The 50 Plus Male

In my August 3rd post, Refining the Physically Fit Male—Surviving the Urban Jungle, I discussed how turning fifty years of age seems to somehow serve as a beacon to so many of us for the ineluctable downturn in our general health.  Obviously age is an important component of our fitness level, but I’m convinced this avenue of thought is more illusory than real.  Maintaining our physical well-being is going to take the good fight, but this is a battle we can win.  To help you get started, let’s take a look at a couple of fairly easy entry points that cover two significant areas of fitness for everyone, particularly the 50 plus male:  cardio (heart)  and our core (abs, hips, back, glutes).  While the real purpose here is to provide suggestions for those of you who haven’t been exercising and want to start “slowly,” our discussion should still be beneficial to those of you already following an exercise regimen.

Many of our towns have formal running clubs for 50 plus year old males (and females).  By and large, however, the beginner is a bit intimidated by these organizations out of fear of not being able to (figuratively and literally) keep up the pace.  The truth is that most club members are very friendly and eager to help; common sense dictates that such efforts will aid in recruiting new members.  Generally speaking though, the truth is that many 50 plus males simply have no desire to run…well gentlemen, how about walking?  There have been many articles written extolling the healthful benefits of taking regularly-scheduled walks by experts in the field.  I’d recommend taking a look at Walking.org, which even has a section for the over 50’s demographic group.

I take regular walks with my wife Nita after we finish dinner.  We do this 3-4 times weekly throughout the spring, summer, and fall months; even making the occasional foray during winter.  We walk at a brisk pace, but follow the old adage that if you can’t maintain a conversation while  you’re walking, it’s time to slow down the pace.  We find the mental benefits of our walks as important as the physical; we converse about items as simple as how our day went to meatier subjects like the news of the day.  Neets (my nickname for Nita) and I have mapped out three walking routes that we label our “short,” “medium” and “long.”  We mix these up during the week to help alleviate the tediousness of always following the same route.

As far as appropriate footwear is concerned, there are many fine athletic shoes specifically designed for walking.  I recently purchased two pairs of walking/hiking shoes from Merrell, which is a well-respected brand.  You can go to their web site, which details the line by a variety of parameters, including specific activity. So far, I’ve been very pleased with both pairs of shoes; I bought the Chameleon Iso for the lightweight design, and the Intercept, a heavier shoe which I use when walking in our local parks.

Now lets’ discuss what for many 50 plus males is a sensitive issue, namely our gut.  Too many 50 plus males look down at their stomach and wonder “what happened to my abs?”  First, let’s get a crucial point across…when thinking about your core, it’s not just your abdominals coming into play; you have to consider your back, hips, and glutes (that’s our butts guys).  I found my mid-section turning to jelly a couple of years ago, and knew I had to do something.  In addition, as many of us 50 plus males have experienced, past medical procedures (in my case two hernia operations) need to be addressed in terms of allowable or recommended physical exercise.  I have come across a  short exercise program that provides a good entry point for those of you who haven’t exercised in a while and “prefer to walk before you run.”  It can be found by all Comcast CATV subscribers; simply go to the On-Demand menu and click on:  Life & Health/Discovery Health/Exercise & Diet/Ab Workout.  This mini-workout (approx. eight minutes) is hosted by Gilad Janklowicz, a veteran in the fitness field who is associated with FitTV.  While it focuses on the abs with some fairly basic exercises, other core areas are utilized and there is a yoga-like stretching section at the end that serves as the cool-down portion of the regimen.  I used this workout  for two weeks when I first started to attack my jelly; it provided a good way to eventually ease-in to a more strenuous routine.

Once you’re ready to move up to the next level, go to the On-Demand menu and click on:  Sports & Fitness/Exercise TV/Abs/Jackie 1-on-1 Core.  This is a higher level routine that lasts approx. 23 minutes and really works all areas of your core.  It is hosted by Jackie Warner, best known for her Bravo show “Work Out.”  Don’t over-exert yourself when first trying this routine; it’s pretty tough so rest when needed.  I frequently rested the first 2-3 weeks I followed this regimen and slowly found my core strength increased to the point where I could complete almost every rep with Warner.

