Gnomedex Proud Elder

(See photos of Ronni at Gnomedex at "Blogging In Paris" in a 8/13/07 link.)

Ronni Bennett's appearance in Seattle at the Gnomedex Convention
made this elder feel proud of how well she presented and represented my views and interests. I just can't think of a better spokesperson with such a complete grasp of aging issues that are of concern and interest to me.

For anyone who isn't familiar with Ronni Bennett, she blogs at "Times Goes By." writing about "What It's Really Like To Get Older." I don't think I am overstating the reality when I say she is a guiding light mentor for many Elderbloggers. She certainly is a primary source for important information about all aspects of aging.

She adopted use of "Elderblogger" to designate anyone 50 years of age and older after Elisa Camahort of BlogHer coined the term. Elder, of course, refers to the multi-cultural centuries old term usage which denotes respect and wisdom for community selected old er members.

Chris Pirillo, tech guru running this second annual Gnomedex Convention asked Ronni to provide a presentation about elderblogging. She did just that yesterday, Friday, August 10, 2007 with live streaming audio and video to our computers. I was able to adjust my schdule to enjoy the experience and want to write some my observations here while they are fresh in my mind. Perhaps they'll be of interest to anyone who may have missed this event.

Ronni engaged the audience with a brief recap of just how many elders there are in this country today and how rapidly our numbers are increasing. This was food for thought since many of the young people in the audience likely can't imagine they will ever be elders, but we all know better. They should hope they become elders, since there is only one other alternative.

I was reminded at the beginning of this streaming video event of the early days of television's live programming. In those days, little glitches (sometimes big ones) occurred, to an audience's delight, and all could see real people coping with unexpected problems resulting in a less than perfect production -- just like the real lives we all live. So it was with this production, there were a few little snafus getting the technical quirks corrected.

As with life sometimes, some good came of the glitches, as lucky Ronni was introduced by Chris to the latest, but, not inexpensive tech gadget from Steve Jobs' called the IPhone. She was promised some hands on time with it.

The streaming audio and video was a bit frustrating to follow at times with brief spurts of content loss more often than I would have liked, but think that's the nature of fine tuning some of these new technologies, just like the issues we each face with our own computers. I'm comforted all these bright intelligent young geek technologists are having such a great time trying to correct all these issues to provide us with more and better system operations.

Ronni brought two convention attendees onstage to demonstrate some of what the aging experience is like for individuals with vision, touch and other sensory problems. The realilty is many people of all ages experience some of these problems and more, but we don't always hear too much about them except from those involved in providing special education and selected therapies.

Among the numerous points she made were some we know from our own experiences. For many people, larger size keyboard letters/symbols are needed. Print sizes, color contrasts are important i.e. black print on white is preferable. I know much of this from my own mother's needs.

Ronni continues to make the case for an inexpensive, less than complex functional computer incorporating other desired features appealing to elders. She offered much more pertinent information than reported here.

One unexpected interesting feature to me on this live streaming vdeo was another real time feature called T Flash Commenters. A viewer could sign up and make comments that would appear just under the video in an ongoing dialogue. I immediately tried to sign up, but my security system wouldn't allow me to do so, and I didn't have time to try to adjust it since I wanted to concentrate on the videocast that was starting.

I could really sense that as Ronni's presentation progressed, her live audience was becoming increasingly interested and responsive to what she was saying. Just to give you a flavor of how I arrived at that perception, I'm going to repeat just a few of the T Flash Comments that I copied from my screen from reactions when she first began to speak until the closing of her presentation. I didn't attempt to write down the names of the commenters, since all was happening so fast. Here are some of the comments:

"Who is she?"

This was followed by a few ageist comments about "old people" and then, "Who cares!" in response to some points she made in the beginning. (I thought, "You better care, because you'll be one of us before you know it.")

Gradually, as some wrote about their parents, grandparents the climate warmed and the naysayers cooled.

"My grandma is 71." ... "Mine 102."

Commenters setting a more postive tone toward elders seemed to mello the earlier negative ones, perhaps making them stop and think. I believe this is why ageism dialogue is so important, and why we should speak up instead of just letting ageist language slide on by.

Chris became involved on stage with Ronni at one point and suggested that maybe what was needed was an Elder Browser. Sounded like an interesting idea to me. I'm just enthusiastic that thoughts and ideas about elders are being stimulated.

