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Ted Skup
My grandparents were sort of my surrogate parents, as well as mentors, supporters and spoilers. All of my values reflect on there philosophies handed down to my parents. I know there looking down proudly at there author grandson. I love you all.

About Ted Skup
He believes that with obesity levels at an all-time high, fitness needs be a national priority. He says despite the fact we have an arsenal of exercise options at our disposal, the ultimate choice is, the simple push-up. Skup takes on the 35-billion-dollar fitness industry and explains why it is failing us, with its bogus claims, magic bullets, and quick fixes. Although the fitness industry may not want to hear it, push-ups are free, no equipment, no gimmicks and totally portable. He is the author of Death, Taxes & Push-ups.

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Shirley W. Mitchell
My mother's parents lived in the city, and my family lived in the country. When my grandmother and grandfather Chandler visited they brought presents and played with me. If my grandmother visited in the summer she would go into the cornfield, kneel down in the dirt between the corn rows and pray very loud for me. She always called my name to the Lord and ask him to bless me. I'm sure those blessing are still falling on me. My childhood was blessed with real love, of mother and father, MaMa Todd, and PawPaw Todd, aunts and uncles, and cousins. We worked the cotton fields together, and we attended church services together. We ate Sunday lunch together. MaMa Todd would cook fresh vegetables from her garden, bake cakes, pies, cookies, and a couple of chickens she captured from the back yard. The preacher and his wife usually ate with us and anyone else in the church that did not have a place to eat. I felt so loved. The feeling of belonging to this family gave me the self-confidence and high self-esteem I feel today. My PawPaw was a stutterer; however, when he sang it was beautiful. He did not stutter. He was director of the church choir. He put me in his choir. That was the beginning of my love for music! Grandparents help shape young children's character. We salute the 30th Anniversary of Grandparents Day on September 7th!

About Shirley W. Mitchell
After 7 decades on this earth, Shirley has more energy than people half her age! She's the author of Fabulous after 50, Sensational after 60, and a number of other highly motivating reads. She's the host of radio's Aging Outside the Box. She is an internet tour de force, with a number of web sites of her own. She is a passionate member of Growing Bolder where her user name is Fabulous (be sure to send her a note!). Shirly is proof of the philosophy she spreads, that age is just a number, not a limit.

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Dr. John Langdon
I barely knew them but there are stories about guns and alcohol smuggling during prohibition and my paternal grandfather was a "roughrider" with Teddy Roosevelt in the Spanish American war - I have a picture of him as well as a dress sword from somebody's dress military outfit - My maternal grandfather abandoned his family, quit his law practice and publishing business and went off to Hollywood where he was a character actor with the likes of Rita Hayworth and James Cagney. I actually have had photos of him with the casts of these old movies. He died a recluse in an old Hollywood bungalow with piles of old newspapers and clippings about his antics and acting. It's interesting to know that I have some real characters in my background!

About Dr. John Langdon
Cancer still affects millions of people worldwide, but Dr. John Langdon says there have been major advances in treatment. He knows, because he's seen results first-hand. As the disease continues without a cure, genetic testing has become an exciting development in treatment options. But Langdon, an expert in cancer risk assessment and a Growing Bolder guru, says that lifestyle changes may prevent some types of cancer. 

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Dr. Lillian Carson
My grandparents were kind but always seemed old. Their Eastern European backgrounds did not seem to translate into a connection for me. In retrospect, I wish I had understood the hardships they had faced and the courage it must have taken to leave their homes for an unknown land. I would like to be able to thank them and hear their stories. On the other hand, my own parents were so important to my three kids that, realizing what I had missed, I began to write about the importance of grandparenting (The Essenetial Grandparent: A Guide To Making A Difference) and have been on a mission to encourage grandparents and families to deepen their intergnerational ties. Every child need an adult who believes in them and that belief and acceptance changes their lives by giving them a belief in themselves. So to all the grandparents out there I say "Grandparenting if important work and healthy for you too!"

