More on My Mind by Sally Ann Connolly

More on My Mind (MOMM) _______________________________

Sally Ann Connolly

Sally Ann Connolly More on My Mind (MOMM)

Letter: Offended by team’s behavior

Letter: More governmental waste

Letter: Take next step and mandate physical activity

Letter: Neediest need not apply

Letter: Time to step up to the plate

Letter: Dangerous magnets are back

Letter: Beyond trouble in toyland

Letter: High-powered magnets not for kids

Letter: Let the war on tanning beds rage

Moving to Curb Distracted Driving

Distracted Driving: Targeting Younger Drivers

Letter: Distraction is tantamount to driving drunk

Moving to Stop Distracted Driving

Letter: On the Passing of Helen Gurley Brown

Letter: A Little Too Late

Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness

From Cradle to Grave

Let’s Dance: For Fitness and Fun

The Pleasure of Growing Old

Free Is Good

It’s Only a Number

“If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it.” — Margaret Fuller

OPINION May 4, 2011

Letter

Offended by team's behavior

his is an urgent message for the coach of the Salem athletic team whose players used a Danvers school playground as a bathroom.

You need to educate your team members about their uncouthâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and illegalâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;behavior. Urinating in public is against the law in Massachusetts. It can even lead to being charged with indecent exposure with potentially serious consequences. Youngsters of junior high and high school age should have enough common sense not to relieve themselves in view of young children and their mother. Those who missed this lesson in decency need to be informed that it is a legally sanctioned no-no.

“Primary care, characterized by continuity of care, an established relationship between patient and physicians, was once the central grounding of our healthcare system. However 60 million Americans, or nearly one in five, lack adequate access to primary care due to a shortage of primary care physicians in their communities.” — “Primary Care Shortage,” KaiserEDU.org (April 2011)

More governmental waste RE “Secret survey to gauge doctor access,” The Boston Globe (June 27, 2011): We do not need a secret survey to tell us that a shortage of primary care physicians exists and that Medicare recipients fare the worst. In 2008, I used no false identity when I tried unsuccessfully to find a new primary care physician. Being “old like me,” I discovered firsthand, is a health care crisis. Save the money. Fund a doctor. -----------------------

“Primary care access survey canceled,” New York Times (June 29, 2011) “The Obama administration said yesterday that it had shelved plans for a survey in which ‘mystery shoppers’ posing as patients would call doctors’ offices to see how difficult it was to get appointments. ‘We have determined that now is not the time to move forward with this research project,’ the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement yesterday. The decision is an abrupt turnabout. Sunday night, officials at the health department and the White House defended the survey as a way to measure access to primary care, and they insisted that it posed no threat to anyone’s privacy.”

A study of California school districts found that “students in policycompliant districts were more likely than students in noncompliant districts to meet or exceed physical fitness standards.” — Emma V. Sanchez-Vaznaugh, ScD, MPH, et al., “Physical Education Policy Compliance and Children's Physical Fitness,” American Journal of Preventive Medicine (May 2012)

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 GLO BE  OPI NIO N LETT ERS T O T HE EDIT O R - BOST ON GLOBE

HEALTHY AT SCHOOL

Take next step and mandate physical activity July 20, 2011

The recent Massachusetts mandates for healthful food choices in our schools (“State bans unhealthy food sales in schools,” Metro, July 14) took a giant step forward against childhood obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer. Now we must follow the lead of the United Kingdom. This month top medical officers there set the first UK-wide guidelines, which call for at least three hours of daily physical activity for children under 5 years of age and at least one hour for those ages 5 to 18. By mandating daily physical activity for all youngsters in our schools, we can loosen the tethers to electronic devices and give the green light to fitness for this generation and the next. Sally Ann Connolly Danvers

OPINION August 1, 2011

Letter Neediest need not apply

nfortunately, if you are physically handicapped or elderly or a woman living alone, half of the state's latest appliance rebate program is not for you. In order to participate in the replacement of your energy-draining air conditioner, you have to remove the appliance and take it to the store with you when you purchase the new one. Wasn't it hard enough to get a friend or relative to install the appliance in the first place? Now you have to impose upon their generosity again, most likely after they have spent a long, hot day at work. Although the rebate program has avoided last year's nightmarish, call-in-to-reserve system, the problem now seems to be: "The most vulnerable need not apply."