More written comments on the T Flash Dialogue about Ronni followed:

"She is making good points."
"Old people need a computer they talk to."
"She is cool."

Ronni mentioned typing as a forerunner of keyboarding and her typing speed of 120 WPM, to which the commenters wrote:

"120 words per minute! Can any of you ignorants out there do that?"

Then ensued a brief written dialogue about typewriters, whether or not anyone had ever used one. ("I have! I have!" I said laughingly to myself, "...and I could type 120 WPM, too.")

Ronni continued with even more intelligent information, to which a commenter wrote:

"This woman is actually making good points."

Later, Ronni turned to the audience for questions and comments. I was pleased when some of the audience responded by expressing interest in devising technical equipment for elders needs. I just hope they met with her afterward, or will have contact later to actually take some action. A man then shared a story about his father's early computer involvement "scanning old slides." These T Flash written comments about Ronni followed:

"I wish my parents knew half of what she does."

"Interests transcend ages."

"She's not a dog!" (My thought to that was, "Is this what some of these younger people think of older people?")


I watched a presenter, Vanessa, (sorry, I didn't get her full name or blog) who followed Ronni, discussing an interesting topic about how much to disclose about oneself on a blog and other privacy issues. Ronni asked her some really pertinent questions and offered some comments that really enhanced Vanessa's presentation. Here's what some of the T Flash Dialogue was about Ronni then:

"Is that the old lady talking?"

"Good for her!"

I wish I could remember what Ronni's comment was that prompted this, but I had a big laugh when I read it:

"Please, lady, your generation is the one that kicked out polite society."

I'm going to have to attend one of these blogger conventions somewhere sometime. I think they need to see and hear from more elders.

Thanks, Ronni!

Nude Humor

An earlier blog version was first posted as "Tick Epidemic" at "The Elder Storytelling Place."

Tick Epidemic

A lot of fun in teasing, joking and craziness that can include practical jokes occurs between friends through the years. Some exchanges happen in person, other interactions with more distant friends occur by letter, in recent years more easily by phone and for some via email today. One such area of humorous expression on the Internet involves distributing written information presented as accurate, that actually is false.

Some unknown third party foists on to others,in jest, their untrue written concoction of phony facts that generally reads as though it’s quite authentic. Then in a gesture of caring and concern well-intentioned individuals, believing the information to be true, forward these erroneous facts to their friends and family. Examples of such jest seem to materialize frequently disguised as diet and health warnings. Checking the authenticity of these story facts, referred to as "urban legends," is often wise.

A friend did once send me such a warning. Thinking she had probably checked the veracity of the facts, I didn't bother to verify the accuracy before forwarding the information to another friend. That friend, much more Internet savvy than I, immediately recognized the long known lack of legitimacy of this data, and set me straight. Naturally, I had great fun informing my other friend her story was bogus. She has not forgotten though considerable time has passed since then.

I recently received a message from her stating that she has now developed an intense dislike toward sending diet, health and other warning emails to friends. She told me that a recent experience was so serious, however, she was disregarding this aversion, just this once, to send me this warning. She said, "I had someone come to the door who told me there was a tick epidemic and to take off all my clothes." She continued, "If someone comes to your door and tells you the same thing, don't do it!" I'm so glad I have a friend that cares so much about me.

I am reminded of a factual story another friend told me that contrasts with the fictional stories described above. He sometimes provides training for people with short term memory problems. Such difficulties manifest themselves in many ways, sometimes involving the person forgetting to perform ordinary daily activities like brushing their teeth, or dressing, even how to do so. Some may, irritatingly to others, keep repeating words they've just said. What is actually forgotten is unique to each individual.

It seems my friend had an adult woman patient with serious short term memory problems. He went to her home for their regular scheduled morning training session, then knocked on her door as usual. When she opened the door, he was quite startled to observe that she was totally nude. He quickly recovered his composure, then said in a manner and tone to not alarm her, "Oh, Jean, I see you forgot to put on your clothes today." Glancing down, she noticed her unclothed body apparently for the first time that morning. She responded, quite unembarrassed, "Why yes, I see I did." She quickly excused herself to her bedroom to get dressed as she motioned him into the living room to wait for her.

When fully dressed, she re-joined him. They immediately focused their attention on continuing tasks to assist her in increasing her memory skills and to develop ways to cope with the challenges in the meantime.

