For Divorced Women Only!

Baby boomers have been divorcing in unprecedented numbers for years, and we don’t seem to be letting up as we age. The divorce rate for 55- to 64-year-olds more than doubled from 1990 to 2012, while divorces for the over-65 crowd tripled, according to Bowling Green’s National Center for Family & Marriage Research.

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Hands-On Dads: Some Who Were And Some Who Weren’t!

 There’s nothing better than experiencing the highs and lows of parenthood with someone you love and trust. Some dads lighten the load by doing simple, but essential, daily tasks, such as changing diapers or preparing bottles.  Others go the extra mile to make sure that mom and child are happy. Then, there are a few who do, well, nothing at all!

We asked if your husband was a hands-on parent “back in the day.”  Here are some of our favorite answers.

“Beautifully so. He would go down the sledding hill with our daughters, dance with them, help them with homework, tea parties, baking & decorating, shopping…he was and is a fantastic father. (and don’t even get me started on his skills as a grandpa).” Paulette Greyn

“He thought he was since he would change diapers as needed and would sit and feed a bottle if he was watching TV…everything else from putting them to bed, supervising homework, picking up…not so much.” Julie Mattison

“Yeah Keith! Not to mention enduring sleep overs and many ball games with the video camera rolling.” Penny Beard

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When A Woman Loves A Man…For 41 Years

Catherine and Jerry met 41 years ago and married three months later. Catherine reveals two statements they learned they had to say to help hold it all together.

FabOverFifty When and where did you meet?

Catherine: We met at the Madison Avenue offices of Young and Rubicam (an ad agency) in September of 1975.

How did you meet?

Jerry had the office across from my brother Bud. I was visiting Bud as I was between appointments and it was a very rainy day in Manhattan and I needed to use his office phone. Jerry came strolling down the hall, returning from lunch, and Bud made the introduction. He invited me into his office, where we struck up some interesting conversation which I was convinced would lead to date. But, it didn’t. When he didn’t call me, I checked in with Bud to find out why. As it happened, I was wearing a family diamond ring on my right hand the day I met Jerry. Not knowing that was NOT the engagement ring finger, Jerry thought I was engaged. Bud cleared up that mistake.  Jerry followed by calling my answering machine and invited me on a date.

How old are you?

65

How long have you been married?

40 years

Tell us about your career.

I work in the housewares industry and have for almost 45 years. My job is wonderfully diverse: I do sales and marketing along with product development for manufactures in the home products industry. My specific concentration is on the large retailer Bed Bath and Beyond.

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When A Man Loves A Woman…For 41 Years

Catherine and Jerry met 41 years ago and married three months later. Jerry tells what happened “on or about” year 18 of their marriage. He also reveals the most important thing Catherine ever taught him.

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Show This To Your Partners, Pronto!

Whether we admit it or not, most of us like to share stories about our men:

The good, the bad, and the ugly stories! And, it wouldn’t hurt of they knew a few of the tales we’re telling.

With this in mind, the new FabOverFifty Men Blog will share “intelligence” about our “better halves.” Some of it will be serious, some will be informative, and some will be just plain funny.

Perhaps you’ll even call them over so they can read them, too!

How erectile dysfunction can affect your relationship

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Over 100 FabOverFifty women told us whether their partners experience
erectile dysfunction (ED)…Read More

What he wants to change about her
after 46 years of marriage

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How your
husband proposed

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In sickness & in health:
Your vows in action

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Meet 9 husbands who
cherish their parents

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Have a great idea for our new MEN section?
Email alex@faboverfifty.com.

How Did Your Husband Propose?

We like the good ol days, when marriage proposals were charming, and the bride’s 42 best friends weren’t involved in making it a staged production. Here are 10 proposals we love!

This is my favorite story: Michael told me in August of 1983 that he wanted to marry me, but he was waiting for an ‘act of God’ before he did. We had planned to be married that January while I had a semester break.September passed and he hadn’t asked. I was getting concerned and nervous because I couldn’t seriously start planning until Mike officially proposed.

