"Fabulous after Fifty™" is the Syndicated On-Line Weekly Column by Shirley W. Mitchell, a National Author/Writer/Syndicated Columnist/Speaker and Celebrity Radio Talk Show Host, also known as "The Golden Egg of Aging™" -  View some of the most inspirational and motivational articles on aging, baby boomers, seniors, senior lifestyles, health, diet, exercise, business, women's and men's issues, specific topic articles, poems, writings, recipes, area news, and special people. Shirley W. Mitchell's "Passion" for encouraging Aging people is both Contagious and Intense! We have the Ability to Change Aging History with our "Pulse" & "Faith". To Teach. To Educate. To Transform. If you enjoy the Articles posted here, you will certainly enjoy my Column Articles within  "Senior Lifestyle Magazine". "Fabulous after Fifty™" is fashioned after her "Lace Over Steel™" and "Fabulous after Fifty™" Weekly Newspaper Columns that appeared in the Sand Mountain Reporter of Albertville, Alabama. We want to thank the newspaper and all our readers for their support over the past 25+ years Ms. Mitchell's Column was printed. We inspire to bring more Style and Enthusiasm to it in the future.

Jan. 6, 2000

Jan. 6, 2000 - Cultures Across The Globe Welcome Great But Problem-Free New Year © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous After Fifty™ The human spirit rose to the occasion again as the world celebrated the birth of 2000 without any major problems. Much preparation went into this great event. A new year, a new century, a new millennium and all is well. Yes, Y2K starts A-OK. I watched television as a Maori greeted the first rise of the new millennium. As the year 2000 emerged around the globe, it proved to be euphoric for me to watch the towering inferno as the millions of lights were ignited for New Year's, and Barbara Walters helped the French welcome in the next century. I visited the Eiffel Tower last spring, which made this celebration feel fresh. What a wonderful experience using modern technology to go, by way of television, to Greenwich, England, "home of the Prime Meridian" of longitude, as the 21st Century began. Listening to Big Ben chime midnight in England and watching the fireworks display along River Thames made me homesick for our homeland. And, oh, how superb to watch the huge, bright, crystal ball drop in Times Square, New York, shouting Y2K has airrived without major problems. The brilliant blaze of light ignited the American spirit. Life goes on into a blessed future, marching forward making the world better for the people who will celebrate the year 3000. The mind-boggling celebration, saying goodbye to the 20th Century and welcoming the 21st Century, will be an awe-inspiring memory for life. Happy New Year!

Jan. 20, 2000

Jan. 20, 2000 - Healthy People Age With Style And Zeal © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous After Fifty™ With the dawn of the new millennium we rejoice in its bliss, not it's doom. The year 2000 stands as a milestone of human progress. We have experienced great changes as Alexander Graham Bell gave us the telephone, Ford the car and Thomas Edison lit up our lives. It's exciting to look into the future with hope as we anticipate creating a rich and fruitful society. As the famous ball dropped in Times Square, N.Y., we all sighed a sigh a relief. The most dramatic event of the New Year being the resignation of Russian President Boris Yeltsin, Dec. 31, 1999. My own feeling being, as the world watched breathlessly as the new millennium went around the world, a thread of connection of a people united us. We are human. We all want to live a good life. A life of balance somewhere between boredom and caos. Now we have the challenge to live the future minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day. I wish for you, invigorating work, something to look forward to and someone to love. During 1996, the leading edge of the baby boomers began to reach 50. We will be riding the tide of the "Age Wave" into the new millennium. It's the greatest time in history to age. Attention will be focused on making aging a better stage to life. Healthy agers will age with positive power, style and zeal. Happy new century!