I find humor in many sources with some originating in creative minds, others in the interpretation of real life events. Either way, interesting and humorous stories can evolve to evoke my chuckles. The laughs those tales generate are just enough to release the brain chemicals called endorphins that science has proven provide a beneficial healing effect in our bodies. I think I'll give more thought to some of the humorous stories of my life as well as seeking such tales from others.

MORE BLOGS OF INTEREST ...

... continue to be added on this blog's right sidebar with links that will take you there with a simple click of the mouse. Perhaps there are some that are of special interest to you.

May Your 2007 Easter or Passover Be Special
... as a religious celebration
... as a family day for gathering together
... as a day when the Easter Bunny often prompts egg hunts

The Elder Storytelling Place
by Ronni Bennett has just been launched. After visiting there, I hasten to add it to this previously prepared post. She describes the act of storytelling as having a far greater significance in our lives than most may realize. Stories from bloggers and non-bloggers will be published there. I highly recommend reading her introduction HERE, the guidelines HERE,
and the very first story by Norm Jenson HERE.

Pure Land Mountain by Robert Brady in Japan is a blog that captured my attention the moment I first started reading there a year ago. His writing fully engages my thoughts whatever the topic he presents, from commentary about the U.S., his observations about the current state of Japanese social and political issues to descriptions of the countryside surrounding his mountain home, some of the creature inhabitants there with whom he has periodic tests of will over his produce -- especially the monkeys. His facility with words provides great reading pleasure.

As if the distinctive writings of one Brady are not enough, I was delighted to be introduced to richly flavored stories from "The Blog Brothers" that Mick writes with nostalgic personal reminisces of active young boys growing up in the eastern U.S. Bob contributes to these colorful lively, often humorous accounts of experiences unique to them, yet some in common with readers. Later as a young man, Mick’s efforts to support himself in his artistic endeavors in NYC have provided fodder for colorful stories including some suspenseful sometimes life-threatening events. The language used in both blogs is an unparalleled delight to read.

For a long time I've been enjoying the surprises I find, often in the form of unusual artistic flower arrangements pictured by creative florist Kenju at the recent reincarnation of her blog "Imagine What I'm Leaving Out." With a blog title like that, we are left to read intriguing words between the lines of her posts along with some inviting accounts of her travels, other events and experiences.

Most recently, I've found myself visiting Mother Pie whose writings about the media, current news, the digital world and other topics have been of special interest to me. Her recent focus on communication, as well as sharing some data she gathered about blogs, then published there from her master's thesis garners my interest.

Then there is Alaska's Maya's Granny who provides comment and insight on numerous topics, pertinent news items, some especially fascinating information about one of the two states to join our country's union in my lifetime. She has an interesting series in which she provides successively different questions that add more history to her life with each answer for her family and readers.

I find some pretty sharp political commentary from Amba at AmbivaBlog with links to a multitude of equally informative references on an eclectic number of subjects. This professional writer does not hesitate to introduce pertinent controversial topics of our time for reasonable discussion. She also occasionally provides insight on some of the challenges caregivers and their loved ones encounter.

Journey To A New Life written by Suzann, who faced loss of a loved one that for some of us can be unexpected and sudden, writes of daily life and the adjustments that follow, also, additional timely topics. She shares her travel experiences on this road many may be destined to traverse at any age, any time in their life. Her trip is of special significance to me.

While all of the above bloggers are geographically scattered from coast to coast, and in one instance outside the U.S., there are some additional bloggers writing from the west coast in addition to Mick Brady who I enjoy stopping by to visit.

Always Question has written some strong commentary of topical interest, also addressing concerns for those of us here in the west, especially southern California and Los Angeles. Currently I have found his individual tributes to U.S. military hospital corpsmen whose lives have been taken from them in their prime, extremely poignant.

Rain at Rainy Day Thoughts shares some of her innermost thoughts as she journeys both figuratively and literally through her days. I became quite enthralled with some of her more recent posts and pictures of the landscape between Oregon and southern Arizona on an all too familiar to her, driving trip through spectacular scenery, some of which like her, I, too, find embedded in my soul from travels in the past.

