Are boobs, legs, skin, hair the only things that matter? All these will droop, wrinkle or change. So what? I’d like to think that these two women will understand what life is really about. My picture is there for all to see. I’ll be 80 this fall, and fortunate to feel good and look not so bad for an old broad. I’m semi-retired, (still am a public health nurse), I read everything I can get my hands on, I go places with my husband, and with my women friends. The last thing I care about is looking or competing with my daughters. Try getting interested in something outside yourself. Come on, lady, grow up!

There are many great and profound changes that came about recognizing we women as intelligent, contributing and important to our country and world. However, there was a significant happening in my life that perhaps many other women never experienced and will never have to now. When my husband and I married…way back in 1952, we decided to purchase a house in 1955. I was working as was he. I was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, as was he. However, when it was time to sign up for a loan, my status was zilch! My salary was not considered, nor was I questioned when we went to a loan officer. I was sort of like the little child, just sitting there listening to what the "grownups" were saying. I remember being very angry, but what the hell could I do? Perhaps tell them to forget it…we’d just not buy a house then..? At any rate, the world has changed, thank goodness, and those who went before…women that is…forced the status to change. Thanks again for that. Now, my daughters, and my granddaughter never need feel as though they are less than second-class citizens. I hadn’t thought about that for years. I’m glad I was reminded. I wonder how many other women felt disenfranchised, and downright treated like a big nothing!

Yes Whoopi, McCain’s speech glowed with good will. Such a change from his campaign-speak. It was the “old” McCain who conceded with such aplomb.With all that behind us now, and the glorious way our country responded to our president-elect, our work is cut of for all of us. When Obama spoke of sacrifices, he was fortuitous and honest. With the economy sinking, along with the world’s, and our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan draining our coffers, and more importantly, deaths of our young soldiers and Afghans and Iraqis, sacrifices must be made. Tax cuts during wars and huge military outlays?Who is naive enough to think that’s the way to go?That’s the Bush way…the wrong way. Our financial debacle, along with the world’s, speaks of sacrifice. Obama has inherited an ill wind, but if anyone can turn it around, we, can with a great man at the helm…Obama!

No matter how we all voted, I am so proud of our country. We have overcome prejudice, but above all we have elected a man with principles, moxie, and brains. He appears to be family-oriented, and his work ethic is to be admired. What more could anyone ask? Is it not wonderful to be here today? I’m excited though he and his team have a huge task. Though I don’t expect he’ll be able to accomplish all of his agenda immediately, I’m looking forward to seeing a smart president doing what we elected him for. Hooray for America!

Guess there are many of us in Florida who were fortunate enough to come here with our older children, work here ourselves, and decide to buy into a condo as we got older, and love the life. Some of us are still working beyond retirement age, (What the heck is retirement age now, anyway?). We even have our wits about us. Didn’t know that greying hair had anything to do with grey matter. And best of all we are voting for Obama because he an intelligent man who dared to buck the system and run for president. He also has a terrific education, good humor and is an honorable husband and father. I’m proud that our nation can get beyond prejudice and vote for this cool MAN!

Frannie Em: Thanks for info. $12 billion, eh?…that appears to be a mere trickle in the pail next to our current bailout..right? I’m sure you’re aware that Hubert Humphrey wanted Medicare for everyone. At that point most folks in U.S. didn’t live to be much more than 65, or even less. So it got passed with those changes, due to the pharmaceutical, medical and insurance lobbies. Our coffers can be opened up to all kinds of bailouts, wars, and whatever our politicians deem necessary. Though our family has excellent insurance, I’ll always feel strongly that our great country can and should have national health insurance in place. It can be done, and I think it can be done right. The prices of meds will go down drastically when the government can negotiate. It’s time for this to happen. But it can only happen when the public is willing to push and insist that our government be run efficiently. If the business world can handle it, so can our government. Am I naive to believe that government is still of, by and for the people?

Irish Eyes: I’m sure we can all find horror stories on both sides. Fortunately for your friend, they had the finances to get care overseas. My concern is for those who have no such resources. I have seen many when I ran a free clinic. These people usually had two jobs, and no chance of health insurance. One young woman, a hard worker, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Our clinic got her a physician who donated time. We negotiated with a clinic for O.R. space. I guess you can say we saved her life. She was fortunate because she knew about our clinic. Another woman who came to us wasn’t so fortunate. It was too late for her. Those are the folks that I’m rooting for. Does anyone imagine how demeaning it must be to ask for charity when one is dying? I also want to say specifically, that my friend in England has a granddaughter with severe disabilities and she has had excellent care for years. My friend in Australia has a son who’s a teenager and has had care since birth. In American, I venture to say that they would been dropped by their insurance companies even though they may have been covered. If you have no love for socialized medicine, then perhaps you should refuse Medicare when eligible. But that’s what’s so good about America—we can disagree. You vote for what you support and that’s your right. I guess we differ. But thank you for your opinion.

