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 Gail Sheehy 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. ªI such an advanced age. Back then, tally altered the shape of the modern medicine) too don't keep a mirror in my office,º she once past the big five-oh, careers were adult life cycle. By taking longer to grow many women died in Tsays. ªWhy 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.º 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 celebrateÐor purposeÐto dating or uninhibited sex. friends we keep up with, and how engaged —it also gives each of denyÐturning 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 powerÐas 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 heelsÐbegins 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: ªWomen would rather stand up in we are bound by our rolesÐstudent, 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, parentÐand at pains to capacity to do, to enjoy wrote Passages, a book that delineated the flu,' than admit to being in menopause.º 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, Turnõng 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 ÐThe 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: ªI've spent 50 years of able. But once Boomer women kicked The PARADE/Research!America Health Poll my life pleasing everyoneÐmy teachers, open the doors of opportunity to fulfill my bosses, my boyfriends, my husband, themselves as more than breeders, they my children. Now,º she says, ªI 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!º 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 parentsÐthese 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 ªactive,º ªbusyº a new vision of aging. TV series Commander in Chief, reach 95 or older. or ªenergetic.ºOthers linked This is a generation that have active is following the pattern: She When asked, ªHow long do youth to ªappearanceº (13%), has made a habit of rein- minds and gave birth to her first child you think you will live, 43% ªa positive attitudeº (10%) or venting themselves. Madon- at 46 and followed up with said they anticipated a lifespan ªmental alertnessº (5%). na, who at 47 calls herself vigorous twins at 48. ªI'm so glad I of 85 or beyond, and 10% Only 3% of those polled Mrs. Guy Ritchie, has es- waited,º she says, on the expect to live to 95 or older. said ªageº is the one factor, bodies and above all others, that makes chewed being a ªvery selfish brink of turning 50. ªI can enjoy the them think of a person as personº for frolicking with be a much better mother In 20 years, how do ªyoung.º her family on a ªveddy Brit- benefit of a now.º This may be the most you think life will be ish manorº 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? ªRe-Invention,º 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.