SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2005

In January, the first batch of Baby Boomers turns 60. Thanks to healthier lifestyles and modern medicine, many will remain active for decades, like our bathing beauty. For an increasing number of Americans in the 21st century...

A Report By

Plus... Sheila Lukins’ Suggestions for Delectable Holiday Fare • In Step With...Actor Ken Watanabe The author of Passages explores the exciting next stage.

™ Life Begins At 60 By Gail Sheehy Three hundred years HE BUSINESSWOMAN only read up to their own passage; in what I call the Second Adult- ago, the average life in the big chair closes the other side of 30 was a dark hood, I have a rebellious purpose: expectancy in the her eyes while concealer continent better left unexplored. to put out the word that midlife Colonies was in the is applied by a makeup I have to admit, I stopped be- today is a gift that keeps giving. 30s. Life was harsh, diets were unbalanced, artist. She is getting fore age 50 in Passages. I found it In the space of a single genera- and (in the world ready to speak at an im- impossible to picture myself at tion, Boomers have fundamen- before antibiotics and portant conference. “I such an advanced age. Back then, tally altered the shape of the modern medicine) too don’t keep a mirror in my office,” she once past the big five-oh, careers were adult life cycle. By taking longer to grow many women died in Tsays. “Why spoil my self-image? In my settled: One was either coasting toward up and delaying marriage, parenting and childbirth and too head, I’m still 30.” retirement, resigned to failure or patron- retirement, they have shifted all the many other people In reality, the businesswoman is 60. Be- ized as a has-been success. Children were stages of adulthood ahead by 10 to 15 died of everything lieve it or not, that is the birthday to be cel- launched. Idealism had faded. Learning years. Science now tells us that after our from scurvy to impacted teeth. ebrated in 2006 by the van- was completed. Love was mid-50s, 70 percent of aging is controlled Today, scientific guard of Baby Boomers. I have a about cuddling or rocking by our lifestyle: how actively we move progress not only And right behind them are grandchildren, certainly not around, whether we smoke or we drink to allows us to reach our 4.3 million more Boomers rebellious associated with computer excess, how well we sleep, how many close 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s who will celebrate—or purpose—to dating or uninhibited sex. friends we keep up with, and how engaged —it also gives each of deny—turning 50 next year. Fifty is still a threshold. we remain in life, work and community. us a real opportunity Will they approach the put out the For men, the specter of Medicine, together with alternative medi- to live better lives. journey from here on with being stripped of the robes cine and the fitness and yoga booms, has Next year, word that a what-the-hell-the-kids- of position or power—as expanded the life course so that the aver- Americans will midlife today celebrate a huge, are-gone joie de vivre? Or will younger, cheaper Websters age Boomer male is now expected to live ongoing birthday they deny the reality of sure is a gift that snap at their heels—begins into his high 70s and the average female party, as the first maturity and rely on diets to throw them off balance. into her 80s. Possibly 3 million or more members of the Baby and spandex in the effort to keeps giving. For women, the marker are predicted to last until 100. Boom generation preserve their youthful self-image forever? event is, of course, menopause. My friend The years between 50 and 75 I call the (born between 1946 Age phobia among Baby Boomers is a Liz Smith, the syndicated columnist, Age of Mastery. In our First Adulthood, and 1964) turn 60. well-known phenomenon. I was first quips: “Women would rather stand up in we are bound by our roles—student, ap- These aging Boomers have an unprecedented made aware of it 30 years ago, when I a crowded restaurant and say, ‘I have bird prentice, spouse, parent—and at pains to capacity to do, to enjoy wrote Passages, a book that delineated the flu,’ than admit to being in menopause.” please those whose approval defines us. and to influence the stages of the adult life cycle. Readers But now that I’m a seasoned woman But after 50, we can finally be truly our- world around them, as then age 20 to 30 repeatedly told me they in her 60s, enjoying the freedom of being selves. A Midwestern teacher who re- GAIL SHEEHY PORTRAIT BY GLINN/MAGNUM PHOTOS PARADE will explore in our Live Longer, Better, Wiser ™ series. Who’s We plan to feature Who’s articles on health, Turnıng Suzanne Somers fitness, sex, nutrition, October 16 personal finance and relationships by Sylvester Donald Trump Diane Keaton Bob Vila leading experts. We Stallone June 14 January 5 June 20 60? July 6 also will offer resources in the magazine and Laura Bush November 4 at www.parade.com to help you and Americans of all George W. Bush ages live to your full July 6 potential. Judy Woodruff Reggie Jackson Tommy Lee Jones November 20 May 18 September 15 —The Editors