Jan. 27, 2000

Jan. 27, 2000 - Aging America Is Life In Progress © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous After Fifty™ I like to think of aging America as life in progress. This life is an on-going life with dreams and aspirations. To dream is to pull yourself up out of the mundane of life and float like colorful balloons into the universe of possibilities. Moving toward your goals and following your bliss allows you to get into the flow. Flow is the mental state you find yourself experiencing when you are totally absorbed in something you enjoy. As a child, I remember chasing and catching fireflies and putting them in a covered glass jar to watch their tails glow. My brother, cousins and I would run, laugh and catch fireflies (not noticing that twilight had turned into total darkness, or the temperature had dropped or that it was time to eat supper). We were experiencing a happy time of timelessness, exhilaration and flow. Singer, actress, director and producer Barbra Streisand won the 2000 Cecil D. DeMille Lifetime Golden Globe Award for excellence in the entertainment field. She followed her bliss and dreams to get into a flow of life that has been extremely rewarding. "When you hit your 50's, being comfortable with your self maturing and getting a little bit wiser, you're not afraid of being who you are," Barbara said in the book, "Fifty on fity." One secret of enjoying the aging life is to get into your flow of life. With maturity comes the courage to look inside yourself and understand your own flow. This life is a life in progress. It does not stop when you pass the half century mark.

Feb. 3, 2000

Feb. 3, 2000 - Look Into The Life Of A Hero © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous After Fifty™ "I'd rather burn out than rust out," declared John Glenn. A successful orbit around the earth aboard Discovery, at age 77, with no ill effects, defines this veteran astronaut as a role model for us all. What better person to be on the cutting edge of learning more about aging with vigor, power and style than our American icon and hero, John Glenn. A man of great faith and family background, he shows his personal persistence as he continues to make his life full and exciting into senior adulthood. Glenn riveted the nation with his courage as a participant in the experimental voyage of Discovery, rekindling a renewed interest in space travel and a new image of aging. We are experiencing a unique moment of American history. The senior boom, the birth dearth and the aging baby boomers are creating a diverse group of 50-plus, numbering over 140 million. In our past history, many elderly people have been seen as becoming frail, non-productive or someone to joke about. Such as the commercial with Clara Peller asking, "Where's the beef?" As we zoom into the new millennium, the older group is recognized as having the highest discretionary income and holds more than 77 percent of the nation's assets. The new elders may have the last laugh. Ira Stolzer, director of advertising at Hallmark Cards, said, "The millions of Americans who are over 50 years old are a very important group of us.... They love to commuicate and more important they love to celebrate life occasions." With John Glenn, we celebrate life. His new book "John Glenn: A Memoir," would be a great, encouraging read for the cold winter evenings. Especially reading in your favorite chair in front of an open fire. This autobiography spans the event of the 20th century as it peeks into the life of our hero.

Feb. 10, 2000

Feb. 10, 2000 - Early Valentine's Day Special Celebrations Focus On Love © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous After Fifty™ The celebration of Valentine's Day is special because we focus on love. Valentine's Day, originally celebrated by the church in Rome, is today a great day for affectionate exchange between lovers, friends and family. Love is patient and kind...is not jealous or boastful...arrogant or rude...Love does not insist on it's own way; it is not irritable or resentful...does not rejoice at wrong...Love bears all things, believes all things, endures all things...Love never ends. I Corinthians 13 I like to tell the story of how love changed Elizabeth Barrett Browning from a sickly middle-aged invalid to a growing, blossoming woman. Elizabeth grew up under the dictation of an oppressive, negative, controlling father. She became ill and spent most of her time in bed until her biological clock reached 40. She met Robert Browning who saw her as a beautiful, talented spirit ready to bloom. He loved her with all his heart and gave her constant attention, encouraging her to be herself. She changed into a beautiful woman. They were married and had a happy, full life. The story of Elizabeth and Robert Browning exemplifies the fact that "the way you see people is the way you treat them, and the way you treat them is what they become." Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote this love poem to her Valentine, Robert Browning. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints - I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! - ; and if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.

