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Life & Times Transcript
11/25/05 Val Zavala>> Tonight on Life and Times -- Never too old. We'll meet some senior citizens who refused to be trampled by the march of time and we'll see how they're helping others like them stay young. Frank Drucker>> As a matter of fact, just yesterday we played somewhere and a woman said, "I didn't smile all morning until you came and this afternoon I'm smiling at you because we like what you did." Well, what more can I want from that? Val Zavala>> Plus, a daughter and her dad and guess which one is having the most fun? It's not your typical day at the beach. As you'll see on tonight's Life and Times. Announcer>> Life and Times is made possible through the generous support of the L.K. Whittier Foundation dedicated to improving the quality of life by supporting innovative endeavors in the fields of medicine, health, science and education. And by a generous grant from Jim and Anne Rothenberg. Val Zavala>> "Never too old." It's a phrase you've heard a million times, but tonight we'll meet a collection of people who give it real meaning. We think they're all special and you're about to see why. First up, an unusual band we came across a few years back. They've helped reawaken old memories at senior centers and nursing homes across Los Angeles. We call it "Harmonica Magic". [Film Clip] >> "Ladies and gentlemen, may I please have your attention? This is our final announcement. Please let's all join together on the first floor in the living room for a very special musical entertainment program. We'd like to welcome our good old friends, the "Harmonica Magic", so let's all join together. We'll be starting promptly at one o'clock, that's in a very few moments, on the first floor in the living room for the song stylings of "Harmonica Magic". Thank you and enjoy the performance." Frank Drucker>> "Well, good afternoon. It's one o'clock. You all had your lunch? Good. Now, how many of our old friends have heard us before? Raise your hands. Ah, you liked it enough to come back again. That's what I want to hear. The songs we do are songs that you know, so I don't want you only to listen, but I want you to sing along with me because we play good. But if you sing, we play even better. So let's put that together and we're going to start off with an Israeli song called Tzena Tzena. One-two-three..." [Musical Clip] Frank Drucker>> When we play, magic should come out. And if it doesn't then it's your problem, not ours (laughter). [Musical Clip] Margaret Nester>> I like to help people. I do a lot of things to help people and this is one reason I joined the harmonica band. [Musical Clip] Frank Drucker>> We play primarily at convalescent homes, retirement homes, senior citizen groups. And the kind of music we play would be the ones that they know well because it's a participation thing that we do. [Musical Clip] Margaret Nester>> I retired from work in 1979 and then I kind of messed around a little bit and then I thought I got to do something. So I went down to the senior center with my friend one day and I went in to play pool. I like to play pool. So then I saw this band in there, this harmonica group, so I thought, well, I know a little bit of music, but not a lot. So I went in there to see what that was all about and I came out being a member in 1982. Been here ever since. [Musical Clip] >> "Smallest harmonica made. Called the Little Lady, one octave, four holes, eight notes." [Musical Clip] Margaret Nester>> Every time we go to these different places, they are so grateful to see us. You can see it on their faces. And then when we go to leave, "Oh, please come again." Frank Drucker>> As a matter of fact, just yesterday we played somewhere and a woman said, "I didn't smile all morning until you came and this afternoon I'm smiling at you because we like what you did." Well, what more can I want from that? [Musical Clip] Val Zavala>> Since we first aired this story, some members of the band have unfortunately passed away, but the group is still going strong, spreading their music and their magic to enthusiastic audiences across Southern California. Announcer>> Kcet.org is the place to look for the very latest on Life and Times. You'll find previews of upcoming stories, transcripts and audio of past episodes and links to some of our most interesting features. Just go to kcet.org and click on "Life and Times". Val Zavala>> If you're