COVER PHOTO BY DOROTHY LOW FOR PARADE (MODEL POSED FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY); MAKEUP BY JUDIE TALLMAN; STYLING BY MARY ALICE HANEY FOR SOLO ARTISTS. OTHER PHOTOS BY AFP/GETTY (BUSHES), KRAMER/GETTY (STALLONE), WAMSTEKER/AP/WIDE WORLD (TRUMP), SPELLMAN/WIREIMAGE (KEATON), PAGE 4 • D ECEMBER 11, 2005 • PARADE KOHEN/AP/WIDE WORLD (VILA), COOPER/AP/WIDE WORLD (SOMERS), AGOSTINI/GETTY (WOODRUFF), KASZERMAN/ZUMA (JACKSON) AND LACROIX/WIREIMAGE (JONES) cently deposited her last child at college one of the most basic instincts has been and started her own business spells out a to reproduce ourselves as soon as we are Taking Our Pulse typical attitude: “I’ve spent 50 years of able. But once Boomer women kicked The PARADE/Research!America Health Poll my life pleasing everyone—my teachers, open the doors of opportunity to fulfill my bosses, my boyfriends, my husband, themselves as more than breeders, they my children. Now,” she says, “I care demanded the medical help to give birth What Americans about pleasing some people, and the rest later and later, and they got it. The ac- can just go fly a kite!” tress Susan Sarandon was the emblem- Think About Aging Free at last! Vital, visible, assured, allur- atic late-baby model, birthing two chil- PARADE and Research!America recently polled a ing, veterans of failure, beneficiaries of the dren in her mid-40s. She turns 60 next cross-section of 1,000 Americans about their attitudes toward aging and longevity. This is what we learned: financial prudence of their parents—these year and won’t see those children off to are more fitting descriptions of the van- college until she arrives at what used to How long would you guard of Boomers than labeling them by be standard retirement age. What makes a like to live? person seem young? age. By the sheer heft of Geena Davis, America’s A majority of Americans (58%) 50% answered that they their numbers and bold ex- Those in first (fictional) female Presi- said they’d like to live to 85 considered a person young if pectations, they may frame their 60s dent, as star of the new ABC- at least, and 26% would like to he or she is “active,” “busy” a new vision of aging. TV series Commander in Chief, reach 95 or older. or “energetic.”Others linked This is a generation that have active is following the pattern: She When asked, “How long do youth to “appearance” (13%), has made a habit of rein- minds and gave birth to her first child you think you will live, 43% “a positive attitude” (10%) or venting themselves. Madon- at 46 and followed up with said they anticipated a lifespan “mental alertness” (5%). na, who at 47 calls herself vigorous twins at 48. “I’m so glad I of 85 or beyond, and 10% Only 3% of those polled Mrs. Guy Ritchie, has es- waited,” she says, on the expect to live to 95 or older. said “age” is the one factor, bodies and above all others, that makes chewed being a “very selfish brink of turning 50. “I can enjoy the them think of a person as person” for frolicking with be a much better mother In 20 years, how do “young.” her family on a “veddy Brit- benefit of a now.” This may be the most you think life will be ish manor” in the English mature radical voluntary alteration for 80-year-olds? What makes a countryside. Her 2004 tour, of the life cycle of all the 49% of Americans said 80- person seem old? “Re-Invention,” amounted perspective changes wrought by the year-olds will be much healthier 30% answered that a physical to a musical seminar for Boomer generation. in 20 years than 80-year-olds problem or limitation is the aging Boomers on how to on life. For the vast majority of today; 33% said life will be one quality that makes a do it (provided they’re rich and famous). American and European women and the same as it is for 80-year- person seem old; 15% said a The Goldie Hawns and Kurt Russells men today, the 60s are a stage where a olds today; and 9% believe mental limitation, while 13% that, in the year 2025, 80-year- said a person is old when he have inspired older Boomers not to settle maximum of freedom of choice co-exists olds will be able to do and or she is incapable of self- for roles defined by age. Paul McCartney with a minimum of physical limitations. enjoy virtually everything that care. Only 5% cited a doesn’t allow being knighted to get in While some are struggling with serious 40-years-olds can do today. person’s actual age. the way of remaining a mop-haired illness, financial hardship or caretaking rocker who keeps reminding us that our of elderly relatives, as a broad generaliza- Research!America is a nonprofit public-education and inner child is still very much alive. tion, today’s 60-somethings still have ac- advocacy group for medical research. For more about Boomer women have broken the bio- tive minds and vigorous bodies and medical and health research and its relationship to longevity, visit www.researchamerica.org on the Web. continued >> logical clock. For 30,000 generations,

