Hope you're enjoying your Spring as much as I am. This is one of the many gorgeous sights I see on my morning walks in Central Park. With views like this -- what's not to be happy about!?

Have you heard that next week (May 5th) my radio program -- Age Wise Living -- will begin on VoiceAmerica.com radio! Initially I will be on their flagship page only but will be syndicated to the VoiceAmerica Boomer Channel shortly thereafter. You can hear it live at 7a Pacific/8a Mountain/9a Central/10a Eastern by going to www.VoiceAmerica.com and clicking on the Variety Channel (http://www.modavox.com/voiceamerica/vchannel.aspx?cid=246). By the way, does this sound like a good advertising opportunity for you? I'm allowed to have advertisers and if you're interested, please do email me at Barbara@AgeWiseLiving.com.  Please do tune in and please tell all your friends.

I want to say hello and thanks to all my new friends at the Real Estate Staging Association of New York for your enthusiastic welcome. I spoke to this dynamic group about a week ago and had a wonderful time. Great group!

Speaking of speaking . . . I just got some great news. I have been selected to speak at the Employee Assistance Professionals Association World Conference! I'm very excited because I think this is a recognition that eldercare is finally getting the attention it deserves as an important world-wide issue for companies and their employees. Do you know an organization, association, or business whose members would benefit from information on eldercare? If so, please do have them get in touch with me by either calling me toll-free at (877) AGE-WISE, emailing me at Barbara@AgeWiseLiving.com., or by clicking here.

This month's article and FYI . . . is in honor of Mother's Day & Memorial Day. Enjoy!

Off to prepare for my show. (Did I tell you it starts next week!!) To quote Charles Osgood, I'll see you on the radio!

ARTICLE: WHEN SHOULD WE TALK?

Many people ask me when they should start talking with their aging loved ones about what they want for the future -- where they want to live, where they want their prized possessions to go -- that sort of thing. I've heard people say the general rule of thumb is "40/60". In other words, when you turn 40 and/or when your loved one turns 60. I personally don't agree. I say no matter how old you are or how old your loved one is, start now!

A question I often ask is "How do you define "family fortune"?" Most people say money when, in fact, that's not the only thing you're "rich" in. "Family fortune" can mean anything from collections such as spoons and stamps to photographs, written material (bible, poems, diaries, letters), documents or records (marriage certificates, awards, military discharge papers), handmade items (quilts, needlework), antiques/art, jewelry, even everyday items like kitchen utensils. "Family fortune" can also mean family relationships, family history/memories/traditions, the family reputation/privacy (family "secrets") -- even the knowledge and experience you want to share with your kids.

When families get caught up in eldercare (and current events), we often forget we all have other fortunes that are non-financial and important to us. Worse yet, when we forget our other "family fortunes," we run the risk of losing them. How sad it would be to lose any of the things we value because we don't realize how important they are to us as we focus on eldercare responsibilities. Saving the family fortune -- no matter how you define it -- takes time. Start now because even in a crisis, things don't happen overnight.

Start now while there are no consequences. It's much easier to discuss health issues while everyone is still healthy. It's easier to discuss where they might want to live before the moving van arrives.

Start now while everyone is still alive. There were so many questions I wanted to ask my father about his family. Sadly he died in 1992. He was an only child so with him went those golden stories.

Start now while they can still remember. My mother has very advanced dementia. I would love to hear more stories about her family but it didn't occur to me to ask until she could no longer remember. She's also an only child.

Start now so you can enjoy the process -- and in the process, strengthen and deepen the relationship and make the most of the remaining time you have together.

And finally, by starting your conversations now, you have time to do a little at a time so it's not so overwhelming. Hearing the family stories, researching the family history, sorting out all the prized possessions, etc. should be a joyfully shared experience -- not a chore. If you start now it can be a wonderful and life-fulfilling experience for the whole family.

Upcoming Live Seminars

For information about how to attend an AgeWiseLiving seminar and upcoming dates and locations, please go to Seminars.

FYI . . . 50 Ways To Love Your Mother

I found this great book and the timing is perfect! It's called 50 Ways To Love Your Mother and is filled with great, very inexpensive gift ideas for "aging parents and others when all they need is love." It describes all kinds of unusual gifts along with where they can be found, the price, tips, etc. A must-have for Mother's Day. To purchase this book, just go to http://www.50waystolove.com. You won't be sorry!