Making it to age 69 - when my father died from a heart attack at age 64 and my mother had her first (of two) quadruple bypass heart surgeries at age 64 (second one at age 74). Falling in love (again!) at age 63 and having it be one of the scariest/grandest times of my life. We’re still together and hanging on tight!!

I had to learn a valuable “gut” lesson a few years ago - and have never doubted it since. In 1992 my kids seemed to think I needed to get married again (after being happily single for 18 yrs) - for $ security reasons. The man was a nice, decent, pleasant person - and on our wedding day my gut kept telling me “do NOT do this!” I plowed on and it took me eight long years to get out of a miserable situation. I got out, moved to a new state, started a new life and have ALWAYS listened to my gut since then. I try to keep my head AND my gut in sync and then I’m usually ok!

I truly do NOT remember ever being bored. Learned to read very early on in life - so have always had reading material at hand - even if it was just a cereal box on the table in front of me! (Used to get chastised for reading at mealtime!) My father was an evangelist and we moved a lot - so always had new friends to get acquainted with. He also had to travel quite a bit for meetings so I was privileged to always be the “navigator” and my love of maps continues to this day! Lots of piano practice (I still make extra income from piano gigs!), recitals and playing at his meetings kept me busy musically. Loved all the oldtime radio shows and my parents had the good sense to let my good judgement pick and choose what I listened to. No TV in our house til I was 16 and away at boarding school - but I did get to enjoy “Gunsmoke” with my darling mom when I came home from school! Thankfully both my kids “inherited” my intense love of reading - so they’ll never be bored either, although both of them are proficient in their respective fields and use technology easily. I’m a TV junkie when I have the chance, but there is always reading material in my lap so that I’m multi-tasking. Bored? Never. Alone? Occasionally. Lonely? Absolutely NOT!

I have just now read EVERY word on your website - and loved loved loved it! I can shut my eyes and be back in Paris OR Santa Barbara immediately! I can’t wait to buy your book! You have inspired me to get back to my journal which has been put away far too long! Thank you!

Suzanne - my goal would be to meet your friend G! I only hope that in my “old age” I can duplicate at least some of her verve, charm, sense of adventure and elegant class!!

After having read the above responses, some of them more than once - all I can say is BRAVO Suzanne, Mugsy and Renata. You are writers of truth - telling it like it is and putting it in such a way - that if you three wrote a book today - I would peddle copies of it everywhere!

I’d vote for Miss Sasha or Mr. Grayson (my two adorable kitties) if I thought they could beat McClain!!! Any ticket that promises an end to the war and getting America back on track financially and morally would get my vote. I enjoyed Hiliary at first - not so much now. And after seeing Obama again this morning on The View - he is wise, articulate and has strong beliefs that hopefully he would be able to implement.

ONCE more - right on Suzanne!! You done did say everything I wanted to say - so I’ll just say BRAVO! Love Whoopi and her brilliant honesty! And EH is probably both - but she does think she is sooooo smart!

Suzanne - could NOT agree with you more totally! BUSH Inc is SO reponsible for our money woes - billions spent on a useless/needless war (not to mention the horrendous loss of life) and his apparent non-caring for the rest of us i.e. gas prices, the real estate debaucle, insane health care prices and on and on. Thank God we soon have a chance to change our leadership - if it’s not already too late to save the economy!!

Rose - I’m with you on the wasted veggies. Everytime I start a new healthful “regime” I stock up totally on the veggies first and I last about 2 days on the program (and THE man won’t eat most veggies). Most expensive is probably skin care and makeup-that I never seem to get rid of and of course online supplements that promise INSTANT whatever!

After having spent 8 out of 9 yrs.in an impossible marriage in separate bedrooms (this was the marriage that my children thought would “insure” security in my old age!) I finally got the courage to get out and start a new life. NOW - I share a bed (and bedroom) with a wonderful man who dearly loves to “snoogle” - we endure my hot flashes and snoring and his getting up to pee - and enjoy every moment of it. If I ever suggest moving to the other room for peaceful sleep, he is adamantly opposed - and I treasure every minute - even when I can’t sleep and get up to play on the ‘puter - he is always thrilled and happy when I return to the “snoogletorioum”.

RIGHT ON Julia!! Could not agree more!

If (and only IF) my sweetie wasn’t available (and we do spend a lot of time in the dark - it would HAVE to be George Clooney. He seems like such fun, a sexy, adorable, full of humor (even laughing at himself frequently) gentleman - that an hour - any time of day with him - would be a total blast!

Sadly “loved” Jane’s poem and Joan’s last sentence pretty well sums it ALL up! Also - right ON Harper! If you lived in AZ in August - you would definitely believe in global warming!!!

Love Valerie and her determination and freedom from blinders. Only wish Jennie Craig would take on a “plain, ordinary oversize” woman to tout their products - I would love to volunteer since I can’t afford their regime!