I've Never Been An Old Man: What It's Like If You Plan To Age

Tri Valley Herald 2/08/04
Strives to treat stress humorously, challenging even unhealthy citizens to remain lighthearted. Shares memories of 54-years of happy marriage.

Kathy Bosworth, Denise's Pieces Book Reviews 3/04
A must read for baby boomers and seniors. You will be glad you did.

Writer's Digest 11th annual International self Published Book Awards 5/04
The author's likable personality really comes through. His writing is clear and full of engaging anecdotes and practical advice.

Book Description
Don learned his ABCs and 123s in his first childhood. Now in the second, he is learning his acronyms, HMO, ER, 911, EKG, IV and others as JJL's health deteriorates following their fifty-fourth anniversary. She often blacks out and falls and Don becomes a full time caregiver. With the aid of Self, Don's invisible conscience sitting on his shoulder, he relates the problems, interesting events and people as well as some hallelujahs. The subject is not funny but Don tells it similar to the way Chineese cook their meat with opposites--sweet and sour--only Don tells it with pain and laughs, humor and aches, falls and hallelujahs. His characters include his Koffe Kats, Latte., Mocha and Java, the rest homes Sergeant Sue, several of JJL's wacky roommates and interesting happenings. One chapter is My JJL is MIA at the HMO. Another is: I can't call 911 and the other thirty-five chapter titles are equally interesting. While Jacquie has seven ER visits and five hospitalizations in six months Don also has two 911 ambulance rides. The HMO has not found a cause for JJL's problems. On Christmas morning the doctor comes to JJL's room and informs the couple they should separate. She should go to a rest home and Don should realize he is no longer able to be a sole caregiver. Three months later after another hospitalization it is discovered she has atrophying of the right frontal lobe of her brain, a type of Dementia. Learning that the disease is not curable and a relative of Alzheimer's leaves both Don and Self dazed. Using a positive attitude and putting a upward spin on happenings, Don makes the most of the problems coming his way. The resulting book is a humorous treatment of serious conditions and incidents. While being far from romantic it is a book with large doses of love and caring.

About the Author
Don was born in the late twenties in central Kansas and experienced the depression and dustbowl days. He later became a one-room schoolteacher before moving to California where he continued in education. He has always been interested in creative activities which included becoming a contractor to build two houses to teach his children how to use their hands, earning signature membership status in two nationally recognized art societies, establishing one of the first independent house inspection companies in Northern California, a company his son still operates. Upon retiring from his last elementary principalship Don began writing which led to establishing Active Books and publishing the first of his several manuscripts.


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