I've Turned Into A.....

Oh, my God! I never thought such a thing could happen to me!

I’ve turned into a computer geek! Lord knows, I don’t know how it happened because it wasn’t that long ago that I didn’t even want to turn the thing on. I only bought one because I figured my teenage daughter would have to use it for research, essay papers or Whatever!

I’m a member of the baby boomer generation. We didn’t grow up with computers. Besides, what would be exciting about sitting at a computer all day? That, to me, would be the equivalent of a “time-out” or punishment. As children, my friends and I entertained ourselves outdoors with fun “interactive” games like Hide and Seek, Tag, You’re It!, Kick the Can, Double Dutch jump rope, Red Light, Green Light and so on and so forth.

Homework was done using brain power. And if you didn’t have it, you worked and worked until you got it. I’m not ashamed to say I used my fingers to do math problems sometimes. That may be because we didn’t have calculators, but we did have the Abacus. Remember that, baby boomer buddies? Reading was fundamental back then but we did it by reading the ENTIRE book---not using cliff notes. I’ll never forget the time my 9th grade English teacher made us read “Moby Dick” as an assignment. I thought she must have been insane! But, in hindsight, I can now say I’m proud to have read one of the classics from cover to cover.

But now here I am, thirty-five years later, doing the unthinkable. I wake up and---even before I’ve brushed my teeth or had breakfast---I get on the computer and start checking emails and responding to messages and browsing for News I Can Use for my website. But it doesn’t stop there. I’m BLOGGING….(a word that wasn’t even in my third edition of the American Heritage Dictionary)… and I’m also networking with other folks who, for Whatever! reasons, are glued to their computers just like me. We exchange thoughts and ideas and sometimes even prayers. I do take periodic breaks to do less important things like exercise, cook meals and clean the house. But after that, it’s me and my computer until bedtime.

I’m also learning there’s lots of money to be made through this machine! I haven’t quite figured out how that all works yet, but you can best believe when I do, you won’t be hearing from me as much anymore. I’ll be off somewhere enjoying the fruits of my labor and giving my fingers a much needed rest!

Selling at the Salon

What do you do on a day when it’s raining cats and dogs? I decided I wasn’t going to let tropical Storm Ernesto rain on my parade today so I decided to go selling at the beauty salon.

Well, actually that’s not totally true. I went to the salon to get myself all “dolled up” for my husband (who came home early today), but since I’m one to always look for an opportunity to sell my book (Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey Into Middle Age), I figured I could kill two birds with one stone. Get gorgeous and get paid! Mind you, both can be challenging!

I walked into the salon and saw women everywhere. I thought to myself, “Oh, this is great!” So, I didn’t waste any time. I had two books in my purse and walked over to the dryer area. I randomly selected two women.

“Hi! My name is Beverly Mahone and I wrote this book. While you’re under the dryer, why don’t you take a look at it and if you like it, get back to me.”

My stylist then called me back to the shampoo area. While getting my hair washed, I heard lots and lots of laughter! They were really laughing very loudly. When I returned to my hairdresser’s chair, I discovered the laughter was coming from the two women who were reading my book. Before I got under my own dryer, three other women asked me if I had more copies so they could also read it.

“Of course, I do!” I learned that as an author you take books with you EVERYWHERE you go so I went out to my car and brought in seven books. I figured with 12 women in the salon, I could sell them all just on the reaction of the women who were already reading them.

And you know what, I did sell them all! Two women just picked up the books and purchased them, without even browsing through any of the pages, saying they couldn’t wait to get home to read it. I thought to myself, “I can’t wait to get home either but I won’t be doing any reading because my husband is home!”

One woman said she was going to pitch my book to her reunion group this weekend and wanted to see if I would be available to come and speak to them about the book. “Of course, I will!” I also learned that as an author you never miss out on an opportunity to talk about your book.

Well, I got my two for one today. I left as a satisfied "babyboomerdiva" and I introduced seven more women to, what is soon to become, a best-selling book!

I left the salon thanking God for the blessings and was reminded of the scripture: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

Peace & Blessings,
Babyboomerbev

Pray the Fat Away???