Frannie em: Well, I’m not retired yet. Still work as a PHN. So, I’m pretty close to the problems with working people who are in need of medical help. (I may never retire.) Why make a new plan when there are so many we can chose from and modify to suit our needs. Admittedly, we are huge country compared to so many European countries with national health care. However, Canada seems to be doing it right. We’ve friends in Canada, Australia and UK. Surely our big brains who can land on Mars, can come up with one that works for us. Please, please…I hope so. Thanks for comments.

I tried to read all the comments and my brain got lockjaw. Was so interested in hearing all relevant words. What’s relevant to me is that we have an opportunity to elect a man with a good education, what appears to be a good mind, and with a wife who is equivalent. (Sounds like Bill and Hillary, eh?) I’m not interested in who has been botoxed, Bill O’Reilly’s bad language or Rush Limbaugh’s prejudices. There’s no way to be positive about anyone running for office. The proof is in the pudding. However, we hope to make an educated choice. I know I don’t want more of the Bushies or their ken. Also, to have any hateful mentions of McCain’s prison time is unbelieveable. Those are the type of attacks that are the reserve of desperate and ignorant people. Another thing, we have socialism already in our country. Social Security, our county health departments, our state Medicaid programs, our Healthy Start programs, Head Start, are all socialistic types of ventures. I’m a registered nurse and have worked in public health all my life. We have so much need in this country. There are millions of folks who work at two jobs and are struggling to pay for meds, doctor’s visits, and heaven help them if they a catastrophic illness. The Clintons tried to get a medical plan for everyone. The American Medical Society, the pharmaceutical industry and the all-powerful insurance industry were scared to death. This is not to mention those of us who are comfortably insured and just didn’t care about those who may be considered poor or indigent. I’m stupid enough to think that most Americans do care about their fellows. So, let’s get us a president, along with a Congress that will say, “Hey, we can give $800 Billion to save the banks…we can give billions more to bomb the hell out of Iraq…now let’s take care of health care for our citizens.” When are Americans going to get the balls to demand that our government becomes of, by and for the people? I guess I’ve been rambling. So be it. Can you tell I have strong feelings about this????

I read the comments from Judith et al, and it brought back so many past experiences with friends. What has happened in our culture that everyone thinks they are the royal family, i.e., everyone must have the following: a huge wedding with knockout dresses, reception, honeymoon, or a 16 year old should have a party to emulate a child of Hollywood or to touch on a delicate subject, a huge funeral with a casket that must last until the next millenium and costs beaucoup bucks? I’ve known families who have gone in debt one or two of these occasions. Such hogwash and pretentiousness. What has happened to our sense of values? Surely we don’t need to validate ourselves by flaunting these phoney ways. I, too, have been invited to weddings with cash bars. Judith is right. This represents greed, not hospitality. We had two daughters married. Had a great reception for each. My husband and I saved our money, even had live music at each, and I’d be glad to show anyone what we paid. We kept the bills just for sentimental reasons. We didn’t do anything earth-shaking. We just wanted to have our friends gathered and give our girls’ a nice sendoff. The old adage about living beyond one’s means still holds true. Perhaps lending institutions, their customers and our government all need to get back to the basics.

There’s so much touched on in the pages offered here. The history of the period you depict was all of those things to me. Though we weren’t in the rarified climate that you inhabited, it brings back many fond memories. We were raising our families, too. But in our struggle to do so, we didn’t have the luxury to ponder the ramifications until much later. In your capacity as a newsperson, you were privileged to do so. What I’ve read so far wasn’t necessarily earth-shaking, but fun to read. Imagine each historical period has some wonderful retrospective moments. But this is one WE lived in. Therefore, your book will be a good read. Your first one was. Thank you.

My girl friend and I were both in love with him. That was our “crush.” In the business of acting, it’s hard to find a person who sees the world for what it is, and not as a reflection of his stardom. He was almost one of a kind. I never ceased to enjoy his movies. What an entertainer and what a great human being. As others have said, we still have his films. That, and his charitable heart will carry on for years to come.

Forgot to mention, I can’t get enough of Judith Martin’s columns. They are almost always a hoot. I’m a fan. She writes with humor and insight. Can’t beat that. Have you ever thought about writing a book…or two?