“Consumption of red meat, particularly processed meat, increases total, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality.” — Harvard School of Public Health Study, Archives of Internal Medicine (March 2012)

OPINION October 7, 2011

Letter Time to step up to the plate

he new Harvard "Healthy Eating Plate," which improves upon the recommended USDA's "MyPlate," unequivocally says that we must "avoid bacon, cold cuts, and other processed meats." Nutritionists at Harvard say that eating "even small quantities of these foods on a regular basis raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer and weight gain." School lunch menus, however, continue to include such foods. In Danvers elementary schools, for example, hot dogs and deli turkey are offered as a "daily sandwich." In middle school and high school, students can choose a hot dog every day. Liberally sprinkled throughout the menus for all children are sausages, pastrami and other deli meats. If we are to fight obesity and promote the health of our children, we must begin to follow the advice of experts. We must start offering a healthful school lunch.

“Parents in Perth [Australia] are being warned to watch out for toddlers swallowing strong magnets in toys after a surge of emergency operations to remove them from children's stomachs....Experts say the force of the magnets is so strong that they can pierce holes in intestinal walls and if not removed could be fatal.” — PerthNow News, Washington, Australia (April 16, 2012)

Dangerous magnets are back

mall, high-powered magnets were banned from childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toys several years ago, but they continue to harm. Powerful ball bearing magnets are now found in adulttargeted objects such as desk toys and stress relievers. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that serious incidents among children of all ages have increased. When multiple magnets are swallowed or inhaled, they cause â&#x20AC;&#x153;small holes in the stomach and intestines, intestinal blockage, blood poisoning and even death.â&#x20AC;? In 2009, after several years of reported injuries and deaths, Magnetix, the building set manufacturer, was fined $1.1million for continuing to market toys with high-powered magnets. This time we cannot afford to delay action. Products with small, powerful magnets must be removed from store shelves and by online merchandisers.

In a rare move, due to risk of injury and death, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has filed legal action against Maxfield & Oberton to stop selling Buckyballs and Buckycubes, notify the public of the defect, and offer consumers a full refund. (July 26, 2012)

Beyond trouble in toyland RE “Toy safety report finds some holiday dangers,” www.boston.com (November 22, 2011): Small, high-powered magnets were banned from children’s toys several years ago, and Magnetix—the building set manufacturer—was fined $1.1 million for continuing to market toys with the dangerous magnets. High-powered magnets, however, are back. This time they are found as ball bearings in adult-targeted desk toys and stress relievers. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says that serious injuries from the magnets are increasing. When swallowed or inhaled, multiple magnets cause “small holes in the stomach and intestines, intestinal blockage, blood poisoning and even death.” We must look beyond children’s toys and the holiday season. Products with small, powerful magnets that can come loose should be removed from store shelves and discontinued by online merchandisers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) takes action against another company selling dangerous, small magnets. The complaint â&#x20AC;&#x153;seeks among other things, an order that the firm stop selling Zen Magnetsâ&#x201E;˘ Rare Earth Magnet Balls, notify the public of the defect and offer consumers a full refund.â&#x20AC;? (August 7, 2012) -------------------The CPSC votes to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking aimed at developing a new federal standard for hazardous, high-powered magnet sets. (August 27, 2012)

OPINION December 12, 2011

Letter High-powered magnets not for kids

his holiday season, a dangerous product is being marketed by leading online merchandisers. Amazon, for example, is selling something called "Magnet Balls" under its "Toys & Games" category. Amazon does advise: "WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Small parts. Not for children under 3 years." This product, however, is much more than a choking hazard. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, swallowing or inhaling multiple magnets causes "small holes in the stomach and intestines, intestinal blockage, blood poisoning and even death." The CPSC has issued a warning that children of all ages are being harmed by highpowered magnets in increasing numbers. Several years ago, small, powerful magnets were banned from children's toys due to injuries and deaths. The building-set manufacturer Magnetix was fined $1.1 million for continuing to market toys containing them. Keep your holiday safe. Remove all products with dangerous magnets from your shopping list.

FACTS “Melanoma has dramatically increased in #teens since 1970. 333% in young men & 705% in young women.” -------------------“Tanning beds increase your chances for melanoma by 70%.” — Mayo Clinic@MayoClinic (June 3, 2012)

LETTERS | THE DEADLY TAN

Let the war on tanning beds rage AP R IL 2 8 , 2 01 2

RE “End the war on sun” by Jennifer Graham (Op-ed, April 21): The war on sun— and tanning beds in particular—has just begun. At least I hope so. A study published this year in the Journal of Clinical Oncology concluded that tanning bed use increases the incidence of cancer. Looking at 73,494 nurses from 1989 to 2009, researchers said, “Our data provide evidence for a dose-response relationship between tanning bed use and the risk of skin cancers, especially [basal cell carcinoma], and the association is stronger for patients with a younger age at exposure.” Almost all of us have been touched by cancer, personally or through our relationships. Cancer, some polls show, is our greatest fear. Fortunately, we can make lifestyle changes to lessen the likelihood of becoming victims of some cancers, such as skin cancer. We must continue to educate our young people about beneficial and harmful doses of sunlight. And if we are serious about promoting health, we should ban tanning salons altogether. Sally Ann Connolly Danvers

