I'm Back! The NFPW Conference, Part I

Attending the National Federation of Press Women's 2007 National Conference and 70th Anniversary Celebration in Richmond, Virginia, this past weekend was a great experience. These are the women (and a few men) who work "in the trenches" of the writing profession, from newspaper columnists to public relations professionals to book authors, and they are an interesting lot indeed! It's apparent that many women keep writing long into old age, so I felt right at home at this conference. I'll tell more later, but for now, here are two highlights of my personal experience:

On Friday evening, September 21, a main feature of the program was the "Bold Women of the Past: Models for the Future" presentation, sponsored by the Illinois Women's Press Association. The commentator and script writer was Marlene Cook, the director Jill Miller, and the coordinator Cecelia Green. The rest of us were models from periods dating from 1880 to the future, and I represented Jane Addams in the 1900-1910 period.

As the oldest model in the group, with no acting or modeling ability and walking problems, I felt a bit worried and insecure. However, I made it down the runway in my long skirt and gray wig (see the picture above). The most interesting characters, in my opinion, were Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas (Illinois) and Julie Slaymaker (Indiana) as Flappers from the 1920-1930 period, Mary Ellen Kearns (Illinois) as a WAVE in full uniform and Cecelia Green (Illinois) as Rosie the Riveter from 1940-1950, and Lisa and Craig Bishop ( South Carolina) as Elvis and Priscilla Presley for 1970-1980. In fact, everyone who participated was wonderful!

The second big event for me was the final banquet and awards presentation on Saturday evening, September 22. I received two national awards from Meg Hunt, NFPW President, a first place award for 2006 contributions to this blog, "Never too Late!" and a third place award for my first book, Reinventing Myself: Memoirs of a Retired Professor (Infinity, 2006). Old as I am, it was still a thrill to walk across to receive my award certificates as the cameras flashed. The procession of winners was long, but I felt that I was in good company, especially since I've been writing for only a few years.

So there you have it. I think the lessons I learned included more about the joys of writing, the wonderfully friendly relationships among writers, and the benefits of keeping active past age 70. I'm glad I attended the conference, and I may attend again in Idaho in 2008. I hope all seniors will considering joining groups devoted to their special interests, whatever those interests may be.

Copyright 2007 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Photos: Upper left, a happy winner.
Upper right: With NFPW President Meg Hunt.
Lower left: "Jane Addams" with "Flapper" Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas.

I'm Off to the National Federation of Press Women's Conference Tomorrow

I'll probably not be posting here for a few days; tomorrow morning, I'm on my way the the National Federation of Press Women's national conference in Richmond, Virginia. I'm going to receive my two 2007 national awards, first place for this blog and third place for my book, Reinventing Myself: Memoirs of a Retired Professor.

One of the more interesting features of the conference promises to be the "Bold Women of the Past: Models for the Future" event on Friday evening. Models from various state chapters will model the fashions from various stages in the organization's past, beginning with the 1880's period. Cecilia Green of our local Illinois Woman's Press Association and Jill Miller of the Witchita, Kansas, Professionakl Communicators (mother and daughter) are the co-chairs.

To my surprise, I am one of the models, portraying Jane Addams in the 1900-1910 period. Jane was an early member of IWPA. Despite my lack of modeling talent and my less-than-authentic costume, I am actually looking forward to the experience.

Come back next week for a report on the conference. I see the fact that I'm actually going and participating as further evidence that "It's Never too Late!"

Copyright 2007 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Ageism Lives!

Thanks to Ronni Bennett, of Time Goes By (http://www.timegoesby.net) I have just read the latest entry in The Tattler, a blog by Julian. Be sure to check it out at http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2007/09/age-discrimination-in-hollywoodmovie.html.

It seems that a private movie screening in Hollywood was limited to those between 17 and 50. Why should those over 50 be excluded from anything? According to authorities, there are "nine known major stereotypes that reflect prejudice toward senior citizens." They are illness, impotency, ugliness, mental decline, mental illness, uselessness, isolation, poverty, and depression.

I, for one, object. At nearly 75, I don't fit any of those nine stereotypes. In fact, I reject all stereotypes. It's too easy to dismiss a race, ethnic group, nationality, or religion--or an age group--with a single derogatory word, or nine of them! We are all individuals, all human beings worth listening to, regardless of any label or category we may or may not fit into.

Copyright 2007 by Marlys Marshall Styne

My New Book is Coming!

My new book, Seniorwriting: A Brief Guide for Seniors Who Want to Write (Infinity, 2007, $9.95), will be out in early October. This is not a book for those who already write; it's for non-writers who have life stories to preserve for their families and friends.

This book attempts to simplify the process. It contains twenty short chapters in 81 pages. Part I discusses the benefits of writing about life's experiences and challenges to discover, to heal, and to reinvent. Part II presents ten short examples of some of the kinds of writing assignments mentioned in Part I, while Part III is designed to help with the finishing touches and with self-publishing and/or sharing.