Candice Bergen May 9 Al Green April 13

Cher Patty Duke Pat Sajak Hayley Mills Susan Sarandon May 20 August 19 December 14 October 26 April 18 October 4

Ben Vereen Linda Ronstadt Rollie Fingers Sally Field Donovan Steven Spielberg October 10 July 15 August 25 November 6 May 10 December 18

PHOTOS BY ANDERSON/CONTOURPHOTOS (CHER), DHARAPAK/AP/WIDE WORLD (CLINTON), ARROYO/AP/WIDE WORLD (DUKE), MCBRIDE/RETNA (GREEN), MORA/ PARADE • D ECEMBER 11, 2005 • PAGE 5 GETTY (SAJAK), COUNTESS/WIREIMAGE (MILLS), AGOSTINI/GETTY (SARANDON), GRAYLOCK/AP/WIDE WORLD (BERGEN), BROWN/GETTY (VEREEN), JACOBS/ZUMA (RONSTADT), ANDREW/ZUMA (FINGERS), GRAYLOCK/AP/WIDE WORLD (FIELD), ALMASI/UPPA/ZUMA (DONOVAN) AND DJANSEZIAN/AP/WIDE WORLD (SPIELBERG) Turning 60|continued to 59 were still working. By of profound importance. All of us What Would You Call 2004, their participation have a stake in appealing to this vital enjoy the benefit of a mature was up to 70 percent. generation to give back, in apprecia- perspective on life—the first The Stage Of Life At Catalyst, a nonprofit tion for the cornucopia of opportu- time they possess that po- Between 60 and 80? research organization work- nities they have been able to enjoy in tent combination. ing to advance women in our open society. The Age of Mastery can- That’s what PARADE, the Harvard School of business, the trend they see Inevitably, at some point in our Public Health and the MetLife Foundation want not be about coasting until to know. Several million Baby Boomers are among women who have 50s or 60s, most of us will face a crisis retirement or playing endless entering their 60s with unprecedented good had significant careers in of great magnitude, such as when a rounds of games. It must be health, energy and expectations for longevity. the commercial world is a serious illness strikes us or our part- a preparation for stages that Suddenly, traditional phrases like “senior desire for a new career in the ner, or one or the other is shoved off in the past only the excep- citizen,” “old” or “retired” seem outdated. nonprofit world, says Ilene the career ladder and left hanging in tional among us ever Author Gail Sheehy has referred to this period as Lang, its president, who meaninglessness, or a war puts an the “Second Adulthood” and the “Age of reached. Most Boomers ex- Mastery.” But what would you call this stage of made the change herself. “I adult child in harm’s way. Dramatic pect to continue to work in life? And why? The best ideas may be published look at my genetic profile—I life accidents such as these strip away one way or another—part- in a future issue of PARADE. could live to be 100. Two of the edifice of our well-defined lives, time or as consultants, con- my kids are still in college or and a hunger wells up for a greater Send your ideas to “Stage of Life,” c/o tract teachers, community PARADE, P.O. Box 4943, Grand Central grad school, so I’m not over depth of meaning and value in the ac- volunteers or self-employed Station, New York, N.Y. 10163-4943 (include the hump yet. Lots of peo- tivities of our everyday lives. entrepreneurs—through their your name, address and age). Or go to ple in their 50s are feeling The acknowledgement of death >>www.parade.com to send your response and to learn 60s and some into their 70s more. Submissions