves, we feel more confident exploring the ways in which we can improve. It’s not too late for us to become a better, more polished version of ourselves.

The mistake we make is assuming who we were at 20 is who we have to be at 50 or 60. Yet, in reality, we’ve already changed. The wisdom you’ve gleaned just from being alive has made you a different So why are we still beating ourselves up, living person. Your environment and your experiences with anxiety, and, overall, feeling so bad? have influenced your priorities, what you want for During mid-life, many people, begin to feel yourself, and what you want for your future. This is negativity as defined by society, through external good news, because if you are unhappy with who forces such as work, dating sites, or the media you are now, you really can change.

– overall, of which, the typical person has little However, important change often comes slowly. control. Mid-life is a time in our lives when we You’ve already developed habits based on what begin to rethink the life choices we’ve made, works for you. Some of these are really good habits, evaluate our impact on others, and decide what we because they can speed things up and make life want to do with the rest of our life’s journey. easier. But if you are too inflexible in general, it’s These thoughts often surface because, for going to be hard to get through life in a successful many of us, this is the first time we contemplate way, regardless of what life phase you’re in. Yet or confront our own mortality. By this time, we’ve the changes you implement can lead to a better life. come to understand the finalities of life and all the You have an opportunity to give up the limitations anxieties that creep up can collide with our internal you see as fixed parts of your life and become the timeline. person you were always meant to be. In fact, this is This anxiety is often based on fear – the fear the perfect time to change and start feeling youthful, that as we age, we won’t be relevant in a world healthy, relevant, sexy, wanted, and unstoppable!

OUR FUTURE IS LOOKING GOOD

For more information on Dr. Robi Ludwig and her new book, click on www.drrobiludwig.com.

THE KECK EFFECT: MORE GRATEFUL MOMENTS Keck Medicine of USC is a nationally recognized academic health system dedicated to breakthrough research and treatments, with top rankings in seven specialties. Together, our team of physicians, surgeons, nurses and researchers are setting a new standard for comprehensive, customized patient care. That’s The Keck Effect — more ways to get you back to what you love.

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T H H  M-K

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Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne were considered to be the greatest acting team in the history of the American theatre, but their names remain largely unknown to millennials, gen-xers, and even many baby boomers.

While actors and actresses whose main contributions are on the big and small screen leave behind permanent records of their greatness, those who trod the boards – however famous and successful they may have been – suffer the disadvantage of having their brilliance end as the curtain closes on each performance.

A

lfred Davis Lunt, Jr. was born on August 12, 1892 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His father, who worked in the lumber business, came from longstanding Yankee stock, as did his mother, Harriet Washburn Briggs, whose ancestors arrived on the Mayflower. Alfred Sr. died in 1893, at which point Harriet married a Finnish doctor, Karl Sederholm, with whom she had another son and two daughters.

After surviving scarlet fever and the removal of a kidney in childhood, Lunt attended Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin, for two years and then transferred to Emerson College in Boston, where he developed a keen interest in acting. In 1912, at the age of 20, he joined Boston’s Castle Square Theatre repertory company, where he made his professional debut. He alternated between dramatic and comedic roles, paying his dues as he honed his acting chops.

In 1919, Lunt became a Broadway star when he landed the lead in Booth Tarkington’s comedy, “Clarence.” That same year, Lunt attended the Broadway comedy, “The Wooing of Eve,” where he spotted a pretty young actress named Lynn Fontanne.

Lillie Louise Fontanne was born on December 6, 1887 – five years before Lunt – in London, England. Her father, Jules Fontanne, was French, while her mother, Frances Ellen Thornley, was Irish. The Fontannes had two other

daughters, in addition to Lillie.

Fontanne studied under legendary British actress Ellen Terry, making her acting debut in 1905 as a chorus girl in “Cinderella.” Four years later, using the stage name “Lynn Fontanne,” she won her first role on the London stage in the Drury Lane Pantomime and, in 1910, appeared on the New York stage for the first time, before returning to England.

In 1916, she came back to New York at the invitation of her good friend, actress Laurette Taylor, who, after years of success in the early 1900s, would make a stunning comeback in 1945, originating the role of Amanda in the Tennessee Williams classic, “The Glass Menagerie.”

Lunt and Fontanne appeared onstage together for the first time in a 1919 summer stock production of the comedy, “A Young Man’s Fancy.” The following year, Fontanne appeared in “Chris,” an early version of Eugene O’Neill’s drama, “Anna Christie.” In 1921, Fontanne became a legitimate Broadway star by playing the title role in the comedy “Dulcy,” written by theatrical legends George S. Kaufman and Marc Connelly.

Lunt and Fontanne were married on May 26, 1922 in New York City.

Although they were virtually inseparable during their 55-year marriage, the Lunts never had children, and theirs was long-rumored to be a so-called “lavender

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

26 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

marriage,” wherein a gay man weds a lesbian.

The couple worked side-by-side in 27 Broadway productions, beginning with “Sweet Nell of Old Drury” in 1922, with Lunt playing King Charles II and Fontanne playing Lady Castlemaine.

The following year, they co-starred in Ferenc Molnar’s comedy, “The Guardsman,” and the Lunts became the toast of Broadway, going on to star in witty comedies by the likes of Noel Coward, S.N. Behrman and Robert E. Sherwood.

From the mid-1920s on, Lunt and Fontanne appeared almost exclusively together onstage. In 1925, they scored another success in a revival of George Bernard Shaw’s comedy, “Arms and the Man.” In 1927, the Lunts took a break from their comedic roles, co-starring in a dramatic version of Dostoyevsky’s classic “The Brothers Karamozov.” In one of her rare solo roles, Fontanne originated the role of Nina in Eugene O’Neill’s 1928 offbeat drama, “Strange Interlude” to critical and commercial acclaim.

As the 1920s gave way to the ‘30, the Lunts scored another success in Robert E. Sherwood’s 1931 romantic comedy, “Reunion in Vienna.” That same year, they made a rare excursion into the world of motion pictures, costarring in the film version of their stage triumph, “The Guardsman.”