I’m now at the point where one of my workouts consists of completing the Janklowicz ab workout twice (back-to-back) mixed in with some other exercises I’ve learned.  My other workout consists of completing Warner’s routine, but really trying to strictly adhere to it without any cheating.  I’m on the lookout for another solid core routine to add to my mix, because another lesson for you to learn is to practice “muscle confusion;” you don’t want to fall into a rut by doing the same exercises all the time, as your muscles will adapt to this and you will no longer realize all of the benefits of the exercising.

For those of you who are not Comcast CATV subscribers, the links provided will guide you to the appropriate internet sites where you can learn more about these trainers and their routines.  Additional info for Warner, along with the ability to purchase the Jackie 1-on-1 Core program can be found at Exercise TV or at the Exercise TV Store.

The crucial point I need to reinforce for you is lose all thoughts of any inevitable downfall in your health…don’t become sedentary.  If you can motivate yourself to just get started and gradually ramp-up your efforts at a speed and comfort level appropriate for you, the mental, emotional and spiritual improvement in your life will accompany the physical.  You’ll be happier and so will your wife…and guys, we all know the benefit of that:  “happy wife, happy life.”

-Neal

(Author’s note:  this post originally was meant to be a discussion of the social nature of “Cocktail Hour” and its particular importance as such to the 50 plus male.  As the author was composing this piece, it evolved into a remembrance of time and place for the most meaningful cocktail hours the author and his wife have ever enjoyed.  Hopefully, it evokes memories of similar special moments for you.)

Twenty-four years ago, shortly after my wife Nita and I first started dating, I met her best friend of many years, Robin, along with Robin’s parents June and “Flip” (real name William). Robin and I took an immediate liking to one another; she has an infectious personality that is a combination of warmth, humor, and tenacity. I soon learned where these traits sprang from when I had my first chance to speak at length with June and Flip.

Robin’s folks were intelligent, inquisitive and each had that sparkle in their eye for one another. Hard work and perseverance had paid off with a loving family, good health, a beautiful home, worldwide travel, and active pursuit of their shared love of golf…in short, “the well-earned good life.” Little did I know that I was about to learn one more aspect of this happy family picture, one that has had a profound effect not only on Robin’s family, but my wife and I as well..

Robin’s folks owned a second home in Southampton, NY which is part of the area universally known as The Hamptons. The Hamptons has a reputation as a playground for the rich and famous, but in truth the vast majority of the residents are people like June and Flip who worked incredibly hard and were enjoying the fruits of success stemming from their flourishing careers. The Hamptons are basically comprised of year-round citizens, those who live there for part of the year (like June and Flip, who resided there from May to October), and of course, summer vacationers. My wife and I, courtesy of Robin, June and Flip were part of the latter group.

We were fortunate enough to receive annual invitations to join Robin and her family at the Southampton house for the extended July 4th weekend.  I know what some of you are thinking:  overly-crowded beaches, overbooked restaurants, shopping that was anything but a bargain, not to mention the traffic.  Well, the truth is none of that mattered one bit.  Southampton had become, long before I entered the picture, a home-away-from-home for my wife.  It only took my first visit to understand why.

Have you been fortunate enough to vacation somewhere that eventually became THE spot for you and your spouse/family? The Southampton house was in a densely wooded setting in an enclave of roughly a half-dozen homes, but June and Flip’s home was the one that backed-up to the edge of a hill overlooking the Little Peconic Bay and the thin strip of beach leading into it. The family room was in the rear of the house and when you walked out the sliding doors onto the deck, there it was…sun, calm glistening water, the occasional boat, distant views of surrounding small islands and what you knew was going to be the perfect frame for incredible sunsets. We were never disappointed when the appointed hour came and the sun slowly dissolved into the bay. This generally happened during cocktail hour, which was, thankfully, fairly serious business at the house. I literally felt the weight of the world lift from my shoulders, instinctively drew Nita to my side, raised a glass and basked in the painting taking place before my eyes. At those moments, I was never more in love with time, place and the person by my side. Nita felt the same way…we could see it in each other’s eyes without speaking a word.

Sadly, June passed away a few years ago. Flip eventually re-married and sold the Southampton house.  Now, when July 4th weekend arrives, we typically spend it with our dear friends Deb & Ed at the yearly holiday bash held poolside at their home with numerous other good friends and family members; this has become our new annual rite and we love it.  But sometime during the festivities, Nita and I will glance at one another, raise a glass to June’s memory and just look off starry-eyed, remembering those sunsets.

