The Beauty of Modesto Wisteria: A Feast for the Senses…

The Beauty of Modesto Wisteria: A Feast for the Senses…

Including a Poem, written and read aloud by Author, Newspaper Columnist, Poet, VJ Vogelzang The beautiful wisteria plant, fragrant and visually stunning, grows in Modesto, California, and on my recent visit there, I found a spectacular trellis with an enormous vine....
Living With Joy and Purpose After Retirement

Living With Joy and Purpose After Retirement

Retirement is something we look forward to, yet also dread, as it means aging. It’s kind of like having a baby. You want to enjoy the baby, but the passage can be a bit painful! “Career Development” should go on forever.  And, when aging, it means...
Brain Science, Music, The Marines and My Mom…

Brain Science, Music, The Marines and My Mom…

When you hear the phrase, “the good life,” it brings a lot of things to mind. When I hear it, I think of my mom. My mom is 88, plays the accordion, does yoga and fitness, walks two high energy dogs, at once, writes poetry, is a member of her local “Pen Women” club,...
Baby Boomers Find a Huge Need: Great Fit in Tiny House…

Baby Boomers Find a Huge Need: Great Fit in Tiny House…

On iTunes recently, I spotted a documentary on living small. As I age, and think about next steps for Gretchen and me, of empty nest syndrome (our two sons, 22 & 17, are nearly there now), I’m considering the entire idea of downsizing. Already in that state of...
Reacting to Nancy Reagan’s Death…

Reacting to Nancy Reagan’s Death…

I feel a great sense of loss at Nancy Reagan’s passing yesterday. I really do and I’m surprised at that. Maybe it’s my own aging, and maybe the aging of my own parents. I’m not sure. But, I will say that the world was a more interesting place with Nancy Reagan in...