Event Information
Daily Highlights
The King
NASCAR driver Richard Petty—in his trademark cowboy hat, boots, and sunglasses—signed autographs and took photos with a long line of excited fans Friday morning. He was promoting his Richard Petty Driving Experience, in which participants can drive or ride along in a real race car at speeds up to 165 miles per hour. Much like AARP's Driver Safety Program, the Petty Experience also encourages and teaches safe driving, especially for those age 50+. "The King," as he is known to fans, has won the NASCAR championship seven times.—Laura Boswell
What Not to Wear
Every year, at least one expert workshop or celebrity session is unpredictably popular—to the point, unfortunately, that some event attendees have to be turned away from overflowed presentation rooms. This year, it was Clinton Kelly’s session, which had a mob of grumbling guests trying to elbow their way into the back of the room.
Kelly, a fashion consultant and host of The Learning Channel’s “What Not to Wear,” no doubt had a lot to tell this particular crowd about proper attire. One man waiting in line with his wife remarked that he didn’t know what all the fuss was about, saying “I figure I’m doing pretty good if I get my belt on each morning.”
The Fall of Clinton Kelly
After telling the audience three essential components of style and four easy upgrades that women age 50+ can make to their wardrobes, Clinton Kelly, cohost of The Learning Channel’s "What Not to Wear," jumped off the stage into the audience to answer event-goers’ questions about bra fittings, camouflaging your tush, and "umpire" waists. As he leapt back on to the stage without using the stairs, he exclaimed, "Oh, no! My jeans ripped."
Taking the wardrobe malfunction in stride, Kelly—also wearing a crisp navy jacket and striped shirt—said, "I’ll show you," and turned around and lifted up his jacket.
There was silence, then a muffled question from a woman in the audience.
"What’s that? You didn’t see? O.K.," Kelly said, as he turned, separating the small tear in his jeans with his fingers. Screams and cheers emanated from the audience.
He descended again to get a breath mint from an audience member and just about jumped back up on stage when he said to himself, "I’d better take the stairs this time."
This from a man who said he graduated from Catholic school.—Elizabeth Gibbens
Judy Collins
Attendees wandering the exhibit hall this morning were treated to a special moment with singer Judy Collins. She and the assembled crowd sang together her hit, “Both Sides Now," and, yes, some fans shed tears. Referred to as a musical institution, Collins joked that fortunately she isn't in an institution. She said her music was founded on telling stories and breaking rules. She also credited training, more so than talent, for her beautiful voice. She sent the crowd off with a rousing rendition of “Amazing Grace.”
Later at a formal event session, Collins, born in 1939, sang short bits of a few of her songs in her delightfully lilting voice just as passionately as she did 40 years ago. She was the inspiration for “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” of Crosby, Stills & Nash’s hit from 1969. At the time she was Stephen Stills’ girlfriend.
Judy spoke beautifully about growing up in a creative and musical family who encouraged her interests and talents. She is as striking and elegant as she always was and takes ginkgo and does crosswords to keep her mind going strong —Bridget Murray Law and Carolyn Hall
Birthday Boy
Advertising icon Mr. Clean turns 50 this year, along with AARP. After bumping into Mr. Clean in the exhibit hall, two female attendees joked that his trademark white T-shirt is a no-no after Labor Day—and that he should attend Clinton Kelly’s “What Not to Wear” session.—Patti Shea
Sex at 50+
World-renowned sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer is making the rounds of the exhibit hall, signing books and conducting interviews. Speaking to a large crowd (which included the Michelin Man), the formerly redheaded Dr. Ruth, now a blonde, called on the audience to shout out “sex” with enthusiasm.
She spoke about popular sexual dysfunction drugs like Cialis and Viagra, advising the audience always to seek a physician's help first—and then to use the drugs with caution. “It's all very well,” she remarked about the “little blue pill,” “but if your wife's not happy with you, an erection from the floor to the ceiling won't do you much good.” Besides, she added, "Women don't want to have sex for 36 hours. They want to go shopping."
About maintaining a healthy sex life after 50, she suggested that the challenge does not lie in physical performance. "The challenge is saying, 'Look how fortunate we are to have each other. Let's make the best of it.'"