“On October 2, I was invited to Mike’s father’s birthday party, where I would meet most of his family (we are talking 60 or more people). On the way to the party, Mike asked if I would like to take a walk around the wooded lake where he would spend time fishing and hiking as a boy. We were early and it was a beautiful early fall day, so it sounded like a good idea. As we were walking up this wooded path, Mike saw a green trash bag thrown to the side. I said “Isn’t it terrible that people leave their trash behind like this.” He agreed, and proceeded to open the bag! I said “Eww, don’t do that, you don’t know what’s in there!” He reached in a took out a blanket. Just a few feet away, there was an overlook that looked down across the lake. He laid out the blanket and then took out two champagne glasses.

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“Quickly, he ran down to the lake and pulled up on a rope that had a wine bottle knotted to the other end. He ran back up, got down on one knee. Now, I have to interject here that we discussed no ring since we were both dirt poor. We laughed about giving me a beer tab as an engagement ring, and I would be happy. Back then, the tabs pulled off the cans. Mike pulled a beer tab from his pocked with the tab part curled up…he put it on my finger and said, ‘Will you marry me?’  In my elation, I looked down at the beer tab which had slipped sideways and exposed a small sparkling diamond on a gold band at which time I squealed, ‘That’s not a beer tab!’ Of course, I said yes! The next question I asked, ‘What act of God were you waiting for?’ He said, ‘look at the trees.’ The trees that reflected in the lake were starting to take on the reds, golds, and oranges of Fall. He wanted the day to be picture perfect and full of God’s glory. It was the best day of my life (at the point) and is still one of the top two. Sadly, my husband died in a work accident just before our 20th Anniversary, but telling about this day brings him back to me and I feel myself smile.”

Wendy Peppler Koch

Without a damn ring!”   

Butta Fly

We were in Mexico visiting his family, and all of a sudden during breakfast, he said ‘Hurry! I want to take you somewhere.’ So, off we went to a bakery and bought a tres leches cake beautifully decorated. I got excited thinking about who’s birthday it was and, on the way back, he said, ‘Just one quick stop.’ We stopped at the justice of the peace, and he said ‘Let’s get married!’ and we did! We have no pictures, nothing, but I have the groom and he has the bride 28 years later. I’m very happy and he says he is, too.”

Darlene Chavez Gonzalez

Keep Reading…

What Your Husband Should Know About Menopause

doctorDr. Mary Jane Minkin’s office is about two hours from my home but I’d travel even farther to call her my doctor. I met Dr. Minkin about four years ago, when a leading pharmaceutical company invited me to participate in its campaign about vaginal atrophy. As Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine, and one of the country’s leading experts on women’s health and wellness, Dr. Minkin is a consultant to the company, as she is to many other brands that target perimenopausal and menopausal women.

Today, Dr. Minkin talks to us about men and menopause.

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A New Way To Pleasure Your Husband Or Partner

As your partner gets older, he may start having a hard time achieving an erection, or can’t achieve one at all. The reason could be physical. Or, he’s so anxious about work or money, that he simply can’t focus on making love.

Researchers at the University of Chicago found that one-third of men between 50 and 64 years old experience erectile dysfunction, and that figure jumps to approximately 44 percent for men between 65 and 85. Although most of these men have the option to take drugs to stimulate erection, many simply refuse to go that route.

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What He Wants To Change About Her After 46 Years Of Marriage

While the marriages of fellow baby boomers disintegrated all around them (about 50 percent of boomers have weathered at least one divorce), Sarah, 66, and Richard, 70, celebrated one anniversary after another. On Christmas Eve, they’ll be married 46 years! Even when each of them partially retired, and started to spend the majority of the week together, their love has stayed steadfast.

In light of their strong union, FabOverFifty thought it would be fun to have each of them independently answer the same 19 questions. It’s enlightening, not to mention, fun to read their responses side by side.

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1. When and where did you meet?

Richard: Labor Day weekend 1969

Sarah: August 1969 in New York City

2. How did you meet?

R: Dating service

S: Computer dating service

Keep Reading…

When Erectile Dysfunction Enters Your Bedroom

Over 100 FabOverFifty women told us whether their partners experience erectile dysfunction (ED), how it affects their relationships, and what they’re doing (or not doing) about it!