Mar. 9, 2000

Mar. 9, 2000 - Steps Give Ways To Achieve Happiness In The New Millennium © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous After Fifty™ The following are little ways to feel happier in the new millennium: • Count your blessings. After Oprah Winfrey read "Simple Abundance" by Sarah Ban Breathnach, she found the prettiest little blank book she could find and writes down five blessings each day. She said, "Being grateful for the moment increases your own abundance." • Laugh. Laughter is a stress buster. It lifts the spirits and the face by giving a person a cheerful heart. People who laugh, last. • Smile. Radio announcers make themselves sound cheerful by smiling when they talk. Researchers have found that when we turn our mouths up, our spirits go up. • Be exuberant. I watched Roberto Benigni gush with enthusiasm as he walked over the shoulders of people seated in front of him to get to the stage for the acceptance of his Oscar for his movie "Life is Beautiful." Experts prove people who freely express happy emotions are the happiest people. • Have the mental attitude: Life is beautiful. A positive outlook on life, gives life a rose colored glow. • Seen the movie "Patch Adams" with Robin Williams. Williams said, "Laughter is the best medicine." • Give yourself an endorphin rush. Do whatever you like to make yourself gleeful. • Challenge yourself. Meeting a challenge with success gives you an adrenaline boost. • Discover the fountain of youth. Believe your aging is a building dance of intrigue and new horizons. • Play with your grandchildren. If you don't have grandchildren, borrow one. • Exercise. Respark and rekindle fire for life. • Eat 55 mg of the mineral selenium, a mood lifter found in Brazil nuts, chicken, seafood and whole grains. Eat smart all day. • Realize you're never too old. The famous painter, Grandma Moses, started painting when she was 80 years old. She painted 25 percent famous paintings after becoming a centenarian. • "The happiest period of life most frequently is in middle age when the eager passions of youth are cooled, and the infirmities of age not yet begun; as we see that the shadows, which are at morning and evening so large, almost entirely disappear at midday." Thomas Arnold • Aging is a towering experience. Mid-life can be the years that crackle with excitement and adventure. • Each new day is a new life. Fill it with zip. • Be joyful. "Your success and happiness lie within you. External conditions are the accidents of life, its outer wrappings. The great, enduring realities are love and service. Joy is the Holy fire. • Have faith. Jesus said, "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10 KJV

Apr. 13, 2000

Apr. 13, 2000 - Age Is Work Of Art © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous After Fifty™ Returning home on 1-65 North, from the Ms. Senior Alabama pageant in Mobile, two shiny antique cars passed me. Evidently they were returning from an antique car show. They were polished for competition. The bright orange one and the white and blue car looked as stylish as the white 2000 Lexus following them. The theme song of the Ms. Senior Alabama pageant, "Everything Old is New Again," filled my mind. Gayle M. Hester, crowned Ms. Senior Alabama 2000, certainly exemplified "everything old is new again." Representing Etowah County, she brought the house down with her talent. Strolling onto the stage looking old with an old bathrobe wrapped around her, she gave a depressing monologue on aging. Then the mood changed: The voice of Elvis Presley and his "Old Tune Rock and Roll" filled the air waves of the auditorium. Hester threw off that old robe, revealing a new, exciting costume. She danced to the music, moving like a 16-year-old girl. Our new reigning Ms. Senior Alabama, a cancer survivor, works with breast cancer patients and with victims of domestic abuse. She is also a Living with Arthritis volunteer. Now retired, Hester has worked as a receptionist at the Cerebral Palsy Center. She is a member of the Spice of Life Club and the Golden Age Club. She is a Special Olympics Hugger. She was crowned by Ms. Senior Alabama 1999, Annie Blevins McCray. McCray blessed many with her outstanding music throughout the year. Ms. Senior Alabama Inc., was founded in 1985 by an advocate for older women, Sarah Stephens, with the hope that through the organization, older women in Alabama would benefit from having the opportunity to demonstrate their wisdom, beauty and talent. She envisioned Ms. Senior Alabama as a vehicle for advocacy for older women. Thank you, Marshall County, for allowing me to represent you. Also, thanks to all the sponsors, friends and family who supported me. I received a trophy for the most stunning smile. Thanks again, Marshall County. "Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art." (Garson Kanin)

Apr. 20, 2000

Apr. 20, 2000 - Seniors Participate In The 'Dance Of Change' © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Fabulous After Fifty™ Do you remember when a web site was a spider's home? You are considered the older generation if you first think of a rodent when you hear the word mouse. If you told me 20 years ago that I would write this column to you with my hand on a mouse, I would have thought you were from the planet Mars. How amazing that our great postal service is now called "snail mail." My granddaughters from Cincinnati, Ohio, would rather chat via e-mail. When I was a child, RAM referred to a male sheep, and a "byte" left teeth prints. Memory was what grandma had lost. Grandchildren handle the computer with great ease while we struggle with it. Come surf with me the crest of the "Age Wave," into the "Age Age," which is the beach of longevity and creative change. Aging is constant change like shifting shadows. The shades of change can be exciting, magic and fruitful as we focus on the positive side of change. Age may become a building dance of intrigue and new horizons. Grandchildren enjoy teaching grandparents the computer. Also, computer classes are available. Learning the computer is certainly a challenging adventure. The kaleidoscope of change brings on new vitality. Jesus said in the "Living Bible," John 10:10, "....my purpose is to give life, in all its fullness."

