“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” Justin Timberlake 2016 Trolls

“So just dance, dance, dance….”

Welcome back to SOLO at SIXTY!

Did you watch that football game at the Justin Timberlake Concert Sunday? The Super Bowl? Just kidding! Did your team win? I was able to enjoy it without any pressure of who would win since my team was not playing. And I like both teams, each are the favorite teams of many of my friends – especially the Eagles for all of my teammates from our club in PA! Following my Super Bowl tradition, I made turkey chili and served it in homemade bread bowls. It was so good. Check out my recipe here: Pumpkin Turkey Chili

Super Bowl bread bowls!

Ahh Turkey Pumpkin Chili…

“My idea of a Super Bowl is a toilet that cleans itself.”  Maxine

This was one of the most entertaining Super Bowl games. So close to the very end. But I have to admit, some of the most entertaining parts of the Super Bowl for me were the pre-game stories about the quarterbacks, the commercials, and the halftime show. How amazing that the Philadelphia quarterback almost retired in 2016 and is now a Super Bowl hero. Bet the Eagles are glad he changed his mind! And what a beautiful, sweet baby daughter he has. And Tom Brady, “Lord of the Rings” with 5 rings and beautiful teeth! But wow… Justin Timberlake. I got to see him perform in Charlottesville at an outdoor concert last summer and thought what a great entertainer he is, not just a performer. And he did not disappoint. Fun to watch, especially his last song – my favorite – “Can’t Stop the Feeling”. What a show!

“You’re not meant to do what is easy. You’re meant to challenge yourself.” Justin Timberlake

So that favorite “JT” song of mine goes “I can’t stop the feelin’ so just dance, dance, dance…” which is what I have been doing for the last month. Salsa dancing. It has been a lot of fun but also challenging as you are supposed to turn and look the opposite direction at times; hard to do when your neck doesn’t always cooperate. That’s challenging enough, but you also have to know your left foot from your right foot, which has always been a problem for me! If you are the “leader” you start on your left foot and if you are the “follower”, you start on your right foot. And it is well-known that I like to lead when I dance! But the most challenging part was going there SOLO. Without a partner. Luckily, a partner is not required and if you have one, you rotate and switch partners so often you would rarely be with that person.

“The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.”  Vince Lombardi

I have successfully challenged myself to maintain a very active lifestyle which I hope to continue for many years. About 15 years ago (when I was much younger!), I was on the cover of one of our fitness club’s brochures. WOW I thought that was so cool until I read the title: Exercise for the Actively Aging! I now find myself legitimately in this category and am thankful to be here. But being in this group brings many challenges. I am going to Physical Therapy for a “pain in my neck”. According to my therapist, every woman over the age of 50 (so definitely this 60-year-old) has arthritis. This, coupled with maintaining my “active lifestyle”, has given me a big pain in the neck!

“Don’t wait for everything to be perfect before you decide to enjoy your life.” Joyce Meyer

Things may not be perfect in my life but no way am I letting that stop me from enjoying life and enjoying it SOLO. The Super Bowl was entertaining, but you know what else is entertaining? MOVIES! You know I LOVE Hallmark movies, but my favorite movie of all time is “You’ve Got Mail” with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. And I love GOING to the movies, even by myself, SOLO. First time I was a bit nervous, but then I realized how wonderful it is. On my own schedule, and sometimes on the spur of the moment. I can see whatever movie I want to see. Like last Friday when I saw “The Post” with Tom Hanks (who has been married to Rita Wilson for 30 years). It was very good. My younger daughter also loves movies and goes all the time (one of her college majors was in film studies). She introduced me to Movie Pass. Have you heard about Movie Pass? Well… for $9.95/month you can see an unlimited number of NEW movies at most theaters. So for me, now that I get the “Senior Discount”, if I see more than 1 movie a month it is worth it. For my daughter, who is only halfway to the “Senior Discount,” it is WELL worth it! You should check it out if you love movies. Just saying. Oops, my kids are trying to get me to stop saying that! (Editors Note: DRINK!)

“You can always find hope in a dog’s eyes.”

Also entertaining is my sweet granddawg who loves to play tug of war. She will entertain you for hours. It was just a year ago last weekend that she became part of our family. She definitely landed in the perfect home (which she totally rules) with my daughter and son-in-law. Can’t imagine us without her now. And boy has she grown – 70 pounds! There is no way I could hold her now. I can barely hold on to her leash!

1 year ago, I could hold her!

What a big girl!

Enjoying Puppy Bowl!

“Time flies whether you’re having fun or not. The choice is yours.”

Go out there this week and find something that entertains you, makes you happy, makes you smile, because as we all know, none of us is promised tomorrow.

Best,

Leslie