looking for the Fountain of Youth, you might try following the example of some ladies we met recently in Orange County. They found theirs in a pool at Leisure World in Laguna Woods. They call themselves the Aquadettes and, even though many of them are in their seventies and eighties, they're as lively as teenagers, at least when they're in the water. I caught up with them as they were rehearsing for their annual Aqua Follies. [Film Clip] Val Zavala>> If Esther Williams ran a fitness program for seniors, it would look something like this. [Film Clip] Val Zavala>> Leisure World in the city of Laguna Woods is designed for seniors and these are its most buoyant residents. [Film Clip] Val Zavala>> They are called the Aquadettes and, for nearly four decades, they've been making waves, a team of twenty practicing year round to put on Leisure World's annual Aqua Follies. Whoever thought about it? How did it get started? Do you know? Beverly Margolis>> Well, my understanding is that there were a few lifeguards who liked to swim and there were a few residents who liked to swim and they got together and they put on, you know, a little show. I guess they picked out some music and it was very primitive in the beginning and then it expanded over the years. Val Zavala>> Eileen Allen is one of the choreographers. Now what is the average age of the women in the Aquadettes? Eileen Allen>> Well, it runs from fifty-three to eighty-eight. Val Zavala>> And how old are you? Eileen Allen>> Eighty-eight (laughter). Val Zavala>> The women have to pass a swimming test and learn the stunts before they can join the team. Practices can take up to ten hours a week. What does it take to be a good synchronized swimmer? Eileen Allen>> Well, hopefully, you have to be able to swim to music. That's the main thing. Our problems these days are that some of the older women are having difficulty hearing, so we have big underwater speakers to help them. Val Zavala>> So they can hear the music underwater? Eileen Allen>> Right. Val Zavala>> Hip surgeries don't stop their leg lifts, arthritis doesn't impede their dives, and one of the members even has multiple sclerosis. Beverly Margolis is the show's director. Beverly Margolis>> There are about twenty active swimmers when they're all well, but there are a lot of problems. We have a lot of arthritis. We've had people with brain surgery. One of our members has multiple sclerosis. She does well in the water, but not too well walking. You know, she has to use a walker. So with all the ailments, it's amazing that we can put on a show altogether. Val Zavala>> The only glitch in tonight's rehearsal? A lost wedding ring, the hazards of wearing jewelry in the pool. Can this marriage be saved? A dive, a good eye, and, voila, success. The ring is delivered safely to the husband's hand. The husbands, by the way, are vital to the Aqua Follies. They are dubbed "Aquadudes" and they provide the introductions, announcements and a little entertainment while the women are changing costumes. Bob>> "Bert, did you know that frogs are smarter than chickens?" Bert>> "How do you know, Bob?" Bob>> "Ever heard of Kentucky Fried Frog?" Bert>> "Oh, my." (laughter) Val Zavala>> Now how did you get recruited as an Aquadude? Dr. Bob Bouer>> By my wife being an Aquadette, you see. Val Zavala>> Does that mean you had no choice? (laughter) Dr. Bob Bouer>> Well, if you understand marriage, that's correct (laughter). Val Zavala>> Dr. Bob Bouer is in charge of lighting. He's the former mayor of Laguna Woods and a retired obstetrician. There's not much work here, as you said, for ob-gyns? Dr. Bob Bouer>> No, there isn't. There hasn't been. That was one of the reasons. We had only two deliveries in the last couple of years at Leisure World and they were in the stable (laughter). I didn't do horses, so I had to find other work. Val Zavala>> As impressive as the formations are the costumes, more than three hundred waterproof caps, gloves, suits and wigs, the work of Barbara Hack and her sewing committee. And it all has to be waterproof? Beverly Margolis>> Yes, yes, and they have to be water tested, right (laughter). Val Zavala>> Have you had any disasters? Beverly Margolis>> Yes, we have in the past. Val Zavala>> What has not worked? Beverly Margolis>> Well, sometimes the hats fall off. [Film Clip] Val Zavala>> The camaraderie in the water laps over to other parts of life. The team is very close and they help each other get through