Editor’s Notes: scroll down for advice to the lovelorn and a link to a free documentary featuring two Puget Sound centenarians
Lately, I’ve been scrolling through old editions of Northwest Prime Time. There are a lot of them. We began publishing the monthly senior newspaper back in 2000, although the publication has been around since at least 1990.
Sadly, I can’t access our digital archives prior to 2005 (that’s five years of missing issues!), but what I’m finding includes a wealth of information from knowledgeable writers. The articles include profiles of fascinating local seniors, ideas on things to do, how to stay healthy, nostalgic ruminations, and wise advice about living life to the fullest as we grow older.
The March 2005 edition was full of interesting articles, including an invitation by Suzanne Beyer to “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” in Skagit Valley, a complementary article entitled “Alluring La Conner: Laced with history and art” by Janet Park, and an article by Georgie Bright Kunkel. Georgie’s piece was about an interesting encounter she had at her Chehalis High School class reunion with former classmate, Don Ford. As it turns out, Don Ford had a hand in refurbishing the Spruce Goose, Howard Hughes’ gigantic wooden flying boat. The Spruce Goose is currently on display at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose story was captured in the Academy-Award winning film, The Aviator, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Hughes. It’s fitting that I’m writing this article on the same day as the 96th Academy Awards. I wonder which film will win Best Picture. Bookmaker odds say that another historical drama set in the same era as The Aviator will win — Oppenheimer is a film about the father of the atomic bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer. (Editor’s note the next day: Oppenheimer won big!)
The March 2005 edition also included a long-lost advice column about finding love after age 50. I’d all but forgotten about this column by local psychiatrist, Sharon Romm, MD. Dr. Sharon Romm is author of the book, Dating After 50, the same title as the column. The first-ever question was from Marilyn, age 65, who asked Dr. Sharon, “Ten years ago, I dated a man for three months. We had a good time so I couldn’t understand why he stopped calling. Since we worked at the same company, we occasionally saw each other but he never mentioned our past. We’re both retired now and he called and asked me out. Should I date him again?” Dr. Sharon answers: “Well, you experienced a bout of bad behavior. How can you be sure you’re not in for another round of heartbreak? Before that first swallow of afternoon latte, you need to request an explanation about his disappearance a decade ago. Listen closely for an apology. If you can’t hear it no matter how hard you strain your ears, it’s time to decline the evening’s dinner. If his story rings true, you might give it another shot. ‘Old dogs’ can ‘do new tricks,’ but only with genuine understanding of past mistakes.” I wonder what happened to Marilyn and her potential suitor? Nearly 20 years ago when we published this advice column, I thought 65 sounded old-ish. Now 65 sounds sprightly to me!
Seattleite Georgie Bright Kunkel, author of the Spruce Goose cover story back in March 2005, was the subject of a documentary, Beauty and Chance. Georgie turned 100 the year the documentary was released in 2022. You can watch the 40-minute documentary for free and read about the film at this link: https://northwestprimetime.com/news/2022/aug/01/beauty-and-chance/
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