Dr. Ruth did not depart before throwing out a challenge to Playboy magazine: Put a 50+ woman in the centerfold.—Laura Boswell and Bridget Murray Law
Bob Harper: The Three R's of Weight Loss
Bob Harper, fitness trainer on NBC's "The Biggest Loser," is used to helping celebrities drop from a size 8 to a size 2. Helping morbidly obese people lose weight on the TV show is a very different story.
The necessary ingredients for successful weight loss on your own:
Relax: You can't try to do it all at once. Forget extreme dieting and weight loss. You will set yourself up for failure.
Respect: Stop being down on yourself. You are worth the effort it takes to get healthier.
Resolve: You have the power to change your behavior. You can make healthier choices even in fast-food restaurants. You can get up a bit earlier to add a half-hour walk into your day.
For older people seeking to lose weight, Harper recommends cutting junk food, doing cardio and resistance exercises several times weekly, and adding plant foods and fish oils.
Perhaps most important: Set realistic goals. "It's no good trying to look like those models on the covers of the women's magazines," said Harper. "They don't even look like that."—Bridget Murray Law
Cal Ripken: The Keys to Perseverance
Not many people receive lengthy standing ovations before they even begin their speeches, but then again, Cal Ripken, baseball’s "Iron Man," knows a few things about applause. He received a lot of it playing a record 2,632 consecutive baseball games for the Baltimore Orioles during a two-decade, Hall of Fame career.
"I appreciate the reception, but I’m not taking a lap around this room," he quipped.
Now an entrepreneur and professional motivator, Ripken addressed an appreciative AARP crowd Friday afternoon about the one main question he was asked so many times throughout his legendary career: How do you do it?
"I would always answer that 'I like to play, I’m resilient, and it just kind of happened.' But the more I thought about it, I realized there were eight traits that I thought contributed to my success—something I liked since my number was 8."
The first key to perseverance, he explained, is to have the right approach. "I would always come to the park ready to play. I didn’t worry about if I would—that was the manager’s job." When Ripken did have doubts about his abilities, he found support by going to his teammates.
The second key is to have a strong will to succeed. Ripken commented that he didn’t know if this trait is genetic or learned, an internal drive, or a "fire within," but he can’t stand to lose. When he has found himself frustrated with the possibility of loss, he uses that frustration in a way that he can derive a benefit, such as investing the energy into practicing his skills.
Key number three is perhaps the simplest: Passion. Ripken "absolutely loved every minute of being a baseball player." That passion "is what carries you through when you encounter the bumps," he said.
The fourth key is you must love to compete. It’s OK, Ripken said, to compete against yourself, and even against your teammates, if it’s done in a healthy way. "I was always motivated to beat out the younger guy," he remembered. "He wasn’t going to come and take my paycheck."
Fifth is consistency. "You can’t always get a hit, you can’t always steal bases. It’s all the other things…the sac flies, the bunts, that make the difference," he said. He further recommended adjusting and re-adjusting, performing your best every day, and solving problems. These are the qualities that will make you "irreplaceable."
Key number six is conviction. "When you believe you are right, you have to stand up for it," Ripken said. "When I came under attack, I stood strong." He also recommended developing a thick skin, being "good stubborn" about your beliefs (as opposed to "stupid stubborn"), and seeing things through until the end.
The seventh key is strength. "I know this one seems kind of obvious for an athlete," Ripken said, but there is a link between physical and mental strength. He advised being well read, educated, and curious about your environment. "These skills and tools will carry you," he said.
The eighth key is life management. It’s important, Ripken said, to attain balance between family and professional life—no small feat for a baseball player who spent years on the road.
Ripken ended his session by opening the floor to questions—an opportunity one Orioles fan took to ask if Ripken was considering taking over the struggling team. "I have had thoughts, …but no plans yet," he replied.
And to one grateful Chicago fan, who asked Ripken’s thoughts on this year’s eventual champion, Ripken may have offered the greatest response of the day: "I think it’s the Cubs’ year."—Laura Boswell
Put These Foods in Your Grocery Cart for a Longevity Boost
Food doesn't just keep you going. The right foods can also help you look and feel younger—and live longer, noted Today Show nutritionist Joy Bauer. The next time you go to the grocery, be sure to put the following foods in your cart to help your bones, heart, brain, and more:
1. Wild salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which help your heart by lowering harmful fats in your blood. The omega-3s also help boost your mood, memory, and eye health. And the Vitamin D in the salmon helps strengthen your bones by promoting calcium absorption.