I like to visit Here In The Hills with a lady who has had quite a professional theatrical background, often utilizing her musical talents, that can be most appreciated by a visit to her busy blog where virtual parties occur on special occasions. She shares much of herself, with stories, pictures of friends, many who just happen to be celebrities in the entertainment world. Her pace may be slowed at times due to respiratory problems, but her vital enthusiastic zest for life permeates her storytelling. I especially appreciate the many photographs of the exterior around her home -- in the natural environmental landscape of our Los Angeles area -- some beautiful, rare cacti in glorious bloom that remind me of the Botanical Garden in Phoenix next to their Zoo where I spent much time when we lived in the area. She often features colorful pictures of unusual and interesting creatures in residence in her yard, or surprising first time visitors such as a recent bobcat she was able to photograph.

I do now want to make note of one blog I added to my sidebar days ago without mentioning doing so at the time. The blog is listed by its original title "All About Olive" that is still a viable link, but now the blog is called "Life of Riley" reflecting the blogger's last name. Olive's age is 107 years. She is physically active, has a sharp wit, and lives in Australia. She "blobs" (as she calls it) through interviews with "helper Mike." He also posts a fascinating currently unfolding historical view with pictures of Olive and the Australia of both her current and her younger days. Australians know her well as she has previously been seen in Mike's earlier movie, has been featured in print. She receives comments on her blog from all over the world. As all writing converges with the Internet, Olive is on the cutting edge of evolving media changes.

By way of giving credit where credit is due, Olive’s blog first came to my attention with a post about her at "Time Goes By" by Ronni Bennett. Of course, the reality is, that many if not all these bloggers above have come to my attention one way or another, at one time or another, from that TGB blog -- most are Elderbloggers aged 50 years and up. What's an "Elderblogger"? You can read about why the use of the term "elder" and explore there the reasons why those as young as age 50 years are included in that term by accessing that blog’s category on "Aging.”

These are all blogs that I have found to be of interest on any given day. Based on visitors I encounter there, they clearly are of interest to others, too. My interests are eclectic, and I don't limit myself to reading solely Elderbloggers. Also, I do not restrict myself to a limited few blogs I read regularly to the exclusion of others. Yes, that does mean I may not visit the same blog as frequently, but when I do visit I enjoy catching up on what my friend has been doing while I was away -- much like my everyday life in the community where I live. If there is some matter of time significance for either of us, I would hope we could bring it to each other's attention via email so that we could arrange a visit.

I have come to believe our lives are enriched from getting to know each other through our blogs. I know my life is richer from such contact around the world on this planet Earth.

THE RIVER - Author as Elder . . . Movie Marathon

Martin Scorsese said in a DVD interview, "Practically every image in this picture just sings with color and light. There’s no doubt in my mind, The River is one of the most beautiful color films ever made.”

Months can go by and I never watch a DVD movie, then I sometimes will quite accidentally have a movie marathon as I did most recently. The very best film for me I saw at that time proved to be The River -- a reference to one of the many rivers flowing through India along which a young English girl lived with her family. This girl, Rumer Godden, began writing as a child, ultimately producing many books and poems throughout her adult life.

The movie titled the same as her book, which is semi-autobiographical, was filmed as a consequence of being championed by the son of the famous impressionist French painter, Renoir. The son, Jean Renoir, a renowned film maker directed the film with an unlikely American producer, Kenneth McEldowney, who was also a florist, characterized in several Renoir linked references here as an "eccentric" who had, also, became enamoured with the book, and movie-making. The director, Renoir, had been able to purchase film rights from the book's author, then collaborated with her to write the screenplay. There were many complications involving financing, Indian government requirements which seemed often as though they would prevent this film from being made. I think that many times some of the better quality films experience extreme challenges and setbacks, requiring great perseverance to complete them. Sounds a lot like life.

I found the film on DVD, part of The Criterion Collection, to be quite remarkable to view and was left with the impression technologically I was seeing a period piece of much more recent vintage than from when it was actually filmed. The influence of Renoir the painter's,
sensibility and style evidences throughout the son's movie. My eye was sometimes caught by film frames that captured multi-branched massive trees reaching upward against the varied colors of the sky.

I was quite unfamiliar with this movie, the book, or it's author though that may not be the case for many, certainly not those familiar with Godden's writings, or Renoir's film career.

