Hello Sally,

My name is Sheila and at the great age of 53, I am returning back to school!  I say, "Do it!"  Today, with the opportunity that I was given to return, I could not wait!  I too, had always wanted to complete my college education, but just did not have the money or the time, family and having to work came first.  

You could start today by taking a couple of classes on line.  You can check out the nearest college to you.

Look into it and Do it!

   Life is an occasion.  Rise to It.

 Sheila H.

Sally’s perk in her personality makes her seem ageless! I love what Joseph Campbell had to say, and just in my own perception, I don’t think we ever truely see in ourselves what others do. Each day is reinvention of who we are, and a new canvas to work from if we choose.

Wow what a great lady.  She sounds so very grounded.  No wonder her children have turned out so well.  (I have 4 stepkids whose mother abandoned them when they were young and it has affected everyone of them in the worst way.) I am glad you didn’t get into anything that might be uncomfortable for us, this website is sooo great for focusing on what’s really important, thank you for that.  We don’t have to know everything about a person.

I am 48 and wish I could go back to college.  I will someday, a few years from now when my 13 year old son is into high school and working and venturing off into his own and I have to still be here but not like I had to when he was 8.

You’re never too old to dream and accomplish your goals!

My dear friend Estella King graduated from college at the age of 76 years of age. She’s also a WWII veteran. Estella is a dynamic, interesting, intelligent and educated woman. She stressed the importance of education and all of her four children have Bachelors and/or Masters degrees. Estella is now 91 years of age.

Never give up!

Thanks for this interview. Sally Fields has been one of my favorite actresses since I first saw her in Gidget. I never miss the chance to see her perform her art.

I am thrilled to hear she is the spokes person for Bonita! Osteoporosis needs a spokesperson and I am glad Ms. Fields has taken on this role. I was diagnosised with Osteoporosis at 55 and have been taking Bonita faithfully. 

We are taught as young women to have pap smears. As middle-aged women we are concerned with mammograms. We should also be concerned with bone health at that same age. If we prepare for it we may be able to delay or even prevent its onset.

Now I’m going to feel sad for Sally if she doesn’t go to college! that’s hilarious… that she talks about college like other people talk about hollywood. Very funny. I get it though. I went to college and I still kind of put it on a pedastal in a way.

but i have to say something about osteoporosis and exercise. Just "exercise" in general is not how you affect your risk or outcomes. it has to be WEIGHT BEARING exercise. weight lifting of some sort. Not running or cardio but weight bearing. and the earlier the better.

Posted by Dana Blankenhorn @ 6:24 am

Categories: Aging, Consumer Information, Drugs, Ethics,General…

Tags: Advertisement, Drug, Dana Blankenhorn

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A new study indicates bone-density drugs like Fosamax, Boniva andActonel may actually promote a rare type of bone fracture.

All three drugs are bisphosphonates, and they are being heavily promoted with TV ads. (You may recall the Boniva ads with Sally Field.) The market for such drugs is now estimated at $3 billion.

Scientists speculate that, in some women, microscopic cracks from normal wear and tear may not be repaired when the process of bone remodeling is suppressed.

While bisphosphonates seem to reduce the chances of fractures in the vast majority of patients, some doctors are now suggesting their use should be restricted to five years, so that the natural process of bone remodeling can continue.

The story of problems with bisphosphonates is troubling on two counts:

1. It’s bad for the drug companies, which keep losing hot-selling drugs to later studies showing dangers.
2. It’s bad for celebrities, who wind up being tarred with whatever problems result. Remember Dorothy Hamill for Vioxx, or those hormone replacement ads with Lauren Hutton?

Sally Field was already drawing a lot of flack for the Boniva ads, which critics called sappy. Some of the criticism is political, but critics of the drug can quickly morph into general Field haters.

Spokesmen, and spokeswomen, can have their careers tarnished because they choose to believe what their clients tell them.

I have no doubt Sally Field honestly believes in Boniva as a solution to “bone health.” I think Robert Jarvik honestly believes in Lipitor, too. But you take a risk when do that.

In my view the real issue is how Wall Street pushes companies to make the most of new drugs as soon as they are approved, and how the tools of Madison Avenue are then deployed to make simple points over complex issues.

Drugs aren’t like cars, or beer. Their interactions with the body are complicated and not straightforward. That’s why drug advertising used to be restricted. But the industry insisted on giving consumers “freedom to choose.”

And when they choose not to believe anything the industry says, because they’ve been burned so many times?