The following is an article directly from the pages of the September issue of The Baby Boomer News Magazine.  Get your own copy of the magazine to read more great articles at these locations, by mail or check out the online version.

THE LAST RITE OF PASSAGE

By Linda S Amstutz

We Baby Boomers have zipped through most of our rites of passage with hardly a moment’s hesitation (our first bifocals, our last cigarette, our first grey hair, our first senior discount, our first Early Bird dinner, that first social security check), so then why, oh why, do we struggle with that last rite of passage?

You know the one I’m talking about. Your doctor started nagging you about it around the time of your 50th, or 55^th birthday. That’s right — the dreaded colonoscopy. Forget that it saves lives. Forget that the colonoscopy should be heralded as the one true super power we can all harness to help us avoid – yes avoid! – colon cancer. We are still afraid of it.

But, why? It’s not painful. As a matter of fact, you sleep right through it, which is more than I can say for my last mammogram. Not only do you sleep right through it, but there are no consequences.  No hangover, no bar tab, no spousal recriminations.

So why do boomers balk at the idea of a colonoscopy? I’ll tell you why: It’s the prep that has us scared to death. But, why? The prep doesn’t hurt; it’s not painful at all, but it scares the poop out of us.

Literally.

The doctors claim they must have a clean palette (so to speak) in which to stick their little camera. All those years of medical school and they still can’t tell the difference between poop and a polyp. Can you believe that?

So, anyway, that means your bowels and colon must be squeaky clean.  And, evidently, the only way to do that is with laxatives and colon cleansers. We’re not talking about some Activia yogurt here; we’re talking about something that would send Jamie Lee Curtis screaming into the woods.

They call it Go Lightly, Co-Clean, Fleet and a bunch of other nice, clean names. Take my word for it, there’s nothing clean or lightly about this prep. You take a pill, or two, you drink some salty drink (which mixes quite nicely with Crystal Light Lemonade Mix to make an almost-margarita) and then you lay claim to a bathroom in the house, marking it Off-Limits to anyone but yourself. And really, why would anyone else even want to use that bathroom once you’ve been in there?

And in there you’ll be. For what seems like hours. Going and going and going. And then drinking and drinking and drinking. And then going and going and going. All night long.

If you’re lucky, you’ll make it to the commode in time. If you’re not lucky, you will shake your head, curse your doctor and swear to never do this again.

The next morning, you will pray that you can make it to the doctor’s office without any more special deliveries. The nurses will give you an IV and you will sleep. When you wake up, you will be rested and refreshed. You will not have to go to the bathroom anymore, thank goodness. You might need to push some air from your body; you might not, depending on what method your doctor uses to take his tour of your Netherlands.

Does that really sound so bad? Doesn’t it sound a heck of a lot better than colon cancer?

So, if you haven’t had your first colonoscopy, do it now. And if you’ve already had yours, spread the word: Colonoscopies save lives.

They really do. They save lives …. but they sure as heck mess up a perfectly nice evening.

And a pretty bathroom.

c2010 Linda S Amstutz. You can read more humor from Ms Amstutz at www.anotherlinda.com and you can contact her at anotherlinda@earthlink.net

Whatever it is, movies like The Expendables, new TV shows like Blue Bloods , they are touting names like Tom Selleck, Bruce Willis, Dolph Lundgren and Sylvester Stallone.  Not to mention familiar, if older, faces popping up as guest stars on well known TV shows, like Robert Wagner on NCIS .
While it’s really a lot of fun to see them, and even more fun to take the walk down memory lane that it invokes, it also does one other thing.  When I see these familiar faces on the screen, I often find myself thinking, “Wow, they’ve aged!” Most of them have aged pretty well, but there is no disguising the fact that time has gone by. Which of course means I have to face the fact. I’ve aged too.
But you know what? It’s not so bad. And it’s nice to see that even Hollywood is starting to celebrate the fact that aging doesn’t necessarily make us old.

What stars and heartthrobs have you been surprised to see in the movies or on TV?  What ones would you like to see? Share with us here in the comment section or by sharing your thoughts in the Boomer Voices section.

I think it’s a tribute to our ability to embrace change that so many of us are creating our own second careers by utilizing computers and the Internet. We’ve approached using new technologies for business the same way for years.  We’ve not only accepted them, we’ve welcomed them and built upon them to change the face of business.

Some of the careers that baby boomers are finding success with are:

Affiliate Marketing-

Promoting products and services from other companies or your website or blog, which earns commisions on sales.