May 4, 2000

May 4, 2000 - Leaders Of Field Of Aging Follow The Path Of The Eagle © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous After Fifty™ When God made the oyster, he guaranteed him absolute economic and social security. He built the oyster a house - a shell - to protect him from his enemies. When hungry, the oyster simply opens his shell and food rushes in. He has no worries. He does not fight anyone. He does not go anywhere. When God made the eagle, he gave him the sky as his domain. The eagle then nested on the highest crag. Storms threaten every day. For food, he flies through miles of rain, snow, sleet and wind. He screams his defiance at the elements. He goes about his own business, building his own life. When he is aroused, he is a vicious foe to his enemies. The eagle, not the oyster, is the symbol of America. The continental Congress adopted the bald eagle as the central figure of the Great Seal of the USA, June 20, 1782. The eagle, king of birds, is a perfect symbol of beauty, strength, authority and freedom. Many leaders in the field of aging are following the path of the eagle with hard work and persistence, giving hope to aging people of a longer, better life. Dr. Ken Dychtwald is widely viewed as the nation's foremost visionary on the aging of America. He has been honored with the American Society on Aging award for outstanding leadership in the field. Ten years ago, I heard Dychtwald speak. He planted in my mind the desire to write this column, Fabulous After 50. Enjoying doing research for this column, I have written a book, "Fabulous After 50," which will be on the market July 10. New Leaf Press of Green Forest, Ark., will launch the book at the Christian Booksellers Association July 10 in New Orleans.

May 11, 2000

May 11, 2000 - Fight Aging Fears With Positive Attitude © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous After Fifty™ Two thirds of all the people who have ever lived to age 65 are alive today. We are in the heart of the Senior Boom and the aging of the Baby Boomer. Isaiah tells us in the Bible, "And even to your old age, I am He; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you." Life is not all about counting the years but making your years count. Staying light mentally and physically certainly is an aging positive. William James, the 18th century philosopher, said, "It is the attitude at the beginning of a difficult undertaking which, more than anything else, will determine its successful outcome." Whatever our place in the middle-age race, it is never too late to face our fears about aging in order to embrace a positive attitude and make the most of every day. Aging is no longer considered a time in life to fight against or to fear. Aging is a natural growth process, one that with medical and social advances is lengthening and improving. In addition, fear is not of God. God gives us a spirit of power, love and sound mind, not fear (2 Tim.1:7) When we are full of love, power and a sound mind, there is no room for fear. The Rev. Peter Lord, author and pastor, believes, "Fear is the darkroom where negatives are developed." Fight fear with living water... When age bumps into our youth, drowning us in fears, our mental agenda, affirming will be forever young, empowers us. Jesus Christ unlocks the secret of youth when He invites us to drink of the fountain of living water. He says, "If any (one) is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. (Anyone) who believes in Me, as the scripture said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.'" (John 7:37, 38) Fight fear by living the moment... Father Time and Mother Nature do not sentence us to old age. Living old is a choice; and so is living young. The attitude that each new day is a special gift will keep us sipping from the fountain of youth. Baby Boomers are part of the "carpe diem" generation, seizing the day. Fight fear with laughter... If you laugh...you last! A positive, youthful mindset helps us lighten up, and lightens the load we haul around with us. Spontaneous humor invading our living gives life spice. Laughter is a stress buster and lifts both spirits and the face. Laughter juices the chemical endorphins in the brain that make us feel euphoric.