“Cell phone use has grown dramatically over the past 15 years. In 1995, cell phone subscriptions covered only 13 percent of the U.S. population; by 2008, that had grown to 87 percent.” — National Safety Council

September 2012

Moving to Curb Distracted Driving

he facts are sobering. Each year, distracted driving causes approximately 6,000 fatalities and a half million injuries. The number one distraction is cell phone use. The National Safety Council says that cell phone use by drivers has joined speeding and drinking as a major cause of accidents. At any time of the day, according to estimates of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 11 percent of drivers are talking on cell phones. These drivers are four times more likely to cause crashes that involve injury. While talking on a cell phone, whether handheld or hands-free, a driver misses both auditory and visual cues. The impairment—inattention blindness—is equivalent to driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent. In other words, driving drunk. In response to what he calls an epidemic, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has initiated a Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving. Part of his national campaign encourages the passage of more restrictive laws. Handheld cell phones are already banned in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Massachusetts needs to follow their lead. Until then, and until all cell phone use by drivers is banned, educators need to inform drivers about what constitutes distraction, why distraction is dangerous, and how distraction can be managed. All distractions are dangerous. Safe drivers keep their eyes on the road. And unlike everything else, safety can’t wait.

The epidemic of distracted driving calls for a unified campaign of education and enforcement.

October 2012

Distracted driving: Targeting Younger Drivers

istracted drivers cause a half million injuries and 6,000 fatalities each year. Educators can help put the brakes on distracted driving by focusing on young drivers. The epidemic of distraction has been fueled by advances in technology, especially the widespread availability of cell phones. The CDC reports that 25% of drivers in the U.S. talk regularly or fairly often on their cell phones while driving. The percentage is greater among young drivers. Forty percent of drivers ages 18-29 use their phones regularly or fairly often, and 75% have used their cell phones at least once within the past 30 days. The most recent Massachusetts Youth Health Survey added texting-while-driving to the list of risky behaviors. The study found that the percentage of students who text while driving increases from sophomore to senior year. Among seniors, 61% report doing so, putting both themselves and others at risk. To send the message of safe, non-distracted driving to teenagers, educators need to tailor their efforts. Teens are not miniature adults. As David K. Urion and Frances E. Jensenâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; neurologists at Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;have shown, the brains of adolescents differ from those of adults in both structure and chemistry. Teens learn best not from lectures and a focus on long-term consequences but, rather, from developing their own strategies for making moment-to-moment decisions. And, as both researchers and parents can attest, peers exert a major impact upon the behavior of teens. Effective efforts to influence teens, thus, should involve peers in the process. Urion and Jensen have shown that teenagers can see the danger in the activity of others before they recognize the danger to themselves. Educators can jumpstart the movement to making roads safer by helping our youngest drivers recognize and manage distraction, especially the major distraction of cell phone use.

“Driving while talking on a cell phone is as bad as or maybe worse than driving drunk, which is completely unacceptable and cannot be tolerated by society.” — Frank A. Drews, University of Utah researcher

Distraction is tantamount to driving drunk SEPTEMBER 09, 2012

RE “Cellphone bans are bad policy” (Letters, Sept. 3): Cellphone bans are not bad policy. Ken Michaud cites the recent MIT study that found poor overall driving ability among those drivers who admitted using cellphones while driving. This study, however, looked at only 108 Greater Boston drivers. Other researchers have found repeatedly over the years that cellphone use significantly impairs driving. David L. Strayer and Frank A. Drews of the University of Utah, for example, have shown that use of a cellphone while driving causes “inattention blindness.” This blindness is equivalent to driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent. In other words, driving drunk. We enact and enforce laws against drunk drivers to protect the public. We do not care whether they have poor driving skills and make bad decisions when they are sober. The epidemic of distracted driving can be curbed by removing what has become our number one distraction: the cellphone.

OPINION

September 2012

Matters on My Mind

Moving to Stop Distracted Driving It’s not surprising, then, that a distracted driver is 23 times more likely to crash. When the driver texts, he takes his eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At a speed of 55 mph, that’s long enough to travel the length of a football field.

