We Ain't Dead Yet

In the past few months we have seen two acts of heroism and one dream realized. I refer to Captain Sullenberger who landed a jet in the Hudson River with no loss of life, the courage of Richard Phillips who was prepared to give his life for his crew and Susan Boyle who is wowing the world with her audition on "Britain's Got Talent".

What do these people have in common, you might ask. They are all mature, either in their 50's or late 40's. They are not young, hot 20 or 30 somethings. They remind the world that people over 40 do not have one foot in the grave and can, indeed, rise to new heights of courage and determination.

When Susan Boyle comes out on stage, you can hear the snickering. She is not young or hip; in fact, she's downright dowdy. When Simon asks her age and she replies "47", he makes a face (or pulls a face as they say in England. Not to mention that Simon is older than she). Well, she proves that her age is irrelevant as she wows the judges and the crowd.

You know, I was just thinking. We used to call these people "rugged individuals" an expression of which the politically correct police would probably not approve.

But back to my point. 50 is not old anymore. People are living and working longer than ever. However, advertisers, clothes designers and Hollywood (among others) are doing their best to forget about us. Why? Just by sheer numbers alone, the Baby Boom generation tops all others. I don't have the statistics but I would guess that a great majority of us are still alive and thriving.

One would think that this demographic would be very appealing to many different groups such as the ones mentioned above. We are not our parents' generation who were glad to make it to 60. Heck, many of us are starting new careers at 60. Some marketing geniuses think we have too much "brand loyalty" and would never switch so they don't target us. Ha! I switch brands all the time looking for the best bang for the buck. I like trying to new things.

Finally, I will end with clothes of which I have already written. Whatever fashion designer wants to make a bazillion dollars, please start designing for the mature woman. When I was out shopping today, I thought I had taken a trip back in time to the 70's. Surely, you can come up with better than that.

See you at the next Stones concert!

Right Wing Racists

On Good Friday I participated in a prayerful protest at an abortion clinic in Englewood, NJ. This past Wednesday, I joined the Hackensack Tea Party in progress. Somewhere in between there, the Department of Homeland Security released documents saying that veterans could become possible terrorists and that we'd better watch all of the right wing extremists. You know, the people who go to church, are pro-life and conservative.

I am completely insulted.

Today, I learned of the latest spewing by the Academy award winning actress Janeane Garofalo (oops, sorry, I had her mixed up with Meryl Streep). Let me quote her comments about the tea parties:

You know, there's nothing more interesting than seeing a bunch of racists become confused and angry at a speech they're not quite certain what he's saying. It sounds right and then it doesn't make sense. Which, let's be very honest about what this is about. It's not about bashing Democrats, it's not about taxes, they have no idea what the Boston tea party was about, they don't know their history at all. This is about hating a black man in the White House. This is racism straight up. That is nothing but a bunch of teabagging rednecks. And there is no way around that. And you know, you can tell these type of right wingers anything and they'll believe it, except the truth. You tell them the truth and they become -- it's like showing Frankenstein's monster fire. They become confused, and angry and highly volatile. That guy, causing them feelings they don't know, because their limbic brain, we've discussed this before, the limbic brain inside a right-winger or Republican or conservative or your average white power activist, the limbic brain is much larger in their head space than in a reasonable person, and it's pushing against the frontal lobe. So their synapses are misfiring. Is Bernie Goldberg listening?

Over the years, she has made some ridiculous statements but I think this one takes the cake. To say that the tea parties were held because Americans hate having a black president is completely and patently false. And to claim we don't know our history is preposterous. I won't tell you what I called her when I heard this quote as I was driving my car as some children might read this but it wasn't language I had ever actually used before. I hope her character dies the most horrible death on "24". (How she ever ended up on there is beyond me.)

As for me, if the current administration considers people such as myself as potential threats to our country, I wear that appellation with dignity. I am proud that I am a pro-life Christian who wants smaller government and more liberty. I have just begun to fight.

Tax Day

Tomorrow, April 15 is Tax Day. It's on all the calendars just as if it were a great American holiday such as Memorial Day and the 4th of July. But it's not a holiday. It is a day that symbolizes oppression.

There are now many days that people use as an excuse to drink and be rowdy: New Year's Eve, St. Patrick's Day, Cinquo de Mayo, etc. But I never heard of anyone getting drunk on April 15. To my way of thinking, that is the one day to get drunk and drown our sorrows. As a matter of fact, I think our representatives and senators should supply the booze.

Bowing & Scraping

I see there is a big brouhaha regarding President Obama's bow to some Arab guy. There was also talk about curtseying to the queen of England. Personally, I do not think one leader should show subservience to another. They are equals.

I would like to add, however, that being of Irish ancestry, if I ever curtseyed before an English monarch, the skies would open, the lightning bolts would come down and I'd be dead before I got up.

The Annunciation

When I meditate on this mystery, there is something that always strikes me. "An angel appeared". I don't know about you, but if an angel were to appear before me, I'd be out cold on the floor. I always wonder at the Blessed Mother's reaction. Was she completely disarmed by this or did she have an inkling it was coming? I know that I will want to ask her when I meet her in heaven (with God's grace that I get to heaven).

It also seems to me that the Jews at the time of Christ really lived their faith. It wasn't just a hit or miss relationship with God. Their faith was alive to them. Do any of us have that attitude? I guess there holy people to whom that would apply. But most of us, as we go through our daily lives, do we keep God in the center of our lives? Do we think of Him often? Do we see Him in our neighbors, co-workers and the strangers that we meet?

Maybe we should have this attitude and then we would not be so shocked if the angel Gabriel were to suddenly appear.

Simon Cowell

As noted in a previous post, I never watched American Idol until a couple of weeks ago. I really didn't know too much about the show but you have to be in a cave in the wilds of Borneo not to have heard of Simon. Everyone says how mean he is.

Well, he is not mean. He is brutally frank. He is telling these contestants what they need to hear. Show business is a rough industry to break into. You need to be phenomenally talented or know the right people to even get your toe in the door. Why should he let these singers think they have a chance when he knows they don't? I may not always agree with his opinions but I like that he is a straight shooter.

But I still think he needs to go on "What Not To Wear".

Kids Need Love

In the office building where our company is now located, there is a child psychiatrist located on our floor. One day I said to a co-worker that when we were kids the only psychiatrist we needed was our father giving us a whack on the behind.

But seriously, why are so many children troubled today? I'll tell you why. The one thing they need is the love that only a warm and stable family can bring. Sure, they'll beg and plead for the latest this and the latest that. Sometimes they'll get and sometimes they won't.

I know from my own experience. When my boys were young, I couldn't provide them with a lot of material possessions. But I tried to make up for it in other ways. I was there for them as much as possible. You know, going to the games and driving them wherever. I remember going to many basketball games and it was just this one other parent and I.

I made time for my children. Friday nights were spent watching "Donna Reed" and "Mr. Ed". Sunday was always family day. My mother came over and we cooked dinner. Often, my brother Jim would join us. We even actually played board games together. Simple pleasures that no amount of money can buy.

Parents, love your children. Be there for them. Listen to me: they will not die if they don't go to Disneyworld. You don't need to buy their love. Read stories about the Great Depression. They had nothing but each other and the love got them through.