My Valentine

I used to think that Valentine’s Day was just for lovers. But now that I am over fifty, I understand that Valentine’s Day is about love—any kind of love.

This will be my first Valentine’s Day with my husband, so that will be wonderful. I will probably get him a mushy card and he will bring me flowers, and maybe even some chocolate worthy of a WOOFer!

But this Valentine’s Day will be even more special because of all the new relationships I have in my life now. My marriage to Tom gave me four step children and eight grandchildren. I have discovered that love comes in all sizes. It is amazing how much love you get and want to give to children.

I got to see seven of the grandchildren a month ago and it was great to embrace those kids. Austin, who is nine, sat next to me on the couch, held my arm and told me about his new school. The seven-year-old twins loved showing off for me, while two and a half year old Mia thought it was great to help her “Mimi” with my makeup. Kaden decided that Mimi was his safe place and would run to me when that little toddler got into trouble. Amy—who is just younger than Kaden—only wanted to avoid Kaden! And little Grissom, who was born January 6th, was quite the snuggler.

So I guess you could say I am very lucky this Valentine’s Day. I have my new number one Valentine and got eight little ones in the deal!

WOOF: 50 Women Over 50: Marian Wright Edelman

The list is endless. Women Only Over Fifty (WOOFers) who lead vibrant, meaningful lives and just seem to get younger every day. WOOF has picked 50 and each Wednesday pay tribute to one of them. This week's woman over 50 & frisky:

Marian Wright Edelman, an American activist for the rights of children, is founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund, now in its fourth decade.

Edelman’s amazing journey started in Bennettsville, SC, but was soon tested by her father’s death when she was just 14. His dying words, however, set the tone for her life: "Don't let anything get in the way of your education."

She attended Spelman College, traveled the world on a Merrill scholarship and studied in the Soviet Union as a Lisle fellow. After her arrest for activism during the Civil Rights Movement, Edelman entered Yale Law School in 1963. The first African American admitted to the Mississippi bar, she later moved to Washington, DC, where she founded the Washington Research Project, a public interest law firm, and became involved with issues related to childhood development and poverty-stricken children.

In 1973, she founded the Children's Defense Fund, a voice for poor, minority and disabled children. The organization serves as an advocacy and research center for children's issues, documenting the problems and possible solutions to children in need.

WOOF salutes Edelman and her work. And gives two paws up to her notion: “If you don’t like the way the world is, you have an obligation to change it. Just do it one step at a time.”

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WOOFer Revolution: The Second Time Around

Love is lovelier, the second time around...

At least that's what Andy Williams crooned in the old song, "Second Time Around." He also mentions that love is wasted on the young. Do you agree? What are your experiences with young love and (ahem), "older" love?

So, here's the question: Is love lovelier the second time around?

It certainly was for me! Like many of you WOOFers out there, I've been blessed with a second chance. The first time around, I married young and had no clue about the do's and don't's of a true relationship. I was so busy working and raising my son, that the fact I had a marriage partner was secondary, or quite possibly, even farther down the list! Our son graduated high school, our beloved dog died, and the marriage fell apart. As I look back, these were probably the only two things holding us together.

More than a quarter century ago, however, I met my soul mate. Oh, I know this term is over-used, but I can't think of a better way to describe my buddy, my "second-time-around" hubby. Not to say we haven't had our trials and tribulations, but we worked through them and have a relationship so strong, Hell, high water, earthquakes or tsunamis can't break us apart. I have to credit the failure of my first marriage, along with maturity, in helping me succeed at my second chance.

Just like we say in Chapter Seven in WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty, it's never too late for an old dog to learn new tricks.

Now, it's your turn! Did a second love revolutionize your outlook? How did you handle problems this time compared to the first? Please share your thoughts.

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WOOF: 50 Women Over 50 - Betty White

The list is endless. Women Only Over Fifty (WOOFers) who lead vibrant, meaningful lives and just seem to get younger every day.

Since we can't cover everyone, WOOF decided to start with 50 and each week pay tribute to one of them.

We hope you'll join us here every Wednesday for inspiration (or out of curiosity since it’s not just for felines anymore!) when we peek into the life and accomplishments of a sister on the frisky side of fifty!

There's no special reason 88-year-old Betty White is first on the list. She's just foremost on our minds because the other night the actress and avid supporter of animal rights accepted the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award. (Plus if you've seen White's most recent movie "The Proposal," you know she stole that show!)

We won't try to repeat here the lines she delivered with perfect timing in her acceptance speech. Maybe it's on YouTube somewhere. But what we will say is this, she is one of those women for whom dimples were not wasted. As far as we can tell, she uses them 24/7.

That's not to say White hasn't had her share of heartache and disappointments. Personally, she lost the love of her life Allen Ludden in the early 80s. Professionally she had four (count them...4) self-titled shows that flopped. But her successes greatly outweigh her failures. And we're not sure she would view anything as a failure...just the road to something better.

So, here's a big ole tail wag to you, Ms White. Thank you for making us smile all these years and for your devotion to the love and care of animals.

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WOOFer Revolution: Love, Love, Love

Love, Love, Love…The Beatles sing about it. Cupid inspires it. According to C. Porter, goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it. Fall in love.

Ah, yes, love. What’s more pawsitive than love?

Nothing as long as we’re in it! The minute we’re not, cynicism makes us question this thing called love. What to do then?

Ask a kid what they think love means.

That’s exactly what a group of professionals did. And here’s what four- to eight-year-olds had to say when posed with the question: “What does love mean?”

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.' Billy - age 4

'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.' Terri - age 4

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.' Rebecca - age 8

'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.' Danny - age 7

'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss' Emily - age 8

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.' Bobby - age 7

'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.' Chrissy - age 6

'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.' Nikka - age 6

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it every day.'
Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.' Tommy - age 6

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.' Karl - age 5

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.' Cindy - age 8

'My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.' Clare - age 6

'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.' Elaine-age 5

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.' Chris - age 7

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.' Mary Ann - age 4

'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.' Lauren - age 4

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' Karen - age 7

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'
Mark - age 6

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.' Jessica - age 8

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