OK…this is Day #4 of my mind, body and spirit makeover journey…

I was watching television the other day and saw a woman being interviewed about a book she wrote telling readers to use prayer to get rid of fat. I couldn’t believe my ears! Here was this woman actually saying you can pray away fat. Now don’t get me wrong. I know, firsthand, the power of prayer but I never put it in that particular context. But then I thought, “Oh, what the heck! I’ve tried everything else. Let me give this a shot.”

So before I closed my eyes to go to sleep, I prayed to the Lord:

"Dear God, You know I’m overweight. You also know I’m unemployed and can’t afford a new wardrobe. So Lord, would you do me a favor and melt the pounds away during the night. Twenty pounds will do. This I pray in Jesus name, Amen.”

Well, when I woke up yesterday morning, it actually looked as if I had GAINED a few more pounds. My stomach was bloated and my behind had spread even more.

OK…I do believe God heard my prayer but then it hit me. According to scripture, (James 2:26) “faith without works is dead”. So if I put work more work into my exercise routine, then God will bless my effort. I hit the cross country trail at Duke University for a third day. As I said before, I love and hate that course! It's an absolutely fantastic workout, complete with nearly three miles of tough terrain and hills. But, on the other hand, it is a very strenuous workout, and when you combine it with the heat, humidity and "heartbreak hill" you leave the trail thinking it might be OK to let your middle-aged body hang on to a few extra pounds!

But I’m still determined so after going to noon Bible study I got a little rest and then went to the gym for my very first kick-boxing class. All I have to say is I used muscles I didn’t even know I had! I guess that’s a good thing though.

Before I went to bed last night, I prayed again to the Lord.

“Dear God, Thank you for giving me the energy and strength to keep pressing toward my weight loss goals. I do ask that you continue to deliver me from the evils of too much food and sugar and, Lord, please help me to stay motivated so You will bless my efforts. In Jesus name I pray, Amen."

This morning I woke up with new hope!

Where are they now???

Where are all of those now “famous” baby boomers I went to school with?

I went to Ohio University. I graduated in 1979 with a degree in Journalism. Little did I know at the time that I would be connected to some of the most successful people in their craft today just by being a member of the Ohio University Forensics Team. That’s right!

I crossed paths with students like Nancy Cartwright. For those of you who don’t recognize the name, she is the “voice” of Bart Simpson. Nancy was from a town outside of Dayton, OH---Kettering, I believe. She competed on the team for two years in the categories of Humorous Interpretation and Humorous Duo. She was funny back then and always had that sweet, baby voice. She left OU early to pursue her dreams of making it in Hollywood and, by my standard, she did just that!

Then there’s Dave Burgert. I’m not exactly sure where Dave was from. I just remember him as a very quiety, easy going young man who was a member of the debate team and the Republican party. I actually heard from him recently and “googled” him. He was selected as a “Texas Super Lawyer” at the law firm where he is a Partner. That doesn’t surprise me one bit. I always knew he’d be a lawyer. I’m surprised he’s not sitting on the bench yet.

Jack Thomas was also a member of the debate team and I believe he competed in some other categories as well. Jack and I were from the same general area. I always thought of him as a preppy white boy who had a difficult time relating to people that were “different.” We had major conflicts from time to time but we managed to get past them and work together for the good of the team. Jack went to law school and was a practicing attorney before he decided to give it all up to pursue his passion of comedy. I heard he spent some time with Second City in Chicago and is now writing for one of the Nickelodeon shows.

Deb Geisler was an extemporaneous speaker. She was always very supportive of her teammates. I always thought she had a crush on a guy named Jeff Green but I never got it confirmed. Deb is now teaching at Suffolk University in Boston.

Speaking of Jeff, he was my dramatic duo partner. I absolutely loved working with him! He took his work very seriously and was good at it. We were pretty good together and, yes, I had a crush on him too! It’s no surprise to me that Jeff is a tenured Associate Professor of dramatic Arts and Director of the Dramatic Arts program at Georgia Southwestern University. He also serves as the faculty advisor and producer for Hurricane Watch, GSW-TV16 student television productions.

Dave Radanovich was the “coolest of the cool.” He was an extemporaneous speaker. I always loved hanging out at his house with his roommate J.B. (deceased). Dave is a big shot PR guy somewhere in the Northeast---like maybe Pennsylvania.

