Marta - I totally agree with you - if my “May/December” relationsbip ended tomorrow - I would only be grateful that we had 7 years of wonderful memories, honesty, laughter and great joy!

Florence - I agree that there are serious issues in our lives and country that need to be addressed. But - in this time of scary life - it’s almost joyous to have something frivolous in our lives to take the mind off the scary stuff - gas pricces, lowered home prices, no jobs and all that other stuff. I applaud cougars everywhere!!!

So I’m a “cougar”?? Wow - I love felines of all varieties so I’m guessing that’s a good thing. I’m 69 - he’s 49 and we love, laugh, debate, dance and basically enjoy life all over the place. He came into my life when I had totally given up (thankfully) on men - and filled a place in my life that apparently had a ginormous void. Yeah cougars!!

My father was (and is) my hero! He died waaaay too young (age 64) and not a day goes by that I don’t miss him. He was a minister, larger than life (physically and literally) and he truly walked his talk. He studied his sermons in the early a.m. (he also was an evangelist) and played golf 6 days a week, preached 5 nights a week and on the weekends, cooked most of our food, paid the bills and generally ran things at home. He was a scratch-handicap golfer and a major jokester, usually telling a good one as one of his buddies stood on the tee. His favorite comment during one tournament was in answer to the question “why don’t you ever swear at a bad shot?” His answer was “I just spit, and where I spit, the grass never grows again”. He never knew a stranger and loved his 3 girls - my mom, my sis and myself - with a fierce intensity - and since we were all born in April, it was a major party month. I have truly joyous memories and even have a tinch of his sense of humor.

Hi Serena - I get daily quotes from “The Universe” 5 days a week and it really really starts my day off. The website is www.tut.com and they are real pearls of wisdom!

To quote one of my favorite people - Mike Dooley in his daily Universe quotes “Thoughts become things … . choose the good ones”. And there you have wishes manifested.

You said it best Susan!!!!!

For fun and pure enjoyment - anything with Robert R. & Paul N. in it but for thinking purposes (and I have thought about it a great deal since it came out in 1981) is “Whose Life Is It Anyway?” with Richard Dreyfuss. It continually challenges me to think about which one of my “senses” I would be willing to give up/live without. My answer seems to change based on the current situation of my life - but the challenge remains.

Come on Suzanne - we need your input - your insight - and of course your brand of humor - or else just make it stop!!

Definitely my father - he was a large, bombastic minister who never knew a stranger and was a master of humor. My tiny mother was totally subservient to him (those were the stereotypes in those days - they were married 45 yrs) and when he died she had nothing! She had never written a check, bought groceries or driven a car - my sis and I are sure he thought he was doing her a favor by doing it all for her! Wrong! We both decided early on that our lives would never fall apart due to the loss of a man - and that has stood me in very very good stead. He died waaay too young (age 64) and I continually miss him - I’m always thinking of various things I’d like to share with him. I’d really like him to see how his grandchildren have turned out - they are special human beings and have lots of his genes. My mom prayed to die everyday after he died - and went on to live another 27 yrs. celebrating her misery. I do rejoice, however, in my childhood and upbringing - it was the very best they could do and I’m thankful for what it was.

Frank, Deni & Arlene - Hooray - couldn’t agree more!!! But have to argue with bean - NOTHING could make Rush look like Einstein (unless maybe it was an Einstein bagel which are quite tasty and he’s NOT!).

Since both my boyfriend (lifer as he likes to say) and my son are turning 50 this year - I guess I have to admit the truth. Turned 69 a week ago today, just got off an hour on the treadmill and feel basically like I’m 30+. But I’m much wiser, truthful, joyous,generous and loving now than I was at 30+ so will just be grateful for the age I am. Definitely beats the alternative!

Quickly checking my fav site on the way to work - Joan you are so right on and it’s soooo sad. The only thing more sad was watching Hiliary win last night!

Absolutely loved it Jane!! The big 69 looms next Friday and mortality rears it’s funky head when boyfriend and son both get their AARP cards this year!!! But having a joyous, crazy time certainly beats the alternative (as my dear daddy used to say) and I can’t wait to laugh with this year’s mirrors as I try on a new bathing suit or two for my cruise in June!

Suzanne - I, too, have a home exercise routine but am always looking for new ideas. Care to share some? I’d even give you my e-mail address if you didn’t want to share with the whole crowd. Especially the updated abs workout! (Going to Hawaii in June so need to step it up a notch!)