What Boomer Women Want

Last year the National Association of Baby Boomer Women, http://www.nabbw.com/, invited women to participate in a survey, asking them what they wanted. Following are the top 10 things, not neccessarily listed in the order of importance:

1. Love


2. Peace and safety


3. A world where truth is the highest value, particularly from our leaders


4. Financial security (51% of boomer women are single)


5. Travel


6. Government sponsored benefits available if needed


7. Affordable quality health care


8. Participate in our own health care


9. Realistic portrayal of our generation in media, movies, ads, etc.


10. Fashion world recognize that we still want to feel and look pretty

What is important to you?

"Grays Have More Fun"

Yesterday I was out shopping when a woman passing by said she liked my hair. I told her that I was amazed to find out how pretty my natural color was. As she walked away, she said, "gray is the new blonde, you know."
Here is what Ray Lesser, editor of The Funny Times in Cleveland Heights, has to say about that:
Grey Is The New Blond

by Ray Lesser

Some women are willing to do anything to attract a man, even if it means letting their hair turn gray.

For ages women have been trying new things to become more appealing to men. In ancient times they rubbed themselves with flowers and herbs to mask the ever-present odor that comes from dressing in dead animal skins, and only taking a ritual bath once a year. They tried painting their faces different colors using mud, blood, and soot, which I'm sure also did wonders for their complexions. Women even fastened bones, feathers, and small live animals in their hair to impress the opposite sex of their worth and elegant sense of style. Much of their efforts were probably wasted on the men of that time, who mainly noticed women who brought them a sizzling piece of meat to eat, preferably with a coconut shell full of fermented jungle brew and the sports section of the newspaper.

But in addition to women's best efforts, natural sexual selection was also at work. Men seemed to be more attracted to women with blonde or red hair, perhaps because it was rare and seemed exotic, or perhaps because it was easier for them to spot at a distance, even if they weren't wearing their glasses, which weren't going to be invented for another several thousand years. It wasn't long before many members of "the fair sex" were artificially making themselves even fairer. Classical Greek women dyed their hair red with henna and sprinkled it with gold powder. During the Renaissance, upper class ladies of Italy sat for many hours in the heat of the sun in an attempt to bleach their hair blonde using onion skins. This beauty treatment worked best in attracting men wearing necklaces of garlic and carrying strings of dried anchovies.

By the mid-20th century, the cult of the blonde reached its apex. Thanks to constantly improving hair dyes, ever-darker women could follow the advice of the famous 1960s Clairol commercial: "If I have only one life to live, let me live it as a blonde bombshell like Marilyn Monroe, only not so crazy and suicidal!" One recent study found that five out of every six blonde American women had some chemical help, spending over $100 million annually to help support the dumb-blonde joke industry. (Q: What does a postcard from a blonde's vacation say? A: Having a wonderful time. Where am I?) Though, as Dolly Parton says, speaking for many of her stereotype, "Blonde jokes don't bother me because I know I'm not dumb, and I know I'm not blonde."

Today, the popularity of blondes remains high, sometimes bordering on bizarre, as evidenced by ads for some egg and sperm donors that offer bonuses for blondes. As Rita Rudner noted, "Blondes must have more fun. How many brunettes do you see walking down the street with blonde roots?"

But the newest, attention-grabbing hair color seen on big city streets and in salons, is gray - or more appealingly called white, silver, pewter, platinum, or ice. Older women are tired of constantly dying their hair, and are beginning to realize that their new natural color makes them stand-out just as much as any bleach blonde.

Personally, I love this trend. Even guys want to remain in style, and now I realize that my hair, what little of it I have, is getting more stylish every day. Also it makes it much easier for me, as one of the silverbacks of my urban jungle, to comprehend the signals that the fair sex is sending my way. When I encounter a blonde of any sort, whether she be covered with tattoos and piercings or wearing heavy makeup over her wrinkles, I know for certain - these women are not trying to impress or engage the likes of me.

Instead I find myself drawn to the stylish new silver goddesses, looking as natural and carefree as when they were teenagers, except for the limps. Their snow-white locks speak of innocence, mixed with the kind of experience that can only come from having lived with seven different guys. Unlike their light-haired, ditzy counterparts, I find them to be knowledgeable, wise, thoughtful, and, best of all, willing to laugh at the same jokes I've been telling for 25 years.

I know we all like to play the game called "looking good," although everyone has their own interpretation of the rules. Some of us think we look our best in perfectly tailored Italian suits, while others want skintight pre-ripped jeans. Fashion and beauty are a shallow business, but we live in a shallow culture, and anyway, as someone once said, "If truth is beauty, how come nobody has their hair done in a library?"

Still, if the current beauty trend is that you look your best when you look like yourself, then I'm going to try to enjoy being in style for as long as I can.

OK, boomer babes, I challenge you to take a look at your real hair color. As Mikey used to say, "try it, you (might) like it."

