Over-50

Happy Birthday, Betty White

Role model of sustainability for all workers, Betty White has turned 98.

In addition, she has become the pragmatist about navigating the aging process. Her meme is: Getting older is not for sissies. 

What White has accomplished is positioning and packaging aging as a predicted rite of passage. It's like going to college is today and getting married was for Ok, Boomer.

All rites of passage are tough. As the movie "The Graduate" hammered, moving on from life-as-classroom to life-as-life is filled with uncertainty. After the Ok, Boomer received the college degree the journey forward was filled with nervous breakdowns, financial peril, and, yes, great success in the surging post-war economy. Many also realized they married too young. Divorce went mainstream. Their offspring had parachuted into therapy. 

This ritual also has no personal precedents. Ok, Boomer (along with members of the Silent Generation) is out here both struggling to find joy and getting it that he or she is going to die. Maybe soon. 

White has been there holding up the light of endurance to make that journey less scary.

Coaching, lecturing, and writing/ghostwriting thought leadership content on human resources and careers.

For individual coaching – sliding scale fees. Complimentary initial consultation. The special area of expertise is the displaced over-50 professional. Please contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

Richard Pryor - The Pain/Rage White Ok, Boomer Couldn't Touch (often not even in therapy)

The ABC special on Richard Pryor hammered his pain and rage. His family of origin was a "mess."

He endured and tried to channel into comedy what the white Ok, Boomer usually couldn't touch. Not even in therapy. Ironically, we were the first therapy generation.

How could we, the first gen to be able to attend college, admit how really bad it had been? Not allowed. Even the counterculture didn't open the door to embracing the pain and bellying up to the rage.

Instead we found work. How successful we, many from blue-collar backgrounds, had become in white collar career paths.

Now, of course, we who had been our work are struggling with a new kind of pain: fading professional identity. Not that we are "done." We are just no longer at the top of our game. We have to go on with the rest of our lives being ordinary. Extraordinary held the rage down.

Will Ok, Boomer break out in self-destruction as had Pryor? Already it's happening. In our age category, boozing is up. Suicide makes sense. 

Another option. Give touching the pain another try. Meditation can relax us enough to calm down and sit in the past.

Coaching, lecturing, and writing/ghostwriting thought leadership content on human resources and careers.

For individual coaching – sliding scale fees. Complimentary initial consultation. The special area of expertise is the displaced over-50 professional. Please contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

End of Life Issues - A Matter of Perspective

The mainstream euphemism for "death" is "end of life issues."

Once totally taboo in hard-charging optimistic Americana, death has come out of the closet.

On conservative network television, there are commercials about end of life responsibilities such as not burdening loved ones with expenses. So, buy this kind of insurance policy.

The Wall Street Journal has an article about how those in their 80s view life now that the ending is near.

And, my classmates from pre-gentrification Jersey City, New Jersey Snyder High School openly talk about the reality that one day they will no longer be here on planet earth. 

Of course, just like most phenomena in life, that each one of us is going to die generates myriad perspectives. 

When I was growing up on the mean streets of Jersey City, some folks who had it even tougher than the usual amount in immigrant neighborhoods were matter of fact. When they died, that was that. Over. In addition, they didn't anticipate any blissful afterlife. There was not going to be any reward for the pain suffered playing the game after being dealt a bad hand.

In my doctoral studies at the University of Michigan, the history of ideas provided diverse points of view of The Next after departing this dimension. 

At Harvard Law School, the subject was compensation for wrongful deaths.

And, when I bunked in senior housing complex Bella Vista in New Haven, Connecticut, the talk tended to be pragmatic. Such and such an apartment would become available for your good friend once the current renter, well, you know. 

Currently, in my circle of fellow baby boomers (yes, there are silos among the generations), the tone of conversations about our own deaths is shock. We who had been so important for experts, ranging from sociologists to journalists, to analyze and struggle to understand won't even exist any more. That's unthinkable.

Meanwhile, we are already living our lives differently, anticipating they will soon enough go kaput.