Blogging-

Easy to start, the most successful blogs focus on small niches that tend to gain large following of readers, building website traffic, ranking and bringing in sponsorships, etc.

eBay/Auction Sales-
Selling or reselling via online marketplaces like eBay, Craigslist and Amazon auctions.  Many times you can start out with items in your attic, basement or garage, find resellable items at yard sales and flea markets or even use a drop shipping service.

Arts & Crafts
Selling handmade items on websites like Etsy.com can provide baby boomers with a way to turn a loved hobby into cash.

Information Products
Let’s face it, we’ve spent a lot of years working, playing and learning.  Sharing our knowledge via e-books, e-courses, tele-seminars and webinars is a profitable business.  There are always people out there looking to learn those things that we know.

Virtual Assistant
Take those years of executive and administrative assistant experience and provide those same professional services via the Internet. It’s called Virtual Assistance and it’s what I do.  You can focus your services on those items you do best and enjoy the most.

Coaching
Professional coaches work with people and small groups to help them identify and acheive goals as well as overcome challenges in their personal or professional lives. If you’ve always been your friends and collegues go-to person when they needed advice and encouragement you might possess the skills to get paid for your wisdom.

Freelance
Freelancing has been around for a long time, but with the Internet, it’s become easier to find people who need what you offer. With sites like jobs.problogger.net, Guru.com, freelancer.com and more you can match your skills up with those willing to pay for it.

Are you a Baby Boomer taking advantage of the opportunities technology is bringing our way?  Is your business Internet based or using the Internet to increase sales/success?  Share your second career stories in the comment section below or by telling your story in the Boomer Voices section.

Flight of Honor

By Lou Mintzer

One hundred and eighteen very patriotic people went to Washington, D.C. on Saturday, April 10, 2010. They did not go to complain, they did not go to protest the current political situation. They went to be honored for their service to our country and to honor their friends and comrades from World War II. I know they enjoyed their trip and I am also sure most shed a tear or two before the day was over.

The Veterans flew on a chartered USAIR jet. They were accompanied by 49 Guardians, three EMTs, and a couple of doctors. Six Brazilian students, part of a Group Study Exchange, made the trip to witness how we honor our veterans. Every veteran received a badge, a hat and an American flag.

Saturday night, there was a big enthusiastic crowd at the Charlotte Douglas airport to greet them as they returned. People cheered, flags were waving, signs were held up. Family members, friends and supporters kissed and hugged the vets and thanked them for their service as they made their way through the terminal. Tears flowed past the smiles as wives, sons, daughters and grandchildren welcomed their heroes home. My favorite sign said, “Paw Paw, You Are Our Hero!”

Thursday morning, a few days before the flight, I stopped by Richard’s Coffee Shop and Military Museum in Mooresville. The coffee shop is a place where veterans of all ages stop by for coffee, cookies and a chance to talk with friends and other vets. The shop was full and the conversation was lively.

I talked with Len McCutcheon, Army 77^th Infantry and Richard Keenan, Army Air Corps. They went on the flight last year. Len said, “One of the greatest things was when the high school ROTC saluted us and then cheered for us.”

Keenan smiled and shared, “One of the greatest things I ever had was when the crowd cheered and greeted us and shook our hands and thanked us.”

I met George Kalmar and Robert Kabel in the coffee shop. They were both scheduled to make the trip on Saturday and boy, were they excited.

I saw George at the airport Saturday night. “I had a great time, I couldn’t believe how well we were treated,” George said. He continued, ”They told me they would pick me up at 5:30 in the morning so I had to go to bed at 7 because I am on dialysis while I sleep.” George served in the Army Infantry. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” he exclaimed with a big smile.

Mary Foreman, 88, from Mount Ulla, near Mooresville, was a Navy nurse at Pearl Harbor after it was attacked by the Japanese. She was all smiles as she was kissed, hugged and thanked as her wheelchair was rolled through the crowd.

Mrs. Foreman arrived in Hawaii late in 1943 after being recruited by the Navy and cared for the wounded soldiers in Quonset huts, (known as Hospital 128,) across from Hickam Field. She was in Hawaii until the war ended.

She came home and married Benjamin A. Foreman, an Air Force Pilot and Maintenance Officer. Her husband flew in the Berlin Airlift, served in Korea, Japan and Viet Nam. She even lived in Viet Nam with her four children until families were forced to leave. Benjamin retired as a colonel. Her son was a major in the Air Force and he married an Air Force colonel.

She told me, “There was a big reception at the Washington airport. They had a band and hundreds of people greeting us as we came off the plane. Everyone was wonderful.”

One of the highlights of her day, “My best thing was meeting Liddy Dole, she was so gracious. She greeted us at the North Carolina part of the memorial.”