About Dr. Lillian Carson
Have a question about parenting, grandparenting or child development? Dr. Lillian Carson is a nationally renowned authority. She answers questions in each issue of Grand Magazine. Her book, "The Essential Grandparent" has been said to help thousands navigate an ever-evolving family role. She's a Parents Choice Award recipient who has appeared on The Today Show, CBS Evening, CNN and MSNBC.

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Jack Levine
The wisdom of our elders is irrefutable. I distinctly remember so many ways my grandparents, especially my dear Grandma Minnie, influenced me by example. Here are some life lessons I learned at her kitchen table. A Baker's Dozen Lessons I Learned from Grandma Minnie: *Love knows no boundary. Keeping close to the people you love, and learning to love them without having to love everything they do, is the key to family strength. You don't have to be perfect to be loved. Minnie held tight to those she needed and those who needed her.  *An open door is an open heart. Minnie's kitchen table was a place where others came to eat and be fed spiritually. If a neighbor or their family had a problem, she was there for them. If I needed them, I'd hope for the same treatment. The golden rule cannot tarnish.  *Waste not; want not. Finishing our meals or saving leftovers for another time is one of the most compelling constants for our elders. Many remembered the pangs of deprivation, so therefore valued the food on their plates and the treasure of having enough to eat for everyone. Minnie always made a little extra, just in case an unexpected visitor came for dinner.   *Charity begins at home. As little as they had, our grandparents always seemed to find a way to help others in need. Minnie had a tin can in which she would drop coins, a little something for those with less than us. Their example of giving, both through volunteer time and money provided the family a clear sense of appreciating the value of what we had. Reaching across the street as a way of helping others is good for them and us, too!   *Cleanliness is next to godliness. A clean home is the symbol of how we should conduct our lives in the sight of others. Minnie swept the sidewalk in front of her house almost every day. When our guests come to our door, they should have a clear and welcoming path. Picking up after ourselves so those who follow us have a clean path is a great lesson personally and environmentally.   *Progress comes in little steps. Expecting too much too soon is unreasonable. "A drop plus a drop fills up the pot" was among Minnie's favorite phrases.  *Every day is another opportunity to take positive steps for family and for community. Her crocheting and knitting prowess proved that each stitch is essential to make a beautiful garment.  *Laughter is the closest distance between two people. It's a pleasure to enjoy the company of others and to hear a good joke, tell a witty story, and listen to the folk tales of the old country. These are among life's great gifts. "Frowns make more wrinkles than smiles," Minnie would say with glee.  *Honest compliments are among our most valued possessions. Giving credit when credit is due, and honoring the leadership of those whose energy and enthusiasm helps others, is important. People shouldn't assume you know about their good works. Tell them they are appreciated. And if someone compliments you, accept the gift with grace.  *If there's a problem, try to fix it. Minnie knew that you'll sit a long time with your mouth wide open before a roasted chicken will fly in. Ignoring a problem is neither smart nor sensible. Even a failed attempt at solving the problem is better than not doing anything.  *Don't leave politics up to someone else. As an immigrant girl, Minnie felt the sting of discrimination and injustice. She was a suffragist as a young woman, and upon becoming a naturalized citizen, she voted for the first time in 1920. Minnie celebrated that right by never missing an election in her life. Even into her 90's, when she had to helped into the voting booth, she did her duty with dignity. "Power is not given, it's won with courage and hard work," she said.  *Words without deeds are empty. Someone who makes a promise and doesn't keep his word is an emotional thief. It's better to keep quiet than make a meaningless offer. How many people set others up for disappointment by saying rather than doing?  *Patience pays dividends. Whether it was baking her famous cinnamon buns or preparing a full holiday dinner for 16, Minnie knew that the process required patience and persistence. Slow food preparation may seem archaic, but the beauty of yeast raised dough, simmering spices, and closely watched pots gave the family an appreciation of the love that went into so many meals. "I like to cook because when I see the faces of satisfied eaters, I'm happy."  *Resting is a reward for working hard. Minnie earned her rest, and made the time to relax, listen to music, observe nature, or read for pleasure. "Too much of anything isn't good." When the Sabbath came, Minnie understood that her rest provided the emotional and physical renewal she needed for a productive week ahead.