For their efforts, both were nominated for an Academy Award, but Lunt lost out to Fredric March for “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” while Fontanne lost to her friend, Helen Hayes, for “The Sin of Madelon Claudet.” The Lunts’ only other big screen role was a brief turn as themselves in the 1943 World War II all-star production, “Stage Door Canteen.”

One of the Lunt’s greatest Broadway triumphs came in 1933 with Noel Coward’s witty ménage a trois, “Design For Living,” which Coward wrote specifically for himself and the Lunts. They also scored a huge successes with a revival of Shakespeare’s comedy, “The Taming of the Shrew,” in 1935, with Lunt as Petruchio and Fontanne as his obstinate wife, Katherina.

The following year, the couple had a hit in another Robert Sherwood comedy, “Idiot’s Delight,” and in 1938, they co-starred in a revival of Chekhov’s heavy Russian drama, “The Seagull.”

Other hits in the 1940 and ‘50s followed, including “There Shall Be No Night,” “Candle in the Wind,” “The Pirate,” “O Mistress Mine,” “Ondine” and “Quadrille.”

In May of 1958, the Globe Theater at Broadway and 46th Street was renamed the LuntFontanne in their honor.

Lunt and Fontanne officially retired from the stage in 1960 – after a healthy run in “The Visit,” staged, appropriately, on the boards of the LuntFontanne Theater. In 1964, the couple were presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom

by President Lyndon Johnson.

Although they did no further stage or film work, the Lunts did perform on numerous radio shows and in some live television productions, both winning Emmy Awards for their co-starring roles in the 1965 television production of “The Magnificent Yankee,” in which

they played Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Wendell Holmes.

In February of 1970, the Lunts were scheduled to appear on “The Dick Cavett Show” to help promote a Broadway revival of Noel Coward’s classic, “Private Lives.” The day before the taping, Fontanne phoned Cavett, asking if it would be alright if they “brought a friend” who was visiting from England. Cavett assumed she wanted to be sure their friend had a decent seat in the audience. That wasn’t what she meant. The “friend” was Noel Coward, who was brought out onstage, along with the Lunts. Cavett did a superb job of handling all three legendary stars providing viewers with 90 minutes of the most charming, witty and fascinating conversation ever broadcast.

The following day, Fontanne called Cavett to apologize if Lunt had seemed “a little off” during the show explaining that just before coming to the studio for the taping he had gotten word that his brother had died. Cavett has said he noticed no trace of grief or distraction in Lunt’s appearance, a tribute the show business adage that, no matter what occurs in real life, “the show must go on.”

Lunt died of cancer on August 3, 1977 – nine days before his 85th birthday. Six years later, Fontanne died of pneumonia at the age of 95. She was buried alongside her legendary actor husband at Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

LEARN MORE • “Design For Living: Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne”

by Margot Peters (Knopf, 2003) • “The Fabulous Lunts: A Biography of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne”

by Jared Brown (Atheneum, 1986) • “Stagestruck: The Romance of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne” Maurice Zolotow (Harcourt, Brace & World, 1965)

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

The

Great

American Story

of

B.J. Thomas

Best known for his hit “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” the singer shares insight on his iconic song, marriage, music and much more

S

By David Laurell • Photo courtesy of Jim Pierson

ince first appearing on the American music scene in the mid-1960s, B.J. Thomas has charted with songs in the pop, country and gospel genres. While he is best known for his hit songs including “Hooked on a Feeling,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” “Rock and Roll Lullaby,” and “(Hey, Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” he has also carved out a niche as a purveyor of some of the most-beloved Christmas music.

Those holiday offerings are a part of the Thomas catalogue that has seen the singer, who turned 74 this past summer, sell more than 70 million records, garner five Grammy Awards, two Dove Awards and be ranked by Billboard magazine as one of the top 50 most-played artists over the past half century.

Born in Hugo, Oklahoma and raised in Houston, Texas, Thomas’ first foray into music came as a teenager when he became a member of his church choir and then joined a few upstart musical groups, including The Triumphs.

In 1966, Thomas and The Triumphs released an album, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” which featured a cover of the Hank Williams song of the same name. The single sold over a million copies and launched Thomas off on a solo career that, in 1968, saw him score a second million-seller with “Hooked on a Feeling.”

28 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

The following year, Thomas recorded what would become his signature song, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” a Burt Bacharach and Hal David collaboration that had been written for the 20th Century-Fox film, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” The song was featured in one of the most memorable scenes in the George Roy Hill-directed film in which Paul Newman, as Butch Cassidy, performs a series of bicycle stunts to the delight of the outlaws’ female companion, Etta Place, played

by Katharine Ross. Recreating the Newman and Ross scene with his wife, singer and songwriter Gloria Richardson Thomas, for the album cover, “Raindrops” went on to hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1970, sell over a million copies, give Thomas his third gold record, and win the Academy Award for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture. The song has also been inducted into the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences’ Grammy Hall of Fame, which honors recordings that are deemed to have lasting qualitative or historical significance.

This month, Thomas and Gloria will be celebrating their 48th wedding anniversary.

Renowned as one of the most-enduring marriages in music, the couple overcame an extremely difficult period and separation in the 1970s, during which

Thomas had become so dependent on drugs and alcohol, his very life was in jeopardy. They have both credited their 1975 acceptance of Christianity for the reconciliation and success of their marriage, as well as his sobriety.

Life After 50 recently caught up with Thomas at his Texas home just as he returned from a performance at the Golden Nugget Casino in Atlantic City. We began our visit by asking him about his current touring schedule.

B. J. Thomas (BJT): I still tour quite a bit. I’m on the road a lot. I do a lot of one-nighters all over the country and even internationally. We’ve been everywhere from Australia to Hong Kong and I still really enjoy getting out there and performing.

Life After 50 (LA50): What is life like when you’re here at home?

BJT: Well, I’m a very lucky guy. I love my home and I have a great family. Gloria and I have a great marriage and we’re celebrating 48 years.

Our three daughters live nearby, so I get to see them and spend time with my grandkids often. I play a little golf when I get the chance, and that’s about it. I live a very lovely and simple life, apart from my music, which can get dramatic at times.

But when I’m here at home, my life is simple and loving and it’s the most beautiful part of my life.

LA50: As you and Gloria begin your 49th year of marriage, tell us how, even in spite of some difficult times, you have made your relationship work.

