Blog #10 - Dorothy Custer: A Sassy, Sprightly 101 Year Old

Dorothy Custer has lived more than 101 active, productive years.

And she’s still going.

Thus far she’s been a college student, school teacher, wife, mother, community organizer volunteer, Pioneer of the Year (twice), an accomplished harmonica player, entertainer, writer, comedienne

and a bonafide Internet sensation.

Dorothy’s secrets to long life: 

“Laughter.

Look forward instead of backward.

Exercise and eat right.

Think positive.”

Here’s the video clip that made her an Internet sensation:

Click On: Dorothy Custer & Jay Leno

Blog #9: Having Fun, Staying Young

Having fun when you’re in your 70s, 80s and beyond is one of the well known non-secrets for staying young.

The following people had fun doing what they were doing and accomplished quite a great deal. These people  wouldn’t have done what they did unless they were having fun doing it:

Leo Tolstoy learned to ride a bicycle at the age of 67.

He wrote, “I Cannot be Silent” at 82.

Grandma Moses didn’t start to paint until 

the age of 78.

Without any formal art training, she was still painting at 100.

Leopold Stowkowski signed a six-year recording contract at 94.

Tesichi Igarishi celebrated his 100th birthday by climbing to the top of Mt. Fuji (12,395 feet).

Claude Monet began painting his Water Lily series at 76.

Michaelangelo was still designing and painting churches at 88.

Benjamin Franklin helped write the U.S. Constitution when he was 81.

It took Julia Childs 40 years to find her passion: cooking.

George Burns won an Oscar when he was 80.

At the age of 100, Christine Brown of Laguna Hills, flew to China and climbed the Great Wall.

And then there are the millions of seniors who, 

in their own way, have been having a great deal 

of fun. Every day.

Here’s one example of that kind of fun.

Click on:

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=7489699&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

Blog #8: Seven Senior Truths

One minute of senior observations,

feelings and attitudes. Concerning

themselves, observations and life.

Blog #7: "My Mantra For When I'm Falling"

You just can't keep a good man down. 

Especially at the age of eighty. 

He's up, he's down. Down and up.

Such is Don Kracke's falling routine.

Despite twenty-seven falling experiences this past year, 

Don bounces back with wry observations, 

sharp wit and acerbic tongue. 

This latest episode is an extreme example of how to make

lemonade out of lemons. 

The following five minute interview 

with the eighty year old emerging artist, 

one day after his most recent fall, 

will give you an idea of his persistence, 

determination and ability to bounce back. 

Those are qualities many of today's seniors possess.

http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?ns=1&video_id=p2ITW8Z3Z6Q

WARNING: Mild four-letter language is used in this video.

Blog #6: The Bat Mitzvah of a Bulldog.

Those of you who have experienced previous 
SENIOR MOMENTS blogs know that
Elaine Kravitz is a determined young Senior
at the age of 85.


She walks, talks and thinks fast. And when
she makes her mind up to do something, she
does it. Even if it takes seventy years.


Most Jewish girls who are bat-mitzvahed do
it when they are thirteen years old. Elaine did
it two years ago when she was eighty-three.


I made a forty minute documentary of Elaine
studying, preparing and achieving her dream.
The following thirteen minute version of
that doc hopefully captures Elaine's persistence,
determination and joy.


Click here for "The Bat Mitzvah of a Bulldog":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQcZBawD_dE

Blog #5:


SENIORS: The New Fashionistas.


"I don't see how an article of clothing
could be indecent. A person, yes."
                             --- Robert A. Heinlein


"What a strange power there is in clothing."
                             --- Isaac Bashevis Singer


"One should either be a work of art, or
wear a work of art."
                             --- Oscar Wilde


Click here to meet the Senior Fashionistas:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/nWKTfqivbRQ

Blog #4: Q&A with Don, Elaine and Dorothy

Don, Elaine & Dorothy talk about
fun, passion, the best thing about being old,
what they're most proud of, feeling young,
books, paint, driving, vodka 
and Potty Poopers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI4HUMCPyC8