-Neal

Have you noticed how complicated the general subject of food has become lately?  Nightly news broadcasts, both national and local, are constantly presenting segments on the latest foods found surprisingly beneficial or detrimental to our health.  One day red wine is good for you, the next day it’s harmful; the same for foods like coffee and chocolate.  Now I understand that these examples may seem ripe (pardon the pun) for controversy, but how about when the stories are about  less obvious food items that no one would have deemed controversial before they became startling news headlines…red meat, tuna, sugar substitutes; the list grows daily.

We all know the importance of maintaining a healthy diet.  Certain foods should be altogether avoided, while others should only be enjoyed with strict moderation.  The significance of this general rule-of-thumb only increases as we gain entry into the 50 plus age demographic. Every once in a while, however, you just want to throw caution out the window and enjoy a meal where words  such as “nutrition,” “calories,” and “tooth decay” are jettisoned from our vocabulary.

I sincerely do not mean to disrespect anyone with serious health conditions involving diet (heart issues, diabetes, etc.); obviously adhering to your physician-prescribed regimen is the way to go.  But who opened the window and threw out the fun in food?  As a 50 plus male, I want to enjoy my occasional pizza, indulge in a smorgasbord of Chinese food, and hit a prime (oh the puns!) chop house and savor a thick, juicy steak along with some thirst-quenching brew with the guys.

While a lot of 50 plus males still think the kitchen is only for eating and not doing any of our own cooking, an increasing number of us have picked-up the skillet and ventured forth trying our hand at the culinary arts.  Two fairly recent discoveries have helped encourage these efforts; I’m referring to The Food Channel’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives show and The Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food show.  Various chefs and food pundits have become stars in our food universe as a result of having successful TV shows, with two in particular having broad appeal to the 50 plus male—Guy Fieri and Adam Richman.  

  Mr. Fieri hosts Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.  Each episode finds Fieri visiting inexpensive, but high-quality locally beloved food establishments that have typically been in business for many years, often having passed through family generations.  As you watch the fare being prepared, he lovingly describes the kitchen action and asks the chefs/owners questions when presented with some surprising ingredient or method of preparation.   The real treat is watching this man’s enjoyment when it comes time to sample the food.  As a chef, Fieri knows his way around a kitchen and you sense there is nothing artificial in his commentary.  His unabashed respect for the proprietors and their craft is a joy to behold, as is his warmth and humor when he joins diners at their tables.  Every time I watch this show, my hunger pangs go through the roof.  Good, basic food, expertly prepared and eagerly consumed.

Mr. Richman hosts Man vs. Food, which finds him making a sojourn to a city that has a locally legendary restaurant which, while generally known for  its hearty food, is  particularly famous for providing a time-honored, mind-boggling food challenge. This involves either the consumption of a specific dish containing an  incredible amount of bounty or is in the upper stratosphere on the hot spice scale.  Some of the challenges are accompanied by the added requirement of a time limit. The first two-thirds of each episode show Mr. Richman sampling the fare at other eateries in town and cavorting with the chef and diners.  He has an effervescent personality, is funny as hell, and is an instantly likable guy.  You wish he was your older brother.  The final third of the show is when we actually watch “man vs. food,” as Mr. Richman takes on the challenge at the featured restaurant, hoping to gain a spot on the ever-present Wall of Fame.  Foot-high sandwiches, seven pound burritos, pizzas the size of two manhole covers, and ten-decibel peppered ethnic foods (often with prodigious amounts of side dishes) have at times succumbed to the Richman appetite, and at other times have taken the measure of the man. Win or lose, he’s always gracious and ends each episode with an amusing mock news conference with the diners who served as his cheerleaders during the challenge.  Great TV!

So guys, I encourage you to become a viewer of these shows.  Amiable, knowledgeable hosts combined with outrageously enjoyable restaurants and appreciative dining customers have finally put some fun back in food.

-Neal

The subject matter of this post admittedly isn’t a pleasant one, but I’m addressing it for two reasons:  because the health of the 50 plus male is a primary concern of this blog, and perhaps you can benefit from my recent personal experience.  I’m speaking about melanoma, a cancer that starts in pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes, and is perhaps the best known form of skin cancer.