BJT: Well, we’re still in love with one another.

There is still a lot of passion left in our relationship.

And we are – always have been – very family oriented. Along with our daughters and our four grandchildren, we are a very close-knit family. We get together a lot and go on trips together. I just think making a marriage work comes from keeping the love alive and having a close family.

LA50: Your songs have become a part of the lives and memories of so many Life After 50 readers, especially “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head.” How did you and that song come together?

BJT: When I had my first hit record, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” I was signed by Scepter Records in New York. Among the major players at Scepter were Burt Bacharach and Hal David. At the time, Scepter’s mainstay artist was Dionne Warwick, who was working with Burt and Hal. So when I signed with them, one of the first things they wanted to do was have Burt and Hal write songs for me and produce a session. So I crossed paths with them here and there and just thought they were great guys. I was in awe of them. Then, after “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” I had another hit record, “Hooked on a Feeling.” When that record sold over a million copies, Dionne took my two gold records in to show Burt and said: “See these gold records? You better start writing something for this guy!” That was what had me on their mind when Burt composed the music and Hal wrote the lyrics to “Raindrops” for the score of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” They had been thinking about who they would use for “Raindrops” and I was perfectly positioned to do it. And that’s how it came to be. I felt so fortunate to have had the opportunity to be a part of that movie and it was all about just being at the right place at the right time. Gosh, when you think about it, they could have gone with any number of singers.

Burt and Hal had worked with some of the biggest names and any singer would have been thrilled to have gotten to work with them.

LA50: For those who know the film, it is your song, and that scene, with Newman and Ross, that first comes to mind whenever they think of it.

BJT: I think “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” was one of the greatest Westerns ever filmed and “Raindrops”is a song that makes such a great point. It’s a very American point – that although the rain may be falling on you and you may have some struggles and hardships – difficulties – to deal with throughout your life – you really don’t have any problems as long as you are free. I think that message really resonates with Americans. It’s kind of a truism that every American connects with: that we all have to deal with difficulties, some that even come with our freedom, but that we’re never going to stop the problems by complaining and that we’ll

never be defeated if we just keep on going – that we have nothing to worry about as long as we have our freedom. I am so proud to be connected with that song and its message. I hesitate to say the word “honored,” but at this point in my life and career, that’s what I am: honored to have recorded that song, been a part of that movie, and have had the chance to work with Mr. Bacharach and Mr. David.

LA50: I don’t think I will ever hear “Raindrops” again and think of it the same way. I never thought of it as a patriotic song.

BJT: I don’t know if it’s really a patriotic song, but it’s an American song – that tells an American story.

LA50: You are so associated with “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” Did you ever get to visit the set and get to know Robert Redford and Paul Newman?

BJT: It’s so funny you would ask about that, because I never even met them! I was in the same room with them once – the night of the Academy Awards – but it was a big room and I never got the chance to meet them. I remember a conversation I had with Burt, telling him that I never got to meet Redford and Newman, and he laughed and said he had never met them either [laughs]. He never even met the director! I had always wished I would have had the chance to meet those guys and formed some kind of a relationship with them. My feelings were a little hurt about that for a while, but I felt a bit better when I found out Burt hadn’t met them either.

So no, I never got to meet them, but I sure have always looked up to both of them for their work in that film and so many other things they did.

LA50: I know it resonates with your fans when they get to hear you sing “Raindrops” live in concert. What other songs bring about that sort of a feeling?

BJT: One that is always well received, and that I really love myself, is “Rock and Roll Lullaby.”

That song was written by the husband and wife songwriting team of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and it came to me through Steve Tyrell who produced it. Steve and I had been childhood buddies. We grew up playing in these little Texas bands. We never played in the same band but we always knew what one another was doing.

Then, as he got older, Steve began working on the other side of the microphone, in the control room, as a producer and the A and R [artists and repertoire] director for Scepter Records. Steve had been producing an album for me, and he had a great relationship with Barry and Cynthia, who he had worked with in in Memphis. We were doing my album “Billy Joe Thomas,” which would be my last record for Scepter. This was in 1972, and we were recording that album at the Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village. That was when he tapped Barry and Cynthia for a song and they brought us, “Rock and Roll Lullaby.” I always love to perform that song in concert. It is a favorite with audiences and it is one of my favorites, too. When I perform that song – so many of my songs – all those memories come up from within me, too. It really has a dramatic effect on me, and the audience as well.

LA50: B.J., can you weigh in on why you feel that, as people get older, they still keep up on theatre, and film, and what books may be on the current bestseller list, but their musical interests seam to arrest and they stop being open to new music.

BJT: I believe music is emotional, and I think, for those of us who are over 50, we relate in a very emotional way to the music of our youth – the music we grew up with. Music is always changing – technically, lyrically – and that’s good. But I think most people are emotionally tied to the music they were listening to as they first began finding themselves and learning who they are and when they fell in love for the first time. Those kind of emotions are hard, if not impossible, to compete with. Also, the music of the 1960s and ’70s was very good music. It had an emotion and a simplicity that isn’t there in today’s music. I travel all over the world and everywhere you go, they are still playing and listening to American and British music from the ’60s and ‘70s. So I think we all just tend to cling to the music of our youth in an emotional way, and maybe also in a nostalgic way. I always say every generation believes their music is the best, and that we who grew up in the ‘60s and ‘70s just happen to be the only ones who are right [laughs.]

LA50: Are there any contemporary artists you enjoy?

BJT: I like Adele and I actually appreciate many contemporary artists, although I can’t say I listen to anyone on a regular basis. I don’t have a complete understanding of hip hop and rap music, but over the years, I have connected with quite a few rap and hip hop songs and have found that some of them have an emotional and deep meaning to them. But overall, I’m still a fan of the older stuff.

LA50: Your string of Christmas albums have become hugely popular with people.

BJT: Well, Christmas has always been a very special time for me, because of my children, and now my grandchildren. I have always loved the way Christmas brings friends and family together and I have always loved Christmas music, because it just makes you feel wonderful.

November 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 29

LA50: Johnny Mathis has said that having people include his Christmas music in their personal holiday celebrations is one of the nicest things that has ever happened to him. You must have the same feeling.

