Many of us are lost souls, aging in a society that still worships Pepsi generation bombarded by images of 20-something, wafer-thin beauties and studs with pecs that we can no longer match. Young people remind us in their dances that sex is "dirty"— torrid and grinding. We may have our moments, but surely there must be a more gentle, affectionate, caring loving sexuality appropriate to our age. Viagra cannot be only answer. We are not aging as our parents did, and many of us are unwilling to simply get old, to become useless, and to be put out to pasture until we die.

The truth is slowly and subtly dawning on our society that life today includes a new age. Love can be better after time has worked its magic and worn sharp edges smooth, or even as song says, a second or even third time round. A half-century is no longer very old. As hard pulsing sexuality wanes, we have opportunity to savor sensuality’s gains. Instead of thinking retirement, let us learn refirement. Let us live as we are coming to be: loving, sexy, sexual sages. Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you who have reached a half-century plus, and to all of you who will be lucky to eventually get there.

Life is too hard to do alone,

Dr. D.

Dorree Lynn, PH.D.

I am a modern woman with a traditionalist’s soul. I am old enough to remember sound of dairy truck as its clinking glass bottles announced new day’s dairy delivery. I have an even more poignant memory of day I realized that milk had became homogenized as well as pasteurized. Young as I was, I knew then, that though my children would, hear, taste, feel and experience life in ways as yet unimaginable to me, they would never know joy of sticking their finger down narrow neck of glass bottle to taste cream on top when their mother wasn’t looking. In fact, they probably would never know taste of genuine fresh cream.

Life moves on, and I have moved with I; part of a virtual world. I use web and I live on e-mail far too much. Yes, writing a book is easier in a document than on a typewriter. And, I know good marriages that started with innocent e-mails. I know that technology is shrinking our world in ways that are more positive than not. Still, I miss Diana and Josh. Our virtual connection allows us to say things we might not ever feel free enough to say in person. E-mail does keep us connected, but deep down, I miss easy laughter and touch of both. The essence of each of them is no longer in my life. When I let myself think about that, I miss reality of what we used to have.

Life is too hard to do alone,

Dr. D.

Dorree Lynn, PH.D.