Among the modifications:

•  Not adopting any more companion animals. From what we have observed, family and friends don't take good care of the four-leggers who become orphans. Current angst is: Not dying before our current best friends do.
•  Having an up-to-date will for the state in which we reside.. That's a nuisance since some of us have made mistakes in relocating. We saw Arizona as Paradise. We did wills there. Now they have to be redo them since we are back east, at least as far east as we can afford, e.g. midwest. 
•  Finally pulling out all stops on a bucket list. Sure, we could make it to age 110 and need to fund those years but why the hell keep saving? The tough nut to crack is overriding the ranting of financial planners about how much we must have so that we won't wind up homeless. 
•  Questioning every platitude. A fellow boomer and I concluded that, no, relationships aren't everything. If we have one human being to confide in and depend on we are indeed fortunate. Also, that's plenty. People can be a pain in butt. No, we don't welcome more photos of your grandkids on Facebook.
•  Speaking our mind. Extreme verbal editing had been necessary in the peak of our earning years. Success happens through other people. Now, there is little or nothing to gain from holding our tongue. 

Alongside the challenge of embracing that we are going to die is the irony that that might not come for a long time. We ponder: Do we really want to be here in our 90s and beyond? In a retirement community out west where I coached the aging who still wanted to work there were many stealth suicides. Old old age can be undoable for some.

For those who are determined to still earn a buck from working, here is my guide, free to click open, on landing, holding, and moving on to better work Download Outwitting ageism. "At my age" (as Millennials would say) I am still hustling about 50 hours a week. My mission is to able to wave goodbye to planet earth from my word processor. 

Coaching, lecturing, and writing/ghostwriting thought leadership content on human resources and careers.

For individual coaching – sliding scale fees. Complimentary initial consultation. The special area of expertise is the displaced over-50 professional. Please contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

Look at Your Siblings, Not (only) Your Parents - Harry & William, Anne Murga-Ring & Me

Does Prince Harry have a hunch that his brother Prince William might not be good for him? 

And, should I finger my sister Anne Murga-Ring for any and all whatevers?

Probably science can't provide much insight on that.

As experts on sibling relationships and their impacts Nina Howe and Holly Recchia point out, there isn't much research on those issues. Here is their article.

From Sigmund Freud on, much more attention has been focused on parents. No surprise, in support groups, the lion's share of the conversation about the family origin stays stuck on Mom and Dad. 

For three years, multiple times a week, psychoanalytic therapist David W. Harder and I probed my unconscious about parental influences.

It wasn't until years later that I had a lawyer access Harder's clinical notes and found out that from the get-go we seemed to be not a good fit. The tone and content of the clinical notes, which Harder initially refused to give me, indicated we probably were not on the same page. 

Had we been, maybe I would have searched any undertow for imprinting by Murga-Ring. 

The reality is that what's being called The Sibling Effect can endure longer than that of Mom and Dad. After all, most parents die years before we do. Siblings can outlive us. 

For many of us professionals, executive coaches have replaced the old-line therapist. Since they understand the dynamics of the world of work, their approach is comprehensive. I present a problem about a client. Usually they can supply unique insight. 

It was a coach who flagged me about the profound influences siblings can continue to have on us, decades beyond growing up under one roof. That's even if we no longer have a relationship with them. The last time Murga-Ring talked on the phone had been November 2003. Yet, she seemed to me to be hard-wired in my neurons. 

Can we shake The Sibling Effect? Prince Harry is leveraging several strategies and tactics. Those include a geographic to Canada. 

Since 2012, I have meditated. I learned the ropes at the Zen Center in New Haven, Connecticut.

We put on gray robes.

The mantra was "Clear Thinking, Don't Know."

There was no fee. On the way out, donate what you can.

In a workshop there on mindfulness, we were assigned work tasks and instructed to focus only on the task. Mine was window-washing. What I discovered was the Zen fundamental that nothing is good or bad. It just is. Washing the windows was just washing the windows.

There is the phenomenon of neuroplasticity. Through meditation and other practices we can rewire the brain. The Zen training, which I keep up daily, seemed to pull that off. My past with Murga-Ring is not good or bad. It was what it was. No longer exists an undertow dragging me into a sea I can't navigate. 

Can Prince Harry find release from the past? From my experience I have a hunch he will have to work at that.

Here, free to download, is my book on exiting a comfort zone. Often pain is the comfort zone. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with niche social networking know-how. Also communications coaching. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

Feelings, So Ok, Boomer - Bring on the Lawyers

It had to come to this: Psychologists are analyzing Harry, who at this time is still a prince but maybe not for long. Here's an example from Daily Mail.