(The Doles are very active and big supporters of the Flight of Honor. Robert is a veteran and was wounded in 1945.)

She continued, “We had lunch at a beautiful park along the Potomac, saw the capital buildings, went down Pennsylvania Avenue. I was really happy to see the Air Force Memorial. Washington was so busy and we were slow getting on and off the bus that I am sure we missed some things. The cherry blossoms were past their peak. But the trip was wonderful.” Mary was teamed up with Paul and George from Mooresville and their guardian was Jeanne Adams.

As I watched the families welcome their heroes, I had a lump in my throat and I missed my father, he died when I was 11. He was a veteran but never got into battle. He lost his hands in a training exercise explosion stateside. He never thought he got to do his part, but I think he did.

The main objective of the Flight of Honor was to give veterans an opportunity to visit the World War II Memorial that was built for them, to honor the 16 million people who served in the armed forces, the more than 400,000 who died, and those who supported the war from home. The monument was dedicated in May of 2004. Over 4 million people visit the memorial every year.

This trip was made possible by the Rotary District 7680. Karen Shore, the President and CEO of the Mooresville South Iredell Chamber is the Governor of District 7680. Shore was at the airport holding the Rotary banner and greeting the veterans. Shore said, “The families are amazed that when the vets return, they are talking and sharing as never before.”  We salute our heroes!

Be sure to check out even more photos of this Flight of Honor event at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Baby-Boomer-News

Revive Your ‘Inner Hippie’

By Julie Higgie, LNWC Habitat Steward

Remember the ecology movement of the 1960’s and early ‘70’s? Remember when young people longed for a simple life of food, co-ops, organic farming and living in harmony with nature?

Of course you do. You’re a Boomer, after all.

But then, what happened? Our idealistic fantasies were abandoned for a shot at the real world of earning wages and raising families.  Well, guess what—your “inner hippie” can again come out to play by creating your own Certified Wildlife Habitat in your very own yard.

Ecology is reincarnated as today’s “Green Movement” and once again folks are focusing on co-ops and organic farming, and thankfully, have added native plants and recycling to the mix of popular—and oftentimes, required—behaviors.

If today’s “sustainable living “ sounds to complicated to tackle, I have a suggestion. Start small by focusing on your own yard to create a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

Also known as Backyard Habitat Certification, this program was founded by the National Wildlife Federation in 1994 to plant the seeds of conservation and to help people realize they can preserve their very own piece of Mother Earth.

A few years ago, the program was changed from a focus on backyards to include businesses, churches, parks and other public areas, and even entire communities. But it’s still the same simple components. And now that the kids are gone and you have all that time on your hands, you can get involved!

A Certified Wildlife Habitat is a place where wildlife can find:

Food: seeds, fruit, insects, nuts flowers| Water: a birdbath, pond, simple (unembellished) water feature, butterly dish, mister, puddles, ditch| Cover: trees, shrubs, wood piles, brush piles, leaves| Places to Raise Young: nesting boxes, trees, shrubs, pond, ditch, rocks

It’s also a place where the landowner uses sustainable gardening practices to maintain those components, such as: Limit use of chemicals-Limit law-grass areas-Compost leaves and plant waste-Favor native plants and trees-Apply mulch to conserve moisture-Now doesn’t that sound easy?

While it might take some work to remove some of your grass—not all of it, I emphasize—and replace it with native shrubs, ground-covering plants and natural materials, you’ll end up spending less time mowing and more time enjoying the butterflies and other wildlife that come to visit.

Also, you will conserve water and discharge fewer fumes into the atmosphere.

Now you can place a comfortable bench in the shade of your native North Carolina Redbud or Flowering Dogwood tree and read “Mother Goose” stories to your grandchildren.

Or, you can add a hot tub to your naturescape and gaze at the stars.

Visit the NWF at www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife to get more tips on attracting wildlife and www.nwf.org/certify to get your Certified Wildlife Habitat application. The low cost of $15 makes you a proud member of the NWF.

While you’re at it, go ahead and buy a yard sign from the federation that proclaims your status to your neighbors. You’ll be doing them and the neighborhood critters a huge favor!

Julie Higgie is a founding member of the Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists, a chapter of NWF’s state affiliate, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, LNWC holds free nature programs 7-8:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month, September through May, at Mooresville Public Library, 304 S. Main St. Contact her at jchiggie@yahoo.com for advice on gardening for wildlife. Visit www.lakenormanwildlife.org for information on LNWC.

