A Personal Essay by Boomerful Reader Anna Petrick

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Each stage of life brings with it a set of fears - both seen and unseen.

That chubby-cheeked four year old may fear the dark; mamma leaving the house without him; and bugs and the big collie next door. The first day of kindergarten holds its own fears: "How will the teacher know my name?"; "I won't know where the bathroom is."; "What if some kid takes my snack?" Fearful indeed for a four- or five-year-old.

The kindergarten years soon become the teen years and a different set of fears surfaces:  "Will the other kids think I'm a loser?"; "Is this outfit dumb?"; "Will Mr. Larson give me a detention if I don't hand in this report?"

The teen years evolve into marriage for many and this brings yet other fears. The excited bride-to-be fears her wedding dress may not be ready on time, or she gains a few ounces and is afraid the dress will no longer fit.  The groom-to-be is afraid he will lose the rings or he will forget where he is to stand when the big day arrives.

Maturity - some call it old age - arrives and the face of fear changes yet once more: "Are those wrinkles?"; "Is that a grey hair?"; "That scale can't be right!"

Having survived these life stages and accompanying fears, I am now at the late, late boomer stage and the face of fear has almost disappeared from my life. I know where the bathroom is every place I go; I live alone and there is no one to take my snacks; I have lived so long with wrinkles they are like old friends. And it is no longer worth the cost to color my hair; I simply leave it as it is.

My one abiding fear now wears the face of Alzheimer's Disease. And I know that face well. I watched a sweet, gentle younger sister leave the family circle at the age of 55 because of Alzheimer's. I saw an older brother become a mindless infant before his death from this disease. And a beloved sister now is enduring many of the symptoms of this disease.

Statistics tell me that with my family history I am at risk for the development of Alzheimer's. But statistics also tell me there is much I can do to hold it at bay. Along with good nutrition, keeping the mind busy is believed to be a hedge against this illness. So keeping my mind busy now is my number one job.

The local libraries feed my love of reading, as do the two daily newspapers that arrive at my door each morning. I expect my mind to solve the three crossword puzzles printed in the papers, as as well as some from the endless supply on the Internet.

My computer works overtime helping me fill in the blanks in the family genealogy Ive been working on since 1976. And believe me, the mind of anyone doing genealogy gets a workout, matching names and dates to family generations!

Travel, it is said, broadens the mind. Trips in the United States and several countries in Europe have given me much pleasure. Perhaps, in traveling, the necessity for the mind to remember flight times, hotel room numbers, and the difference in value between US and foreign currency may help broaden the time between a healthy mind and Alzheimer's.

Bed time does not always mean rest for my mind; I do not allow my mind to keep regular hours. Paper and pencil are always on the bedside table as the "wee hours of the morning" are prime working times when I'm in the grip of a new poem. Often just the right word or right line or right title calls out to me from the blackness of the night.

If someday Alzheimer's disease does come knocking at my door, I can face it in the knowledge I did all I could to keep my mind whole for as long as I could.

by Contributing Editor Melina Papadakis

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Many Baby Boomers decide to become entrepreneurs, working out of their homes or opening small businesses. But potentially expensive computer problems can throw a monkey wrench into the finances of any budding business. I.T. bills can range from zero dollars a month to thousands of unbudgeted dollars. Now all those troubles may become a thing of the past, thanks to people like Chip Reaves and his company Computer Troubleshooters.

The new trend is paying up front for the security of knowing your computer will not stumble when you need it. Many computer consulting firms nationwide are offering what the industry calls "Managed Services," a sort of health insurance for small business computer needs.

For a flat monthly fee I.T., gurus like Chip Reaves handle all regular maintenance and take care of any computer problems. "Technology consulting firms like ours used to get paid when computers broke down," he said. "Now, more and more, our franchise owners are telling us clients prefer to pay a predictable monthly bill to keep computers healthy."

Companies that are large enough to have I.T. departments can deal with the occasional computer crash, but businesses with 25 or fewer employees tend to contract out their computer repair and maintenance.

"Those smaller businesses are actually the ones that can least afford to have computer trouble," said Reaves. "Little guys really depend on all their staff being productive all the time. We fix everything from virus infections to server crashes."

Reaves added that small companies often waste valuable time on computer issues. "We want to eliminate computer problems so that our small businesses can stop worrying about when their next computer problem will be and, instead, let us show them how they can enhance their businesses with new technologies."

How techno-savvy are you when it comes to computers? Let us know how you handle computer hassles.

For more interesting articles and news you can use, visit our main Web page at www.Boomerful.com.

by Contributing Editor Melina Papadakis

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The kindly old family practitioner keeping an eye out for the patient's overall health is a thing of the past. These days, doctors are as swamped with paperwork as they are with patients.

The New England Journal of Medicine reports the average doctor's appointment lasts less than 22 minutes. An American Medical Association report cites patients changing health insurance providers as a reason few have the same 'family doctor' watching over them year after year.

It's quickly becoming the patient's responsibility to keep an eye on her own changing health, guide her doctors, and pursue preventive health maintenance.