While I was at that video store, during the entire time I was perusing the displayed DVDs, there was audio music and dialogue playing in the background throughout the store. Though I only glanced briefly at the video, my attention was periodically drawn to what I was hearing. Finally, when I was checking out I inquired as to the movie title. I was told that movie was "The River," that it was about India. I decided I'd add this DVD to what had clearly shaped up to becoming a personal movie marathon.

I determined I had rented a gem, after listening first to a special DVD feature interview with Martin Scorsese discussing what an impact this movie had on him as a small boy when it was released as a technicolor film. He shared this movie viewing experience with his father and saw for the first time a culture different from that which he had known as an American of Italian descent.

"The River" was filmed in India with footage of actual community life in action interspersed with the actors performances. Not all characters are portrayed by professional actors which is sometimes a criticism of Renoir's movies. The much younger author, now an elder, Godden, gave a very candid interview of her life in a special feature on the DVD, along with scenes captured on film when she returned to India with her adult daughter from Scotland where they had moved many years earlier. Her years in India had been filled with many happy moments and memories, coming of age experiences, the development of her writing skills, traumatic events.

I came upon this movie quite by chance in our communities video rental store which features independent and foreign films as well as features often lacking major distribution, many of which are not often found in the more commercial video stores. Since I only watch DVD movies spasmodically, with long periods passing when I see none, there is little sense in my committing to a monthly fee program by mail, so for anyone who is a subscriber to such a service, these DVDs may be available there.

There must be numerous other DVD viewers like me, as my video store seems to survive through the patronage of other local residents and college students. I'm so glad, since so much commerce, including video rentals now, is increasingly designed to require yearly subscriptions and regular monthly payments.

Even the pharmaceutical companies are not immune from wanting "regular subscribers" for more of their offerings. That was the case a few years ago when a prescription I needed to use only for a short time, two or three times a year, for nasal congestion was removed from availability, then replaced by a "better" product that had to be used year 'round and would not have immediate effect if I tried to use it as needed. I digress as I sometimes do.

Back to my video store -- I went there seeking one of the Academy Award nominated films, then just started scanning the shelves to see what new DVDs had appeared since I was last there some months ago. Any other films I might have selected weren't available, but I was surprised to find an obscure title which came to my attention when some time ago I had watched Peter Falk in "Checking Out," so added that to my collection.

As for "Checking Out," Falk portrays an older professional actor who has called his family together one last time. He has joyously proclaimed to them his decision to take control of the time when he departs this earth, has distressed them that the time he has chosen is soon. I found the movie to be a light-hearted, sometimes funny attempt with the intent to address a serious topic of death and dying. Previews at that time had reminded me of another Falk movie, "The Thing About My Folks," which I vaguely remembered seeing some months ago. All of these movies were released by the same company though I later found my obscure titled one in my movie marathon disappointingly did not have Falk in it which is what had prompted me to rent it in the first place.

When I viewed this DVD group I rented, (there was another I don't even remember now,) I soon found I was not experiencing the comic relief watching that obscure comedy I had hoped to have -- releasing all those healing endorphins into my body as a result of my expecting to be laughing aloud, but that did not happen. I guess my weak reaction is not the fault of the movie, but must just be the emotional state which sometimes descends upon me in this house. Failure to appreciate the humor must just be me, so I hardly feel presently qualified to provide a meaningful critique of those comedies. For whatever the reasons the movies of a more serious nature seemed to have the potential for stimulating my feelings.

In reference to those movies I mentioned being a disappointment, I recall some time ago watching some comedies and strangely, to me, they just didn't seem to elicit my humor either, though I thought that was a capability they possessed. In fact most movies I have seen from months ago, and now more recently, seem to just pass directly through my eyes and ears without completely registering. I find myself wondering why these comedies don't connect, assuming it must have been funny to somebody. I surely do want to try some more comedies again in the future. Maybe my failure to react to comedies and some serious movies is simply due to my mood and sense of needing to stimulate my senses and fill my mind with input that requires no personal investment or effort on my part at those times. Is this just part of the recovery process from loss of a loved one, which seems often to be the question I ask myself, when my feelings, and even reactions are different than what I expect?

But these more dramatic movies like "The River" and certainly "Babel" (which I just watched) -- as did "Crash" in an earlier year, do connect and resonate with me, though the latter two are quite different from "The River." I'll plan to select some more movies in the months ahead when the mood strikes me. I'm sure I'll be looking for movies in The Criterion Collection.