The story is too big - the biggest in the UK since the abdication of King Edward VIII - not to parachute in all forms of expertise. 

But the input from psychologists could be the weakest link in providing insight for the scope of this disruption. After all, the discipline of psychology as a form of treatment for distressed human beings has declined from the heyday of Freudianism.

The Ok, Boomer such as myself invested years, multiple times a week, seeking clarity and inner peace from psychotherapists like David W. Harder, Ph.D.

That was then. 

Now, in America the Litigious, we know we can turn to lawyers.

"Court TV" has tutored us in the language of law, the strongest points of law, and the rules of evidence.

We can belly up to the bar feeling confident about pitching our beef to a law firm to take on contingency.

 In addition to seeking justice, plaintiffs can enjoy a high profile in the media. The classic example is Gretchen Carlson who sued Fox News creator Roger Ailes personally.

Since legal action is a slow-mover, that spotlight can linger a long time.

Incidentally, Carlson continues to be covered by the media. Meanwhile, what a good feeling is correlated with seeking what's right via America's legal system.

Also, along the way came Prozac, et al. from BigPharma. There were also mindfulness, executive coaches, 12-step programs, and psychics. 

During that brief moment when psychologists made it their shot at fame to size up Donald Trump, so many smirked. Who really gave a damn (except the writers and producers of shows like "Criminal Minds") how those inner gears operated. What we paid attention to were what the lawyers were up to. This was so much so that some contend that triggered the surge of applications to law schools.  

Prediction: The lawyers on both sides of the ocean will provide the perspective on Megxit and its implications. 

 

Smart global ghostwriting, with niche social networking know-how. Also communications coaching. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

Finished at 40 (with exception of Tom Brady) - AI Could Be Friend of Aging Job Applicants

The findings of several recent research studies scream one thing: Workers in America are finished at 40, reports MarketWatch.

Of course, there are exceptions to that.

One had been mega celebrities such as Tom Brady, number 12 in the Patriots. When he is a free agent he will have his choice of plum opportunities.

Another group who seem insulated from the brunt of age bias are brandname lawyers. They range from David Boies to Alan Dershowitz.

But a surprising result from the research of David Neumark at the University of California at Irvine brings hope to older job searchers. That research is published in the National Bureau of Economic Research, which you can read here. 

Neumark investigated the recruitment process at a restaurant chain. When interviews were conducted in-person those over-40 were 46% to 65% less likely to be hired.

However, when they were conducted through automated decision-making systems (yes, think artificial intelligence) the age bias didn't prove out to be a factor in hiring. 

There are two major implications from Neumark's findings.

One, as more recruitment is automated, age bias could actually become less.

Two, aging workers should opt to apply for jobs in which the screening is primarily done through automation. Sometimes automation kicks in end-to-end. That extends from submitting a resume to the actual interview, which is conducted online. Then, what comes in the email are the job offer and the date when the employment starts. 

Another insight from overall research is that more of the aging who need to make income are embracing opening their own businesses or becoming independent or on-call contractors.

As just-in-time hustlers, workers can learn about myriad kinds of new ways to bring in income. In addition, they might gain the knowledge and confidence to start their own businesses. For example, the dog walker for Wag might launch a comprehensive service for canines. That could include transporting them to the vet and groomer. Here, free to click open, is my book on making a buck, at any age Download Outwitting ageism

Coaching, lecturing, and writing/ghostwriting thought leadership content on human resources and careers.

 For individual coaching – sliding scale fees. Complimentary initial consultation. The special area of expertise is the displaced over-50 professional. Please contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.

Aging Behind Bars

Switzerland is known for its liberal mindset about the right to die.

As long as human beings are capable of discernment Switzerland is likely to honor their request for what is increasingly being called "euthanasia."

However, Peter Vogt's suicide request to the organization Exit Switzerland has raised myriad questions.

Because his crimes involved sexual assault and he is considered still dangerous, he is serving a life sentence in a Swiss prison. His health is not good. He is 69 years old. He finds being in prison for the rest of his life too much suffering.

It might surprise some that comments to the article about this, which you can read here, show no sympathy to Vogt. There is no struggle to understand his situation. The harshness is eye-popping.