(Arsenio Hall was also a member of the team but he transferred to Kent State. The rumor was he was ostracized by a racist coach who left the year after I arrived).

Then there’s ME. I was the team member who liked to raise everyone’s level of consciousness. I gave them hell when I felt they deserved it because of their lack of sensitivity to certain issues but I partied with them on Court Street, celebrated our winning victories (and we had many) and cried with them when they were hurting.

I’ll never forget the time they all rallied around me to perform a “Talk-A-Thon” in my efforts to raise money to become Miss Black Homecoming Queen. You can imagine the looks on people’s faces when they saw all of my white colleagues and me standing in front of Baker Center talking non-stop for the fundraiser. It was a defining moment in my relationship with all of them.

What would they have to say about me after all of these years? Trust me, they’d have some stories to tell about this best-selling author!

These are the baby boomers I went to school with. Who was in your class?

Hurricane Katrina: From One Journalist's Perspective

I was working in the newsroom when the Katrina disaster happened. It was hard not to be effected by what I saw and heard. I kept a journal of Hurricane Katrina and its impact on me professionally and personally. Parts of what is written here is from my journal.....

"Oh my God!" "Unbelievable!" "This can't be happening!" were some of the reactions from my colleagues in our television newsroom as we watched, in horror, the events unfolding in New Orleans and Mississippi a year ago. Our eyes were glued to CNN and MSNBC. Some of us shed tears, while others said silent prayers for the victims.

Although we were hundreds of miles away from the disaster, it was still considered BREAKING NEWS for us and we scrambled to find any kind of tie-in to bring the story home to our viewers in the Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville, NC area. We didn't have to look very far. Three of our colleagues had family members who were impacted by the devastation. They were busy trying to make contact---trying to make sure their loved ones were safe and out of harm's way. But soon the conditions worsened and then it became impossible to establish contact because phone lines were down. Although the majority of us didn't know anyone there, we wanted to help, but felt helpless.

As an Assignment Editor, it was my role to find story ideas and people to bring those stories to life. I knew people in New Orleans. I had telephone numbers that could reach them when others couldn't but on this occasion, I couldn't reach them either. I remember being totally glued to the TV to get information, see the pictures, hear the commentaries and share in the sorrows. I was saddened by the fact that many of the folks who lost everything they owned in life were black and poor. I can't even begin to imagine losing EVERYTHING. Some kids were separated from their parents---modern day slavery.

I had several discussions with my colleagues about the race factor being one of the reasons the government took so long to respond. Some of them countered saying it was more about "class status". So be it, I thought, but the bottom line is black and poor go hand in hand. We also had intense discussions as to why we were calling the residents "refugees." My news director said we were following the national media but I argued we shouldn't be calling them that because they aren't from third world countries. Eventually, I won that argument.

North Carolina received around 400 residents from New Orleans (what we were told initially). I remember the urgent need to help so I went to volunteer at the Evacuee Shelter in Raleigh. The drive was about 30 minutes from my home. I didn't care that gas was running around $3.00/gallon. That was a small price to pay in my opinion. I really felt compelled in my spirit to help out. Journalists weren't permitted past a certain point so I had to pretend to be a volunteer from a charitable agency. No one checked my credentials, which I thought was interesting, so I was free to walk in a find a place to assist.

I walked in and acted like I belonged there. A woman took me to an area where they were sorting used clothing. I separated the children’s clothes. I met a survivor named Rene Gibson---and his wife who was in a wheelchair. He told me he had been in the water for seven days. I can't even imagine being in that nasty, filthy, feces ridden, dead bodies floating water! I shared a bit of God's Word with him. I told him God never said we wouldn't go through trials and tribulations but He tells us He will be with us and protect us when we're going through. I also wandered into a children’s area where I gave them hugs and listened to them tell me Whatever! they wanted say. One little girl told me she just wanted to go home so she could go back to school and be with her friends.

When I walked away, I found a little corner where I broke down and cried. It was such a humbling experience. I spent the rest of the day thanking and praising God to put it in my heart to serve---not as a journalist trying to get a story--but as a member of the human race who feels and cares about his fellow man.

