Gerontology Meets Erma Bombeck

The book project is slowly eeeking forward with strategic plans to begin interviews with some
seniors about the physiological hurdles of the aging process. A conversation with a friend who is a writer and a publisher gives words of encouragement as we push to get this project off the ground. Prior to the interviewing process, we are preparing the questions for our senior focus groups.

Primarily this project is about the experiences you will encounter, but are not aware of when you are in your middleage. Things you never thought about then but hit you like a ton of bricks later, things that change your life. But we won't stop there. We'll give you the the science behind it and the explanation of the sequence of events relating to when and why these things happen.

As a member of the allied health field, I am always eager to understand how we get to that point and feel there is a big misunderstanding by the younger generation about their senions. It bothers me that the American culture has less respect for these citizens when we have so much to gain from their knowledge. As an EMT and a clinical examiner for insurance and scientific research companies, I hear many stories from my geriatric patients of their life experiences and I often am enamoured about what they have accomplished in their lifetime. And to see them now, a frail portion of themselves, it is sad to me that I didn't know them when they were full productive members of their community. I listen to what they say and I hope I have learned to be more gracious and understanding about life's challenges after having the time with them.

As I work on this project, I hope this will be something my children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews will read. It is so often we hear or see young people joke about things they are not yet mature enough to understand. Like the two teenagers that pass the older couple walking together in the mall. The frail and delicate little old lady has a large handbag, dressed in a cotton dress, nylon stockings and a heavy sweater, while her husband uses a cane to help his limp, is wearing thick glasses, a wool shirt and a wide brimmed hat ....and it is in the afternoon in the middle of August..... do you want to know why? Stayed tuned... we'll be back to you with the details.

Any questions you want to ask, just let me know and I will check into it for you.