BJT: I do feel very privileged that my Christmas music – all of my music – is heard over a very wide scope of our world. I just love that. I think that the best part of me, of who I am at my best, has been in my music. I’ve always tried to be a good person, but sometimes I kind of took the long way to get there.

But I have always felt I was the best I could be as a person when I was performing and recording. I’m so grateful I’ve had the chance to do what I do, because no matter what has ever gone on in my personal life – the drama, or whatever kind of troubles I was having – none of that was ever a part of my music.

Through music, I can be the best person I can be and I feel that is amplified when I do Christmas music.

LA50: As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, what is it that you are most grateful for at this point in your life?

BJT: My family – my children, and the wonderful marriage I have with Gloria. I’m also grateful for all I have gotten to do and still get to do in my career.

I’m grateful to be living in this wonderful country.

I have a lot of things to be thankful for. I think as Americans we all do. It is wonderful to live in America. And I’m thankful for the love I get from the

people that have followed me over the years and have embraced my music. Those are the things that make me grateful, and a very, very, very, lucky person.

LA50: As each day passes, we all get a little bit older. Have you adopted any thoughts or a philosophy about aging?

BJT: Well, the first thing you have to deal with is the challenge of staying healthy. I try to eat correctly.

I don’t eat late, which is mainly to protect my voice from the damage of acid reflux. I play golf and I stay active. I’m in the gym three days a week with a trainer. I also got a rowing machine at the house here. As you get older, you have to pay more attention to taking care of your body. They say age is just a number, but to keep it just a number, you have to treat your body right and so I do the best I can with what I have. Beyond the physical aspect, I think the most important thing is to live by the Golden Rule. I try to love other people and do right by them. I think the biggest challenge we have in life is to also love ourselves and keep a positive attitude. Every morning when I get up, I say: “I love everyone, everyone loves me, and I love myself. I forgive everyone, everyone forgives me, and I forgive myself.” I say that as a habit. Look, I don’t want to pass myself off as being some kind of a saint, because I’m not. But just having a positive attitude and having a good feeling about life and

other people is a great thing no matter what your age, and I think that gets even more important as we get older.

LA50: Just like “Raindrops,” yours is a great American story.

BJT: Well thank you. I’ll take that! I’ll gladly take that!

For more information on B.J. Thomas, click on www.bjthomas.com

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30 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

For those who are suffering from feelings of depression, sadness, hopelessness, memory loss, concentration difficulties, lack of energy, or loss of interest and pleasure in activities, UCLA is conducting a 12-month research study comparing levomilnacipran (FETZIMA) to placebo for treatment of geriatric depression. If you are 60 years of age or older, you may qualify. A complete psychiatric evaluation, physical exam, and one MRI scan are provided as a part of the study. All participants will be given either levomilnacipran (FETZIMA) or a placebo (an inactive substance). You will be compenFor those who are suffering from feelings of depression, sadness, hopelessness, sated up to $200 and parking will be reimbursed. memory loss, concentration difficulties, lack of energy, or loss of interest and pleasure in activities; UCLA is conducting a 12-month research study comparing For more information, call UCLA at: (310) 794-9523 or (310) 794-4619. levomilnacipran (FETZIMA) to placebo for treatment of geriatric depression. If you are 60 years of age or older, you may qualify. A complete psychiatric evaluation, physical exam, and one MRI scan are provided as a part of the study.

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Gypsy – New Production, PBS – Premieres

Friday November 11 at 9 p.m. (check local listings)

The Public Broadcasting System’s “Great Performances” is presenting this recent revival production of the classic American musical, “Gypsy,” starring Imelda Staunton. The show tells the story of ambitious show business mother, Rose, who treks across America with her daughters, Baby June and Louise, in search of success with their homespun vaudeville act. The show is loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of famous burlesque entertainer, Gypsy Rose Lee, and features lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and music by Jule Styne. Staunton plays Mama Rose and turns the overbearing stage mother thing up full blast, channeling all sorts of over-the-top rage, frustration and sadness into the role.

mars – New Miniseries, National Geograhic – Premieres Friday November 11 at 9 p.m.

This six-part, Ron Howard-produced hybrid miniseries depicts a fictitious first mission to Mars by human astronauts in the year 2033. The dramatic scenes are intercut with interviews of some of today’s leading space exploration experts, including Neil deGrasse Tyson, Elon Musk, NASA administrator Charles Bolden, X-Prize Foundation head Peter Diamandis, “The Martian” author Andy Weir, and over a dozen additional scientists, business leaders, and government officials.

Good Behavior – New Series, TNT – Premieres Tuesday November 15 at 9 p.m.

This adaptation of Blake Crouch’s “Letty Dobesh” book series by Chad Hodge finds “Downton Abbey’s” Michelle Dockery playing a complicated thief and con artist, Letty Dobesh, whose life is always one wrong turn and one bad decision from implosion, which is just how she likes it. Fresh out of prison, she’s attempting to stay afloat. But when she overhears a hit man being hired to kill a man’s wife, she sets out to derail the job, sending her on a wild collision course with the charming killer, and entangling them both in a dangerous, seductive relationship.

Shooter – New Series, USA Network – Premieres Tuesday November 15 at 9 p.m..

The Best In NovemBer Television viewing

By Sandi Berg

Ryan Phillippe stars as former Marine sniper, Bob Lee Swagger, who comes out of exile to help prevent an attempt on the president’s life only to get caught in a major conspiracy, in this adaptation of Stephen Hunter’s novel “Point of Impact,” which had been previously adapted into a 2007 theatrical film of the same name starring Mark Wahlberg. Omar Epps and Tom Sizemore also star in the 10-episode series.

Christmas Angels In Training – New Hallmark Hall of Fame, Hallmark Channel – Saturday November 26 at 8 p.m.

Hallmark Channel celebrates the 65th anniversary of the acclaimed “Hallmark Hall of Fame,” the longest-running and most award-winning series in the history of television, with this new Christmas offering. The film is an upbeat, screwball comedy about a young woman who is plucked from life just a moment too soon, and is led by her guardian angel on a journey of what her life could have been. Upon her untimely death, Eve Morgan, played by Kristin Davis, a workaholic finds herself tethered to her guardian angel, played by Shirley MacLaine, who is learning to become a Christmas angel in Heaven. Despite being the worst recruit in the history of Christmas, Eve is assigned the difficult task of helping a struggling singer named Max use his musical gifts to heal old family wounds. As Max begins to overcome his issues, Eve begins to embrace the meaning of Christmas, heal wounds of her own, and perhaps find love along the way.

