The Generation Above Me

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Still Here: Book Review

Published June 1, 2000.

When I was in my early 40s, I hit the wall after being very achievement oriented. I started practicing yoga and reading zen Buddhist meditations.

During my quest, someone suggested that I read Be Here Now (1971) by Ram Dass. While it was a bit "far out" for me, I did appreciate his alternative views on reality and his focus on consciousness.

The year I turned 50, I discovered his documentary Fierce Grace (2001), which describes the insights he gained and after suffering a stroke in his mid 60s.

Even though a related book was published before his documentary, it took me a few years before I read: Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing, and Dying. (2000).

Diverticulosis & Diverticulitis

Photo by kevinv033.

Until I turned 50, I had never heard the following words:

diverticula
diverticulosis
diverticulitis

Now I have have friends and family members with direct experience with these phenomena of bulging sacs in the intestinal tract.

Risk factors include age, constipation, and a low-fiber diet.

Note: I am not a doctor. If you have any health concerns, please see a licensed medical professional.

Beginners: Film Review

Released in the US 3 June 2011

Beginners (2010) is a quirky family dramedy, starring Ewan McGregor, who plays Oliver Fields, a 38-year-old graphic artist trying to overcome his grief of losing his mother and then responding to his widower father coming out as gay.

Christopher Plummer earned an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor (and several other awards) for his role as Oliver's father, Hal.

I loved everything about this movie: the characters, the themes, the editing, the screenplay, the setting. It was lovely. Oh, and the dog, Arthur, will steal your heart.

It took me a while to select it from my queue of over 160 films about aging. But last night it popped up on THREE categories of recommended films--Independents, Quirky Romances & Critics' Picks. So I caved and watched it.

Delightful!

This film is based on director/screenplay writer Mike Mills' own experience. Like Oliver, Mills' dad coming out as gay shortly after his wife dies of cancer.

In the present, Oliver meets Anna, a French actress played by Mélanie Laurent. His relationship with her is interrupted by two sets of flashbacks.

Happy 3rd Blogoversary to TGAM

Photo by Martin Fisch.

Today marks three years since the launch of this blog, The Generation Above Me.

Here are a few posts of interest:

Why This Blog?

Happy 1st Blogoversary.

Happy 2nd Blogoversary.

Over the last year, I wrote more about bone health, insomnia, and spirituality. I read and reviewed over 30 books on aging. I also continued to watch a lot of films about aging.

Last week, I noted which posts written in 2014 were most viewed. But here is a list of the All-Time Top 10 Posts.