About Jack Levine
One of the most dedicated child advocates in Florida history, Jack was struck by the lack of attention focused on people of age. As a result, he founded 4Generations Institute, dedicated to bringing the generations together. He previously served as President of Voices for Florida's Children for 25 years. Jack's expertise is in developing and delivering messages to the media, public officials, and a diverse network of advocates on the value of preventive investments in children, parent leadership, grandparent activism, and dignified services for elders. He is also Partnership Director for GRAND Magazine.

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Tatjana Eggink
I was fortunate to have had my maternal and paternal grandparents in my life until I was well into adulthood. Both of them figured large in my life, but I spent the most time with my paternal grandparents. Leo and Sophie were in their 50's, relatively recent exiles from Poland, when I was born in 1961. To me, this seems a strange observation as I am now approaching 50, that decade of life that they were then, because back then, they seemed, not old, but so grown-up, wise, larger-than-life. In my first years of life from 0-13, before I emigrated from Germany to the USA with my mother, I spent most of my days with my grandparents, mostly with my grandmother Sophie, who was my "surrogate" mom, as my mom worked. Sophie, a woman who had survived both World Wars, was a tough cookie, whose rough exterior toward others always melted around her first, and for a long time, only grandchild. Actually, it was heaven on earth for me: the only child and the only grandchild! 
And yes, I miss that unconditional love that I was bathed in. Yes, I think of them, especially Sophie and Leo, almost every day. Sometimes a smell triggers the memory of a remembrance: Red cabbage boiling. A whiff of a cigar. As the scent enters my nostrils, my brain seeks to sniff more memory, to remember more. Suddenly, I am filled with love and longing for them, wanting more than this fleeting essence of a moment spent with them long ago. To this day, when I visit their home, where other family members still reside, I am almost expecting Sophie and Leo to be there and I am truly disappointed when they are not. And what I learned from them, almost too well, is that this love and longing is forever, and even now when I write this, 10, 20 years after their death, to remember without a yearning is impossible, and tears still come with a heart that is bitter sweetly filled with an aching joy at the realization to have known such happiness, but also a regret that I will not have passed this tenderness and affection to another generation of my own grandchildren.

About Tatjana Eggink
She is an example of what's possible as we age. Tatjana is an American Senior Fitness Association Senior Personal Trainer. Along with her husband Cliff, she is a Level I USA Triathlon Certified Coach, together they are avid hikers, walkers, swimmers, runners, bikers, kayakers... get the picture??? Cliff has three Ironman podium finishes. Click here to check out their Web site.

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Pat Paciello
It's surprising how an insignificant event can make a lifetime impression. Grandma Lucy lived in the next building from me in an apartment complex located in the Bronx. She, without question, made the best Jell-O dessert of all time. Bill Cosby should have put her on the payroll to help him pitch the product. Her Jell-O was filled with all kinds of fruit, but the key to this culinary masterpiece was that she used only about half the required amount of water. The Jell-O tasted like a block of sugar dipped in cherry soda. My parents did not share my view and used words like horrible, disgusting and disgraceful to describe Grandma's Jell-O. But for a young boy, this concoction was nirvana. It was like having a free pass to the candy store. I always wondered if Grandma really enjoyed her special dessert, or devised her recipe to make sure that I would be a frequent visitor. Regardless of her motives, I made my way to Grandma's house often, and was the beneficiary of her company.

