Feeling "Golden" in Retirement

For us Boomers, retirement was referred to as the Golden Years.

The transition from work to retirement was the much sought after carrot at the end of a long career. In all the pre-retirement seminars, the instructor drilled into us the need to prepare financially, but little was said about the emotional challenges that we face in retirement.

For Type A Boomers (like me), the emotional challenges revolving around loss of identity, finding a new purpose for getting up, and replacing the affirmation from doing a good job can be overwhelming. Without that “pat on the back” or “attagirl”, retirees are often left drifting while looking for a new sense of self-worth. I feel that the 5 stages of grief accurately describe what some Boomers feel after retirement; especially nowadays since many Boomers are being forced to accept an early retirement or be laid off. So, they often feel helpless because their choice of when to retire was taken away from them. The 5 stages are: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. (see http://www.way2hope.org/5-grief-stages-2.htm for a detailed description).

I still miss some aspects of working – and when I admit that -- well, some people look at me like I'm nuts. But that’s quite normal after working for more than 40 years. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t miss it enough to ever go back to working full-time.

To help you successfully make the transition from full time work to full time retirement, you’ve got to find something your passionate about and then plan to incorporate more of that into your daily life. A good article can be found at http://www.alive.com/1549a4a2.php?subject_bread_cramb=5

P.S. - After all that’s been recently taken away from us retirees, I think Retirement should now be called the “Copper Years”.

Heart Health - Strokes

I was very sick last year and am still under Doctor’s care, so health issues are always on my mind.

That, coupled with the fact that my father dropped dead at 58 from a stroke, keeps Heart related issues high on my list. Sometimes the symptoms of a stroke are quite difficult to identify. Often, that's creates a disaster for the stroke victim who may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize that they are having a stroke.

I just received this info from a friend and thought it worthwhile enough to pass on. Doctors are now saying that a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

• Ask the person to SMILE.
• Ask the person to TALK and coherently SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE such as “It is cold today.”
• Ask the person to RAISE BOTH ARMS above their head.

If the person has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, CALL 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

To see how real women have coped with heart disease, check out the video at:
http://www.goredforwomen.org/

FeedBurner

A huge thanks to my friend Mike Jennings, who I worked with in Germany, because now you can get BLOG updates via EMAIL.

It’s so simple – just go to the "Subscribe via Email" Box shown on the right (below my picture/personal info).

It takes just a minute to sign up. All you have to do is enter your email address. You will then get an email confirming your registration.

When I write a new BLOG, you'll automatically receive an email with the Title and first paragraph. To read the entire BLOG, just click on the TITLE.

Thanks so much for your continued interest in my BLOG. If you enjoy it, please forward the link - http://www.myretirementadventures.blogspot.com/ to all your Boomer friends!

p.s. -- go to the BLOG below and check out the comment from Mike. He had another idea on how to stay mentally sharp!

Alzheimer's

I went to a Red Hat Luncheon this afternoon where the Creekside Line Dancers performed. While watching them I thought of the recent conversation I had with my primary care physician who I've nicknamed "the Russian chick" as her last name is so difficult to pronounce.

When I had my annual physical we discussed how to prevent Alzheimer's. It's one of the biggest fears facing us Boomers as we age. We all know of someone who has suffered from this debilitating illness. We've heard the horror stories of loved ones who have driven down the wrong side of the highway or answered the door without their pants! None of us want to end up like that, so we're all looking for ways to stay sharp.

The dancers reminded me that my doctor said there are 2 things that will definitely help us:

Structured dancing -- Not freestyle like when we were young and did the twist. But structured dancing, like learning a line dancing routine is great because it helps you both physically and mentally.

Crossword puzzles -- Working a daily crossword puzzle with help your mind stay alert. Go to http://www.eons.com/ for a daily crossword puzzle as well as other brain games.