may be edited and may be published the same way. And they can be an enormous asset in one’s life. or beyond. This brand-new or used in any medium. All submissions become the want to put to use the great It pushes us to search for meaningful- property of PARADE and will not be returned. expectation is fueled not only career expertise, experience ness. And the search for meaning in by their desire to feel a con- and network they have built whatever we do becomes the universal tinuing sense of purpose and social more interesting settings. to help others.” preoccupation of the Second Adult- participation but also because they Many of today’s women entering It remains to be seen if the hood. It is rooted in a spiritual imper- must be prepared to support them- the Second Adulthood are more Boomers’ youthful zeal for social ac- ative that grows stronger as we grow selves for greatly elongated later lives. feisty than fearful. They don’t want a tion will be reborn as they reach the older. Some people are moved to Men in corporate life have typically man or a role to define them any- stage the psychoanalyst make a spiritual quest. Others do not topped off around 55, but this gener- more. They are defining themselves. said calls for “generativity”—the vol- relate this hunger to any religious be- ation of grayheads is still in demand. As women age and develop greater untary obligation to care for others. lief but feel the need to stretch be- Companies are looking for the two mastery over their emotions and Thus far, compared to their parents’ yond self and even relationships, E’s—Experience and Energy. The gray- their environment, many gain deep- generation, Boomers have done less reaching toward a deeper apprecia- heads who are the easiest to place, ened confidence, power and inner in every measure of civic engage- tion of a collective intelligence work- says Ed Koller, president of a leading harmony. Across cultures, older ment, including voting and commu- ing in the universe. P media-recruitment firm based in women become more focused, man- nity service, according to a report by Manhattan, are Boomers who have agerial, aggressive and political. the Harvard School of Public Health PARADE Contributing Editor not left their jobs or been pushed out Workforce participation by older and the MetLife Foundation. Their Gail Sheehy is the author of “Passages,” but who have grown bored. They wish women also has increased dramati- added years of life give Boomers an- “The Silent Passage” and her latest, to work another five to seven years in cally. In 1970, half of women aged 50 other chance to create a social legacy “Sex and the Seasoned Woman.”

Jimmy Buffett December 25

Connie Chung August 20 Greg Gumbel Liza Minnelli Barry Gibb Susan St. James Michael Milken May 3 March 12 September 1 August 14 July 4

Dolly Parton Oliver Stone David Lynch Larry Csonka Tyne Daly January 19 September 15 January 20 December 25 February 21

PHOTOS BY BUTLER/NBC/ZUMA/NEWSCOM (GUMBEL), BEBERT/AP/WIDE WORLD (MINNELLI), BEDDER/GETTY (CHUNG), CAINE/ZUMA (GIBB), KASZERMAN/ZUMA (ST. JAMES), DELORENZO/ZUMA (MILKEN), MICELOTTA/GETTY (BUFFETT), PEYTON/GETTY (PARTON), PAGE 6 • D ECEMBER 11, 2005 • PARADE GRANITZ/WIREIMAGE (STONE), NEVADER/WIREIMAGE (LYNCH), ALVAREZ/AP/WIDE WORLD (CSONKA) AND HARRISON/GETTY (DALY)