I need a makeover of mind, body and spirit

I had a restless night. I kept waking up every couple of hours, looking at the clock, trying to prepare myself mentally for the day ahead. I decided over the weekend that I was going to re-commit myself to exercising and eating healthy. I also decided I needed to replenish my mind and spirit by getting deeper into God's Word.

After sending out an email, announcing my new and improved website, I hit the cross country trail at Duke University. I love and hate that course! It's an absolutely fantastic workout, complete with nearly three miles of tough terrain and hills. But, on the other hand, it is a very strenuous workout, and when you combine it with the heat, humidity and "heartbreak hill" you leave the trail thinking it might be OK to let your middle-aged body hang on to a few extra pounds!

I've actually been walking on that particular cross country trail on and off for several years. I used to take my daughter when we were BOTH younger and we would have mini-sprint races along the way. Since she stopped going, I stopped doing the mini-sprints because it's just no fun to run alone. Besides, this baby boomer babe is trying to look halfway cute when she's out there and it's kind of hard to look your best when you're sweating like a pig and constantly gasping for air!

I really don't know how some of those women do it. I mean, I see them jogging along with their ponytails swinging from side to side and they don't even break a sweat and they actually look cute doing it!

WHATEVER!

No, I don't have the ponytail bounce (my hair isn't long enough) but I do have a little jiggle going on. My belly and behind can shake pretty good! On a day like today, I just want to call up Ty Pennington and ask him if he and his crew could come to my home and give ME a makeover.

Anyway, on this particular day, I decided to do a two-for-one. Get a good workout in and have some good gospel music minister to my spirit. These days I'm listening to Jennifer Evans' CD, "Delayed but not Denied." She has a song called "First Aid Building" which says:

"I'm going to the first aid building where God can see you through
I'm going to the the first aid building where you can be made brand new."

I needed to be in the first aid building getting my spirit rejuevenated this morning. I needed to be reminded of God's promise that He will never leave nor forsake me---even when I screw up. I needed to cling on to His promise that He will deliver me from evil, because honey let me tell you, evil is on a rampage and I don't want to be in the way. I also needed to learn how to just STAND STILL sometimes and allow God to handle my situations.

This morning's workout gave me just what I needed!

Peace & Blessings,
Beverly Mahone
"babyboomerbev"
Author, Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age

Marriage: The second time around

Is marriage really better the second time around? As one who falls into that category, I say absolutely! I'm very excited and feel blessed to have been given another opportunity to love again.

But in hindsight, my first marriage wasn't built on a foundation of love. It was "lust" right from the start. Unfortunately, when the passion started fading away, we realized there was nothing else we had in common. Many young people tend to confuse lust for love and fall into the trap of letting their emotions take control of their logical, rational thinking mind.

In my book, Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age, I talk about the differences in the way we think when we're young as opposed to when we grow older and wiser. When I look back over my younger days, I realize I spent way too much time craving the WRONG man for all of the RIGHT reasons. I wanted to feel love, to be loved, and to give love in return but the sex clouded my judgement in making sure I was choosing the right mate. Can you relate? How many times did you ignore someone's red flag warnings because you were head over heels in love with the "idea" of being in love? How often did you justify or simply overlook his or her faults and irresponsible behavior because you were so sure they would change?

Then what happens to your happily ever after? Mine ended abruptly in divorce court and I spent many days and nights trying to understand why I let myself get into such a mess. But thank God for maturity and wisdom! Once I wiped the tears away for good and took off the blinders, I began to see what it really meant to be involved in a meaningful relationship.

One of the beautiful things about growing older is it gives us the benefit of wisdom. That, in turn, allows us to make smarter choices. As for me, I'm smart enough not to believe in love at first sight anymore. One reason being, I don't see quite as well as I used to. I'm also smart enough to be more discriminating in my taste. I've learned how to weed out the imitation from the real thing.

So now I'm happy to say God has blessed me with a new love. He's a man who's strong enough to deal with my strengths, yet gentle enough to understand and cope with my emotional stress and strife. I'm totally enjoying my second marriage and yes, it makes lusting after him even better!

Peace & Blessings,
babyboomerbev