What Season Best Describes You?

Guest Blog Post by Ivette Harris

The changing colors of fall best describes me. This is the season where the heaviness of years gone by fall down and blow away. The weight of leaves, the nest of newborns, and over-ripened fruit all drift aside and forge into new beginnings.  For me, it is the time to shed the used portions of life, to rest, and regroup in the enchanting fragrance of new-found time. Fall is a charming season in life – like a shedding of the old life, the old career, the old routine, and the old thoughts. 

Retirement reminds me of fall, the season of life filled with a zealous spirit for upcoming celebrations spiced with the perfect décor for the quirky part of my journey. My limbs are bare of career responsibility, my nest is empty of children, both mine and others, and I have discovered a euphoric feeling in my home. 

In this season, I find a vivacious view for life to come, like sowing the seeds to learn creative writing skills, and I plan to do more.  

What season best describes you?

The Obituary of Mr. Common Sense

Today this baby boomer is mourning the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies - don't spend more than you can earn; and reliable strategies - Adults, not Children, are in charge.

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place; reports of a 6 -year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate. Teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent a band-aid or an aspirin to a student.

Common Sense lost the will to live as churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by His parents, Truth and Trust; His wife,
Discretion; His daughter, Responsibility; and His son, Reason. He is survived by his 3 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

Boomers: Pack Your Bags and Head to Hawaii

Today, Eons.com announced the results of its second annual “State of Longevity Report,” which ranks states according to boomer life expectancy. Colorado and Hawaii top the list this year with the highest average calculated age of 92.15. The results are based on data collected from more than 650,000 Eons.com members from May 2007 to May 2008 who completed its proprietary Longevity Calculator at www.eons.com/calculator.

Thomas Perls, M.D., M.P.H., is creator of the Eons.com Longevity Calculator and founder and director of the New England Centenarian Study, the largest study of centenarians and their families in the world.

“Both online and offline relationships are one of the keys to longevity,” said Dr. Thomas Perls. “As boomers go through life changing events like retiring, moving, downsizing, or relocating – they need to create new networks. Boomers are not as accustomed to building social groups online, so they’re going to have to get creative about meeting new people and staying in touch with family and friends. Eons.com is a great place for them to connect with interesting people who share similar life experiences.”

If you can't make it to Hawaii or Colorado, the survey also lists: California, Utah, New Hampshire, Alaska, Montana, Oregon, Connecticut and Arizona as states where you're life expectancy is at least 91 years.

It's interesting to note that not one southern state made the Top 10.