May 18, 2000

May 18, 2000 - Life Holds Opportunities For A Clean Slate © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ Aging is inevitable. As we age, it is possible to sparkle like a jewel in the sun. With the proper mind set, positive attitude, practice of personal excellence and transcendent faith, we'll become brighter. The marriage of experience and mature faith gives us the opportunity to enjoy a rich older life. Trusting God is the key to ageless living. In times of insecurity and fear, such as the aging process, I know I must trust God. Don't allow the "Old Person Syndrome" to make you a shadow of the person you are or could become. Some of our best and brightest people, though the past half-century mark in years, climbing the ladder of success in the world and the stairmaster at the gym. This is the time to be bold, self-assured, powered, socially and politily aware. Viewing this time in our lives as a renewal is one way. Life is a series of renewals. Each morning opens the door on a fresh, just-born day. I take the gift of each sunrise as a new beginning, a time for God to renew me. Birthdays, too, can be renewals, offering the chance to start fresh, with a clean slate; to revamp, to choose new areas of  growth and exploration. Remember sweet sixteen? As the teenager receiving that driver's license, the world is bright and new and made just for you. A further  milestone along the lifeline is graduation, which opens door after door to new starts: career, marriage and family. This is why Gail Sheehy calls mid-life a "second adulthood," in her book "New Passages," mapping your life across time. Middle age is another time of renewal in life, a season that may lead us to different activities, higher goals and deeper relationships. (Excerpts from Shirley W. Mitchell's upcoming book, "Fabulous After 50")

Jun. 29, 2000

Jun. 29, 2000 - Fabulous After 50 Are In Vogue © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous After Fifty™ "With almost 80 million baby boomers riding the 'Age Wave' into maturity, aging well suddenly has become a major focus in our society. I'm pleased that 'Fabulous After 50' boldly speaks to this generation. Well Done." - Dr. Ken Dychtwald, president and founder of Age Wave, LLC. This is a blurb on the cover of my book, "Fabulous After 50," being released July 2000 at the Christian Booksellers Association in New Orleans. Dr. Dychtwald's endorsement of "Fabulous After 50" is certainly an indication that 50-something is in vogue. It is a fact 50-something people are living longer and better. Dr. Michael F. Roizen wrote the book, "Real Age." He says it is not how many years you have lived but the rate your cardiovascular and immune systems declined. Healthy 50-something people are enjoying a good quality life more than ever before in history. For some, it is a pausal time in life to do things of enjoyment. Others are climbing the ladder success and the stairmaster at the gym. With all the new breakthroughs in the science field, it is awesome to be beginning the new millenium and be 50-something.

Jul. 20, 2000

Jul. 20, 2000 - Mid-life Years Crackle With Adventure, Excitement © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous After Fifty™ Life is certainly crackling with adventure and excitement for this author. Launching my new book, "Fabulous After 50," at the Christian Booksellers Association in New-Orleans proved to be a fabulous experience. "Probably the happiest period in life most frequently is "in middle age, when the eager passions of, youth are cooled, and infirmities of age not yet begun; as we see that the shadows, which at morning and evening so large, almost entirely disappear at midday." - Thomas Arnold Mid-life could be compared with noon. Stand in the sun at noon. There is almost no shadow. However, if you stand in the sun during early morning, or late evening, your shadow is long. Mid-life has the feeling of noon. Less shadow than youth of growth or end-of-life frailty. God empowers us to add life and quality to our years. Gravity, sun and time wrinkle skin. Depression, worry, a broken spirit and failure to dream can wrinkle the soul, but being torch bearers into the millennium makes mid-lifers experience a life that crackles with adventure and excitement. Life is a series of renewals. Middle age is one of the times of renewal. This pausal time may lead you to different activities, higher goals and deeper relationships Dr. Ken Dychtwald, president and CEO of the "Age Wave," has pioneered today's concept of aging. He said, "I've spent the last 25 years studying aging and older people... When I got involved in the aging field, it was primarily concerned with the sorrows and woes of aging. And while the concern among the professionals in my field was real and important, it seemed to me that by primarily focusing on the difficulties of aging - the terrible problems and enfeeblements that later years may bring - we were not hearing from the other voice, the voice of a more positive aging. There are people in this country growing old well - with vigor, power, style, an interest in living fully and being a part of the American marketplace." Everyone faces aging. As you age, it is possible for you to become like a jewel in the sun. If you age with the proper mind set, positive attitude, practice of personal excellence and transcendent faith, you'll become brighter. The marriage of experience and mature faith gives you the opportunity to enjoy a rich older life.