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s I came to a stop at a four-way intersection, an elderly gentleman in the car to my right waved me on. A gentleman, indeed. Too many times I encounter (and just miss hitting) distracted drivers—phone in hand—who rush through the intersection or cut me off. “Put the phone down,” I rant in silence. “Tune in to the road.” Of course, my words—even if they were heard—would have little effect. What we need is more rigorous enforcement of the laws against distracted driving. Even better would be a ban on the use of both handheld and hands-free devices by drivers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that any action that takes attention away from driving increases the chance of an accident. “Each day,” the CDC reports, “more than 15 people are killed and more than 1,200 people are injured in crashes that were reported to involve a distracted driver.” The leading cause of distraction among drivers: cell phone use. The once-hallowed sanctuary of the automobile is quickly vanishing. “At any point during the day,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tells us, “11 percent of 24

drivers are talking on cell phones.” And whether the device is handheld or hands-free, the practice is fraught with danger. Researchers David L. Strayer and Frank A. Drews of the University of Utah have shown that drivers talking on cell phones miss important visual cues. This “inattention blindness” is equivalent to driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent. In other words, driving drunk. It’s not surprising, then, that a distracted driver is 23 times more likely to crash. When the driver texts, he takes his eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At a speed of 55 mph, that’s long enough to travel the length of a football field. How often do you encounter cars traveling that speed on the highway? Usually, on my trips from Massachusetts to New Hampshire on I-95, I am the slow poke in the right lane who is traveling the speed limit of 65 mph. All of us bear responsibility in ensuring greater safety on our roads. A step forward was taken by the judge in Massachusetts who handed down a prison sentence and long-term loss of license to the teenager who caused a fatal accident while texting. The message sent by that judge may act as a deterrent for some, but we need to do more. As with smoking cessation and seatbelt usage, we need to urge our legislators to enact laws that really make a difference in curbing distraction. In addition, we should encourage our local authorities to be more aggressive in their enforcement of existing regulations. We should also lend our support to those schools, civic organizations, and businesses that seek to inform drivers of all ages about the dangers of distracted driving and how to minimize them. In our own lives, we can lead by example. Although we may not be part of the age group most likely to use cell phones in cars or to text, we can refrain from calling or texting those who may be on the road. Usually, our message can wait. Safety cannot. And finally, we can stay current about advances in technology, so that we can share what we have learned with family, friends, and the larger community. Greater safety on the road is possible. Remember that troublesome road intersection? While returning from my errands later on the same day, I came to a full stop and locked eyes with the driver on my right. The young lady smiled, raised her device-free hand, and signaled “Go ahead.” Needless to say, she made my day.

“In the 50 years since Brown [Helen Gurley Brown] first exhorted women to lighten up on this whole morality thing, this is what we’ve acquired: A country in which one out of three women has an abortion before age 45. A divorce rate approaching 50 percent. Nineteen million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases every year. Rehab centers that treat not only alcohol and drug dependency, but ‘sex addiction.’ ” — Jennifer Graham, “A talented editor and lovable fraud,” The Boston Globe (August 15, 2012)

On the Passing of Helen Gurley Brown RE Jennifer Graham, “A Talented editor and lovable fraud,” The Boston Globe,

Helen Gurley Brown showed women how to make their mothers proud, not. Brown personified the marketing maxim, “Sex sells.” While peddling her wares over the decades, she enriched herself but left the rest of us a good deal poorer. (August 15, 2012):

A Little Too Late

he teenage star of the hit TV program, “Two and a Half Men,” blasted his own show. Turn off the “filth,” Angus T. Jones said. "Do some research on the effects of television and your brain, and I promise you you'll have a decision to make when it comes to the television and especially with what you watch on television. It's bad news. It's bad news." The RAND Corporation has done the research. Its three-year, nationwide survey of youngsters 12-17 years of age found that “adolescents who watch large amounts of television containing sexual content are twice as likely to engage in sexual activities and intercourse the following year than their peers who watch little of this kind of TV.” Merely talking about sexual behavior “had as much effect on teens as depicted behaviors.” As for Jones’s subsequent apology for speaking out. Like those unwanted pregnancies, it’s too late.

Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness The teenage star of the hit TV program, “Two and a Half Men,” recently blasted his own show. Turn off the “filth,” Angus T. Jones said. The time is right, it seems, for a second look at my article, “Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness.” (MASCA Counselor’s Notebook, February 2009)

urprise. Surprise. Watching TV can have serious consequences for behavior. So says a three-year study of youngsters between the ages of 12 and 17.