You might be surprised.  There’s the Canadian curler Carolyn Darbyshire-McRory who at 46 years old (my age) is the oldest Olympian on the Canadian team.  And before you use the excuse that curling isn’t exactly a sport that requires youthfulness, let me inform you that she isn’t the oldest Olympian competing at the 2010 games.  There is also 51 year old Hubertus von Hohenlohe, the lone Olympian representing Mexico in Alpine Skiing.

And I’d bet that both of these athletes have the same exuberance that the younger set have.  After all, being over 40 didn’t dampen Dara Torres’ excitement about competing in the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.  It also didn’t stop her from bringing home three silver medals.

It’s inspiring for me to see these Boomer aged athletes. It makes me realize that age really is just a number and that dreams are attainable no matter what that number is.  Do you have thoughts on Baby Boomers in the Olympics?  Or are you reaching for dreams?  Share your story with us here in the comments area or through the Boomer Voices section.

I know I’m not alone in my techno-boomer status, because I’ve seen plenty of my contemporaries with iPhones and Blackberries, working on laptops from local coffee shops and sitting in airports with the recognizable white iPod headphones.

But what about you?  What technology have you embraced and what have you rejected?

Are you excited about the iPad or do you see it as just another high priced techno-toy?

Do you depend on techno gadgets?   Are you a Techno-Boomer?  Share your thoughts on the latest techno gadgets right here in the comments section or write your own post about it in the Boomer Voices section.

The unemployment situation is only one contributing factor, as the author points out, and it’s a risk that some can find hard to take. But after reading the examples of baby boomers who have blazed the trail to business ownership, it’s clear that not only can the risk be worth it financially, it can also be fulfilling.

Many of us have had dreams of taking our passions and turning it into a business, but until the current economical crisis began, we really didn’t consider it to be a real option.  After all, most of us were firmly entrenched in steady jobs working for someone else and doing quite well.  We never dreamed the day would come when our jobs would be in jeopardy, or worse, gone.

But with true baby boomer ingenuity many of us (me included) have decided that waiting for the recession to end and jobs to return just wasn’t an option. So we’ve taken the plunge and become entrepreneurs.
And why not?  With all of that experience working for others, we bring a myriad of talents, skills and experience to the table. Amazingly we’ve found that even years of being involved with the PTA and other volunteer activities are helping us to strike off on our own and follow a dream.

Rather than being a detriment, our age is a benefit and many of us are taking advantage of it.

If you’re one of the growing number of Boomerpreneurs we want to hear about you and your business. Consider it a chance to spread the word about your business.
Leave a comment on this post, or write about your entrepreneur adventure in the Boomer Voices section here at your Boomer Community.

“I read your magazine when I got home.  Really enjoyed it.  Keep up the good work.  Two stories hit me.  The first, Woodstock.  I was there.  I was a flower child.  Totally brought me back to the moment.  Also pg 28.  “We are the Baby Boomers”.  Oh, yes we are!!!  I was cheering with that one.  I felt like I was standing on a mountain top saying, “I am a baby boomer and proud of it.  Check me out at 60.  I am not my grandmother!  No housedress, apron and rocking chair for me.  NO THANK YOU.  Although, I certainly honor and admire the woman she was in her time.” Sandi Dickinson

“Recently my wife and I relocated to Huntersville, from snowy Syracuse, for semi-retirement purposes.  Upon our visit to Harris Teeter, in Cornelius yesterday, we were both delighted to first see  your magazine in the rack at that store.  In Syracuse we were regular readers of the 50Plus Magazine which is a Central NY Publication that many people look forward to on a monthly basis.  After we both consumed your publication we both feel that void is now filled.  Many useful articles as well as an ad for something we want to do this weekend (The Festival at Latta Plantation).  Thanks much for making us both feel  more at home.” Joe Starociak

“Congratulations on your first issue! This is great what you are doing, and I look forward to contributing in some way, especially for those of us who are parents of young adults and wondering how to do this well…

How can I get a hardcopy of the print magazine if I am in New England?” Susan Alle

The non-governmental organization isn’t requiring one to be retired in order to enjoy their benefits, just stating that one needs to be over 50 years old now.  And it’s not just financial, health and educational services that they’re offering their over 40 million members, now they’re inviting them to come to Vegas.
From October 22 through the 24th the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada will be hosting Boomers for the AARP’s  “Vegas @50+, The 2009 National Event and Expo” proving that Vegas is for the over 50 crowd too.
AARP touts the event as three days and nights of celebrity speakers, informative panels, exhibitors and concerts, covering topics from lifestyle and health care to sexuality, midlife dating and careers.

And don’t worry, if you can’t make it Vegas you can still get lots of great information on a wide variety of topics relating to Baby Boomers from The Baby Boomer News magazine.  All without making the trip to Nevada.