Let's hope you don't need it for a long time -- but if you want additional info on Alzheimer's, go to http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_diagnosis.asp?gclid=CKKhn7egspgCFRlcagodDDV_Vg

Dining Out

Retired with a fixed income, but you still like to eat out?
Then you're just like most retirees who find that much of their social life revolves around lunches and dinners out with their friends.

A great way to save money is to buy a gift certificate at http://www.restaurant.com/ I've used this website before and it's very user friendly. Depending on where you live, it offers a wide variety of restaurants and usually there's no restriction on the day or time you can use it.

What's Worrying You??

I would love to hear from some of my new readers about your concerns if you're already retired, topics that interest you, OR what's worrying you right now if you're planning to retire soon.

I know that you're somewhat apprehensive as you look towards retirement because there's always an element of fear in facing the unknown. "Don't Worry, Be Happy" sounds so simplistic -- yet, you can reduce some of your fears by being well informed about retirement issues..........so add your question or comment right here on the BLOG or drop me a line at Retired.Rosie@gmail.com

If I don't have the answer, I'll find it for you!

Low-Tax Retirement Locations

Our parent's worked hard their entire lives and dreamt of retiring to MECCA -- which for them meant either Arizona or Florida.

Today, Boomers are considering more than just warm weather and a beach when exploring retirement cities. A primary consideration nowadays is low taxes. Frankly, I'd love it if our pensions were tax-free, but that'll never happen. Wouldn't you agree that by the time we've reached 60 we've paid enough in Federal Income Taxes?

While you can't control what you have to pay in Federal Taxes, you certainly can reduce your cost of living by moving to a State where there are no income taxes --Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Two others, New Hampshire and Tennessee, tax only dividend and interest income.

You also can reduce your tax burden by moving to a state with low sales taxes and reduced property taxes because you're living in a community without schools.

An excellent article can be found at: http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/10-great-low-tax-places-to-retire.html

After all, if you can find a way to reduce your tax burden, it's the same as giving yourself a pay raise!!

My Right!

We're all entitled to our opinion and I definitely have mine about abortion rights. Now, you might ask why I, a Boomer, should be concerned when I definitely can't have kids.

It's because I'm mad and so tired of this issue popping up every few years when I thought it had been valiantly fought by our generation and settled with the decision in Roe vs. Wade. The Supreme Court issued that decision 36 years ago on January 22, 1973 stating that an abortion is a fundamental right under the Constitution, yet the battle is far from over . See the article about the Rally on Thursday held in Washington: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090122/ap_on_re_us/abortion_anniversary

This basic right needs to be protected for our granddaughters! If not, they will be forced to return to the dark ages of back alleys, coat hangers or trips abroad. After all, if the right to control my own body is again taken away, then what right will be next.

One of my favorite bumper stickers which came out when Bush #41 was President summed up my feelings the best:
BUSH stay out of my bush!

Your Retirement-Your Choice!

Like everything else in life, your retirement years will be what you make of it -- so when you visualize your retirement, what do you see -- a dream or a nightmare?

I know that many of you are dwelling on your 2008 stock market losses especially since you probably received year-end tax documents with the bad news this week.

When you view just the financial aspect of your retirement, I'm sure for many it does seem like a nightmare.

Don't get down -- instead concentrate on other aspects of your retirement planning -- the things you have more control of like your health, family life, your emotional well-being, your grandkids, how you will spend all your free time. I challenge you not to dwell on the negative, but to actually start planning with pen and paper what you want to do with that extra 60 hours a week you'll gain by not working.

Believe me, I feel the pain of your financial losses -- not from 2008 as I was not heavily invested in the market -- because I had already lost more than$140K in 2000-2001. Sure, it negatively impacted my retirement planning, but I survived and so will you. After having suffered a major illness and being hospitalized twice last summer, I'm telling you from my heart -- if you have good health, you truly have it all and can face any challenge!

Remember: When life throws you a curve ball (like this financial crisis), then HIT IT!