The RAND Corporation study found a high rate of unwanted pregnancies among teenagers who watched the most TV programs with sexual content. Teenagers who had the greatest exposure were twice as likely to get pregnant. The study went on to point out that the United States has “one of the highest teen pregnancy rates among industrialized nations. Nearly 1 million young women become pregnant each year, with the majority of these pregnancies unplanned. Research has shown that young mothers are more likely than others to quit school, require public assistance and to live in poverty.” Are we really stunned by the findings of this latest study? How shocked would we be to learn that someone who saturates his diet with hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats has developed cancer? Or that someone who gorges daily on baked goods, candy, and ice cream has become obese or developed diabetes? Overindulging is bound to have consequences, some of them unwanted and unplanned. Our favorite TV programs, however, seldom carry warning labels. The possible consequences of risky behavior—pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases—are seldom portrayed. How often have the characters on “Friends” or “Sex and the City” talked about 29

safe sex? Or engaged in safe practices? How often have the frequent portrayals of onenight-stands resulted in health problems? But avoiding TV programs with sexual content is difficult. Approximately 80 percent of today’s programming includes sexual scenes or dialogue. Producers and scriptwriters rely heavily on the marketing premise that sex sells. Take a look at the themes of the highly popular “Two and a Half Men” or the program geared specifically to teenagers, “90210.” We must not wait for other studies to confirm what we already feel in our gut. The hypersexualized messages being fed to us by TV as well as movies, music, magazines, and the Internet have a negative impact on formative minds. As parents, we need to know the viewing and listening habits of our youngsters, and we must be willing to have frank discussions with them about the behavior and values being portrayed. Everybody may be doing it on TV, but in real life, actions have social and legal consequences. To avoid overexposure to the media we need to work with our teenagers to help them find satisfying alternatives for their bountiful energy—activities such as after-school sports, personal enrichment opportunities, and limited, part-time work. It is often said that in terms of our body, we are what we eat. In terms of the formation of attitudes and our behavior, we can say the same thing: Garbage in, garbage out.

Studying the New Media The Internet, Social Networking Sites, Cell Phones, Online Video Games, and MP3 Players “Sexual risk behavior among U.S. adolescents is a major public health concern. Nearly 800,000 young women aged 15–19 years become pregnant in the United States each year, most of them unintentionally, and half of the roughly 19 million new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) diagnosed each year are among 15- to 24-year-olds…. Given the emerging evidence linking more traditional media use with initiation of various sexual activities, to the extent that new media contain relevant sexual messages, researchers may find that these media are also linked to developing sexual attitudes and behavior and could affect sexual risk-taking and health (in either a positive or negative manner) as well.” — Rebecca L. Collins et al., “Influence of New Media on Adolescent Sexual Health: Evidence and Opportunities” Working Paper, RAND Corporation (2011)

Reduced consumption of processed meat benefits both health and the environment “Consumption of red and processed meat RPM) is a leading contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and high intakes of these foods increase the risks of several leading chronic diseases….Reducing red and processed meat consumption will bring health benefits to individuals who make the changes, in addition to bringing long-term benefits to the health of the global population through climate change mitigation. We conclude that dietary recommendations should no longer be based on direct health effects alone.” — Dr. Louise Aston, University of Cambridge, Institute of Public Health (September 10, 2012)

December 2012

From Cradle to Grave

esearch continues to show that nitrates, which are found in cured meats, adversely affect health.

Dr. Suzanne DeLaMonte, Brown Medical School neuropathologist, and others have found “a strong association between nitrates and neural effects. Nitrates, when heated, form the amino acid nitrosamine, which impairs how cells interact with insulin.” (Deborah Kotz, “Is Alzheimer’s disease akin to type 3 diabetes?” The Boston Globe, October 8, 2012, 10G). Researchers also continue to find a probable link between nitrates and diabetes,

heart disease, and some types of cancer. Families alone cannot be relied upon to foster good eating habits. Recently, I nearly gagged when I overheard the conversation of two caregivers. Because the preschooler being discussed was a “picky” eater, that day for both lunch and supper the child would be getting her favorite food, hot dogs. Educators need to step in. First and foremost, nitrate-laden processed meats such as hot dogs, bologna, salami, and bacon should be removed from all school menus.

Sally Ann Connolly (front row, second from the left), a retired school counselor and author, puts a spotlight on health and safety, education, and lifestyle issues. Her website is www.neverbetter.net.

s I finished spreading the remnants of three yards of mulch on a glorious May day, I thought: "I'd really rather be dancing."