32 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

Tuned In To What’s on

GROUP RATES AND PRIVATE RECEPTIONS AVAILABLE

A CHRISTMAS CAROL THE CLASSIC HOLIDAY MUSICAL

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San Diego Civic Theatre Downtown, San Diego

December 16th - 24th with the San Diego Symphony

(619) 570-1100 www.CaliforniaBallet.org November 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 33

Let’s Get OUt

San Diego/Orange County/Inland Empire

November/December

A Preview of Upcoming Events for November/December By Claire Yezbak Fadden

eNteRtAINMeNt TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15 MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS Mr. Popper loves Antarctic adventures. So he’s thrilled when a penguin named Captain Cook waddles out of a mysterious box on the doorstep. The zookeeper donates a female companion and soon—the patter of 20 baby penguin feet! They’ll sing and dance their way into everyone’s hearts in a musical version of the classic children’s book. South Coast Repertory, Julianne Argyros Stage, 655 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. Through Nov. 20. Dark Mondays. Prices vary. (714) 708-5555. scr.org.

drive across the country, neither can imagine where it will take them. Chance encounters with a motley crew of characters along the way brings them closer to understanding what sets them apart — and what connects them forever. This vibrant and affecting new American musical from Pulitzer Prize-winner Quiara Alegría Hudes and renowned rock musician Erin McKeown exudes the joy, love and frustration of being a family in a changing country. La Jolla Playhouse, UCSD Campus, Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre, Mandell Weiss Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Dr., La Jolla. Through Nov. 27. Prices vary. (858) 5501010. lajollaplayhouse.org.

Arts at Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange. $20-$55. (844) 626-8726. muscocenter.org.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

SWEET CHARITY Have you ever known a girl who wanted something so badly that she tried too hard to get it? Meet, the girl who wants to be loved so much that she has lost sight of who she is. Charity sings, dances, laughs and cries her way through romances with the “animal magnetism” hero, the “ultrachic continental” hero and the “impossible-to believe-buthe’s-better-than-nothing” hero. Welk Resorts Theatre, 8860 Lawrence Welk Dr., Escondido.

Dates vary through Nov. 20. 28. $49-plus.

(888) 802-7469. welktheatre.com.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19 DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! This whimsical musical, based upon the classic Dr. Seuss book, transforms the Old Globe into the snow-covered Whoville, right down to the last can of Who-hash. The family favorite musical features “This Time of Year,” “Santa for a Day” and “Fah Who Doraze.”

The Old Globe Theatre, Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage, Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $37-plus. Through Dec. 26. (619) 234-5623. theoldglobe.org.

JAZZ AT THE MERC Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, 42051 Main St., Temecula.

Thursdays. Prices vary. (866) 653-8696. temeculatheater.org.

RAY CHEN One of the classical music world’s most critically acclaimed violinists, Ray Chen and the Berlin Philharmonic’s top string players bring an evening of light French and Frenchinfluenced fare, including new arrangements of orchestral favorites. Musco Center for the

Dr., Costa Mesa. Through Nov. 20. $29-plus.

(714) 556-2787. scfta.org.

MIKHAILOVSKY BALLET Bustling bazaars, the roaring seas, dashing pirates and exotic harem dancers make for an enchanted experience when the Mikhailovsky Ballet from St. Petersburg, Russia performs with the Novat Orchestra. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center

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

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22 MAMMA MIA! Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA’s songs from “Dancing Queen” and “S.O.S.”

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 THE ADDAMS FAMILY Gomez and Morticia Addam’s daughter, Wednesday, is growing up. Now 18, she has fallen in love with a “normal” boy, and to make matters worse, has invited him and his parents over for dinner. In one fateful, hilarious night, secrets are disclosed, relationships are tested and the Addams family must confront the one horrible thing they’ve managed to avoid for generations -- change. Costa Mesa Playhouse, 661 Hamilton St., Costa Mesa.

Fri.-Sun. through Nov. 20. Prices vary. (949) 650-5269. costamesaplayhouse.com.

EQUIVOCATION The king’s government pressures Britain’s greatest playwright to add a politically biased history of the Gunpowder Plot into one of his scripts. The results are explosive. Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado.

Through Nov. 20. Prices vary. (619) 437-6000. lambsplayers.org.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17 MISS YOU LIKE HELL When a free-spirited mother convinces her whip-smart teenage daughter to join her on a

34 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

The spirited, romantic and beloved musical story of Maria and the Von Trapp Family continues to entertain audiences with such songs as “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Edelweiss” and the title song. San Diego Civic Theatre, Third Ave. and B St., 1100 Third Ave., downtown San Diego. Through Nov. 20. Prices vary. (619) 570-1100. broadwaysd.com.

CALeNDAR

November/December San Diego/Orange County/Inland Empire HOME FREE A little bit country, a little bit Christmas - all a cappella! Champions of NBC’s The Sing-Off combine the best of contemporary country and pop with spot-on vocal harmonies and a stage show that leaves audiences cheering.

Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation, 15498 Espola Rd., Poway. $39$54. (858) 748-0505. powayonstage.org.

CLASSICAL CHRISTMAS California Chamber Orchestra teams up with the Temecula Valley Master Chorale.

Murrieta United Methodist Church, 24651 Adams Ave., Murrieta. $27-$32. (866) 6538696. calchamberorchestra.org.

to “Money, Money, Money” and “Take a Chance on Me,” this musical celebrates of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. Dates vary through Nov. 27. $25-plus.

(714) 556-2787. scfta.org.

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

AS CHRISTMAS CAROL The holiday classic adapted from Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of hope and redemption features original new music, creative stagecraft and puppetry and live sound effects. Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St., San Diego. Through Dec. 24. Prices vary. (619) 337-1525. cygnettheatre.com.