Here's a good article to help you get a handle on your finances:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2206189_deal-economic-crisis.html

p.s. - that's not my account above - luckily, mine went down only about 20%.

Social Security Bucks

Can you believe it.......over 10,000 Boomers a day become eligible for Social Security!!

To make the Retirement Application Process easier for us Boomers, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced a new online process. For more info, go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ and click on “Applying Online for Retirement Benefits.” You can view the SSA’s new public service announcements featuring Patty Duke at that site.

We female Boomers have some unique needs because a large percentage of us earn less than $40,000 a year; many of us will not receive a pension and we still earn only 77 cents for every $1 earned by a man.

The Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER Women) at http://www.wiserwomen.org/portal/ deals with these issues and more. Be sure to check out the Women and Social Security Section.

Some women overlook the fact that if you are divorced, but were married more than 10 years and were wife #1, then you might be eligible for Social Security benefits based upon your ex-husband's earnings. Something you should look into!

Are you a Senior Citizen?

Depends on where you are and what you're doing!

AARP will let you join when you turn 50 which you think would give you senior citizen status for all activities and organizations.

But it doesn't work that way!

I hate it.....because some theaters call you a senior citizen at 55, some 60 and others make you wait until you're 62. Retired or not we all like to save money and with ticket prices at an all time high of 10 bucks and seniors a mere $6, I want all the theaters to call me a senior citizen at 55.

And it's even more costly when you think about the car insurance industry -- some use 60 while most say you must be 62.

So, what I'd love to see is for AARP or some other Boomer watch-dog organization to lobby for us and estalish an official nationwide policy that you become a senior citizen at 55.

If it saves me money, then I'm definitely willing to be called older at a younger age!

What do you think?

Slumdog Millionaire

I first heard of "Slumdog Millionaire" when I worked the Denver Film Festival last November. It was the talk of the Festival but I didn't get to see it as all showings were sold out. Then last week it became the must-see movie and an OSCARS front-runner after winning 4 Golden Globes including best picture.

I finally got a chance to see it today and wasn't disappointed. Through flashbacks, this movie reveals to the viewer a true love story. It also covers a wide spectrum of societal ills including greed, sibling rivalry and crime. It's truly a fascinating story where the life-changing events of Jamal's poverty-stricken childhood uncannily provided him with the knowledge needed for his appearance on the Indian version of the "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" TV Show.

WARNING: There are a few torture scenes in the movie which I found very disturbing.

For a more detailed review:

http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/20192670/review/24013911/slumdog_millionaire

"WE ARE ONE" Concert

Being an entertainment junkie I was just thrilled to see that HBO aired the “We Are One “ Concert FREE since I don’t have HBO. What a phenomenal event to kick off the Inaugural activities for our 44th President! I loved that it offered such a wide variety of popular musicians.

With the ushering in of our new President, many political writers have called this Presidency a return to Camelot for several reasons. Personally, I'm just not comfortable with that comparison because after the hard dose of financial reality that we all were forced to swallow last year, I find it hard to continue to believe in the Fairy Tale of the American Dream. All Boomers know that Fairy Tale by heart as our parents drilled it into us almost daily -- grow-up, get a good education, work hard, marry, have kids, stay with the same company for 40 years, then retire with a solid pension and gold watch! It’s frightening because in less than one short year our Country’s financial fiasco has rewritten that storybook ending for most of us Boomers.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were an easy solution like the magic fairy dust that Tinkerbelle threw over the kids which allowed them to fly? Since that never will happen –- my only hope is that President Elect Obama successfully rewrites the American Dream into a believable tale for future generations.

Obama succeeded because he restored hope to millions who had lost sight of that American Dream --people who wanted nothing more than the opportunity to work hard to provide for their family; to know that they have access to affordable health care; and to believe that their pension funds are secure.