"Be patient," I replied inwardly. "The next Zumba session starts at the senior center on Tuesday." And what fun we have in that Zumba Gold class. Twice a week, approximately forty women and three men twist and turn to the music with so much enthusiasm that we give little thought to the increased flexibility, strength, and muscle endurance we are building. Not to mention the increased bone mass, improved cardiovascular health, and sense of well-being. In fact, 3-1/2 years after my breast cancer diagnosis, two surgeries, and course of radiation, I have never felt better. With no restrictions on my physical activity, I have energy to spare. My blood pressure is under control. My weight is normal for my age. And with steady balance, I put my shoes on while standing (albeit with the support of a bureau or wall). Best of all, after an absence of more than sixty years, I have brought back the joy of movement through dance. Zumba, I have found, is a most enjoyable way to exercise. Others have discovered its appeal as well. USA Today reports that Zumba has become one of the top ten fitness activities. More than 12 million people in 125 countries are breaking a sweat to the merengue, salsa, flamenco, tango, and cumbia. My classes on Tuesday and Thursday also include some cha-cha, with the twist and a little belly dancing thrown in for spice. The slightly different dancing styles of our two instructors keep us on our toes. Because Zumba, like all dance, combines art with athleticism, I consider Zumba dancing a sport. As in any sport, proper equipment helps prevent injury, so I have carefully selected my footwear. My choice: aerobic dance sneakers that provide support, stability, cushioning, and traction. Dancing next to me in class is an 84-year-old lady. She is an inspiration to us all. Promptly at the end of class, she rushes off with her friend to drive to a community eighteen miles away where she attends a line dancing class.

Researchers are finding that in addition to physical benefits, staying active can promote cognitive health. Writing in Nature Reviews Neuroscience (2008), Hillman, Erickson, and Kramer say: "An emerging body of multidisciplinary literature has documented the beneficial influence of physical activity engendered through aerobic exercise on selective aspects of brain function. Human and non-human animal studies have shown that aerobic exercise can improve a number of aspects of cognition and performance." Cotman and Berchtold say in Trends in Neurosciences (2002): "Exercise could provide a simple means to maintain brain function and promote brain plasticity." Research, in fact, shows that exercise can help prevent dementia. In 2003, a study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at the leisure-time and physical activities of 469 subjects older than 75 who were living in community. Researchers found that reading, playing board games, and playing musical instruments helped reduce dementia and that of all the physical activities studied, the one most clearly associated with reduced dementia was dancing. The four UK Chief Medical Officers (CMO) have set forth physical activity guidelines for different age groups. For those 65 and over, they recommend 2-1/2 hours of moderate to vigorous exercise each week, with some kind of physical activity each day. My Zumba sessions last 45 minutes. On non-class days, I try to meet the guidelines by getting in 30 minutes of brisk walking or dancing to my own mix tape. My favorite upbeat tunes, I find, keep me moving with a smile on my face. Smiles, and a little surprise, might be what we see on the faces of spectators at our community's July Fourth celebration. My Zumba class is planning a flash mob performance in the town square. Stay tuned. With the benefit of only common sense and a lifetime of observation, my father used to say, "If you rest, you rust." I am delighted that my children are encouraging their own youngsters to get active, with t-ball, softball, soccer, karate, hip-hop, and competitive dance. Good habits start young, but we can all be taught new tricks. So, for physical and cognitive health and for fun, I say: "Let's dance."

What Do Older People Do? “Among all adults ages 65 and older, about eight-in-ten read a book, newspaper or magazine.” — Growing Old in America, Pew Research Center (2009)

The Pleasure of Growing Old

re you kidding? Only someone in their twenties could come up with a title like that for a lecture. Far from being pleasurable are the diminished eyesight, hearing, strength, and endurance that many of us “old-timers” experience. “Talk to me again in fifty years,” I would like to say to the young’un. “You will find that a more apt title for your talk is: Finding Pleasure in Growing Old.” Many pleasures certainly remain to be discovered. By reading the reviews of critics, I have recently unearthed several musical and literary delights. When Steve Greenlee of The Boston Globe called Kat Edmonson’s new album, Way Down Low, “one of the greatest vocal albums” he had ever heard, my curiosity was piqued. I had to hear for myself. And I wasn’t disappointed. As Greenlee noted, if Kat had been born during my generation, she would have been named alongside such female vocalists as Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington, Julie London, and Anita O’Day. Like Greenlee, I can listen to her “stunningly sweet” voice over and over again. Kat’s unique voice reminded Greenlee and self-appointed Amazon.com critics of an earlier song stylist, Blossom Dearie. Blossom who? How could I have missed hearing about this singer-pianist-composer? From the 1950’s until a few years before her passing at age 84 in 2009, she had entertained audiences in Paris, London, and New York. Bridging the worlds of jazz and cabaret, Blossom possessed what Stephen Holden of the New York Times called “a sly, kittenish voice.” Now, I’m addicted to that sweet voice with its “wistful romanticism” and “needling wit.” This queen of supper clubs has left me wanting more. Performing below my radar, as Blossom did, wouldn’t be quite so easy today. Audiences worldwide discover and share outstanding talents within a matter of days, even hours,