aging's rougher waters. [Film Clip] Val Zavala>> Over the years, the Aquadettes have attracted national and international media attention, but their favorite audience is always their neighbors, relatives and friends who swallow up tickets like fish do water. Are these sort of well-known formations in synchronized swimming? Eileen Allen>> We try to be creative, that's the thing. We try to change it every year and have it look different because people come year after year after year. It's amazing. Never missed a year. So we try to make it a little bit different all the time. [Film Clip] Val Zavala>> The ninety-minute program culminates in a grand finale. This year they chose John Philip Sousa to make the big splash. [Film Clip] >> "That's it, folks, the 2003 Aquadette Follies." Announcer>> To send a comment or a question to our program, you can reach us by mail at this address: Life and Times 4401 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, California 90027 You can also call our viewer comment line (323) 953-5555) or contact us the fast way by e-mail at kcet.org. Val Zavala>> Sandra Tsing Loh has carved out a niche as a reliable source of humor about life in general and about what passes for life in Southern California. So what's she doing in a program about active seniors? She's talking about her father, of course. We met him a while back, but he's just as timeless as ever. So join us now for Sandra and Eugene and their excellent adventure. Sandra Tsing Loh>> I'm a writer and performer who's done many things in my career. Overall, I've tried to chart the journey of being an over-educated, under-employed, sometimes single, sometimes married, multi-cultural, thirty-something, valley-dwelling woman. But no matter what I do, there's only one question people ask me year after year after year, which is "How is your dad?" So today, I am going to try and answer that question, hopefully, for once and for all. My dad is seventy-seven years old and a neighborhood character. Everyone in Malibu West knows him. A local surf rock group even recorded a song called "Mr. Loh". He was their egg man, their walrus. You'll see why. Eugene Loh>> Good afternoon. Welcome to Malibu West. I just want to show you my bungee jump picture in New Zealand. People persuaded me to bungee jump. I say, "Why should I?" They say, "If you're over sixty-five, it's free." You see, every time it's free, I go for it. Sandra Tsing Loh>> How's my father been doing? Maybe the best way to answer that is to show you what my father's been doing. Let's begin here. And what's happening in here? You're at a rug place and there's belly dancing. Eugene Loh>> Right. This is very interesting. Sandra Tsing Loh>> She's showing a lot of leg. Eugene Loh>> Yeah, in Turkey, I met two young ladies from Australia, so we travel together. So this place, she bought some carpet. So the entertainment, they have this belly dancer. You know, actually it was a very good trip because automatically they give you forty percent discount for old men. Sandra Tsing Loh>> So it's great getting older because you get everything for free? Eugene Loh>> Yes. Because dirty old rich men, they have money. I mean they've got it free, you know? Sandra Tsing Loh>> Here we go. Eugene Loh>> Why don't you. This is it. That's the way I entered the beach club. Sandra Tsing Loh>> Okay. Eugene Loh>> Not walk in. I climbed over the fence. Because just extra exercise I do every day. Sandra Tsing Loh>> Belly dancing, bungee jumping, exercising. I should mention, incidentally, that growing up with my dad was nothing like this. He wanted his kids to study math and science. At my dad's insistence, I earned a degree in high energy physics from Cal Tech. We laugh about it now. Eugene Loh>> Every Saturday I hitchhike back from Point Dume to the house because I'm not patient to wait for the bus. And this lady, she picked me up. She said, "Why don't you come to our party tomorrow? I asked somebody to send somebody to pick you up." So I went to the party. You see that's a very nice party. Sandra Tsing Loh>> So, you're doing kind of the hitchhiking party circuit. Lot of luck. And here you're on a jeep going somewhere? Eugene Loh>> You see, I hitchhike all over the place. I thought I should hitchhike in South Africa too, so I stopped a park ranger and he gave me a ride. Sandra Tsing Loh>> I knew my dad hitchhiked in Los Angeles, but I was amazed to see he'd been taking his act, not to mention