RONNI BENNETT'S LEGACY -- AGING FUTURE TALK

Having expressed I may occasionally share here excerpts with links to pertinent writings from "Time Goes By" (TGB) blog of deceased Ronni Bennett (RB), I feel compelled to share some related thoughts I've had.  

If you wonder why I plan to sometimes reference TGB, this is why.  I think the content in some of Ronni Bennett's writings coupled with the comments on those topics are pertinent today and for the future.  I also want to make others aware TGB remains accessible on the internet even though new blog posts there are no longer being added and comments are closed.  Ronni had responded to her followers wish TGB remain available on the internet after she learned she would soon die.  She arranged for TGB to remain active with a friend becoming the new blogger, but unfortunately, the blog became inactive for unknown reasons as some of you know and I've previously mentioned  -- in case you think I'm repeating because I'm old and forgetful. 

Occasionally, I will reintroduce RB's writing on topics just as I did in my previous blog post about women controlling their body's health by adding TGB blog excerpts with links.   Please note I said, occasionally, which may be infrequently, subject to my recollections or research of some of what Ronni wrote.  On a light note, here's 

John Lennon singing "Grow Old With Me" (Version 2003)

"New version of the unfinished song" reported to be John's last recording.  Arrangement and backing vocals were added to the demo of John (July 1980) in 2003."

         

Before Ronni was "old", in her early years, prior to TGB, you might be interested in this link to her 2005 post with a photo from her 1970 radio days with her husband then, Alex, also John and Yoko.

Ronni's concisely worded writing is a talent in evidence on TGB.  She had name recognition and credits aiding her in developing new timely information sources forged over the years from her TV appearances, radio interviews, writing for major print media.  RB had the ear of some tech people to whom she advocated for functional digital device design features to best enable older people using computers.  She encouraged and promoted older people becoming computer literate from the early digital days.

She had influential professional and personal contacts with many who respected her, to name just a few means that informed her and promoted what she said and wrote.  Quite possibly some of those many references and sources would have been provided to the friend she expected to continue her blog, but that's not known, and I don't have access to any of that information.

Some of what RB wrote stimulates thoughts of expansion on certain subjects, updating information, adding new ideas and more.  These are all writing possibilities in exploring what it's like to get old, exposing ageism, examining issues impacting our aging population like preserving Social Security for future generations, insuring health care at reasonable cost or discussing universal health care as Ronni strongly promoted.  She championed women's rights noting imposed political challenges that have become more pronounced today.  She urged one and all to actively engage in our political process, by knowing our candidates, voting to preserve this democratic republic, rejecting those who might give us a theocratic autocracy.  

TGB topics are ongoing, surfacing periodically with some warranting attention to what our government is or isn't doing.  Resurrected TGB excerpts will enrich the conversation which RB would likely welcome, I think.  She often wrote, "Talk among yourselves." encouraging more dialogue when she wasn't able to participate.  New generations thoughts would certainly be welcomed since if they live long enough, everybody gets old.  We seem to have evolved into an even more troubling world from when she departed only some 18 months or so ago.

I think RB would welcome having links on blogs and references to her TGB writings elsewhere.  She demanded civility in comments so would likely want that to continue on any writings that included her words.   I interpret that civility to be maintaining a level of respectfulness with the intent of fostering tolerance of differences in a pleasant communication environment.  

RB was a strong advocate for free speech but had some common sense expectations for reasonable behavior.  Snarkiness was rejected on TGB, as those commenters could quickly be banned from her blog if they disregarded her warnings.  Criticizing someone with whom there is disagreement in a way to hurt their feelings or to be rudely disrespectful was not acceptable.  Satire, RB appreciated.  She did express her views on some political and social issues to which a few of her readers objected, threatening to abandon TGB.

Truth was RB's requirement for her TGB writings, so she included links documenting the verifiable facts, following the best ethical and journalistic standards.  Opinions were clearly differentiated as such and she disapproved of so-called news sources who violated that basic standard. 

(Click on American Press Institute's description of the ethics and journalistic standards which mentions bloggers.  Note: RB never referred to that site or any source on these matters of which I know.  I've added this link as just one on the subject to which readers here can refer if interested.) 

TGB was created to talk about aging as it really is, but eventually included the final stage of death in a way neither she nor any of her blog followers expected.  Life must have become quite a challenge for her when she suddenly had to cope with the knowledge her days were numbered.  Her own death was coming much sooner than she might have anticipated though she selected the option of choosing precisely when her life would end.   Legal, safe and possible medical benefits of cannabis for pain, anxiety, sleep, other self-medications or experiences to address fear of death, as well as Right to Die issues were all topics for further exploration and discussion. 

RB wanted to write the truth about aging years.  She stressed what she wrote was her experience, that we all age differently but may have some commonalities.  In her youthful fifties she said so much of what she saw in the media -- broadcasting, print, and then internet, characterized older people's years as doom and gloom, filled with disease, debility, and decline.  She noted some, but not all, may unpredictably have varying degrees of those experiences.  She wondered what becoming old would really be like for herself, or if those days and years might have more desirable aspects.  Surely not all was negative.  

Her alter ego, Crabby Old Lady, took over TGB on occasion grousing, griping, and grumping-about to complain about one thing or another.  After all, isn't that one of the stereotypical descriptions attributed to old people?  Guess what!  Old people aren't any more one dimensional than any other age group.  On TGB it was okay to feel angry, disgusted, discouraged for a little while, but just don't get stuck in that mode.  

A good dose of humor was frequently injected into TGB as were regular musical offerings from all genres magically conjured by Australia's Peter Tibbles with Assistant Musicologist Norma.   

TGB's aging bloggers over the years reveal much happiness and contentment as most adjust and adapt to whatever their circumstances.  More focus has occurred in recent decades on the significance of leading a healthy life for longevity which has been increasing.  A recent setback shortening U.S. lifespan due to the Corona virus plus greater recognition of detrimental environmental concerns impact us as we age.  Existing and new topics needing our perspective are ever-changing and never-ending.

For any who do not know of Ronni Bennett's professional background, many of her years were spent in several major cities, before working in various broadcast venues in New York City radio and network television, beginning before cable TV and the internet came into prominence.  In addition to being the first editor of cbsnews.com when the network finally decided the internet was here to stay, she had occasion to travel around the world meeting many national figures, celebrities, and others when she became producer on several television programs including with Barbara Walters, Dick Cavett, Whoopi Goldberg to name a few of her credits.

"Time Goes By" is a significant part of whatever may be Ronni Bennett's legacy.   No individual can ever be fully replaced by another so won't occur for Ronni either.   No new blog would be a replica of "Time Goes By."  

Meanwhile, we can extract from TGB ideas and thoughts resonating today that are especially meaningful to all who read here.

What are your thoughts about this and any current topics that are of interest to you now, even into the future for our aging population?