Meanwhile, Exit Switzerland has turned to the Swiss Centre of Expertise in Prison and Probation for guidance. It recognizes that if it assists Vogt that opens to door to similar requests from other prisoners. Vogt had noted that another inmate is also interested in assisted suicide. 

Factored in is the aging of the prison population. That's happening in Switzerland as well as many other nations.

Given that aging tends to diminish hope, it's anticipated that Vogt's assisted suicide could become a contagious idea among older inmates. In her book "Night Falls Fast," Johns Hopkins professor Kay Jamison documents that mindset is not only catchy. It can be romantic. There is also the ethical concern that the cost savings to the prison system from not having to maintain inmates can result in subtle or even blatant pressure for them to opt out of life. Geriatric care is expensive. 

The media attention to this issue could turn Vogt into a celebrity. Ironically, that aura could give him reason to live. A book publisher can set him up with a ghostwriter to publish his memoir before his suicide is scheduled. That could wind up delaying it. Eventually Vogt could inform Exit Switzerland to forget the whole thing. 

Smart global ghostwriting, with niche social networking know-how. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

Meltdowns Lite - No-cost or Low-cost Options to Pricey Psychotherapy

Boston, the city of psychotherapists, is still stuck with the stigma against this formal mode of treatment for emotional distress and more.

In Boston Magazine, Tessa Yannone covers that.

That's unfortunate.

The Boston Metro area is the setting for so many high-powered careers. It is jam-packed with elite educational institutions. Those usually nurture an almost infinite variety of, what they call on "Criminal Minds," "stressors." 

Having on your "record" that you have been in psychotherapy can prove to be a flaming hoop you will have to jump through in some lines of work or to be admitted to some educational programs. After all, the misfit Puritans, who founded this mighty economy, didn't tolerate such vulnerabilities. Our nation really can't shake that off.  

In addition, although studies prove out that psychotherapy is effective, that doesn't mean it will be for you. There are so many variables at play.

I don't know if my three years of therapy, multiple times a week, and later on an intermittent basis with David W. Harder, Ph.D., based in Lincoln, Massachusetts, were or were not effective. Reconstructing the past is tricky business.

What I do know is that from the get-go, I should have demanded to have access to what he was putting in the clinical records. When I finally had a lawyer obtain those records I concluded, by the tone and content, we were not a good fit.

In therapy, as in just about every other aspect of life and work, fit is everything. If your insurance coverage involves managed care, you may have limited or no choice on the therapist you will be working with. You may or may not be able to interview, on a complimentary basis, several. 

Also, there's the cost of therapy. In college, graduate programs, and professional schools, that could be absorbed in other prepaid fees. Once sprung into the real world of work, if your employer kicks in for your health insurance, the co-pay can eat into a budget. There even could be double-dipping. There could be a co-pay for the psychiatrist who's prescribing medication and also for the psychotherapist. No health insurance? A session could run three digits.

The good news is that there are no-cost or low-cost alternates to therapy. That doesn't mean they are appropriate for you at whatever phase of emotional distress you are at. If you feel you are becoming undone, those in the mental health field worth their salt mandate: Call 911.

But, if you have a hunch you can try other ways to navigate the whatevers, here are 8 tips.

Free, 24/7 confidential hotlines. Several of my clients who had lost jobs obtained immediate relief - and hope - by speaking with the trained human beings at the other end of the phone line at The Samaritans. In the U.S. the number is 212-673-3000. No, you don't have to be suicidal to contact those capable of deep listening. Sensing you are going through emotional distress is enough. Just let them know that's how you are feeling. Globally, through Befrienders Wordwide, there is also help.

Meditation. Research and experience indicate this is a useful way to calm the "monkey mind." Here is a free online video introduction to the basics by American Buddhist nun Pema Chodron. While meditating in a group can seem to increase its impact, there is no reason why a daily practice can't be done alone - any where - multiple times a day. Yes, before pitching to a key prospect, meditate. 

Exercise. Working out isn't just for body contours and a healthy heart. It's a natural remedy for clinical depression and anxiety. The trick is to incorporate it into a daily routine. Do that and the body will hunger for that kind of ritual.

A trusted friend 0r Fido. Those in the mental health field who understand healing will tell you that a close friend who knows how to listen and to maintain confidentiality can be SuperTherapist. The edge that person has is knowing what you're about. Other options can be the sponsor in a 12-step program, a stranger on the seat next to you during a plane flight/Amtrak trip, or your dog. Regarding the latter, because the four-leggers in your life are empathetic and non-judgmental, they can provide solid platforms back to hope.