his trademark UCLA bag, around the world. [Film Clip] Sandra Tsing Loh>> So here we are, actually with my father hitchhiking. We're trying to catch a ride today and this is how he does it. So why do you do it? Why do you hitchhike? Eugene Loh>> Sometimes it is a necessity. Sometimes it's a pleasure. Sometimes you meet nice women and they invite you to party. Sandra Tsing Loh>> What's the longest it's ever taken you to catch a ride? Eugene Loh>> Oh, depends. Maybe half hour. But that's also an experience. When people don't give you a ride, you feel humility, you feel humble. When people give you a ride, you get excited, so in brief time you have a nice turn of emotions, like a small history. Sandra Tsing Loh>> A beautiful philosophy. Hello. Eugene Loh>> This lady, she is a cook. She loves me, so after she cooks, she come out of kitchen and eat with me. Give me free food. I tell you, I must have some attraction. I don't know why. Sandra Tsing Loh>> So that's how you save so much money? And here, why are you having this white scarf? Eugene Loh>> Okay, now this is summer school, so I sing like Italian -- [singing] -- anyway, something like that. Since it's Italian song, I carry a white handkerchief, so my teacher say, "You're imitating Pavarotti." I say, "No, I'm imitating Tiger Woods because Tiger Woods always wear the red t-shirt." Sandra Tsing Loh>> This is a song my father likes to sing about longing for home [singing]. What strikes me about my dad is the kind of child-like enthusiasm with which he seems to approach everything. It doesn't really fit with his history. At age twelve, he was an orphan in Shanghai. In the sixties, he was a Southern California aerospace dad with three kids and a mortgage. And now, I don't know. In retirement, maybe he's just making up for lost time. Eugene Loh>> [Singing} That's better. Sandra Tsing Loh>> My dad's adventures are funny, but kind of scary too. Aren't you afraid of the danger involved? Eugene Loh>> Oh, yes. Always there are two kinds of danger. One is the physical in the traffic danger, another is the people danger. But I look so shabby, I don't think -- Sandra Tsing Loh>> -- so that dangerous people wouldn't pick you up to rob you or anything. Eugene Loh>> Yeah. On the other hand, some people think this Chinese old man, the old man they have pity on me. There is lots of nice women that give me a ride too. "Hey! Excuse me. Can I get a ride just nearby?" Driver>> "Sure, hop in." Eugene Loh>> "I won't take too much time, okay? Thank you." Sandra Tsing Loh>> I think he actually got a ride. Eugene Loh>> "Thank you." Sandra Tsing Loh>> Bye. Eugene Loh>> "Where are you going now?" Driver>> "To pick up my son." Eugene Loh>> "Oh, I hope I don't take too much of your time." Driver>> "It's okay." Sandra Tsing Loh>> It's always okay. Even Anjelica Huston had time one day to pick my dad up. Unfortunately, she had another friend to drop off which took him a little out of his way. Ever the Zen philosopher, my dad took it in stride. Eugene Loh>> "Well, thank you." Driver>> "You're welcome." Eugene Loh>> "Can I give you a kiss?" Driver>> "Sure." Eugene Loh>> "(Laughter) you do that pretty good. That's something. Never tell your husband, okay? (laughter)" Driver>> "(Laughter) I won't." Sandra Tsing Loh>> I always thought of Los Angeles as kind of a harsh unfriendly kind of place. But for my dad, a stranger is truly just a friend he hasn't met. So for all of you who keep asking "How is your dad?", well, now you know. Maybe doing this report today wasn't all that bad. I mean, look at all the experiences we shared together. We laughed, we sang, we did our exercises. We even got kissed by a strange woman on PCH. I don't know about you, but it's more than I usually do in a day. So as far as my dad goes, all I can say is God bless. [Film Clip] Val Zavala>> Sandra tells us her father is still as active as ever and he's eighty-three years old. See what I mean? You're never too old. And that's our program. I'm Val Zavala and I'm not telling you how old I am. For everyone at Life and Times, thanks for watching. Announcer>> Life and Times was made possible through the generous support of the L.K. Whittier Foundation dedicated to improving the quality of life by supporting innovative endeavors in the fields of medicine, health, science and education. And by a generous grant from Jim and Anne Rothenberg. Sponsored in part by:  | |
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