Table of Contents

Acknowledgement ix

Foreword xi


Part 1

Planning that Fabulous Journey 15
The Rite of Passage 15
How This Book Came To Be 16
Welcome to the Club 18
Let's Take Inventory 19
Dispel Those Myths about Aging 20
To Lift or Not to Lift? 20
Classy or Cheesy? 21
To Dye or Not to Dye? 25


Part 2

Entry Requirements: Staying Healthy 27
Your Physical Self 27
Your Emotional Self 30
Your Mental Self 49
Your Spiritual Self 53

Part 3

Luggage Check: The Relationships Roulette Wheel 59
SWDM: So What Definitely Matters? 59
Family Matters: The 10 Commandments of Aging Motherhood 60
The Never-Married Woman: Facts vs. Fallacies 61
Still Married: Loving It or Hating It? 62
Meeting Someone New: Pitfalls & Pit Stops 64
The Will and Grace Scenario 65
Considering a Younger Man? 66
The Older Woman and Lesbianism 66
Warning: It May Be Toxic! 68


Part 4

Traveler's Advisory: Managing Change and Loss 69
Hidden Side of Change 69
Inevitable Losses 71
Care giving: Catastrophe or Celebration? 72
The Experience of Grief 74


Part 5

Currency Considerations: A Mini-Guide on Practical Matters 77
Does Money Make You Mean? 77
What Kind of Stool Are You Sitting On? 79
Meet Ms. Money 79
What Is Your Estate-Planning I.Q.? 79
Keep Your Eye on the Three Wise Men 81
Insurance: A Quick Overview 81
Suddenly a Widow: 9 Contacts You Need to Make 82
Bargain or Wallet-Buster? 84
More Savvy Shopping Strategies 84
Household Innovations for the Elegant Woman 85
Organized Elegance 85
Entertaining with Style 86
Multi-tasking in the Kitchen: A Practical How-To 87
Bag It! Crate it! Put It in a Basket! 88
Files You Shouldn't Be Without 91
Recycle! Recycle! 91


Part 6

At the Boarding Gate 93
Lost Your Zest? Get It Back! 93
You as the Lebenskunstler 95
Do You Have a Ya-Ya Sisterhood? 95 Are You a Recess Girl? 95
Meek Little Lamb or Roaring Lioness? 96
Are You a Gutsy Woman Traveler? 96
Calling All Gorgeous Grandmas! 98
Musings by Mekis 99
When Was the Last Time? 100
A Little Zest Quiz 100
A To Do List Worth Doing 101
Please Remember Me! 101
Find a Need and Fill It 102
How About a Senior-Friendly Volunteer Vacation? 103
Think MSN 105
You as a Mentor 105
Become a Mommy Mentor Partner 106
Beyond Support Pantyhose 106
Just Heard It Through the Grapevine! 108


Part 7

Ready to Fly? 115
A Little Homework Assignment 115
Carefully Chosen Words 116
Frank Kaiser on Older Women 116
Last Minute Details 118
Check Your Luggage 118
Your Itinerary 118
Print Out Your Boarding Pass 119
Your Passport 119
Litany of Elegance 121
Elegance Showcase: 20 WOW Women 123

Epilogue: After All Is Said and Done 125
Bibliography 127
Other Media Sources 131