“YOU have a different class of people now where the talent element is mostly gone and the fame element has taken over ”¦We are in a very bleak time!” said the one and only Bette Midler, a woman who knows the difference.
I WAS chastised the other day for often writing about “useta-wuz” people, the big stars of yesterday, the dead and dying, the once “greats” and frankly, the person criticizing me said I was “obsessed” with old people! (We do try to leaven that out with episodes on the Kardashians, Angelina Jolie, Lady Gaga and the like.)
But, I guess Bette Midler said it all up there in her opening quote. Both Bette and Liz are always happy to write and rave about new talent. Nevertheless, we are aware of what’s going on in the world these days.
For instance, numbers are soaring of people beyond the age of 65 who have to continue working to keep body and soul together. Retirement? It has become a myth. Old guys and gals are working beyond retirement age because they have to and the numbers of them are rising worldwide. In Great Britain, these “retirees” soared by 40,000 in the three months of April to June. I am betting U.S. rates are rising at the same rate.