About Pat Paciello

Although challenges still remain, retirement is a whole lot better than used to be. There are more opportunities available now than at any other time in history for you to reinvent yourself or to finally pursue your true passions. 
That's exactly what Pat Paciello discovered when he retired at the age of 50. He became a first-time author with his book, "Has Anyone Seen My Reading Glasses? The Humorous and Slightly Informative Chronicles of a Retired Baby Boomer." He says a slumping stock market gave him nightmares of leaving the retirement he was enjoying so much so he figured he better do something to make some more money. At first he tried his hand at writing a play but quickly decided he was more qualified to write a book. Like the gang here at Growing Bolder, he says he discovered while researching his book that too many believe retirement is a boring, dry enterprise. So, he had some fun with it, and you will too!

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Phyllis Rogers
My Grandpa Reece lived with us off and on while I was growing up. He never lost his temper or raised his voice. My outstanding memory of Grandpa is how he responded when I would be asked to do something new, "But Grandpa, I don't know how to do that,'" I would whine. "You'll never learn any younger, Daughter," he would say. Since those days I have used the "You'll never learn any younger" phrase with my children and employees. And my son says he uses it with his employees. No sympathy, just get on with it and figure it out.

About Phyllis Rogers
She is a certified fitness trainer who blazed a whole new trail by designing programs for older adults. Her book, Over 40 & Gettin' Stronger received great critical reviews. She's published two videos, writes monthly columns and presented her unique workout at the Joint Conference of the American Society of Aging, National Council on Aging. She wants to pump you up!

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Sandy Scott
My maternal grandmother was one of the most significant people in my life.  For whatever reason, I was her absolute favorite among her children and grandchildren.  She had an incredible sense of humor and would cheat at Gin Rummy in order to beat me!  I was certainly never spoiled by my parents, but she absolutely spoiled me rotten.  When I decided I wanted to learn to play the piano, she bought one for me.  When I decided I wanted to go to military school for the 8th grade, she financed that incredibly expensive venture.  After I had my Bar Mitzvah at the age of 13, it was very important to avoid her or you would get stuck listening to my Bar Mitzvah record - she had the ceremony recorded. At the age of 26, I was hired by Eastern Airlines as a pilot.  We both lived in California at the time.  Eastern's training facility was in Miami and initial training lasted for a few months.  She actually headed for Miami in advance, and rented an apartment close to what is now South Beach in order to take care of me during my training. Unfortunately, her amazing cooking and care caused me to go from a rather fit 168 pounds when I arrived for training to a rather substantially overweight 198 pounds when I left for my first base assignment in New York. I learned a lot about life from her. She had little formal education having emigrated from the Ukraine in her early teens, and married my grandfather when she was only 15. She was incredibly intelligent and worldly wise however and I could always count on her as a great counsel.  When I wanted to buy a house, but could not afford the down payment, she loaned me the money.  She was simply always there for me and loved me unconditionally.  I think of her often and dearly miss her.

About Sandy Scott

Sandy is a master cyclist who was headed for victory in the 2005 Florida Senior games trials when he was nearly killed in a collision. After two years, he's back! Sandy now owns the state record for fastest 5K time by anyone over 60. He is also the current Florida state time trial and road race champion.

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Susan Silver
Oh wow...my paternal Zadie...as we called him was one of the most important people in my life.  We lived in a two family home in Milwaukee with my grandparents when I was little. He and I would plant radishes in our garden and he was the sweetest most adorable man. He always gave me silver dollars which I still have! I loved him very much and have incredibly fond memories of him.

About Susan Silver

Susan was a writer for many of the greatest TV shows of all time, including "The Bob Newhart Show," "Mary Tyler Moore," and "Maude." These days, she writes a hilarious relationship column called, "The Search for Mr. Adequate." She is a frequent guest on the Growing Bolder Radio Show and Today on NBC.