Jul. 27, 2000

Jul. 27, 2000 - Dare To Dream Big © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous After Fifty™ One of our greatest challenges as human beings is to live life without regret. Now is a chance to re-think the future, to listen to that still, small voice within which has, from time to time, whispered a dream to your heart. Is there a rustling in your soul, urging, "There's something more?" What might some of those long-buried dreams be? Age is no barrier to either dreaming or to achieving. Countless models have shown us the way. Peter Mark Roget was first a doctor in the 1800s; only after retirement at the age 61 did he begin to work on his "Thesaurus." It took him 12 years; little did he know that his 'little tool" would survive into the next millennium! Grandma Moses started painting at age 80. She created 25 percent of her famous paintings as a centenarian. Michelangelo did some of best painting when past 80. Goethe wrote when past 80. Edison was still inventing creative architect; Shaw was still writing plays at 90. Furthermore, hardship is no inhibitor of dreaming and achievement: "When a man is determined, what can stop him? Cripple him, and you have a Sir Walter Scott. Put him in a prison cell, and you have a John Bunyan. Bury him in the snows of Valley Forge, and you have a George Washington. Have him born in object poverty, and you have a Lincoln. Put him in a grease pit of a locomotive roundhouse, and you have a Walter P. Chrysler. Make him second fiddle in an obscure South African orchestra, and you have a Tosscanni. The hardships of life are sent not...to crush, but to challenge." So what dreams might be tugging at the sleeve of your heart right now? Jan Karon, who did not even graduate from high school, faced her dreams after working her way up in an advertising firm. She quit her job in her 40s and wrote her books - and is now the best-selling author of the Midford series. Perhaps your dream list looks like a different job or further schooling, selling the farm (or buying a farm?), starting your own business, backpacking in the Andes, learning to dance, to swim or speak a different language. Interestingly enough, this benefits our health as well. "Our bodies are designed to function best when we're involved in activities and work that feel exactly right to us. Our health is enhanced when we engage in deeply creative work that is satisfying to us - not just because it pleases our boss, husband or mother. This work can range from gardening to computer programming to welding. Whatever items compose your list, be done with the excuses. We can no longer blame our past, our parents or our imperfections. It's time to stop simmering and start cooking! (Excerpt from 'Fabulous After 50' by Shirley W. Mitchell)

Aug. 31, 2000

Aug. 31, 2000 - Superman's Accident Serves As A Source Of Encouragement © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ We know actor Christopher Reeve as Superman. We remember his strength, force for good and ability to fly and soar over problems. What a shock when the reports were on the news of his accident - falling from his horse during a riding show, landing on his head, breaking his spinal cord. He is now paralyzed from his neck down. He tells reporters, "each morning when I wake up I need 20 minutes to cry. Then he tells himself "And now, forward!" Christopher Reeve is a hero, in spite of his limitations, he speaks to groups all over the nation encouraging and motivating. He portrays incredible strength and optimism. He believes he will walk again. He spoke to the commencement at Boston University, May 1997. He challenged the graduates to "show us the cures." He recently directed the HBO film, "In the"Gloaming," staring Glenn Close, Bridget Fonda, and Whoopi Goldberg. Reeves was asked his biggest goal in life. He responded, "to hug my son." On the Web, Christopher Reeve was awarded The Courage to Be Free Award. "He creates his own freedom to be truly alive. Christopher has found the Superman within and we celebrate his courage to be free." When age brings frailty of body to aging people, Christopher Reeve is an excellent role model. He has learned to step beyond his limitations into a life that knows no limits. His indomitable spirit is not damaged. Our spirit is ageless. The Geddes and Company sponsoring the role model on the Web, quote Christopher Reeve concerning heroes. "When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked 'What is a hero?' I remember the glib response I repeated so many times. My answer was that a hero is someone who commits a courageous action without considering the consequences - a soldier who crawls out of a foxhole to drag an injured buddy to safety. And I also meant individuals who are slightly larger than life: Houdini and Lindbergh, John Wayne, JFK, and Joe DiMaggio. Now my definition is completely different. I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." As we age we may draw courage from Superman's eureka moment, The Courage to Be Free.