It will take years for this Presidency to undo this current mess. So, regardless of your political affiliation I ask that you pray for President-Elect Obama to have the courage to make those tough decisions that will restore not only our faith in this wonderful Nation but also provide a solid foundation for future generations to build upon..

While the current generation would probably want an American Dream that also included an IPOD, Cell Phone and HD-TV for one and all; I sincerely feel that the revised version needs to reassure each American that they will be rewarded for hard work and most importantly, that our Government will protect us and severely punish those who rip off the American people through financial greed!

If you missed the concert, check out your local HBO listings as it’s being re-aired today.

Also, check out the You-Tube link for the moving ending led by Beyonce: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1cVDhj2cOI

The "SANDWICH" Generation

I know that many of you feel trapped because you've had to delay your planned retirement by 5 to 10 years due to the unexpected financial depression that's hit our Markets. It's stressful enough that on a daily basis many of you are facing a personal financial crisis due to the tanking of your IRAs, decrease in your pensions and layoffs.

If that wasn't bad enough, you might even find yourself now with the additional burden of being financially 'sandwiched' between your parents and your kids because you make more than either of them. For many Boomers, it seems like it's all falling on our shoulders because with our parents many of them have also lost most of their life savings, so they are looking to us for help. Looking for help while caring for your parents, then check out:

http://www.aarp.org/families/caregiving/caring_parents/

If you're dealing with 'boomerang' kids who want to come back to the security of the parental nest, then you've got even more bills. Find yourself caught in that situation, then you need to immediately establish ground rules and let those adult kids know they have to contribute financially. For an excellent article on 'boomerang' kids:

http://www.googobits.com/articles/641-what-you-should-know-before-your-adult-children-return-home.html

Whether you're taking in your parents or your kids, remember:

• first talk it over with your spouse
• it's your home, so you set the rules
• everyone should contribute financially based on their income.

SWING

If you're a Boomer living between Denver and Fort Collins, check out the new Candlelight Dinner Theater near Johnstown Corner. The current production is the musical "SWING". It's a lively walk down memory lane with numbers from the 1930s and 40s. I loved watching the cast dance as it reminded me of my dad who taught me how to dance when I was very young. I have wonderful memories of dancing with him in the living room and at many weddings.

Note that there is no dialogue in this production - just singing and dancing. I found the prices quite reasonable as dinner is included. While there were several entries to choose from, I found the food rather bland. For additional details, go to:
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/dec/30/swing/

PROTECT YOUR PENSION

The articles in the January/February 2009 AARP Bulletin are so informative that I just have to encourage you to join.

The best article was on pg 37, under THE LAW. It’s a must read for all Boomers who have not yet retired because it involves a company’s change from a traditional defined benefit pension plan to a lump-sum cash disbursement upon retirement without proper notification to employees. Obviously, that change saved money for the company and greatly reduced the pension paid to retirees.

The traditional defined benefit pension plan is fully explained at http://www.aarp.org/money/financial_planning/sessionseven/defined_benefit_pension_plans.html

For benefits and cost of membership http://www.aarp.org/membership/

Skiing for Boomers

January, 2009--
The 40th anniversary of the first time I skied.

Little did I know what significance that trip would have in my life as I fell in love with skiing! Over the years I've made some life-changing decisions like moving to Germany because of skiing!

So, after another challenging day on the mountain, I just wanted to remind you that there are some clubs for skiing Boomers and some great discounts for those over 70.

40 years ago many ski area allowed skiers over 70 to ski for free. While most have stopped that deal, there are still some great discounts for us Boomers .http://www.70plusskiclub.com/

Also, check out Over the Hill Gang International which runs ski trips for Boomers.

http://othgi.com/articles.shtml

And even if you don't ski, you can still join your friends for Apres-Ski at your favorite bar!!

Joyfully Alive

Today was my first day on the mountain this ski season which is always physically exhausting.