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. thelivingcoast.org.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7 LEE ANN WOMAK The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. Prices vary. (949) 4968930. thecoachhouse.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4 A CHRISTMAS CAROL Nineteenth century London comes to life with all the familiar Charles Dickens characters— Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit, the Fezziwigs and old Ebenezer Scrooge himself. South Coast Repertory, Segerstrom Stage, 655 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. Through Dec. 24. Dark Mondays. Prices vary. (714) 708-5555. scr.org.

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

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26 COUNTRY LIVE! AT THE MERC Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, 42051 Main St., Temecula.

Saturdays. Prices vary. (866) 653-8696. temeculatheater.org.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27 LIVE JAZZ ON THE PATIO Jimmy and Enrique. Bernardo Winery, Tasting Room Patio, 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte, San Diego. Free. bernardowinery.com.

CLASSICS AT THE MERC Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, 42051 Main St., Temecula. Second and fourth Sundays. Prices vary. (866) 653-8696. temeculatheater.org.

JOHNNY MATHIS 60TH ANNIVERSARY CHRISTMAS TOUR

Best-known for popular hits including “Chances Are,” “It’s Not For Me To Say” and “Misty” Mathis has recorded more than 80 albums, including six Christmas albums that have made him the undisputed and iconic “Voice of Christmas.” Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. $59-plus.

(714) 556-2787. scfta.org.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28 AN IRISH CHRISTMAS Take a journey through Christmas in Ireland with superb dancing, traditional singing and authentic Irish traditional music celebrating the international spirit of the holiday season.

Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine. $36-$75. (949) 854-4646. thebarclay.org.

DECEMBER FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2 FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS The year is 1860, and novelist Jeffrey Scott is suffering from a bad case of writer’s block.

The Angel’s Arms, a picturesque, deserted inn, may be just the thing to revive his inspiration. Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. Through Dec. 24. $28-$78. (619) 437-6000. lambsplayers.org.

DAVE MASON The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano,

San Juan Capistrano. Prices vary. (949) 4968930. thecoachhouse.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3 PINK MARTINI The American band with an international flair performs unique seasonal selections of traditional holiday classics as well as their globally-inspired repertoire, which crosses genres of classical, Latin, jazz, and oldfashioned pop. The California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. Prices vary. (800) 988-4253. artcenter.org.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE The unforgettable folks of Bedford Falls come to life on stage in this toe-tapping tribute to a beloved American tale. The true spirit of Christmas touches George Bailey and all who witness his amazing encounter with a wayward angel. LifeHouse Theater, 1135 N. Church St., Redlands. Weekends through Dec. 23. $18-plus. (909) 335-3037. lifehousetheater.com.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8 JAZZ AT THE MERC Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, 42051 Main St., Temecula.

Thursdays. Prices vary. (866) 653-8696. temeculatheater.org.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9 AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE: THE NUTCRACKER Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa.

Through Dec. 18. $29-plus. (714) 556-2787. scfta.org.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 COUNTRY LIVE! AT THE MERC Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, 42051 Main St., Temecula.

Saturdays. Prices vary. (866) 653-8696. temeculatheater.org.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11 AARON NEVILLE: A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION The New Orleans jazz singer performs a Christmas concert filled with seasonal songs.

Musco Center for the Arts at Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange. $30$65. (844) 626-8726. muscocenter.org.

LIVE JAZZ ON THE PATIO Chini and Camberos. Bernardo Winery, Tasting

November 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 35

November/December San Diego/Orange County/Inland Empire Room Patio, 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte, San Diego. Free. bernardowinery.com.

CLASSICS AT THE MERC Old Town Temecula Community Theater, The Merc, 42051 Main St., Temecula. Second and fourth Sundays. Prices vary. (866) 653-8696. temeculatheater.org.

eXHIBItIONs BRIAN BRESS: MAKE YOUR OWN FRIENDS Bringing together his video, sculpture and works on paper for the first time, this exhibition is the most significant presentation of the L.A. artist’s work to date. Bress is known for the fictional characters he creates, inspired by 1980s children’s programming, exotic world cultures and historical art movements. Orange County Museum of Art, 850 San Clemente Dr., Newport Beach. Wed.-Sun. through Dec. 4. $10. (949) 7591-1122. ocma.net.

THE LORE BEHIND THE ROAR 100 Years of the San Diego Zoo. Celebrating the centennial of the world-famous San Diego Zoo, this extraordinary family-friendly exhibition tells the story of its humble 1915 beginnings to its evolution as a major tourist attraction and cultural touchstone. Full of interactive features, visitors can ride on a vintage zoo tour bus, hear stories from long-time zoo employees, live

the life of a zookeeper, explore the extensive animal and plant collection and learn things they didn’t know about the world’s most popular zoo. San Diego History Center, Casa De Balboa, Balboa Park, 1649 El Prado, San Diego.

Through Jan. 31. $6-$8. (619) 232- 6203. sandiegohistory.org.

VIRGIN OF GUADALUPE: IMAGES IN COLONIAL MEXICO This exhibition explores the extraordinary impact of the appearance of the Virgin in 1531, through various themes of religious, political and social importance during Mexico’s colonial period. This display is comprised of several important collections from Mexico, including the Museum of the Basilica of Guadalupe, the most visited religious pilgrimage site in all of the Americas. Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana. Through Jan. 29. $10-$15.

(714) 567-3679. bowers.org.

Lane, Redlands. Tues.-Sun. through Dec. 31. $10. sbcountymuseum.org.

MASTERPIECES OF CALIFORNIA ART This exhibition features two works by the most prominent painter of Northern California, Arthur F. Mathews (1860-1945). The Irvine Museum, 18881 Von Karman Ave., Irvine.

Tues-Sat. through Jan. 19. Free. (949) 4762565. irvinemuseum.org.

MASTODON! PREHISTORIC ELEPHANTS IN THE SOUTHWEST Mastodons, mammoths, and gomphotheres entered North America millions of years ago and roamed the continent until the end of the Ice Age. Now, a full-size mastodon mother and calf are on exhibition offering new information about prehistoric elephants in the region. The mastodons help round out the “Life to Death to Discovery” diorama that culminates in a recreated dig to recover mastodon fossils San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree

CALeNDAR EXTRAORDINARY IDEAS FROM ORDINARY PEOPLE A History of Citizen Science. This new permanent exhibit highlights naturalists and the impact their work and observations has had on science. Rare books, art, photographs, and historical documents from the museum’s 56,000-volume collection will be displayed alongside plant and animal specimens and brought to life through touchable objects and multimedia experiences that allow deeper access to the works on display. San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego. $15-$27. Through Jan 3. (619) 232-3821. sdnhm.org.