Sept. 21, 2000

Sept. 21, 2000 - Grandmas Fill Some Very Big Shoes © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous After Fifty™ Grandma Shoes When I was very little All the Grandmas that I knew Were wearing the same kind Of ugly Grandma shoes. You know the kind I mean... Clunky heeled, black, lace-up kind, They just looked so very awful That it weighed upon my mind. For I knew, when I grew old, I'd have to wear those shoes. I'd think of that, from time It seemed like such bad news. I never was a rebel. I wore saddle shoes to school, And next came ballerinas Then the sandals, pretty cool. And then came spikes with pointed toes Then platforms, very tall, As each new fashion came along, I wore them, one and all. But always, in the distance, Looming in my future, there Was that awful pair of ugly shoes, The  kind  that  Grandmas wear. I eventually got married And then I became a Mom. Our kids grew up and left And when their children came along, I knew I was a Grandma And the time was drawing near When those clunky, black, old lace-up shoes Was what I'd have to wear. How would I do my gardening Or take my morning hike? I couldn't even think about How I would ride a bike! But fashions kept evolving And one day I realized That the shape of things to come Was changing right before my eyes. And now, when I go shopping What I see fills me with glee For in my jeans and Reeboks I'm as comfy as can be. And I look at all these little girls And there upon their feet Are clunky, black old Grandma shoes, And they really think that's neat. This poem was copied - author unknown.

Nov. 2, 2000

Nov. 2, 2000 - Necessity Is The Mother Of New Inventions © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous After Fifty™ Beginning the month of November our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and being thankful. May I share with you a couple of recipes you might like to try. 'Being a cool fall morning, I cooked myself old-fashioned oatmeal for breakfast. The steam and aroma filled my nostrils and caused my mouth to salivate. I walked to the refrigerator for milk as I anticipated my tasteful breakfast. To my disappointment I did not have one ounce of milk. Then I noticed the chocolate milk the grandchildren bought over that weekend. I put chocolate milk into my old-fashioned oatmeal and created for myself a different taste. Uum, uum good! Try it. You might like the taste. Also try brown sugar, raisins or nuts in your oatmeal. Another time I created a new recipe from necessity. It was 11 pm. Baking a carrot cake was my late-night chore. I expected a group of ladies in my home the next morning at 9 a.m. for refreshments. Mixing the cake, I discovered I did not have fresh carrots to grate and put into the cake batter. Looking through my cabinets I noticed a jar of junior carrot baby food. (At that time I had a baby to feed baby food.) I substituted junior carrot baby food for grated fresh carrots. The carrot cake turned out delicious and moist. To this day I use junior carrot baby food each time I bake a carrot cake. Shirley's Carrot Cake... Sift 2 cups plain flour, 2 cups sugar, 2 teaspoons soda, 2 teaspoons cinnamon and a dash of salt. ADD: 1 1/4 cups Mazola oil, 4 eggs, 2 jars junior carrot baby food. BAKE: 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Frosting... 8 oz. cream cheese 1 stick oleo 2 teaspoons vanilla flavoring Mix and place on carrot cake. Happy eating during this month of celebration.

Nov. 30, 2000

Nov. 30, 2000 - Dare To Experience A Lifetime Of Love, Living And Learning © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous After Fifty™ "I'm not a has-been; I'm a will-be," said actress Lauren Bacall, as printed in "Great Quotes from Great Women." Life after 50 often puts us in a pausal mode, a time of change, a time when we have the opportunity to quench our thirst for adventure. On The Today Show, Dr. Ken Dytchwald informed his audience that mid-life during the new millennium presents opportunities for more education, new careers, new locations to live, travel and change of lifestyle. Aging is the accumulation of all the other ages we have lived. Diane Sawyer, hostess of Good Morning America on the ABC network said, "We should be incubating something new - a second career, a more passionate hobby for the later years - just to make sure that we're stretching and growing and not just repeating ourselves." Those of us living in the Sand Mountain area are fortunate to have access to Snead State Community College. We have the opportunity to take advantage of their great library, museum, theater, community education classes and regular classes. The key to a fulfilling life your whole lifetime is having a heart for God, a heart for abundant living and a heart for renewal. Brent Curtis and John Eldredge in their book, "The Sacred Romance," reminds us that Jesus of Nazareth invites us "to a life of beauty, intimacy and adventure." Looking down the corridor of the 21st century, redefining the meaning of aging has come about through scientific advancements, knowledge that we use it or lose it and teaching the brain that aging is not necessarily a negative thing. "And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eyes was not dim, nor his natural force abated." Deuteronomy 34: 7 KJV Dr. Walter M. Bortz II, author of "Dare To Be 100" and past president of the American Geriatrics Society, believes we are designed by our creator to live full of days for 120 years or 1 million hours. When God plants a seed in your mind and a passion in your heart, GO FOR IT! Experience a lifetime of love, living and learning.

