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! A survival kit for the over 50's and those intending to be !
! Because you can run but you can't hide !

 

Its Just an Attitude
"Acting your age" is such a dumb idea I've stopped trying ...

On The Brighter Side
You'd think you could open a newspaper, listen to radio, watch TV or websurf without being warned ...

Another Chicken Or Egg Question
What comes first ? Career or family ? ...

The "Over 50 Face"
We are each entirely responsible for our own face after the age of 50 ...

Joys Of Senior Sex
"... when we al groped around leveling the sexual playing field ..."

" She'll Kill Me "
No married man still breathing has not said this at one time or another ...

So Much More To Achieve
But I'm not getting any satisfaction ...

Say Exactly What You Mean


One of the great joys of aging comes when we realise we can open-up, let loose and deliver our opinions honestly, freely and candidly without fear of recrimination and retribution.


I mean, what are the thought police going to do to us?


It's particularly pleasurable if we can sound-off with someone prepared to listen without interrupting. Who accepts we're entitled to our point of view without questioning our intelligence and/or senility, even if they disagree violently.


It helps too, if we live in a country where speaking openly is possible and encouraged.


That this right should never be taken for granted is best illustrated by the story of the poor woman who bravely dared to oppose the grim regime during the darkest days of the former East Germany. She couldn't figure-out why the secret police anticipated her every move and arrested her at every turn.


Only 10 years after the Wall collapsed did she discover her "informer" was her husband of 25 years and the father of her children with whom she shared her pillow talk and all her secrets.


Cynically seen, at least she had someone to share secrets with.


A cruise ship captain once told me of the embarrassing silence around dinnertime at the beginning of every voyage when long-married couples sit and face each other in stony silence.


Only after a few days when they meet other like-minded 'escape-seekers' does the atmosphere loosen-up.

Of course the concept of 'freedom of speech' can be woefully abused. Like it's done sickeningly and daily on the call-in radio programmes where everyone and his monkey feels his or her opinion actually matters and as a result we're subjected to unbelievable rubbish from both ends of the telephone.


Since there's never even the remotest chance of opponents or supporters of legalised abortion, gun control, capital punishment, Fidel Castro, Israel or Palestine, Iraq and Northern Ireland finding a middle-ground it's better to avoid some subjects altogether.


To prove my point and get half of today's readers hopping-mad I admit to operating on the trusty principle, "Distrust all those in whom the urge to punish is strong."


My reason for tackling "free speech" today came after a person I greatly respect and admire blew his top at something I said in conversation recently.


Perhaps outrageous, perhaps nonsense, perhaps unwise, what I said was sincerely meant and came straight from the heart.


And so, if he's reading this, "I forgive you".
 

Jump-In On-Line
Feel like creating something really relevant today ? ...

Is What We See What We Get ?
To get the best results from our limited time on earth ....