DREAMS OF THE WEST This exhibition looks to the complex relationships between landscape and the body in the art of the American West and Mexico.

With landscape as an active figure, the works on view communicate distinct stories about the desert, spirituality, Hollywood and cinema, and touch upon our own dreams about Western icons. Palm Springs Art Museum, Denney Western American Art Wing, 72-567 Highway 111, Palm Desert. Tues.-Sun. through Sept.

2017 Free. (760) 346-5600. psmuseum.org.

MISS HILLS OF LAGUNA BEACH The landscape painter Anna Althea Hills (1882– 1930) was one of the highly talented artists whose presence in the community helped put Laguna Beach on the map as a premier art colony during the first decades of the 20th century. The exhibition showcases some 40 of Hills’s paintings along with documentary materials relating to her life and work in Laguna Beach. Laguna Art Museum, Upper Galleries, 307 Cliff Dr., Laguna Beach. Through Jan. 15. Closed Wednesdays. Prices vary. (949) 494-8971. lagunaartmuseum.org.

THE ERIK GRONBORG EXPERIENCE Presents a full picture of this Danish-born American artist’s creative life over a span of 55 years. This exhibition brings together examples of Gronborg’s entire oeuvre, including sculpture in cast metal, carved wood, studio furniture, printmaking, and drawing, along with a comprehensive survey of his ceramics Mingei International Museum, Balboa Park, 1439 El Prado, San Diego. Through March 12.

Prices vary. (619) 239-0003. mingei.org.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6

THE GIRL SINGERS OF THE HIT PARADE HOLIDAY SHOW

Enjoy popular holiday songs of the ‘50s including “Santa Baby,” “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Silver Bells” and others in the stylings of The Andrews Sisters, Lennon Sisters and McGuire Sisters. Celebrate the music of Hanukah and for those young or young at heart, there’s a “Frozen” medley. North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Suite D, Solana Beach. Sun.-Wed. through Dec. 24. $39-$42. (858) 481-1055. northcoastrep.org.

36 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

MYSTERIES AT THE MUSEUM This exhibit features unfamiliar objects from the museum’s anthropology and archaeology, geology, history, and biology collections and challenges visitors to figure out their functions using the scientific method. Some were totally familiar items a century ago; others appear to be commonplace but may not be exactly what they seem. Museum visitors are invited to observe, question, hypothesize, test, decide and share their results by posting notes in the exhibit itself and by using social media. Victor Valley Museum, 11873 Apple Valley Road, Apple Valley. Wed.-Sun. through Dec. 31. $5. sbcountymuseum.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.

“…pulverizingly funny” — THE WALL STREET JOURNAL “…a battery of yuks that barely lets up” — VARIETY

October 19 – November 20 From the gifted pen of America’s favorite playwright, Neil Simon, comes one of his funniest plays. As you clutch your sides in laughter, you’ll see why The New York Times hailed LAUGHTER as “one of Simon’s best, most enduring and endearing plays.”

Great Holiday Songs of the 50s and More “Powerful…distinctive style” — VARIETY

The Girl Singers bring to life popular holiday songs of the 50’s including “Santa Baby,” “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” as well as favorites to sing along to like “Winter Wonderland,” “Silver Bells” and more. A wonderful holiday musical for the entire family!

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DECEMBER 6 – 24

something for everyone: Variety Nights at North Coast Rep richard lederer’s

film noir unscripted November 7, 7:30pm

zootopia: A centennial celebraton November 14, 7:30pm

Starting with an audience suggestion and creating completely improvised, full‑length plays in the styles of the world’s greatest writers.

A fun evening.

Union-Tribune language columnist Richard Lederer offers a history of our 100 year‑old zoo and the animals that run, crawl, swim and fly through our English language.

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Group Sales: (858) 481‑2155, ext. 202 987 Lomas Santa Fe Dr, Solana Beach

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November 2016 LIFEAFTER50.COM 37

Rick Steves’ Travels The Tempting Treats of Europe

By Rick Steves

RICK ST EVES’ T RAVELS

B

eginning with Halloween and running through the end of the year, most Americans, even the health- and dietconscious ones, tend to indulge in more sweet treats than they do at other times. Many of those folks, especially the true confectionary connoisseurs, know that some of the most indulgent of all sweets come from the countries of Europe.

Belgians are renowned as connoisseurs of fine chocolate, and Italy’s gelato is nothing short of edible art. In France, travelers look for tempting pâtisseries where they can indulge in éclairs, fruit tartes, and macarons, and a trip to Germany is never complete without the consumption of a slice of the country’s famous Black Forest cake, a mouthwatering concoction with alternating layers of Schnapps-soaked chocolate cake, cherries, and whipped cream.

If you have a sweet tooth and are planning a European trip, I recommend that while visiting various cities you dig a little deeper to uncover a bounty of lesser-known treats that will sweeten your time abroad. In Portugal, a wonderful local pastry is the cream tart called pastel de nata.

Popular all over Portugal, this delicacy was born in Lisbon’s Belém district, where locals have been coming to the famous pastry shop Casa Pasteis de Belém since 1837 to get them warm out of the oven. Here you’ll also find various concoctions made from egg yolk and sugar, such as barriga de freiras (nuns’ belly) and papo de anjo (angel’s double chin).

38 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

For a quintessential taste of Lisbon, duck into one of the funky hole-in-the-wall shops throughout town and ask for ginjinha, a sweet liquor made from the sour cherry-like ginja berry, sugar, and Schnapps.

In Rome’s colorful Trastevere neighborhood, pop into Biscottificio Artigiano Innocenti, a traditional bakery that’s been there since the 1940s that bake the seasonal cookies Italians love including vanilla meringues known as baci di Giulietta (Juliet’s kisses) and sospiri di Romeo (Romeo’s sighs) which are chocolate cookies filled with hazelnuts.