Unlike some other guides to life story writing, this one presents no rigid rules, no specific method of organization, such as a year-by-year or decade-by-decade approach. The idea is to promote creativity and self-expression without fear of writing errors or prescribed formulas.

Copyright 2007 by Marlys Marshall Styne

More About Happiness

There are certainly a lot of authorities out there telling us how to age well. The October 2007 issue of Prevention features a section called "The Art of Aging." Somehow, I thought aging was an unavoidable life process rather than an art, but I have to admit that there are a few things we can do to make life better.

The article contains sections on health, diet, and fitness, but the section that interested me most was "The Happiness Factor: How to Think." "Being optimistic in middle age increases life span by at least 7.5 years." David Snowdon, University of Kentucky Professor of Neurology, says that of course optimists get stressed, but "they automatically turn the response off much more quickly and return to a positive mental and physical state."

I'm past middle age, but I find that the "four habits that longevity experts say are at the heart of a sunny disposition" make sense for everyone.

1. Keep in touch. "People who socialize at least once a week are more likely to live longer, keep their brains sharp, and prevent heart attacks." According to Teresa Seeman, PhD, professsor of medicine and epidemiology at UCLA, "Just talking on the phone to a friend has the immediate effect of lowering your blood pressure and cortisol levels." I admit to being somewhat anti-social, but I have found that my occasional conversations with old friends make me feel good.

2. Express Gratutude. "People who write about all the things they are thankful for are optimistic about the upcoming week and more satisfied overall with their lives." Of course I have long believed in the therapeutic benefits of writing.

3. Be randomly kind. Performing at least five acts of kindness in any given day, such as giving up a seat on a bus or buying a cup of coffee for a friend, "boosts your sense of well-being and happiness." Well, I'm one of those who needs to have a seat given up for me, but I always thank the cheerful giver sincerely. I hope he or she feels better. And yes, I did give up my seat to those older and less agile when I was younger.

4. Reappraise your life. "Set aside a little time each week to write about or record . . . an important event in your past. Reflecting on the experience can reshape your perception of it, as well as your expectations for the future," says Robert N. Butler MD, of the International Longevity Center-USA. "When creating [a] 'life review,' you get to list all your accompishments--an instant self-esteen booster. . . . If you can come to terms with past events, you'll be better able to handle tough times down the road."

If you are a pessimist who loves to complain or criticize, or if you feel paralyzed by gloom, you may be cutting years off your life and aging painfully. Obviously positive thinking has its benefits for us all. Writing can be an important step in this journey toward happiness.

Copyright 2007 by Marlys Marshall Styne

See http://www.prevention.com for more tips on healthy aging.

About Books and Reading

A recent article in the Chicago Tribune discussed the ways people handle and mishandle books. Today, I read many reader responses to that article. These interested me because I found it heartening that so many people care about books and presumably read them at least occasionally.

Various aspects of the question were discussed by readers with many points of view. However, two responses especially interested me. One woman felt ashamed that she disliked and threw away a book that later became a Pulitzer Prize winner. Did she feel obligated to like it? Another had so little confidence in her own opinions and reactions that she was afraid to put them into writing lest she be wrong or another reader be misled. Too bad!

To me, reading (except for texts presenting strictly factual information) involves reacting, reflecting, and forming opinions. Different people will enjoy, or not enjoy, different books for different reasons. Also, a book that is widely promoted and appeals to a majority of critics is likely to be a prize-winner and best-seller, but are those the only books worth reading? I have discovered, and reviewed, some fascinating unknown books by unknown authors.

As for the books themselves, I believe that library books, borrowed books, and valuable leather-bound antiques should not be defaced. On the other hand, key passages and points of special interest should be marked in personally-owned textbooks and books to be reviewed. My best students were usually the ones who used their well-marked literature books to find key passages to refer to or quote for open-book exams and papers very easily. That's why I favor cheaper paper-bound books in general. We should not deface monuments, but we should react to a writer's ideas.

There were responses defending writing in books, as long as you own the books, and others stating that writing in any book, ever, is a no-no. I guess my answer would be, "It depends."

Copyright 2007 by Marlys Marshall Styne
Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-mxa0911tempocovertearingsep11,1,5707834.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

The Importance of Plumbing Fixtures

Unfortunately, I'm not acquainted with any plumbers, but I think that guy who plays one on Desperate Housewives is pretty cute (for a young guy). Anyway, this afternoon a flood of water suddenly fell from the ceiling in one of my bathrooms. Funny how we just expect pipes and bathroom fixtures and appliances to work perfectly forever, so I was dismayed.

I figured out that the problem might come from the condo unit above mine, but I couldn't understand what was going on. My ceiling is wet, stained, and dripping, and the weekend is coming. Alas! This is a self-managed building without a full-time maintenance man.