It was even tougher,both mentally and emotionally, because after I planned the trip to ski today, Jan 13th, on Keystone Mountain,all of a sudden it hit me--exactly 3 years ago on Friday the 13th, I blew out my right knee skiing on a flat trail at Keystone Mountain. It was the most painful injury I've ever had. I had major reconstructive surgery replacing my ACL with a cadaver part. It took 8 months of physical therapy to fully regain use of my right leg.

I seriously considered cancelling the trip because it just felt too deja vu -- skiing on Jan 13th at Keystone with the same group!

Being Italian, I'm just naturally superstitious. Once, when skiing in France, I had that falling dream (you know where you wake up right before you hit the ground). It shook me up so much, that I decided not to ski the next day with the group. Later that night when the ashen-faced group returned, I found out that it had been a terrible day on the mountain. The guide was amazed they made it back with no one seriously injured.

I felt spooked today and was looking for a way out. When I got up this morning, I had a great one as the wind chill temperature on top of the mountain this morning was just 3 degrees and windy!
BUT I decided that I had to overcome my fears about it being Jan 13th and just have some fun. I was so nervous on that first run. I was shaking so much I could hardly make a decent turn, but about half way down the run the thrill of flying down the mountain just took over!
When people ask me, "Why do I ski especially after my accident?" It's simple --the sensation of flying down the mountain makes me feel joyfully alive.

So, fellow Boomers, have you ever thought about what makes you feel joyfully alive? Make a list and promise yourself in 2009 that you will throw your fears in the trash can and have more fun days.

REMEMBER -- It's not our chronological age that makes us feel old, but it's when we stop doing the things we love!

An excellent, easy-to-read book about overcoming fear is "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" by Dr. Susan Jeffers. http://www.amazon.com/Feel-Fear-Anyway-Susan-Jeffers/dp/0449902927

An old House?

I've been thinking a lot lately about what it feels like to age physically.

Frankly, some days I feel like an 'old house' in need of a total renovation.

Above is a picture of a home built in 1948 -- same year I was born. Now, if you bought a home that old I'm sure it would need some work. The first thing you'd probably do is to have it checked over by a licensed building inspector; then prioritize the recommended repairs.

My challenge to you this year is to do the same for your body!!

Just like a building inspector would look over that old house, you need to have a doctor thoroughly inspect you. If you don't have a primary care physician, start by asking your friends to recommend one. Personally, I have always found the best doctors through a word-of-mouth referral. Then immediately schedule a complete physical. You need a baseline of your health before you can make any improvements. If there are specific problems requiring a specialist, then ask the doctor to recommend someone they would trust enough to operate on them.

If you're reading this and over 50 -- demand a colonoscopy! UGH -- I know everyone hates to even think about that test. Just do it now!! One of my best friends put it off until she was 60 and unfortunately, she had cancer. She immediately had surgery. I'm thrilled to say she's survived it now for over a year, but it might have been caught earlier.


What I'm asking you to do is much bigger than that New Year's resolution we all make to lose "10 or 20 pounds".


Inspect it; make the necessary fixes; and then proudly live in that 'old body'.

p.s. - I had my annual physical in December!

Daily OM

Are you looking for an uplifting way to start your day in this new year?

If so, and you enjoy reading motivational articles, then go to

www.dailyom.com

You can sign up at that website to receive a daily inspirational email. Better yet, it's free!

Who writes the checks?

Many married couples have continually argued about money during their marriage -- who earns the most, how to spend it, how much to save. Just because you're older, doesn't mean that the 2 of you have gotten wiser about how to manage your money.

In fact, if you're retired and living on a fixed-income you might even have more money problems than ever!

What concerns me most about money management and retired Boomer women is the fact the whoever writes the checks is usually the one who has control of the money. In many traditional marriages , the man has had total control of the checkbook and other financial records; so, the wife doesn't know where they stand financially.

60, suddenly single, financially strapped -- That's where you'll be if you don't get involved in the process of managing the marital money.