In his new book, Medical Crisis: Secrets Your Doctor Won't Share With You, Dr Anthony Martin asserts that breast cancer and prostate cancer are nearly 100 percent preventable. It takes more than five years for most cancers to grow to the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen. By the time cancer is found by routine blood tests or feeling a lump, the patient may have missed precious time.

Here are Dr. Martin's four warning signs to find out if you are on the path to cancer, stroke or other illnesses:

1) Energy. "If you've been tired for three weeks straight, your body is trying to tell you something is wrong." Long-term fatigue is tied to red blood cells. Red blood cell problems can lead to liver, kidney or brain trouble. Check yourself: Ask your doctor for a simple blood test.

2) PH Balance. 70 percent of the human body is water. Water, like in your swimming pool, is either acidic or alkaline. An unbalanced pH (Potential Hydrogen) level is a breeding ground for cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and pre-mature aging. Check yourself: Ask your doctor for a saliva test.

3) Free Radicals. The body produces free radicals as a process of detoxifying itself. When balanced, they are used by the immune system to destroy bacteria and viruses. Unbalanced free radicals can lead to cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke, arthritis or Alzheimer's. Check yourself: Ask your doctor for a urine test.

4) Inflammation. You need cells to 'puff up' to stop bleeding but too much can strangle the arteries and cause coronary heart disease. Fat cells are a side affect of obesity. Too many fat cells or cells that are too 'puffy' can lead to asthma, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Check yourself: Ask your doctor for a blood test.

According to Dr. Martin, once you've got a realistic idea of where you stand, you can work toward healthier living habits. "Change your attitude, change your diet, change your exercise habits and change your supplements," he said.

Do you have a personal health regimen that you follow? What do you do to stay healthy?

For more interesting articles and news you can use, visit our main Web page at www.Boomerful.com.

Many men address the issue of severe hair loss by simply shaving their heads. Michael Jordan, Bruce Willis, Andre Agassi and other celebrities have made male baldness not only acceptable, but fashionable and attractive.

Women are not so lucky. They rarely want to go the cue ball route when they experience hair loss. The hair restoration experts at Bosley www.bosley.com offer a solution: hair line recreation.

Many people do not know that hair transplantation can be very localized. This is particularly true for women who experience widening parts or bald spots behind the frontal hair line. Restoration of the hair line around the face has maximum impact and benefit for most people.

According to Bosley experts, hair line transplantation involves a high level of artistry, since it isn't really a line at all, but a zone in which subtle gradations exist of fine to thicker hairs. "A physician who practices hair transplantation must know the classical rules of facial dimensions," explained Ken Washenik, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Director of Bosley. "He or she must develop a sculptors keen sense of balance and proportion and a portrait painters sense of refinement in blending and shading."

Dr. Washenik explained how the process is achieved. "To give a soft, natural look, 'donor hair' is removed from the donor site at the back and along the sides of the head where permanent lifetime hairs are found in good supply," he said. "Very fine hairs can be taken from the donor area closest to the temple. We harvest this hair in such a way that grafts of only one, two or three hairs are placed into tiny openings in the scalp along the hair line.  Fine hairs are placed strategically in the front just the way nature does it to create a completely natural look."
 

Dr. Washenik added that most hair transplant patients return to work within a few days. After about three months, the hair begins to grow at the normal rate of half an inch per month so that visible results will appear slowly over time. The average hairline procedure can run $6,000-$8,000, depending upon the number of grafts required.

Would you consider hair transplantation if your hair started to thin? Give us your thoughts on this procedure.

For more interesting articles and news you can use, visit our main Web page, www.Boomerful.com.

WomenCount and "What's Your Point, Honey?" are proud to announce their partnership on behalf of women everywhere. WomenCount is a non-profit political organization giving women nationwide a powerful voice in the political process. "What's Your Point, Honey?" is a new documentary exploring the issues that face women every day and the future of womens leadership.

"The movie is a visual representation of what WomenCount is all about," commented co-founder, Rosemary Camposano. "The young women in 'What's Your Point, Honey?' 'get it.' Lasting change comes through the political process and activism combined."

"My filmmaking partner, Amy Sewell, and I are thrilled to partner up with WomenCount, an organization destined to bring the waves of change for women," said Susan Toffler, co-writer/producer/director of "What's Your Point, Honey?"

At the Democratic Convention in just a few weeks, the partnership will begin its work to take this message on the road. WomenCount will conduct issue-related campaigns on the very same issues addressed in "What's Your Point, Honey?" such as lack of political representation for women in the U.S. Congress. The shared interest of achieving equality for women and giving a voice to an often silent group is what propels this venture.

"We are so excited to have found Susan and Amy," said Managing Director of WomenCount, Stacy Mason. "Not only are they incredible women and feminists in their own right, they put their passion into action in a way that creates a powerful commentary. The film says: Weve come a long way but look how far we have to go."

For more information, visit www.womencount.org and www.whatsyourpointhoney.com.

Are you involved with the feminist movement and/or women's political issues? Tell us about what you're doing.

For more interesting articles and news you can use, visit our main Web page, www.Boomerful.com.