Herbs et al. Bless the internet. You no longer need to purchase a book on what non-prescription substances can be effective. Here, for example, is a run-down of them. Some contend any effectiveness results from the placebo effect. The attitude of those who receive relief smirk and respond, "Bring it on." All forms of mental distress cause pain. Whatever reduces that could be worth experimenting with. Many of the natural treatments do not have the possible severe side effects of a number of prescription remedies.

Spirituality. Very different from formal kinds of religion, spirituality essentially entails a surrender to some force greater than yourself. That takes the burden off you for controlling every aspect of your life and work. You can get out of the driver's seat. No longer do you have to be hyperalert and compulsively focused on goals. Incidentally, this kind of "turning over" is the core of the Alcoholics Anonymous approach to sobriety. The joke there is: Being in charge of the universe is a big job and we're not getting paid for it. 

Psychics. Those with the powers to "read" a suffering human being are being embraced as the new therapists. Lawyers, listen up: To protect themselves from  lawsuits, most post the disclaimer that their services are for entertainment only. However, there is usually extreme earnestness in the encounters between them and those who reach out to them in-person, by phone, or through email. Their methodologies range from pure intuition to tarot cards to crystals. As with myriad other services, this field has its share of cons. It's necessary to ask around for a "legit." 

Coaches. More and more professionals are simply hiring coaches instead of interviewing therapists. Coaches are usually specialized. Those niches range from overall life to career. Most will provide short complimentary sessions for you to check out the chemistry. Since there is no stigma, this could be what to try first. Over the holidays, an underemployed 63-year-old came to me for help with getting more work. What we decided was her immediate need was for a life coach. 

What's labeled as "mental illness" could simply mean hitting the mid point of the continuum of stress. You could be heading toward impairment of the ability to function. So, if you perceive yourself as gravitating out of what's today's norm for stress, take action. That could be the now-traditional way of finding out what kind of therapy your medical insurance covers to lighting a candle and turning over your will to something bigger than you. Should you sense you are in crisis, call 911.

Coaching, lecturing, and writing/ghostwriting thought leadership content on human resources and careers.

For individual coaching – sliding scale fees. Complimentary initial consultation. The special area of expertise is the displaced over-50 professional. Please contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.

The Hustle for Work - What about Those "Auditions?"

Sure, the numbers have it that the job market in the U.S. is strong. 

However, what the statistics don't disclose is the lack of those really good jobs. 

There are fewer of them. And, as "What Color Is Your Parachute?" hammers, their shelf life is shorter.

The new normal is to be continually searching for work. Settle in? That train had left the station and is not circling back. On Amazon, used copies of "What Color" start at six bucks. There are also multiple copies, free to check out, in the public library.

Along the way to where we are now in the labor market, there has developed the phenomenon of the job "audition."

Essentially that is a mandate in the recruitment process that you do unpaid work. Yes, there are versions of that which do pay but the compensation for the "test" is frequently peanuts.

Regarding that requirement, older professionals (and some members of iGen) ask me: Should we invest the time in an "audition." Essentially what's being positioned and packaged as an "audition" is doing a freebie.

Employers contend that they need to have concrete evidence that you can actually do the job. 

But because the assignments bring no compensation, job and assignment applicants wonder: Should I do this?

After all, it could be that 200 folks are applying for the job. About 20 or more could be selected to audition. The odds of having your "entry" chosen aren't exactly excellent.

In addition, employers could be setting up a scam to hunt for ideas and not pay for them.

The New York Post published a feature on the growing use and misuse of auditions. 

Well, like so much in life and in how to earn a buck, there are no absolute answers. Here are 4 commonsense tips:

When Up Against It. If you perceive yourself as some degree of "desperate," then it's smart to do what it takes to earn income. At the time.

The "they" want you to take a a one-hour editing test. Sure, go along.

However, the "they" may want a comprehensive proposal on how to boost the reponses to the Call To Action and, if you get the assignment, it only pays $15 an hour. For your mental health, pass on that. No, you don't want to work with those players. The odds are they will operate a Dickensian type of employment situation.

Instead, grab a survival something, anything. There are plenty of them. One 56-year man I coached had only a two-month financial reserve, then it would be homelessness. He created several kinds of resumes and cover letters.