SHIFTING

My friend, Beth, has opened Elizabeth's House on the campus of Notre Dame Academy. Her May newsletter was just sent and I thought what she had to say about her mother was very interesting. The article follows:

Elizabeth's House
A gathering place for women who want to:
Rethink - Renew - Reinvent

May, 2008
Welcome to May at Elizabeth's House!
In honor of Mother's Day I offer a story about mothers and daughters shifting together. My mother just returned home to Virginia after a month-long visit with me and my family. During that month we did just about everything together, including plenty of time at Elizabeth's House, and something has shifted. Mom shifted, and I shifted.
I think it started with yoga. Between her arthritic hip and restless legs I never thought she would try it. But she did, and she liked it, and she "wasn't even sore!" Then there was the image makeover with Louise where she discovered her best colors, best styles, and that as you age, when it comes to make-up, less really is more. The next thing I knew mom was at the salon getting a new "do" that highlighted her gray hair and a style that didn't require a weekly trip to the "beauty parlor." As an added bonus mom was treated to an EFT (emotional freedom technique) session with Sharon which, to her amazement, relieved the arthritic hip pain. To all that, add a great new purse and a few cool accessories and the shift become more apparent. On the way to the airport she was thinking about how fit the women over 50 and 60 looked in last night's yoga class. She thought that maybe it's time to pay more attention to her health.

When I asked her what she attributed the shift to mom said "I like being around women who are taking care of themselves and are open to new ways of doing it." "It has inspired me." I like that answer, it's simple and straightforward. Thanks, mom. Your shift has inspired me. Happy Mother's Day.

Thank you to Cheryl, Louise, Sharon, Barb, Linda and all the Women of Elizabeth's House who inspire and support the lives of other women. If you don't have these kinds of women in your life, you know where to find them.
Peace,
Beth

Who's Brain is Draining?

I found this interesting article in the Toledo Free Press.

Brain Drain revisited
By Bruce Rumpf Special to Toledo Free Press news@toledofreepress.com

Yes, I believe that we have the whole “Brain Drain” issue wrong. As most people have read, Brain Drain has to do with the idea that young people are moving out of our region. In fact, it's not just the young people, but from what we have been told, it's the smart young people who are moving out of our area with no plans to return.
My take on that issue is the sooner the smart people move out of the region, the better chance I have of competing. Just kidding. The real answer is that Brain Drain has nothing to do with smart young people moving out of the region; it has to do with retaining the smart people 50 and older.
A few years ago when Job1USA was involved in a private/public initiative for the creation of The Source, Lucas County's employment and training center in Downtown Toledo, one of its programs involved helping older workers find gainful employment. Because the definition of “older worker” was older than 50, I asked that the term be changed to 50+ because I was older than 50 and “+” in school was a positive.
I imagine a few of you who are at or near 50 might share my opinion.
I believe Brain Drain involved those 50 and older because the last time I looked, young people have less money than their elders, who usually attain a level of financial success as they age.
Young smart people need to have some experience in other regions of the country to appreciate what their hometown has to offer; the grass is not always greener concept. That experience could be found in going away to school or finding gainful employment in larger or smaller markets.
If we retain the 50+ group in our region, chances are that the younger smart people will return. Why? Family ties are the top reason kids return home. If we retain the 50+ people, we have a greater chance of the young, smart Brain Drainers returning.
On the flip side, if we don't retain the 50+ group there is little or no chance of that young group returning.
A few months ago, Job1SHOW had Barry Broome, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, as a guest on its radio show that airs on WTOD-AM 1560. Prior to moving to Arizona, Broome was economic development director for the City of Toledo. Broome participated in the successful campaign to “Keep Jeep” and have Chrysler invest billions in a new plant.
During the show, we expressed our views on Brain Drain. Broome not only agreed with me on the topic, he also added a fourth reason to retain the 50+ group in our own community.
“ … Some of the economic vitality in the Phoenix market comes from that 50+ group that moves into our market,” he said.
The level of expertise that these people lend to Phoenix's budding entrepreneurs is one of the ingredients of their success. This group makes great advisers to their boards and they sometimes become investors in Phoenix's local businesses. Most come to Phoenix with having cashed out of their homes and other real estate, only to reinvest in the market there.
The 50+ group brings retirement dollars that are placed in their local banks. Many times they buy new cars and join their area's country clubs.
The families of the 50+ group travel to Phoenix, spending money at the airports, restaurants and retail establishments. Sometimes these families relocate to the Phoenix area, again bringing new dollars to the city.
This is how a market such as Phoenix has grown successfully.
Our solution in Northwest Ohio? Simple. Let's find out what would keep our 50+ citizens engaged in our area. We can't change the weather, but anyone can travel to warmer climates during the cold months. We can become part of the solution by participating again in our political process by encouraging people to run for office and supporting strong job development. We can remarket the strength of the region.
Why is Bass Pro spending $50 million in Northwest Ohio? We have the largest concentration of boating, fishing and hunting licenses anywhere in the country. We have the largest river on the Great Lakes, an asset we are utilizing with the Marina District project.
We have a hard-working, educated work force. In UT, we have the third largest university in Ohio. Our port and logistical capacity has huge upside potential.
Finally, we have the 50+ group. We need to stay; we need to re-engage and we need to demand more of our elected officials, the business community and ourselves. We need to re-energize our hopes and our future.
We need to give our children a reason to come back to the region.
Bruce F. Rumpf is president of Job1USA, a Human Resource Firm headquartered in Toledo. Job1USA specializes in work-force solutions in staffing, security, nursing and executive recruiting. Rumpf may be reached by phone at (419) 255-5005 or by e-mail at brumpf@job1usa.com.

My husband and I moved to Toledo 16 years ago. We never intended to stay beyond a few years, but now have no intention of leaving. Everything we need to enjoy a good life is in this city, mainly, good friends. I hope none of them plan to move to Florida!

Louise Kahle

Take The Time: Image Matters!

www.take-the-time.com