I did the only sensible thing I could think of: I got in touch with my upstairs neighbor and asked a few questions. Together, we figured it out.

The large unit above mine contains four bathrooms (I only have two, but then I live alone; my neioghbor has a family). One of his bathrooms is seldom used. He flushed the toilet in that bathroom as a test, and I got another deluge. Now we know.

So my neighbor promised to lock that bathroom and hire someone to fix the problem. I hope he does ceiling work, too. Something like this can make me feel like a helpless old lady, but as usual, I'll try to look on the bright side. I expect to gain further respect for the noble trade of plumbing, too.

Copyright 2007 by Marlys Marshall Styne

Illustration from http://www.howstuffworks.com

Travel Problems for Senior Citizens

In case you missed it, check out this article and video mentioned in Ronni Bennett's Time Goes By:

http://www.king5.com/sharedcontent/northwest/eveningmagazine/stories/NW_083107EM_elderly_KC.872b240a.html

Hair and Hair Dye and Getting Old

By some strange coincidence, I read an article about gray hair and dyed hair this week, the same week I also kept one of my rare appointments with my hairdresser. According to the article, dyed hair is one of the big symbols of eternal youth (I exaggerate, but you know what I mean).

I've never been one to dye my hair. By the time I retired some eight years ago, I was virtually the only woman in my department still proudly flaunting her natural hair color, even though mine was tinged with quite a bit of gray by then. "Natural highlights," I called it. I didn't give in until a couple of years ago, when I was talked into highlights: more or less blonde streaks among the brown and the gray. Since then, my hair has been a variety of mixed colors, sometimes reverting to a dull iron-gray. I seldom pay atttention; I don't have much of a social life, and I usually avoid mirrors.

My mother maintained dark brown hair well into her late eighties, long after dark hair ceased to flatter her sagging face. In bright light, it resembled no natural hair color known to man. She finally let her hair turn its natural white as she neared ninety, and it looked beautiful.

I like white hair, but mine doesn't seem to be heading that way; it's just dull gray. My pale, sagging face surely couldn't stand my former dark brown any more, and trying to keep it that color would drive me crazy anyway. I would resent the required time more than the expense. To say that I have no skill in taking care of my hair is to put it mildly. Mine usually is a mess.

Today I looked at my reflection in a mirror in good light. Guess what? My hair appears to be mostly a sort of strawberry blonde. Perhaps my hairdresser was having a bad day when she did that. Anyway, I just shrugged. Who cares? Since I don't have a Web Cam hooked up to my computer, nobody can see me. I'll just keep typing away on my latest project.

Somewhere past seventy, the struggle to look young seems to become a lost cause. I guess what I plan to do is to age gracefully. And yet--perhaps I could use an Extreme Makeover. After all, my motto and the title of this blog is "Never too Late!"

Copyright 2007 by Marlys Marshall Styne

About Happiness

I admit that I've never been a fan of psychological self-help books: the kinds that promise true happiness and/or eternal salvation through meditation or self-hypnosis or the teachings of a particular philosopher or religious leader-or a politician, for that matter. I am an admitted cynic and skeptic.

That said, I often encounter reviews of books probably not interesting or relevant enough to make me get out my credit card, but containing a few ideas that start me thinking.

Heidi Stevens' article, "Your assignment: Be happier" in the September 2 Chicago Tribune, is about Happier, a book by Harvard University Professor Tal Ben-Shahar.

According to Ben-Shahar, happiness eludes hedonists, who just enjoy the present with no thought for the future; rat racers, who suffer now in the hope of future happiness; and nihilists, who have no joy or belief in happiness, either present or future. True happiness requires both pleasure and meaning in your life. "Identifying the right activity, and then the right quantity for each activity, leads to the highest quality of life."

Apparently this book reviews several things I have already learned in my long life:

Money doesn't buy happiness. Psychologist Philip Brickman discovered that big lottery winners return to their original happiness levels within a month.

It takes courage to leave one's comfort zone to find happiness, as in leaving a hated high-paying job for less money and more satisfaction.

Helping others is one of the components of a happy life.

I like this exercise from the book, especially for those considerably younger than I: "Imagine yourself at 110 years old, offering advice to your current self. Would you tell yourself to spend more time with your family? Find a more fulfilling career?" That's good advice, especially for what I assume to be the book's primary intended audience, today's college students and recent graduates.

I consider myself about as happy as an elderly, imperfect person in an imperfect world can be, but I've encountered many unhappy people of all ages. This book might help them, especially anyone admitting to being a hedonist, a rat racer, or a nihilist. Anyway, regardless of age, you surely can't go wrong by de-emphasizing money, daring to leave your comfort zone, and helping others.

Copyright 2007 by Marlys Marshall Styne