Along with gelato, other Italian desserts (dolci) will vie for you devotion. Try bignè, a cream puff-like pastry filled with zabaione (egg yolks, sugar, and Marsala wine) or crostata di ricotta, a cheesecake-like dessert with ricotta, sweet Marsala wine, cinnamon, and bits of chocolate. Torta della Nonna (grandmother’s cake) has a creamy custard filling and is topped with pine nuts. In Siena, look for panforte, a rich, chewy concoction of nuts, honey, and candied fruits that impresses even fruitcakehaters; and a chewy, white macaroon and almond cookie called ricciarelli. Throughout Italy, you’ll see vendors at little booths serving up grattachecca, shaved ice flavored with sweet syrups like limoncocco (lemon and coconut with fresh chunks of coconut).

Visitors to Norway, Sweden, or Denmark may not realize before they arrive how much Scandinavians love sweets. Bakeries (konditori) — often marked by a golden pretzel hanging above the door — fill their window cases with cakes, tarts, cookies, and pastries. The most popular ingredients are marzipan, almonds, hazelnuts, chocolate, and fresh berries. Many cakes are covered with sheets of solid marzipan.

Scandinavian chocolate is some of the best in Europe. In Denmark, seek out Anthon Berg’s dark chocolate and marzipan treats, as well as Toms’ chocolate-covered caramels. In Sweden, look for Marabou milk chocolate. The Freia Company, Norway’s chocolate goddess (named for the Norse goddess Freya), makes wonderful delights such as Smil soft caramels and Firkløver milk chocolate with hazelnuts. Licorice and gummy candies are also popular. Black licorice (lakrits) is at its best here, except for (salty licorice), which is not for the timid. Black licorice flavors everything from ice cream to chewing gum to liqueur.

As a traveler, you naturally want to relish the iconic locations of Europe, but while you’re there, don’t miss out on tasting some of the sweetest, creamiest, crispiest and most decadent culinary delights the world has to offer.

Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and radio. You can e-mail him at rick@ricksteves.com and visit his website at www.ricksteves.com.

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And Finally...

The Bookworm’s Best A Life After 50 book review

by Terri “The Bookworm” Schlichenmeyer

They Left Us Everything

By Plum Johnson

Y

our grandmother’s jewelry will be yours.

Someday, you were told as a kid, you’d be the proud owner of her necklace, pins, rings and other jewels.

But in her new memoir, “They Left Us Everything,” Plum Johnson points out that some of the most-treasured things we inherit are not tangible.

Nineteen years, one month, and 26 days. That was exactly how long Johnson had been taking care of her elderly parents when it finally brought her to her knees physically and emotionally. At 93, her mother was forgetful and needy, and the daily trip alone was daunting: Johnson lived 45 minutes away from the family home – too close for her, too far for her mother.

Johnson’s parents had purchased their 4,000-square-foot house in 1952, and had since done almost nothing to it.

Aside from adding storage areas and some bookcases, it was nearly the same as it had been at the turn of the century.

To Johnson’s chagrin, though, the one thing they did do over the years was to fill it with sports gear, keepsakes, gifts, clothes, books, and five decades of family bric-a-brac.

Yes, she’d tried to clean up the mess once or twice, but it was a huge task, both physically and emotionally. Her late father, a war hero with a “dark side,” kept every reminder of his military service. Johnson’s mother, with her breezy, devil-may-care attitude, was sometimes vindictive and didn’t give a darn about anything except voicing her criticism of Johnson’s life.

How, Johnson wondered, could two people who were so different fall in love and stay together for the rest of their days?

There were so many questions – and even more, after Johnson’s mother died. The answers Johnson hoped for she thought might be found during a clean-up of the 23-room mess. Johnson, who was the only one of her siblings with few obligations, moved back into her childhood home and started the sorting process.

Tucked away amidst an abundance of junk she found old love letters and ancient magazines, expired food and “pocket litter” such as receipts from 1953. As she went through clothes-jammed closets and as her brothers periodically stopped by to claim paintings and other items, she learned a lesson: the greatest inheritances aren’t always found in tangible items.

If you are a baby boomer, “They Left Us Everything” will give you goosebumps. It’s the rare boomer, I think, who won’t see themselves in Johnson’s story.

First of all, it’s the quintessential mother-daughter-strife story, complete with old criticisms that don’t make sense and new awakenings that came too late. It’s also about that awkward “parenting-our-parents” thing that so many boomers are now faced with, made bearable by Johnson’s willingness to say what most people in that situation think, but don’t often come out and say.

This book is brutally honest, irritating, funny and rewarding. It will touch a nerve as no other you have ever read, especially if you’re a boomer with an elderly parent in need of care. Be forewarned, however, and approach this story with an open mind and heart and tissues at the ready, because “They Left Us Everything” is a real jewel.

“They Left Us Everything” by Plum Johnson, Putnam, 2016, $26, 279 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 author Truman Capote staged a bash that would become forever known as “The Party of the Century.” Dubbed “The Black and White Ball,” the elaborate masquerade party with a guest list that included a Who’s Who of politics, entertainment and the literary world, was held on November 28, 1966 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City in honor of The Washington Post publisher, Katharine Graham.

Recounted in the book, “Party of the Century” (Wiley, 2007) by Deborah Davis, the affair was inspired by author Dominick Dunne, who had thrown a black and white party in 1964 for his 10th wedding anniversary, and the “ascot scene” from “My Fair Lady.” The event’s midnight dinner consisted of scrambled eggs, sausages, biscuits, pastries, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken hash and 450 bottles of Taittinger Champagne.

Credited with starting an upsurge in social and charitable masquerade parties and black and white ball recreations, Capote’s event inspired Princess Yasmin Aga Khan to host a recreation in 1991 at Tavern on the Green as a charity event for the Alzheimer’s Association. Christie’s Auction House also recreated the Black and White Ball in 2006 at Rockefeller Center to coincide with their selling of The Plaza’s contents. Christie’s event followed Capote’s schedule and menu exactly, right down to entertainment by the Peter Duchin Orchestra, which had performed at the original gathering.

42 LIFEAFTER50.COM November 2016

Just A Thought Before We Go “It is not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, that is the true measure of our thanksgiving.”

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