While melanoma can occur at any age, the chances of contracting it increase as you get older.  According to the researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, half of all cases transpire in the 50 plus age group and men are more likely than women to develop this condition.  Age and gender, however, are only two of the prevalent risk factors. An additional one is having in excess of 50 moles on your skin; I easily fall into this group, with the majority of my moles between my hips and shoulders (including my arms).  The number of moles isn’t the only contributing factor; melanoma occurrence is also a by-product of the type or pattern of your moles.  The good folks at Melanoma.com speak much more authoritatively on this aspect of melanoma than I can.  Both of the sources I’ve linked for you provide easy to understand information on all risk factors.

I go to my dermatologist for an annual head-to-toe check-up right before Memorial Day weekend. These visits didn’t start until I hit my forties; definitely not one of the brighter moves I’ve made in my lifetime considering I had been a sun worshipper up to that point.  My very first appointment provided an initial jolt resulting from the various posters on the walls depicting some of the abhorrent skin conditions, including melanoma, treated by dermatologists.  During my visit this year, my doctor discovered a suspicious-looking mole on my back that she decided to biopsy (a simple in-office procedure), with a lab report to follow in 3-4 days.

When my doctor subsequently called me with the lab results, she literally froze me in my tracks…the biopsy showed the excised mole had very early-stage melanoma.  I was told to immediately make an appointment with a plastic surgeon, as there was a likelihood that a wider and deeper excision than the one she made would be necessary and this was best done by the surgeon.  I took care of this the following week and this biopsy (which required a minor amount of stitches) produced clean results; all traces of the melanoma were gone.  Early detection and quick treatment prevented any spreading of the melanoma, known as metastases.  Needless to say, my sun-worshipping days have come to an abrupt end.

I want all of you to enjoy many more years on this earth, so please consult a dermatologist.  The old saying that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” doesn’t do justice to this discussion; not when a literal life and death scenario can be avoided.

-Neal

note:  title credit for this post courtesy of Sting (“Nothing Like The Sun” is the title of one of his best CD’s).

The most famous Rat Pack of all time, most 50 plus males would agree, consisted of Frank (Sinatra), Dean (Martin), Sammy (Davis, Jr.), Peter (Lawford) and Joey (Bishop).  They epitomized true friends who lived life to the fullest and “had each other’s backs” at the slightest hint of trouble.  They formed a tight-knit social unit, as best friends should; and while each man may have had many other individually cherished friendships, entry into the Pack was denied to anyone but the five of them.

While the original Rat Pack have all unfortunately passed on, the concept of the Rat Pack has continued to provide the 50 plus male the core of what each of us may consider our most important social circle outside of immediate family.  Whenever I am asked how life has blessed me, my best friendships, all of which are at least 35 years in duration, are near the top of my list.  My Rat Pack is both home grown (I live in a suburb of Philadelphia) and college-based (from my years as a student at Boston University).  My guys have been here in a heartbeat, for both good times and bad, as I have for them.

My intent, by the way, is not to slight any of our wives for some perceived lack of support, but sometimes a guy just needs to speak with “one of the boys” depending on the topic or task at hand…I know women can function the same way too, but male Rat Packs are different than our female counterparts in some crucial ways.  The most obvious, in my opinion, (oh boy am I going to draw some heat for this!) is that men are more quickly forgiving to their Rat Pack brothers for any slight; we just don’t hold grudges because that’s not part of our code.

As we progress through 50 plus years of age, these friendships seem to grow in importance.  I don’t take them for granted, as I sometimes did in my earlier years.  We no longer think of ourselves as invincible, not when other family members, friends, and classmates sadly are no longer with us.  Personally speaking, mere words cannot due justice to the high regard and “love” I have for my guys, and if they ever need me, I’m right here.

-Neal

My immediate family has been graciously supportive of my efforts in the conception of this blog and my opening posts.  This support has extended to suggesting future topics to discuss in The 50 Plus Male.  During a conversation with my mother today, she broached the subject of baldness, an idea no doubt buoyed by the way her eyes inevitably drift up to my, shall we say, “less than hirsute head” whenever she visits.

I began to lose my hair in my late thirties.  There were clues leading to this:  my maternal grandfather was semi-bald and while I had a full Afro in college, my hair was wiry and on the thin side.  The good news, I suppose, is that the loss began and ended quickly.  The sides and back of my head are still full; it’s the top that has the vacancy sign flashing…we’re only 20% full…OK, maybe 15%!