thanks to YouTube and social networking sites. However, another personal bubble of blissful ignorance was burst by critics writing in the old-fashioned medium of print. The superlative comments of book reviewers led me to Edith Perlman. For more than thirty years, Perlman has been crafting pieces of short fiction and non-fiction—more than 250 of them. For her outstanding work, she has garnered numerous awards. The latest, the National Book Critics Circle Award, honored her short story compilation, Binocular Vision. In this book Perlman ties together what are probably the best short stories written since 1977. Roxana Robinson of The New York Times Book Review says that Perlman’s writing is “intelligent, perceptive, funny and quite beautiful.” The author Ann Patchett also has high praise. When she was asked to write the introduction to Binocular Vision, Patchett jumped at the chance. But, soon after accepting the assignment, she ran into a stumbling block. Seeking to underline especially beautiful sentences for her review, Patchett had to give up. Every sentence in every story, she found, would have ended up underscored in blue. I look forward to more discoveries. One presented itself while I was enjoying an evening of TV. During the 2012 White House tribute to Burt Bacharach and Hal David, my ears perked up. Was that Karen Carpenter I was hearing? Couldn’t be. Karen’s smooth, silky voice was silenced much too soon. Rather, the re-embodiment of easy listening was the young, British singersongwriter Rumer. More and more, I am finding, anything old can be new again.

Watchful waiting pays off MP3 Albums: Top Free September 2012

1. Green Hill Jazz Sampler Beegie Adair & Friends | Format: MP3 Music

November 2012

1. Green Hill Christmas Music Sampler Beegie Adair | Format: MP3 Music

TECHNOLOGY

December 2012

Matters on My Mind

Free Is Good

or me, the highlight of any day is finding a great bargain. And what better bargain is there than “FREE.”

I especially like combining “free shipping” and “no sales tax.” Even better is no cost at all. Online searches have allowed me to fill my shopping cart with free music, books, apps for my phone and iPad, and more. Among the many websites for locating good buys, my favorite is dealnews.com. At this website I have found free-after-rebate Internet security products and, most recently, a free-after-rebate, PDF creator program. For music, my favorite vendor is Amazon. Complimentary songs and albums feature rising artists and introduce new albums. One of my favorite acquisitions—“I’ll Look Around” by jazz singer/bassist Esperanza Spalding—was free for a limited time in order to spotlight the Tribute to Billie Holiday album. Two of Amazon’s most popular free MP3 downloads, the Relaxation & Meditation Sampler and Native American Flute Lullabies, have provided soul-soothing sounds to help my day run more smoothly. Other freebies I have turned into gifts for my grandchildren. A delightful CD evolved from a playlist that combined The Cedarmont Kids Sampler For Moms, Kelly Hogan’s “Rubber Ducki,” “Wheels on the Bus,” and personalized songs by Elmo and Friends.

While searching for Amazon offers, I keep my eyes open for their free MP3 vouchers. With a voucher I can purchase a couple of songs and, at times, an entire album. Recent offers covered the cost of several Blossom Dearie songs as well as Leonard Bernstein’s rendition of “Rhapsody in Blue.” Although free is best, “almost free” is also good. For less than a dollar each, I have acquired Frank Sinatra’s Nothing But The Best (22 songs), the Bee Gees’ Number Ones (20 songs), and James Taylor’s Greatest Hits (12 songs). For less than three dollars I downloaded 111 Rock ‘n Roll Superhits. What fun to walk down memory lane alongside Paul Anka, Bobby Vinton, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Elvis Presley, and Johnnie Ray as they shake, rattle, and roll. My other favorite freebies include books and apps for my iPhone and iPad. The choices are mind-boggling. The classics and books by newly acclaimed authors line the shelves of my virtual library. And for the youngsters in my family who need some quiet time, the interactive worlds of Alice Lite, Grimm’s Rapunzel, and Disney’s Toy Story await their eager fingertips. Definitely worth the price are the no-charge gaming apps at iTunes. The fast-paced Hooked on Words and Word Farm HD end up sidelining my hard-copy crossword and Sudoku puzzles. And for convenience, Words With Friends can’t be beat. At any time of the day or night I can strike up a game with my ten-year-old granddaughter. That same granddaughter could beat me at Gin Rummy when she was only four-yearsold, so when we moved on to cribbage, I honed my skills by downloading Cribbage Pro. The discard hints and automatic scoring provided by this free app fit the bill. The odds of winning are back in my corner. A little caveat, however, about no-cost items. Free doesn’t always mean good. That’s what my three young grandchildren and I concluded about Starbuck’s Refreshers samples. Both varieties earned a resounding thumbs-down from our focus group. But maybe our tastes weren’t sophisticated enough. We were quite content with the free Slurpees from 7-Eleven on 7/11. This week my watchful waiting paid off once again. I “purchased” the delightful Green Hill Jazz Sampler MP3 album. While listening to pianist Beegie Adair and her friends and sipping my free-this-weekend-only McCafe coffee, I muse: “Free is good. Pretty, pretty good.