Quickly, he landed a security-guard contract job which provided company-paid training and uniforms. The compensation was above-average in the field.

When his confidence came back, he began to navigate back to his original career path.

Here, free to click open, is my book on getting, holding, and moving on to better work, no matter your age Download Outwitting ageism.

And, here, also free to download, is how to exit a hardened comfort zone. 

Your mindset should be twofold:

• There are always survival jobs. Most don't require auditions. 
• Nothing gets you work like already having work. If you are clever you can position and package that work experience on your resume as a useful fit on your career path. No, a survival job doesn't have to blow up the overall professional journey. 

When the opportunity is one of those plums. There are good jobs and good contract assignments. Those differ from the bottom-fishing for the $11-an-hour ones. Auditioning can be framed as a sensible investment.

A Millennial speechwriter was interviewing for a well-paid corporate full-time position with benefits. At the outset, the hiring team informed him that part of the application process required researching and writing a seven-minute speech on leadership.

It made sense to him to do that. No, he wasn't selected for the job. But he experienced no sour grapes. To today he assesses auditioning as a must-do for some kinds of quantum leaps on the career path.

When the employer doesn't seem legit. Applicants for work, beware. There are all sorts of scams embedded in the job market.

You have to use your intuition. Ask yourself: Does this particular business or supposed non-profit feel not-quite-right? Maybe the interviewer talks too fast. Maybe there's excessive gush about where the job can lead. 

Confirm your intuition by checking Glassdoor, Google ratings, and profiles of the leadership. Contact your government officials, such as the office of your U.S. Senator, about other methods of investigation. 

Ask around. 

If you are left with too many questions, don't move along to the audition.

The usual kiss-off is the highly professional phase "Thank you." No, don't shift to rage and blast the group. Before posting anything about the group on social media or social networks, bone up on the legalities of defamation and libel. Nolo is a free excellent legal source. 

You aren't sure. Nothing is black and white. Not in the kind of opportunity there is. Not in your evaluation of if the audition is worth doing. You have choices. That's the good and bad news.

No matter what your generation or what the economy is doing, forever there has been work available.

During The Great Depression, members of my immigrant family in downtown Jersey City, New Jersey, did cherry-pick how they would earn income. Even though they were at the bottom of the food chain, they trusted their hustle enough to exit the unthinkable.

One uncle wound up a boss on the Hudson River docks.

One aunt opened a grocery specializing in ingredients for Italian cooking. She and her husband did a FIRE (financial independence, retire early) before that concept went mainstream. 

Not all my family's money-making moves panned out. What was significant is that they didn't wallow in regret. No, they didn't get a bad taste in their mouths about how to earn a buck. They just kept moving along the employment continuum. 

There is nothing naive or downright dumb about going for this or that. The "they" want an example of your coding. You decide to do that. You don't get the assignment. So? 

On that one, you will be more astute next time in connecting the dots on what kind of risks you will take to better your earning situation.

Takeaway: You are in charge of your search for work. The "they" can huff and puff but they can't blow your self-esteem, hope, and future success away.

Coaching, lecturing, and writing/ghostwriting thought leadership content on human resources and careers.  

For individual coaching – sliding scale fees. Complimentary initial consultation. The special area of expertise is the displaced over-50 professional. Please contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.

 

A Senior Paradise Disrupted - No Safe Harbor

The residents of senior complex Babcock Village Apartments probably had been told many times how lucky they were.

After all, they were living in Westerly, Rhode Island. That's a bit of Paradise in New England.

It's based in proximity of the Atlantic Ocean.

The area has beautiful architecture. The wealthy who didn't go further east to Newport built mansions in Westerly.

On Christmas Day, the parts of Westerly near the ocean are jammed with parked cars. Members of all generations get out and take in the views, both of the water and of the mansions. 

The town has a resort-area feel to it. 

Today, those senior residents in Westerly found out that Paradise isn't screened off to violence. A gunman there killed one, injured two others, and then killed himself. Here are more details from the Daily Mail. 

Christmas Day 2019 will be very different in Westerly. The sense of being safe in nature is over, maybe forever.

Smart global ghostwriting, with social networking know-know. Emergencies welcome. Complimentary consultation (pressure-free) janegenova374@gmail.com.