Healthspan
All About a Friendship
In 1974, two wide-eyed and bushy-tailed Missouri guys, then in their mid twenties, took off from Paris on shiny new Motobecane bicycles with the goal of ending up in Munich. It was a time before life would demand their serious attention, before Richard would be raising a family in the Bay Area and I would be sitting in front of a computer screen looking at a column deadline. It was a time after the breezy college frat boy days we had shared. We were looking for an adventure, one that would change our lives. Read story.
An American in Paris
I told everyone I was taking a “sabbatical” in Paris. As soon as I was snuggled into my window seat on Air France, I began to wonder why I needed to describe my month-long stay in France in such exalted terms. In truth, I was really just wanting to defy the benchmark of turning 60 by doing something I had always wanted to do as a younger man — live in Paris — if only for a month. Read story.
Older and Happier
Some people fear gravity as they get older, others the loss of sexual power, some even fear granny diapers. Me? I fear becoming a cranky old man. Read story.
Beware of Fat Friends
We’ve always heard that we are what we eat. But now, it seems, we are whom we eat with. Read story.
The Incredible Lightness of Moving
My first move as an “adult” was when I packed all of my earthly belongings into my 1969 Toyota and headed west from Missouri to UCLA. How I crammed everything I wore and everything I had for setting up housekeeping into that square little Japanese car that looked like a shoebox on wheels is really beyond my comprehension. I even had a futon bed crammed in the backseat. Read story.
The Seven-Year Itch
Now Comes at Three
There is much folklore out there about why marriages/relationships don’t make it. One of the most enduring is The Seven-Year Itch. Support for this phenomenon runs the gamut, with marriage counselors able to provide plenty of anecdotal evidence. I have definitely noticed the largest number of couples who enter counseling cluster around year seven of the marriage. Read story.
Gabby Women, Silent Men
Here’s a question for you: Why do men enjoy oral sex with their wives? In a large-scale survey on that very subject, 15 percent of the men polled responded that they enjoy the sensation; 85 percent of the men said they enjoy the quiet. Read story.
Bouncing Back
When life goes south, why do some grin and bear it and emerge with greater wisdom, while others scream for their mommies as they are being led away? Read story.
How Not to Be a Victim
We all know them. And, truth be told, we have even felt like one every now and then. Read story.
The Rebirth of Memory
Trip to New Orleans Proves the Value of Nostalgia
A trip to New Orleans proves that nostalgia can be put to good use. Read story.
In Praise of an Imperfect Memory
As the old observation goes: Today’s sorrow, plus time passing, equals tomorrow’s comedy. Memory can be kind in that way. Today we cry, tomorrow we laugh. Read story.
In Praise of the Nutty Tart
Sleep Better at Night Using the Power of Cherries
Delicious though they might be, tart cherries are nutritional powerhouses. Mix that with almond butter for a surprisingly healthy sleep aid. Read story.
Men and Depression
We all know women like chocolate and a good gabfest while men prefer a cold beer and a good video game. Okay, so that’s a cheesy generalization but it does soften you up for today’s hard topic: Men are different than women when it comes to depression. Read story.
In Pursuit of a More Reliable Mind
Do any of our modern attempts to keep our minds sharp work?
Everyone is concerned about their memories, at least everyone over the age of 50 that I can recall. So, to keep our minds sharp, we slog through The New York Times crossword, do our aerobic walks, and pop all kinds of expensively dubious pills. But does any of this really work? Read story.
How Do You Know You're Getting Older?
I saw on television the other day that a local organization is providing free meals for seniors in Santa Barbara. I have even heard that they are wonderful gourmet meals. I was happy for our seniors to have this lovely service. And then it was announced that this was a service for those who were 60 and over. As someone who is dangerously close to that watermark of aging, I was shocked and awed. Since when did 60 become the new 75? Read story.
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