March 31, 2010

Recently met a hundred and two year old lady at Pizza a fetta in Cannon Beach, Oregon. Took a picture of myself with her and told her the secret to staying young is to always find someone older than you to hang out with. With that said, I told her I would introduce her to the 103 year old I knew. At that, she laughed and said, "Well honey, at my age I don't have much time left, when is this meeting going to happen?"

I love old people, I love listening to their stories and their living histories. Now in my own midlife, I realize I, all too soon will be relating my own stories and events to a generation that never heard or has seen a "I love Lucy" show, Or has ever played a 45 rpm record, understands my laugh, when I say, "Hey, whose is that behind those Foster Grants (sunglasses), because they never saw the commerical. Times change and so do we.

Last Sunday, I hit a lighting pole in a theater parking lot. Now you'd think there would be minium damage. However, when one races around the theater building on a stormy, windy night and forgets where the light poles are and that the truck he is driving has a wide turning radius and its heavy rains...ouch. The pole couldn't be avoided and damages even going 30mph are serious. Thank God there were no cars around and the part of the pole I hit was the concrete base. No damage to the pole...over 1,500 to the truck.

By all measures I ought to total the truck but I am in love with my 1990 GMC truck that is like driving a Cadallic. Oh, the trials and tribulations of life.

Oh, I was depressed. I hurried to go see a movie that would have been best to wait for its DVD release called Bounty Hunter. The movie cost $6.00, the repair cost $1,500. Lesson learned go slow in theater parking lots....Its only a movie and it doesn't matter if you miss the opening scene you can see it again. Damn.

In talking to my Dad, who was sympathic he said, "Bob, you has a simple accident, Leave it at that and get the truck repaired".

Thanks Dad, I needed that.

Anyway, writing about this connects me to others who prehaps have driven say, a little bit too fast in shopping mall parking lots...I say to my fellow traverler...please drive slower its not worth making a $6.00 appointment on time when its going to cost you $1,500 in damages to your ego and truck.

Be well my friends and drive safe.

What is wrong?

My last entry was December 9th and now its Feb. - I must have a writers block or maybe life just has me occupied at this moment.

One of my older friends, 82 is now in a retirement complex in Portland, Oregon. The place is beautiful and new. However, I have some issues in its management and medical care he is receiving at this place. I may go into that later but I am too tired tonight. My thoughts are coming at me randomly and actually I think I just dont' have it in me to try and make any sense of it at all.

So even though I wanted to write alot tonight...I am turning in and turning off my computer...Good night world. I will see you later...

Submitted outline to Random House

Well, I finally got off my ass and submitted what I have written so far to Random House. I can in contact with a senior editor of Crown Publishing in August of 2009. I have contacts at St. Martins Press from when I owned a company but those leads are cold. This one is new.

So yesterday, December 9th, I send off the manuscript, such as it is, to my friend by email after deciding this was the best way for him look at what I'd already written. Maybe I should have written more but I didn't want to much time to go by since meeting him that he'd forget me or our conversation.

Alot of people are interested in my writing and I look forward to getting published regarding something I am passionate about.

However,I am feeling kind of down at the moment. The work is slow on the Oregon Coast (Cannon Beach) and although I have saving in reserve I always worry about it being enough. Must be the Jewish part of me. LOL.

Anyway, now I wait and it being the Christmas season and all, I expect I will be waiting a long time.

Others share my vision of changing how we in America view the old people in our society. Thats been an encouragement to me but have a written enough to catch the interest of a publisher??? That is the question, Mary. That is the question.

Oregonian - 92 year young Grandma

November 17, 2009 Tuesday Oregonian

Article by Anne Saker - "Gruff granny tweaks Portland's young.

This article caught my eye because the little granny some 92 years old shaking her finger at me saying, "Who gives a rip, what you think?"

I am remind of the countless times my mentors and elders told me that one person can make a difference. Even Mother Theresa said, "There are no great acts of kindness, only little ones that make a big difference."

A single person can make a difference in history. The examples are many but what is most important too is that we do not forget that we, yes, you and I can change the course of history just with a kind word or act no matter how insignificant we feel it may be.

It is because of this encouragement that I get involved, not for the recogniation but simply because it's the right thing to do.

So remember, you can make a difference and get involved.

Be well and Happy Thanksgiving if I don't write again before then. I am making my world famous chocolate raspberry cake for the Thanksgiving celebration.

Bob

As I speak

As I speak to more and more people about my writing and how passionate I am about changing how we American's view old people I am convinced that my timing is right.

Tonight I met a gal named Hunter who went to see the movie, "2012" with me and two other friends. We drove from Seaside, Oregon to Astoria to see it on the big screen. It was intense. On the way there, I spoke with Hunter about my passion to write this book and tell the stories I've heard from others with a new group of listeners. She loved the title of my book and thought the timing perfect.

I now have 15 people I am including in my writing and the last one which will feature my friend Jimmy G will discuss the art of "living in the present". A lesson he and I have talked about many times and one that he always seems to be passionate about passing on to others.

I am pumped up about writing more the next few days as I regroup from my trip to LA and the Magic Castle and The Getty Museum. LA is a bit much for me. All three times I have been there I have been on a mission...1st as a key note speaker for a technical dinner, 2nd with my appearance of the Roseanne Barr Talk Show and now this last weekend for my friends 49th birthday party which took place at the Magic Castle. Next time I am in LA I want to be there longer and spead more time on the beach.

That's it for today...with fifteen people to highlight their influnce on my life, I think I have my writing cut out for me. I love writing because I can write till I feel I have used the exact word I wanted to communicate the beauty of life and it's challanges. Good Night and be well.

It becomes important

As I continue to talk about my book the more important it becomes to me to finish. I have a passion to learn and to from those that have blazed a trail before me. Network people, not only with your age group but with those much older.

At this time I am helping an 82 year old friend be place in hospital care and later assisted living. The system sucks if no one advocates for you. I and my friend, Dottie are there for our old friend...who will be there for you when the time comes?

Making time

Today was going to be dedicated to writing. However, life is not always scripted according to my plans. My friend, Jimmy G., who is 82 is in the hospital and not doing well. So I took this morning off from writing and visited him in the hospital. I was there for several hours and one meal. So when I saw that he was stabilized I told him I had things I needed to do and returned home to write.

I am happy to report I wrote on several chapters, I , at least got a outline down for those chapters with thoughts of the most lasting impression or lesson I was taught and how I saw those lessons lived out. I certainly hope that my little stories can make a difference in how old people are viewed in our country.

I wrote the following passage late at night and I am sharing it here so I don't lose it....."I am writing to enact change and if only one person changes I will have been successful. If I can change how old people view themselves or of how young people view an older generation I will have done my job."

I am passionate about learning from others. I love the stories I hear today from friends of "truisms" they learned from family members...mostly from a mom or a dad or sometimes a grandparent. they tell me the little stories that have helped them navigate through life. Stories that changed their lives. And stories they pass down to their children and other young people. Stories that make our society what it is today. Life is good and if we keep our ears open we can continue to be as fasinated about it now as to when we were mere babes.