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Dr. Ronda Beaman
The photo of me, showing off my Girl Scout uniform was taken by my grandfather... See his shadow? Being the daughter of teenage parents and growing up together left me unnoticed by them much of the time. It was my grandparents who saw the jewel in me, who polished it, treated it as rare and who let my accomplishments adorn their lives. It was in their home I put on shows, created a personality and a better and bigger life than I had at home. They made me feel special, they made me feel loved and they made me, me! This photo best captures what I am today: A happy person, still collecting merit badges of one kind or another and carrying everywhere, through everything, the shadow of the love, compassion and attention given to me by my grandparents.

About Dr. Ronda Beaman
She is President of Second Wind, Inc. and serves on the Board of Directors for the National Pay It Forward Foundation. Her current, award-winning book, "You're Only Young Twice", is the definitive guidebook for growing younger, personally and professionally. She's also an internationally recognized expert on leadership, resilience, health and wellness, education, and coaching. She is also a certified executive coach and personal trainer with credentials from the Aerobic Research Center.

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Christine Schwab
I was not exposed to my grandparents as a young child because they lived far away and my parents divorced when I was two. At nine my mother remarried and my step-grandma came into my life. She welcomed me and loved me as if I were her own. Christmas was filled with gifts she had collected all year. An Elvis Presley felt skirt, a diary with a key that locked. It was if she read my mind. Now, many years passed, I learned she wrote down things I talked about. Today I enter my grandson's requests in my BlackBerry note pad. My grandma taught me that love is love. It doesn't know boundaries. It doesn't know that you are a stepchild, it only recognizes that you are a child in need. How lucky for me to have her as a role model.

About Christine Schwab

Turning forty, fifty, or sixty is not about getting older, it's about becoming ageless. Renowned style expert and television fashion reporter Christine Schwab sees aging as an opportunity to revitalize your style and enliven your attitude. In her frank, opinionated, and provocative style, she wrote "The Grownup Girl's Guide to Style", a book that defies many of the fashion and beauty industry philosophies. In this honest and empowering book, she offers the first open-minded approach to style, beauty, health, and well-being that will help every forty-plus woman achieve a classic look while maintaining her edge and personality.

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Sherrie Mathieson
Unfortunately I never knew my real grandparents, they all died in Europe during WW II. Then my dad died in battle when I was 2. Of course I would have loved to have known them and benefited from their love-which I will always miss. Later my adoptive grandparents (on my new father's side) were at once both short lived (new grandfather died at 58 yrs) and my new grandmother (who lived till 94) was emotionally distant. But, my new grandmother, an excellent seamstress, did often help me realize many of my teenage designs, with just my drawings (no patterns) and the fabrics I supplied. They came out great, and I looked as if I could afford Bergdorf Goodman, in days when better shops were a distant dream for me. I've learned lessons from all their incredibly difficult lives and challenges--though at times it was "What not to do" rather than a way of life that I would choose to live by. Some of their pictures are framed in our family room, and not a day goes by that I don't gaze upon their faces. They were traditional, good, humble people. I will always admire them for their ideals, and their courage. I think in many ways they would be proud of me, certainly in terms of my character and career. However as a non-traditional, independent-thinking woman, some of my choices might have seemed less than wonderful to them. I'll always wonder.

About Sherrie Mathieson

She's made an indelible mark as an award winning Costume Designer and Fashion Stylist. You've seen her work in countless feature films, TV shows, music videos, commercials and print. She's styled Academy Award winning actors, sports figures, rock stars and many others. Now, she's offering to style you! Sherrie created a manual to help bring you and your clothes into the 21st century. Her book, "Forever Cool: How to Achieve Ageless, Youthful and Modern Personal Style" is tailor made to give baby boomers a tailored look!

