My Book

OVER 50 – A SINGLE MAN’S POINT OF VIEW

On Life, Women, and Everything Else

By Stephen M. Kerner

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS —-

PREFACE —-

INTRODUCTION —-

CHAPTER 1 —- REALITY CHECK

Is Yours Like Mine? Is Mine Like Yours?

Does Anyone Care?

CHAPTER 2 —- THE GOOD, BAD, AND UGLY

Is There A Choice To Make Here?

Who’s Guity? Why?

CHAPTER 3 —- EMOTIONS, DO YOU HAVE ANY?

Get Over It! Take Control And Be Happy.

CHAPTER 4 —- HEALTH, NUTRITION, EXERCISE

AND MEDICINE

Burger King, Advil Or Just Getting Out Of Bed.

CHAPTER 5 —- SELF IMAGE, ESTEEM, AND

PRESTIGE

I Want To Impress Someone. Maybe Myself.

CHAPTER 6 —- MEN, IT’S A MAN’S WORLD, OR IS IT?

What Do They Like? Women, Cars, And Motorcycles?

CHAPTER 7 —- WOMEN, I WANT ONE… OR MORE

What Do They Like? Let Me Know. More On Men.

CHAPTER 8 —- LIFE AND DEATH

The Big Picture. Maybe Some day I’ll Figure It Out.

CHAPTER 9 —- SO, YOU KNOW HOW TO

COMMUNICATE?

Is It Talking, Looking, Or Listening?

CHAPTER 10 — RELATIONSHIPS – A LOT OF THINGS

TO TALK ABOUT

Is It Mate, Marriage Or Friendship?

CHAPTER 11 — DESIRES, OBJECTIVES, AND

GOVERNING VALUES

I Have Great Ones. I have None. I Want To Play A Guitar.

CHAPTER 12 — HOME BASE

Is It The Baseball Diamond, Home Of The Brave,

Or Someplace Special?

CONCLUSION —-

PREFACE

Rhonda looked at me and said, “Steve, you’re going to write a book, but you know that… don’t you?” Wow… that took me by surprise, and I replied, “Rhonda, what in the world are you talking about; how do you know that? I’m not an author; what would I write about?” She continued, “Steve you have lived a full life and have so many fabulous experiences to share with other people. You’re a regular guy, intelligent, and you know lots of things that other people would also be interested in knowing.” “Well, thank you, flattery will get you everywhere”, I said.

I became intrigued with her prediction and thought about it for a moment, and then we continued the conversation. Rhonda suggested my book could be entitled ‘Over 50 – A Single Man’s Point of View’, and that it could be dedicated to all the men like myself, close to my age, who would be interested in knowing my views. And, perhaps there are some fellows out there treading water, stuck in their lives, and what I say might provide a different slant on how they could look at their personal life and move forward while testing their own experiences and beliefs. Maybe my viewpoint will be appreciated because my own circumstances might be similar to theirs in some way. If not, they would at least gain some information, or simply have a few good laughs by some things I say, or how I say it.

I don’t mean for this to be another self-help book, besides it would be presumptuous of me to tell anyone what to do. People usually do not appreciate unsolicited advice and neither do I most of the time. This book is about how I think and what I do, and all of it is based on how I have interpreted my own personal experiences – and, all those particular circumstances have affected and shaped my opinions about what goes on in life.

Rhonda challenged me, “Go and search the bookstores, go on the internet, even on TV, and you will hardly find anything that will be similar to your book, written by a man over 50 like yourself for other men his age about his point of view on relationships with woman and so many other life issues.” She further mentioned, “A guy could enjoy reading this book during coffee, while chugging down the brewskys, having martinis at the club, in the bathroom, on an airplane, or just letting it sit on the cocktail table as a curiosity to impress a lady friend. And, maybe women will also like reading it if only to find out what certain men are thinking about, and how they approach life – and possibly, they may even come to respect and love them with a greater empathy and compassion.” Wouldn’t that be nice, but who could guarantee that?

I took up her challenge and while I may not have looked hard enough; I discovered she was on track. I found many books that described people’s problems and differences, providing advice on what to do about them, but very few seemed to explain why such situations even exist. To simply accept those conditions without understanding the reason for them was not enough for me. I may not even care about the differences and the difficulties; however, I would like to know why they occur. On the bookstore shelves, I found books written by men for women, or women for women, or by either of them discussing how women and men should relate to each other, or simply how to understand and get through life, but I did not find anything written by men for men of the same age bracket. There are so many how-to books created by authors for people they do not even know.

So, here in my book you will find my story and opinions on how I view life from my own experiences in it. And, along with my philosophies and sometimes off-humor will also come practicalities, because philosophies and beliefs work better when supported by practicalities. My book is neither a novel, comedy, textbook, nor an autobiography. There is no story plot of heroes searching for the Holy Grail, however there are indeed heroes – and, they are you and I because living life is indeed a heroic effort, and life issues are worth discussing with each other. I have endeavored to make this book a friendly conversation that I am pleased to have with you – a story about all the considerations that have created my point of view. Although I have written this book for me, in the spirit of friendship and camaraderie, I dedicate it to all the fellows my age – but I have not forgotten my younger male friends, or the great ladies I know.

So, hello and welcome to my book! Enjoy reading it – because it is an inexpensive investment for my heart’s message to you; and it will be informative, entertaining, challenging, and if a little unusual – all the better. Take it home, kick off your shoes, drink some coffee, have a goodie, read it and ponder on what I will tell you.

 

 

 

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