I'd like to encourage you to have a frank discussion with your husband regarding your finances. You need a financial snapshot of exactly what you have right now in January 2009 and where the financial records are located.

Some critical documents to have include: monthly pensions (what portion of it do you get if he dies first and how do you claim it); 401Ks, other IRAs, interest income, insurance policies, your will, deed to your home, income tax returns, computer passwords to your accounts and your monthly expenses. Get a binder with clear plastic pockets and put everything together in one place.

I know it's a tough topic. Some people just don't like to discuss money. Most spouses don't want to have that "when I die" conversation, but just do it this weekend and get it over with. Taking the time to have that 'talk' is a very loving gesture because it helps ensure your spouse can handle things when you're gone.

Moving to a Retirement Community?

Upon retiring, you might consider moving into an Active Adult Community -- the MECCA of retirement communities -- for the amenities and social activities they offer. If you do, you'll pay a hefty premium of $30,000 to $40,000 more for the same style/square footage home just for the privilege of living in that type of community.

I live in an Active Adult Community and just got home from an exhausting meeting over on-going homeowner issues, so, here's some important issues you should consider before buying:

1. What is the builder's warranty policy?

2. Will be there be an on-site customer service rep to help you resolve problems with your home?

3. How long will it take for the amenities to be put in -- clubhouse, pool, tennis courts and golf course?

4. Has the builder posted a completion bond to ensure the amenities will be completed?

5. How long will the builder subsidize the monthly clubhouse dues?
6. If you pay for a view (golf course, mountain, lake) GET IT IN WRITING that your view is protected and will not be taken away from you by high grass or other homes being built.

7. Make them give you a copy of the covenants upfront (usually at least a foot high and written in a foreign language - legalese)!

Let's face it, for many of us retirees, that home probably will be our FRP (Final Resting Place), so, those are but a few of the many questions you should get answered by the builder before you sign on the dotted line. For additional info, go to http://www.wheretoretire.com/?source=google where you can request a free copy of the magazine.

Where's my Money?

DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR MONEY WENT??

Since you have to get your tax records together anyway, this is the perfect time of the year to take a look at how you're spending your money.

You may have several sources of income from your salary, a pension, dividends, interest, maybe even rental income. It's pretty easy to determine your sources of income, but do you really have any idea where it goes -- other than maybe your house or car payment.

An easy way to get a handle on what you spent in 2008 is to begin with your checkbook and make a handwritten spreadsheet of what you bought by check. Or you might want to use a computerized program like Quicken http://quicken.intuit.com/

For charges, like Master Card, American Express, etc., look at the actual statements to determine the categories of expense. Some of the credit card companies actually give you a breakout at year end either with the final statement or by going to their website.

You might be reading this and thinking "what a waste of time".

BUT, how do you know where you might be able to cut back and save money, if you don't know where your $$$$ went. You really need to determine your minimum financial monthly outlay way before you retire just to make sure that you can afford the lifestyle you currently have. Frankly, I've not met anyone who gets 100% of their salary in retirement and I live in a retirement community!

So, most of us Boomers have to either cut back some in retirement or get a part-time job!

If you don't know where to start with making a budget, I found some good info and free worksheets at: http://www.betterbudgeting.com/budgetformsfree.htm

Here's a quick calculator that will give you an idea of whether your expenses will go up or down in retirement

http://moneycentral.msn.com/personal-finance/calculators/Determine_Your_Retirement_Expenses_Calculator/home.aspx

Teleseries - Positive Aging

My friend Kim Kirmmse Toth is offering the following Tuesday Teleseries free!!!

No charge except your own long distance - This call is a free opportunity for you to connect to each other.

New topic each month - Each month she will explore various topics from financial to relationships to careers.

You are part of a community but most of you have never even met! You are from all over the world, you are somewhere around 55-65 years, and the thought of retirement either excites you or scares you to death!

