I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to have been a child star in movies or in the music business and then age…and age some more. Imagine getting such a famous start early in life and having a huge fan base following you around not wanting you to get wrinkles or have …
One thing aging has taught me for sure: When people share a piece of themselves with me, they don’t want me to offer my take on their lives. Most often, they want me to shut up and listen and, at best, nod in an affirmative fashion. I’m not good at this, because I always …
For most of my life I had a notion I needed to look busy. I know that sounds silly, but whether I was on the job or just playing my way through the weekend, there was this inner voice telling me to act as if I was doing a whole bunch of stuff. When I …
My wife, Sherry, is asleep the moment her head hits the pillow, and she hops out of bed full of vitality early the next morning. It’s irritating for me to witness. When I’m in a combative mood, I do subtle moves to break her of this habit. I have a bedroom reading lamp with …
My best friend and mentor of all time was Frank Tate, a professor I had in college. I worked for him for years after struggling my way through college, and later in his life, he worked for me. When you know a great man or woman, it’s good to ask yourself why this person is …
I’ve gotten out of bed on my own over 26,000 times. It’s only recently that I’ve been wondering whether I do it right. I instituted a new wake-up system recently. I’m not at the point of personally recommending it to anyone, but I believe it’s made a difference in my …
One of the tough things about getting old is that some of my best friends and family have died off, many times giving me no advance notice. It’s not as if my brother, Eddie, who died on Christmas day of 2010, passed on to someone else our early boyhood adventures. When I was …
They have so much time, these old folks. They stroll their grocery carts down the middle of the narrow aisle in the frozen food section looking for nothing in particular. These old folks wait to locate their purse or wallet only after the checker has totaled and bagged their …
For 30 years, my dogs have made me feel important. Often, I’ve had three at a time. All of them have always been thrilled to see me, even when I’m in a bad mood. People who are not fond of dogs tell me they only act that way because I feed them. I tell them …
Maybe I’m not like most people, but seeking out the little joys of each day did not cross my mind until I was well into my fifties. Too much buzz was taking place before then. Much of my early years can best be described as being in survival mode—just hanging onto whatever …