A Profile of Older Americans: 2011 “The population 65 and over has increased from 35 million in 2000 to 40 million in 2010 (a 15% increase) and is projected to increase to 55 million in 2020 (a 36% increase for that decade). By 2030, there will be about 72.1 million older persons, over twice their number in 2000. People 65+ represented 13.1% of the population in the year 2010 but are expected to grow to be 19.3% of the population by 2030. The 85+ population is projected to increase from 5.5 million in 2010 and then to 6.6 million in 2020 (19%) for that decade.” — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging (February 10, 2012)

It’s Only a Number

s I looked around the classroom, it hit me. OMG. I’m middle-aged. Like most of my fellow classmates who had returned to graduate school in search of a different career path, I stood in stark contrast to the traditional students. But, as I look around thirty years later, I have to agree with evolutionary anthropologist Oskar Burger of the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Germany. “Seventy-two is the new 30.” In my twice-weekly Zumba classes, I dance along with “girls” from my elementary and high school days. They are kicking up their heels and having a ball. So am I. Also having fun are two other faithful attendees, Richard and Beverly, both of whom will celebrate their 85th birthday in April, one day apart. Richard, the elder, dances in seven Zumba classes during the week, some at the local Y and others at senior centers in two different communities. He supplements those classes with Step Aerobics four times each week. And when he’s not scooting around to these activities, helping his wife with yard work, or just plain walking, Richard finds time to Google his dance companions and others of interest. Beverly is just as amazing. After our Zumba class, she dashes off to a line dancing class in a community eighteen miles away. She maintains her own household, fills her social calendar, and treats health issues that arise as merely temporary setbacks. Productive activity is what characterizes my eighty-five-year-old neighbor. Almost every day, Buddy has a new project, either household repairs or landscaping. During warm weather months, he can be seen meticulously maintaining his in-ground pool. The fruits of his labor he graciously shares with all those seeking relief from the heat. When Buddy spies that a neighbor needs help, he springs to the rescue, mowing the lawn or removing

leaves or snow. On trash collection day, my personal “leaf fairy” gifts me with emptied trash barrels lined up neatly by the garage door. Buddy’s wife of 62 years, Pat, in addition to being a model homemaker, is a valued volunteer in her church. Her baked goods are as prized as her presence. Last year, the Archdiocese of Boston presented the prestigious Cheverus Award to both Pat and Buddy in recognition of their years of service and volunteerism. Another Energizer Bunny is my friend Jim. This eighty-five-year-old retired twice from his vocation: first, from a public school and, then, from a private secondary school. But he did not set aside his avocation. Jim eagerly awaits the coming of each winter, so that he can ski to his heart’s content and share his love of the sport with others as an instructor and coach. In the public arena, 85-year-old Tony Bennett shows that age puts few limits on achievement. He continues to delight audiences both young and old, and with his Duets II album, he became the oldest living performer to top the Billboard 200. In 1955, then-Senator John F. Kennedy wrote a Pulitzer Prize-winning book about bravery and integrity. The heroes in Profiles in Courage were extraordinary men. Today’s heroes, I find, are ordinary people. They demonstrate their own brand of courage. They overcome obstacles, physical and emotional; and fortified with hope, they forge ahead. These models for a new age remain physically active, socially connected, and meaningfully involved. From what I have seen, they clearly demonstrate what scientists call the U-curve of life satisfaction. In a corner of my bedroom sits an empty rocking chair. Having just re-entered my prime, I am determined to step out of my comfort zone, and—like the heroes around me—I am taking strides to keep my numbers up.

Keeping fit and loving it

Dancing to stay fit is Beverly Monigle (front left). Joining her at the senior center in Danvers, Massachusetts, are forty other enthusiasts.

“Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.” — Robert Browning

“Life is just a blank slate, what matters most is what you write on it.” — Christine Frankland