When you join her on these free weekly calls you are making a statement to yourself that you are worthy of beginning 2009 with a successful mindset!

The topic for January is: Finances and our Economy

The following dates and times:
January 6th, 13th and 20th
4:00 eastern, 3:00 central, 2:00 mountain, 1:00 pacific
To register for our first call on January 6, 2009 please click HERE.

You will be asked for your name and email address. Click submit and we will send you the bridge line immediately.

So, get out your day timer and put Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 4:00 eastern in your book now. Write in Kim's Tuesday Teleseries!
Can't wait to see you on the call!.
Click Here To Register Today

The link to Kim's website is also under links.

Seven Pounds

I love going to the MOVIES!!

If you've been following my BLOG, then by now you already know that.

When I was a kid, my Aunt Zina would take me to the movies every other week. Since there were so many kids, we had to take turns. That's so long ago, that it cost only 10 cents; that's right, just a mere dime to enter into the magical world of the movies. It was ridiculously cheap as adults paid only 25 cents!

I don't mind paying the prices they charge nowadays, because I usually go to a showing time when I can get the senior discount; but overall, I'm finding that the movies just aren't as interesting or as much fun as even a few years ago.

My sister Ginny and I went to see "Seven Pounds" this week. I really like Will Smith and feel that he has matured into a fine actor. I loved him in "The Pursuit of Happyness", but here he gave somewhat of a forced performance. He just didn't seem comfortable with that serious of a role.

The best part of the movie was Rosario Dawson's performance -- she was outstanding as a young woman needing a transplant. Woody Harrelson also acted very well in his role. I won't give away the ending, but I found this movie to be very disjointed and the plot line was such that it was difficult to follow what was happening in the movie. If you plan to see the movie, suggest you go early in the day. I found it so depressing that I had trouble sleeping.

We never did figure out what the title "Seven Pounds" meant; so if you do, please send me a comment. If you'd like to know more about the movie, check out the review at
http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/movies/19seve.html

SUGO's

I'm still in St. Louis on an extended holiday visit with family and friends. As usual, I've eaten out way too much -- but I've got to tell you about a great, inexpensive ($5 to $14) restaurant -- SUGO's. The food there is just delicious and the atmosphere is so energizing that you feel like you're in a bustling New York pizzeria.

Tonight I had caesar salad and pizza. The caesar salad was fresh and the dressing was perfect; light, with just a hint of anchoivy. The pollo pizza (chicken, alfredo cream sauce, garlic & cheese) was scrumpious, with lots of chicken and freshly shaved parmigiano cheese.

If you live in St. Louis, give it a try -- you won't be disappointed!
SUGO's (314) 569-0400 http://www.sugosspaghetteria.com/menu.html

Reconnecting

One of the things I love the most about retirement is having the time to reconnect with and visit with old friends. While I was in St. Louis over the holidays, I had the pleasure of visiting with my friend Ruth and her extended family. Ruth and I have known each for more than 40 years and were the best of friends in college. We connected immediately when we met because I’m the oldest of 9 and there are 12 kids in her family. It was fun to meet someone who came from a family larger than mine.

We traveled extensively together throughout the States and all over Europe. We actually used Arthur Frommer’s book, “ Europe on $5 a Day” as our bible during our European Adventure in 1970. It’s hard to believe it, but we actually got a room and our meals for less than $5 a day!

Now the EuroRail Pass and sightseeing were extra. While it’s always exciting to expand your circle of friends, there’s just something reassuring about hooking up with people who have known you forever. It’s just so comfortable to sit around and reminisce. With a true friend, you can pick up the conversation just as if it were yesterday, even if you haven't seen her for 15 years!

Is there someone from your past that you'd just love to know what happened to them?

If so, you might want to try locating them through http://www.classmates.com/ or http://www.reunion.com/ Check out the websites closely as both charge a fee.

(In the photo, left to right: me, Ruth, her sister Snook, her daughter Bridget, and brother Tim)