Boomer Magazine: February 0220
I just turned 65. It sounds so much older than 64. I guess because it’s associated more with Medicare, Social Security, and retirement. Not that those are bad things, but they are always “old people’s things.” I need to change my perspective on 65—yes, I know it’s just a number, but it’s still a milestone, and people 65 and older are perceived a bit differently. Luckily, no one has yet said “Ok, boomer” to me. I do find that there are concerns I need to think about more than I did even just a couple of years ago. And this issue of Boomer covers many of the things that keep me up at night. My husband just turned 70, and although he’s as healthy as can be, I do think about mortality. Luckily for us, our mothers are both still alive and active—both in their 90s—so that bodes well for us. But if you have suffered the loss of a spouse, you know there are many stages of grief that you navigate. Everyone is different and although there’s no right or wrong way to deal with grief, we do offer some guidance (page 41). If you are going through the loss of a spouse, I do hope some of the info on these pages help you to cope and take comfort. Something else much less sad but still keeping me up at night is the subject of hair loss. I have been losing hair lately, and it’s extremely concerning as it can be a symptom of an underlying medical issue. Read the causes and some treatments in “Hair Loss 101” on page 26. I learned that I need to talk to my dermatologist! I may have to add another treatment to my regimen of serums, facials, and Botox! I am 65, but I don’t have to look 65 (is 65 the new 45?). Vanity is my middle name and although people say I should embrace my wrinkles because I’ve earned them, um, no. There’s Super Bowl Sunday (for you football fans) and Valentine’s Day (for you romantics) to enjoy this month. Even though it’s our shortest month, it’s a leap year, so we get an extra Saturday in February. There’s lots to do this month, so get reading….then get going!
I just turned 65. It sounds so much older than 64. I guess because it’s associated more with Medicare, Social Security, and retirement. Not that those are bad things, but they are always “old people’s things.” I need to change my perspective on 65—yes, I know it’s just a number, but it’s still a milestone, and people 65 and older are perceived a bit differently. Luckily, no one has yet said “Ok, boomer” to me. I do find that there are concerns I need to think about more than I did even just a couple of years ago. And this issue of Boomer covers many of the things that keep me up at night. My husband just turned 70, and although he’s as healthy as can be, I do think about mortality. Luckily for us, our mothers are both still alive and active—both in their 90s—so that bodes well for us. But if you have suffered the loss of a spouse, you know there are many stages of grief that you navigate. Everyone is different and although there’s no right or wrong way to deal with grief, we do offer some guidance (page 41). If you are going through the loss of a spouse, I do hope some of the info on these pages help you to cope and take comfort.
Something else much less sad but still keeping me up at night is the subject of hair loss. I have been losing hair lately, and it’s extremely concerning as it can be a symptom of an underlying medical issue. Read the causes and some treatments in “Hair Loss 101” on page 26. I learned that I need to talk to my dermatologist! I may have to add another treatment to my regimen of serums, facials, and Botox! I am 65, but I don’t have to look 65 (is 65 the new 45?). Vanity is my middle name and although people say I should embrace my wrinkles because I’ve earned them, um, no.
There’s Super Bowl Sunday (for you football fans) and Valentine’s Day (for you romantics) to enjoy this month. Even though it’s our shortest month, it’s a leap year, so we get an extra Saturday in February. There’s lots to do this month, so get reading….then get going!
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Day 6: Luxembourg<br />
We docked in Trier overnight and<br />
decided that on our second day there<br />
we would do the day trip to Luxembourg<br />
City. Our first stop on our short trip, via<br />
Crystal Luxury Bus, was the American<br />
Military Cemetery. When we arrived we<br />
instantly recognized that we were on<br />
hallowed ground. Seeing the rows and<br />
rows of white crosses, where our men<br />
are buried, most from the Battle of the<br />
Bulge, brought up so many emotions<br />
and an overall sense of pride. However,<br />
we couldn’t help but see that one grave<br />
was set apart, although we could not<br />
see the name as the ground was too wet<br />
to walk upon. We asked the tour guide<br />
and I was taken aback when told it was<br />
General George S. Patton. We were then<br />
off to Luxembourg City where we toured<br />
and enjoyed lunch on the square. The old<br />
battlements were a sight to see and the<br />
views from the city to the valleys around<br />
it were spectacular.<br />
General George S. Patton Tombstone<br />
Day 7: Cochem<br />
This was our second time<br />
in Cochem, and it had<br />
to be one of the most<br />
picturesque places on<br />
the Rhine. We toured the<br />
city, dined, and visited<br />
the Reichsburg Castle—<br />
nestled above town on<br />
a hill and filled with lore<br />
and antiques, secret<br />
passageways, and more.<br />
Cochem Castle<br />
Beethoven's Memorial<br />
Beethoven's<br />
Backyard<br />
Day 8: Bonn<br />
This may have been our favorite city in Germany. Bonn is a college town,<br />
quite modern, but with many historic buildings and Roman structures<br />
dating back to the first century B.C. It was also the capital of West<br />
Germany and then the reunited Germany until 1999. Our tour took us<br />
through the college area, shopping district, and to the highlight of our<br />
day: the childhood home of Beethoven.<br />
Nijmegen<br />
Day 9: Nijmegen, Netherlands<br />
I was fortunate enough to get the last spot on<br />
this day’s excursion to the WWII museum here,<br />
where we were able to sit through a lecture by a<br />
local man who was eight when the German army<br />
invaded the area. The stories were, as you can<br />
imagine, riveting, sad, and ultimately triumphant<br />
(the town was liberated by American British<br />
Troops in September 1944). What stood out<br />
was the reverence all the people we met in the<br />
Netherlands have for Americans. As our lecturer<br />
said to all of us of “allied” descent: “Thank you to<br />
your parents and grandparents—you saved our<br />
lives.”<br />
All photos by Terry Carroll.<br />
50 Sac<strong>Boomer</strong>.com | <strong>February</strong> 2020
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