Playing around with "Paint" in 1999 

Me at my computer 

Oldies but Goodies

Today at my music lesson, I felt compelled to share major accomplishments of famous older people. I only mentioned a few names like Michelangelo who completed his final frescoes at 75, Benjamin Franklin who invented bifocals at 78, Frank Lloyd Wright who worked on the Guggenheim Museum until his death at 91 and Martha Graham who danced until she was 76 and choreographed 20 years longer (all listed in the January 17, 2005 edition of Newsweek). Of course there are scores more, writers like John Mortimer, (in his 80's) and Tom Wolfe (no Spring chicken), who continue to write and have both recently published books. Their work is as good as it has ever been. Age has not diminished their creative abilites.
The ladies I play music with are all older than me by 15-30 years. They are attractive, intelligent, active accomplished women. I appreciate not only what they have done but who they have become and they inspire me. I hate to see them or their abilities diminished in any way.
Our cultures' preoccupation with youth trivializes if not totally ignores the contributions of age. How can this be when "the baby boomers", the largest generation are all at least "middle aged" and swelling the ranks of "senior citizenry"? Just who are the ones writing the books, making the music, creating the art, educating the masses and perpetuating our obsession with youth with idealized images & myths ? These are the folks that in sheer numbers make up the majority and have the most money to spend. Once again, like the government we elect, we get the environment and culture we deserve and apparently want. Pretty scary.