Oddly enough, the way I get my hair cut has been all the rage the past couple of years for men with  my “condition.”  I keep my remaining hair extremely short, as in military-style short.  Having long ago abandoned the need for my barber to use scissors when cutting my hair, the instrument of choice is now solely the electric clippers.  Clippers can do varying amounts of damage shearing depending on whether you get cut with just the bare-bones clippers or also use the snap-on attachments all of us MPB ( male-pattern baldness) guys know as #1, 2, 3 or 4.  Use of the clippers without any attachment leaves your hair the shortest, while use of the clippers with an attachment leaves your hair progressively longer as the attachment # increases.

I used to get my entire head cut using the #2 attachment, a practice that went on for a couple of years. On a whim, I tried a haircut one day with the #1 and stuck with that for most of the past 10-12 years.  After seeing a number of MPB guys wearing their hair even shorter than me, I took the bold leap to getting cut without any attachment, just my skin and the clippers coming together for an eventful meeting.  After the initial shock of seeing me with a haircut “just this side” of the Bruce Willis look, my wife and family/friends strongly suggested going back to using the #1 for future cuts.  There was one problem with this unanimous request; I absolutely loved the new look, and continued with it until this past February.

That’s when I started going to a barber in my neighborhood (author’s note:  the 50 plus male’s relationship with his barber will be the subject of a future post) and he suggested getting a #1 on top and gradually fading to a 0 (as in bare-bones clippers) on the sides and back, since this would look like a more professional haircut.  This has become the de rigueur look.  I’m not going as far to say that my wife is placated, but she has stopped calling me “Bruce.”

-Neal

My wife Nita and I recently celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary.  This got me to thinking about the concept of fidelity and staying “true” to your woman.  I can honestly say I have never come close to straying. I am totally in love with Neets (my nickname for Nita)  but that doesn’t mean I don’t see any number of women on a given day that I find attractive…I am a red-blooded male for goodness sakes!

While I generally regard myself as a mature and courteous guy, I still, on many occasions, find myself rating women on their looks using the proverbial 1-10 scale…the same scale we all used in our (hopefully) wild and crazy single years when describing the women we were dating to our male friends.  Sometimes, however, instead of assigning a 1-10 rating to an attractive woman, I’ll make a simple mental note that “boy, she’d make it onto my top ten list.”

I know what you’re thinking…maybe I’m not as “true” as I’d have myself believe.  That simply isn’t the case; in fact I’d be more worried if I wasn’t still participating in the somewhat adolescent practice of rating a woman’s looks.  As the saying goes (and Neets agrees), “just because you’re on a diet doesn’t mean you can’t look at the menu.”

In addition to all of this, we are constantly besieged with various top ten lists via the media regarding celebrities (both male and female, but as a straight man, I’m focusing solely on the female side) based on their looks; for example, “the ten best female beach bodies,” “the ten best-looking women over forty years of age,” and so on.  Let’s face it guys, most of us fantasize when we see these lists.  I find myself thinking, “now there’s a woman I would like to have known in my single days.”  So I decided to jot down my current top-ten list of celebrities who can make me stop in my tracks…uh Neets honey, remember I’m only looking at the menu…

With a nod to The Late Show with David Letterman, here’s today’s top ten:

(honorable mentions who just missed the cut:  Marisa Miller, Jeri Ryan)

10.  Elle Macpherson

9.  Rosario Dawson

8.  Halle Berry

7.  Monica Bellucci

6.  Catherine Bell

5.  Diane Lane

4.  Salma Hayek

(author’s note:  for the top three choices on this list, I present women you may regard as past their heyday, but not only are they still damn attractive, they are my first three entries into Neal’s personal all-time Hall of Fame)

3.  Raquel Welch

2.  Ann-Margret

1.  Sophia Loren

There you have it, women of all sizes, shapes, color and ethnicity; all extremely talented in their field.  Hey, I’m not just a one-note kind of guy!  Some of the names, notably my Hall of Fame entries, are mainly thought of by us 50 plus males, but that’s OK; we know what the rest of you guys are missing.

-Neal

Ahh, your first time…what man doesn’t remember who he was with, where he was, and how mind-blowing it was…just like you knew it would be.

Uh guys, I’m not talking about your first woman; no, I’m unfortunately referring to that first time you received a membership solicitation in the mail from AARP! When it happened to me, you could hear my groan from a hundred miles away. Turning fifty is a big enough event unto itself; seeing the AARP return address on that envelope even before opening it is being slapped in the face and that, my friends, is a whole other ballgame.