2. Sweet potatoes also boost heart health by whisking "bad" LDL cholesterol from your system with their soluble fiber. In addition, the potassium in sweet potatoes helps regulate blood pressure. "And just one will fill you up, so you don't overeat," Bauer added.
3. Skim milk strengthens your bones with loads of fortifying calcium and Vitamin D. Its protein also helps fuel your muscles.
4. Broccoli bolsters the immune system with a jolt of Vitamin C and strengthens your bones with its Vitamin D.
5. Kidney beans are full of fiber and protein that slow and promote digestion, maintain regularity—and help with weight loss.
6. Pumpkin is brimming with keratin and beta carotene, which work together to fight the inflammation of diseases like arthritis. "Mix pumpkin with nonfat vanilla yogurt for a delicious breakfast," Bauer suggested.
7. Oranges are loaded with folic acid that, along with being an immunity-booster, has been associated with lower levels of depression.
8. Blueberries contain a chemical that's been shown to boost cognitive functioning—and even reverse age-related memory loss in rats.
9. Seltzer water helps flush and hydrate your system with some added fizz, but minus the calories. "Add cucumbers or lime for some extra flavor," Bauer offered.
10. Egg whites pack an energy-boosting protein punch for just 20 calories an egg. Lose the yolk and you can have your daily morning egg—and lose weight.—Bridget Murray Law
‘My Dream Job’: Winners Report Back
An article in this morning’s Washington Post said that unemployment is at a five-year high (at 6.1 percent). In August alone, 84,000 jobs were cut. To date this year, more than 605,000 people have lost their jobs.
The statistics are daunting and definitely working against the six people whom AARP selected in the "My Dream Job" contest earlier this year. While their journeys are not complete, these folks are on their varied paths to reaching their goals of having jobs that allow them to express their passions. Today, the six winners shared their updates with an audience of about 200 AARP members.
Darryl Dillingham, once retired and restless, is about to start a consulting job within the next few weeks. “I’ve experienced a newfound confidence in my skills,” the 72-year-old Washington, D.C., resident said.
Kathryn Coverston, a downsized HR professional, completed her certification as a medical assistant. She’s still searching for a job in the medical field and believes she will get her dream job.
Bob Mello hopes to open a movie theater in Bay St. Louis, Miss., a Gulf Coast town still recovering from damage caused by Hurricane Katrina three years ago. “I’ve had six different jobs over the past year trying to pay the bills,” he said. “But eventually, I’ll get it done.”
Jenette Guillory is working toward an ambitious plan to open a family center on the South Side of Chicago. Her advice: “Set a timeframe so you will keep focused and moving forward.”
Horticulturist Deborah Flowers is starting her own business of heirloom seed plants while working as a garden professional at the Home Depot. “Don’t give up on your dream,” she said. “A lot more people are going to help you, than not help you.”
Stephany Humenik received her associate’s degree and is pursuing work as a paralegal. When she returns home to Michigan, she is going to volunteer at an elder law center and attend several workshops for paralegals.
The best advice for all dream-job seekers came from career counselor Bob Skladany, who writes regularly for AARP.org. "Recover your sense of confidence and pride," he says, "and do what you are passionate about, and you will succeed."—Tara Coates
Money, Control, and Happiness
Best-selling author Jean Chatzky shared some tips from one of her books, "The Ten Commandments of Financial Happiness: Feel Richer with What You've Got," to a standing-room-only crowd of more than 550 people. Her main message: "Happiness doesn’t hinge on how much money you have, but how you handle it."
Earlier, we asked Jean whether you should work with a financial advisor who gets paid hourly or one on commission. She advised, "I like the hourly approach over the commission approach, because I believe it leads to more objectivity in investment choice. There's no incentive to put you into an investment that pays a higher commission than another one.
"I am also a fan of paying an advisor a percentage of assets under management, because I believe it rewards performance. If your investments do well, there is more of an account to manage, and the advisor and customer reap the rewards. That said, I know that fee-only advisors in particular may be tough to come by—particularly if you are looking for someone local. That's why I believe the primary consideration needs to be finding an advisor who gives good advice (regardless of pay structure) and with whom you can have an open, honest dialogue about your wants and needs."—Tara Coates
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