Best Age Ever

A life story: the mid-air collision and my move to California

2008-09-25T13:42:33Z

Thirty years ago today I flew into the San Diego airport around 4:30 in the morning. I don't remember the airline - I'd flown all night to get there from Kentucky on a cheap one way ticket to begin my adult life, and to begin it in California. My friends Jim and Todd picked me up at the airport to take me to my new home in Orange County. It was still dark.

We drove to Todd's sister's house in Mission Viejo, and stopped there to rest from being up all night. Not long after, we all fell asleep in the living room - some on the floor and one on the couch. The day was beginning to heat up. I remember the temperature that day got up to 108º, a record at the time. It was a beautiful clear day.

Somewhere around 11 in the morning I called my parents to let them know I got to California. No big deal. Mom answered the phone in hysterics. Honestly, I couldn't make out much of what she was saying, but I got that she was upset and very angry. Finally, the story came out. Two planes had collided mid-air over San Diego that morning around 9 a.m. Pacific time. A little more than four hours after I landed at the same airport. A PSA Boeing 727-214 commercial jet and a private Cessna 172 with two pilots aboard. In all, 144 people died: 137 in the planes and seven on the ground from the falling wreckage and fire. Mom thought I was one of them.

This anniversary means a lot to me. I started my new life that day. Others perished. How could I take that in? What did it mean? It seemed so close, and at the same time so distant.

In my next four months in California, there were assassinations in San Francisco, a large earthquake, and the Jonestown suicides/massacre (with many ties to California). It seemed California was in the news every day.

I was 23 and full of hope. I just knew this was where I was supposed to be - and I was.

Tip for saving money on compost, soil and manure

2008-06-18T21:56:49Z

If you prefer to purchase bags of soil and manure: here's a tip for saving money. Walk past the brightly colored bags of brand names in the front of the store or garden center and head to the back rows.

The brand names will tout "organic soil", "organic garden soil" and such. But, the bags in the back will be rich and organic as well. And a whole lot cheaper.

The price difference can be staggering. At the garden center for my local home improvement store, the brands in the front of the store sold for $8.99 to $16.99 per forty pound bag. Compare that to the ones above that sold for $1.97 to $2.97. Big difference!

I used the same stuff last year, and my plants loved it. They were strong and healthy. This year, I added more. And as my garden guru said: "Man! You've got some seriously rich soil here."

And then he went to the store to buy some for his garden.

Green garden - as in organic

2008-06-18T19:22:38Z

For years, I've practiced organic gardening whenever possible. Compatible plantings, beneficial insect introductions and most of all, healthy soil, can prevent many of the common garden problems and bring you a bountiful harvest.

Here are some of my favorite tips, which have worked well over the years:

Prepare the soil early by adding manure and compost when you till, before you plant.
Cow manure, zoo poop, blood and bone meal, fish emulsion and worm castings all add nutrients. Ask a local nursery what works best in your climate. You may also want to test some soil samples - most local agriculture extension offices can perform this service for a modest fee.
Investigate drip irrigation systems. They use less water, take less time, and are relatively cheap to install. A win all the way around!
If you don't have a lot of worms - get some! They will aerate your soil so you don't have to, and their castings (aka poop) nourish the soil for free!
Got pesky bugs? Most nurseries sell beneficial insects like lady bugs, which have voracious appetites for aphids.
Avoid treated lumber as a border or bin material for raised beds where you grow food. The chemicals used to treat the lumber leach out into the soil, and into your plants.

Dressing "appropriately"

2008-03-20T21:18:49Z

"How do I dress appropriately, so I look like I know the current trends - but not look like an idiot?" Hands down, that is the number one question that we've heard whenever we talk about best age ever. Nothing else comes close.

Some friends were mulling this over the other day, trying to figure out what determines "appropriate". We came down to two things: place and age. Place can mean event or geography, and is easier to deal with. A wedding in Southern California has a different style than one in Moline or Cincinnati. I've learned to check with the host if possible, in advance.

Age is trickier - especially since it seems like a moving target. What worked for my mom or grandmother sure won't fit the bill now. And all of the advances with hair coloring, knowledge of fitness and nutrition give us a great advantage.

Getting ready for this year's garden

2008-03-17T19:08:08Z

Wow! In four days it is Spring Equinox! Already in my climate, the hyacinths, tulips and day lilies are poking up through the soil. Most of the trees look ripe to flower anytime. Friends in Southern California say the flowers are already in bloom, and the weather getting hot. In the next month, time to plant the borders, vegetables and herbs.

In the meantime, here is a picture from last summers garden. The marigolds on the edge kept the bunnies out.

Words, words, words: when do we become "aged"?

2008-03-17T19:03:22Z

I recently came across an article about the "silver tsunami" of "aged" people moving to San Francisco. "Aged" is defined, apparently, as over 60. Right now it seems that 18% of the city is "aged" and more to come - projected at 20% soon.

Okay, we are not twenty anymore. But my goodness! It is funny to see the terms sprouting up. The more polite "woman of a certain age", and perhaps the old gem "snowbird" come to mind.

Seems to me one of the first things an inclusive lifestyle metro area - with 1/5^th of the population over 60 - may want to consider that "aged" and "elderly" and "geriatric" might not be the best words to use. : ) Anyone have some fun ideas?