Here’s the dichotomy with this whole issue…I’m aware, as are most other 50 plus males, that AARP is a terrific organization. Upon reading that first appeal to join, you’re presented with a multitude of benefits “once they gotcha…” However, to this day (remember, as I compose this post, turning 57 years of age is quickly approaching), I have not pulled the trigger and joined. I know what you’re probably thinking; it’s just sheer vanity getting in the way of rational action. But hey, did I mention that I just cannot pull the trigger?

Give AARP credit: they know the meaning of “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!” While they take care not to overwhelm you with mailings, they are definitely following a model of periodic consistency. Deep down, in my heart of hearts, I know I’ll eventually come to my senses and take advantage of the privileges of membership, and that this day is coming sooner rather than later.

So here’s my question: Do you understand why I haven’t joined thus far? Am I just acting immaturely? Is it just plain foolishness? Please let me know your thoughts, because for a guy who prides himself on thinking through most situations in a concise and clear manner, I’m totally confused.

-Neal

I thought it appropriate to begin The 50 Plus Male focusing on the topic of health, specifically what it really means for a man to be deemed physically fit. After all, it’s said that if you don’t have your health, nothing else matters.

My inspiration for this post comes from an article in the April 2009 edition of Men’s Health magazine written by Christopher McDougall. I was so enthralled with the subject matter and how deftly Mr. McDougall put the reader squarely in the middle of the action, that I knew within the first four paragraphs I was going to save this article for future reference. The article centers on Erwan Le Corre and his discipline of MovNat or “Natural Movement,” which he teaches in a tiny village in the Brazilian rain forest. Le Corre is acknowledged as one of the world’s most physically fit men (this affirmation, if possible, seems modest by the time you’re done reading the article), and teaches how men who may be in amazing shape as judged by normal standards actually do not have what he calls a “smart body.” Because of this, Le Corre’s disciples (and any of us mere mortals) initially cannot come close to performing everyday movements such as running, jumping, and lifting at the incredible level demonstrated by Le Corre. The importance of this is that such movements are practical ones that we need to master in order to swiftly and confidently call on the basic physical skills needed not just in everyday life, but in dangerous situations that may call for high-risk, heroic action. The basic idea isn’t to work out for building size, but rather, as Le Corre states, to become lean, quick and incredibly mobile…what is referred to in the article as “functional fitness.” This is not what is always preached at your local gym nor does it jibe with the reason so many of us exercise, which is to just look fit, as opposed to truly being fit.

My overall health and fitness level became a key concern of mine when I turned fifty a few years ago. This wasn’t because I was in bad shape (most of my family and friends would agree I’ve kept myself in pretty decent shape), but rather because I was afraid that turning fifty was the precursor of the inevitable downfall of my general fitness level. This concern was abetted by some recent physical setbacks such as rotator cuff surgery which now prevented me from performing certain exercises (for example, overhead presses with free weights). The simple truth of the matter is that physical fitness is a primary component of maintaining the “warrior mentality” I alluded to in my previous post, and I was afraid of losing this edge. Have any of you succumbed to this apprehension? Please send your comments. In future posts, I’ll let you know how I’m trying to physically and emotionally conquer this roadblock.

-Neal

Remember when you hit “the big 5-0?”  It doesn’t matter if this happened recently or some time ago, I’ll bet one of your initial thoughts was “how did that happen; where has the time gone?”  Have the years since flown by like a cool summer breeze or has the air stilled like a hot humid night?

So many questions arise concerning the crucial aspects of life:  your health, marriage, family, finances and career just to name a few.  I turned 50 in August 2002 and now find each day poses new challenges, and some surprising avenues of pursuit in my quest to engage these life-hurdles with abundant gusto…or, as I more commonly ruminate, living life by brandishing the “warrior mentality” of my  20’s, 30’s and 40’s.

The 50 Plus Male blog will focus on how to flourish and continue to live a full and meaningful life; one filled with a sense of vitality and a zest for the opportunities each day can bestow.  Sometimes I’ll have suggestions, many times I’ll only be able to pose the questions and look to you, my readers, for guidance…I don’t lay any claim to being a guru in this subject area, just eternally inquisitive.

It’s said that “life is a gamble”…well folks, if you’ll kindly permit me to use an overt metaphor, let’s get the poker game going; it’s time to shuffle up and deal…

-Neal