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Nancy Nordstrom
Fond memories are what I have of both my Grandmothers.  I never knew my maternal Grandfather and my paternal Grandfather can be summed up in just a few words - he was a real old-school gentleman, a hard worker, and a model for the future men in my life. My maternal Grandmother, Antoinette, (we called her Nana) was a firebrand from a very poor town in Italy.  She had been forced to marry at age 15 in the Old Country. Within a year, her husband left her at home with his mother and a small baby who didn't live long, and went to Boston.  After several years when he didn't return, she went after him!  Yes, indeed, my Grandmother did not sit idly by, ever!  She found her errant husband in Boston in 1915, and set up housekeeping. After 5 more children in five years they divorced, however, leaving her quite destitute.  So she went to work in the local clothing factories.  She out-worked the other garment workers and the "bosses" used to have her come in at 5:00 a.m. before the regular shift started.  She could accomplish more in that short time then the other workers could all day!  Needless to say, she wasn't popular with the others and was even threatened at one point. Nothing could stop my Nana though, and she successfully raised those five children (my mother being the youngest.) She even bought a house in Boston and then later, with her second husband, owned a chicken farm in New Hampshire.  She was always looking for ways to earn money and was a real go-getter. Later, in her seventies, after her husband died, she traveled up and down the East Coast working as a chamber maid. She visited us once when we lived in Florida and I remember her in the front yard picking dandelions for a salad.  As a small child, I was aghast at that, but she never wasted one scrap of food.  She was a fantastic cook, creating dishes out of the most mundane ingredients, and to this day we have never been able to replicate her Christmas Eve donuts, despite several efforts.  She never wrote any recipes down as she spoke with a heavy accent and could barely write.  Despite a life of hard work and deprivation, Nana lived to be 103 1/2!  She was a role model to her 30+ grandchildren - a woman who did it all in an era when women barely stepped foot outside the home.  I'd like to think her determination, grit, perseverance, and thrift lives on in all her descendants. My paternal Grandmother, Myrtle, was also a hard worker but in a somewhat different way from Nana, as she never worked outside the home. Grandma was a real lady, a homebody who smoothly ran her home, was an outstanding cook, and even voted Homemaker of the Year!  She lived on an 11-acre family compound, in what were then the swamps just south of Largo, Florida on the way to St. Petersburg.  (I visited the area in 1996 and find it hard to believe that area was ever a swamp.) The family compound, known as Trubeyville after the family's last name, had just three houses. One was my father's boyhood home, the other two belonged to his grandparents and his aunt and uncle. The entire family had moved from the Missouri/Nebraska area in 1923 in order to find "good, black dirt" for farming, so the story goes. My earliest memories are of this rather exotic locale as we lived there with my grandparents for my first six years. Snakes were rampant and alligators lurked nearby too.  In the evenings we would sit on the front porch and watch the rattlesnakes slither across the front lawn being chased by black snakes. I have memories of picking grapefruit and oranges right off trees, a huge vegetable garden big enough to feed three families and then some, my grandmother wringing the necks of chickens for dinner, and the family women making beautiful quilts and other linens.  My grandmother and her family always entered their products in the Pinellas County Fair and she was a judge for many years too. (She had to disqualify herself when it came to judging my 4-H entries.) When I was in the Fifth Grade and into my "I want to be a nun" phase, my Grandmother was quite adamant in that the proper role of a woman was to be a wife and mother, not lock herself way in a convent.  Later, as the mother of four, I understood her thinking.  Grandma left me with the knowledge and pride that comes creating a warm and caring environment in which to raise a family. So, now in looking back, it's easy for me to see how I was influenced by both my Grandmothers - my Nana for showing me how hard work and determination in the face of adversity could still triumph, and my Grandma for giving me the homemaking skills to make a house a real home for my family.  I'm very lucky in that having two such wonderful women in my family showed me how to do it all!

About Nancy Nordstrom

Nancy is proof that it's never too late. She didn't publish her first book, much less even write it until she turned 61. And what a book it is! Learning Later, Living Greater will help you transform your retirement years into a personal renaissance of education, personal growth and social engagement. Nancy is the diredtor of the Elderhostel Institute Network, the largest educational organization for older adults in America. She is an expert on lifelong learning, something she believes is critical for anyone over the age of 50 who is interested in living a more fulfilling life.

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