Dec. 7, 2000

Dec. 7, 2000 - Christmas Trees Are Part Of Holiday Splendor © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous After Fifty™ I remember Christmas Eve 1968 when the Apollo 8 capsule orbited the moon! Astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovel Jr. and William Anders sent holiday greetings from space to planet Earth. They read the first 10 verses of the book of Genesis to the largest television audience in history to that date. Wise men still seek Jesus today. These astronauts were given a rare vision of the vastness of the universe and omnipotence of God. The splendid Christmas season gives us a similar vision. The miracle of the birth of the Christ child allows our hearts to feel the magic of love at Christmas. I love the joy, music, excited activity, colorful lights, packages, hustle, bustle, worship services in our churches and laughter of children. I especially enjoyed driving through the beautifully decorated newly-opened, street in downtown Albertville. One of my favorite focuses of Christmas is the many decorated Christmas trees. A pick-up truck passed my house today with young boy and a freshly-cut Christmas tree in the back. Everyone gets excited about the tree. Why do we include the Christmas tree as an important part of our splendid Christmas season? The focus on a green tree probably developed in medieval Germany. They decorated the evergreen "Paradise Tree" with red apples. The Christmas tree was introduced to the United States by German settlers in Pennsylvania. The dominate colors are green and red. Green represents the continuance of life through the long, bleak winter. Red symbolizes the blood Jesus shed for our eternal life. Without a doubt, the glowing Christmas tree, filled with colorful lights and ornaments, surrounded by gifts wrapped in bright paper and shiny ribbons, is part of the splendor of this joyful season.

Dec. 21, 2000

Dec. 21, 2000 - Give Gift Of Love During First Christmas Of New Millennium © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous After Fifty™ Do you feel the excitement in the air? The stores are filled with shoppers trying to find that perfect gift of love. Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ celebrated by exchanging gifts. "God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) We get excited about giving gifts. The Bible says, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 10:35) The excitement builds as we decorate our homes, plan our family feast, socialize at Christmas parties and see the excitement on the children's faces as they wait for Santa Claus to visit. Christmas is filled with lights, starting with the star of Bethlehem. Take time to look at the lights as the anticipation builds for the celebration of the first Christmas of the new millennium. A Christinas Prayer... "Loving father, help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds and the worship of the wise men. "Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. "Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. "Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. "May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake, Amen!" - Robert Louis Stevenson

Shirley W. Mitchell is the Owner and Founder of Fabulous after Fifty™ - a Motivational, Inspirational and Educational Company located in Northern Alabama providing products and services related to Organizing and Conducting Educational Conferences, Classes, Symposiums, Seminars, Workshops, Speeches and Training Courses in the fields of Aging, Seniors, Senior Lifestyles, Health, Wellness, Nutrition, Generational Women and Men's Issues, Faith, Passion and Purpose, and Distribution of Materials including Multimedia Audio, Video, CD, DVD, Books, Newsletters, Journals, Magazines, Articles, Periodicals, Electronic Books, and other Written and Audio Publications. Ms. Mitchell and Fabulous after Fifty™ are managed and represented by Lighthouse Coastal Productions 466 Sardis Cutoff Road Sardis City, AL 35956. ***Copyright © and Trademark ™ Notice: 1967-2011 All Works, Venues and Content by Shirley W. Mitchell™ including "The Golden Egg of Aging™", "The Fabulous Author™", "Fabulous after 50®", "Fabulous after Fifty™", "Sensational after 60®", "Sensational after Sixty™", "Aging Outside the Box®", "Passionate Sparks™", "Spiritual Sparks for Busy Women™", "Lace Over Steel™", "Ageless Living™", "Endless Energy™", "Better Half of Life™", "Citrus Park™", "Crosstown Info™", "The Amazing System™" and "Aging with Glamour™"are © Copyright and ® Trademark protected*** No part of this Web-Site or Column may be reproduced without the prior written consent of the Agent. If you would like to purchase copies of the articles, please send an E-Mail to us with your request. If you should encounter any problems with this Web-Site please E-Mail the Webmaster.