ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

I can remember the very first time I saw The Wizard of Oz. I sat cross-legged on my parents bed, staring up at the television. I don't think I moved an inch until the Wicked Witch and Dorothy fought in the castle hallway, sending me running!

This year is the 70th Anniversary of the classic film and if you're like me you still watch the movie whenever it's on tv...even if it's half way done!

Fast forward to a particularly low-key evening when I was doing some internet surfing and came upon Elf Island. The site is essentially a virtual world for kids where they can play games, learn about social issues and interact with peers across the world.

In honor of Oz's anniversary, they've brought this huge virtual experience to kids where they can play games, dress up as the Tin Man - and even don Dorothy's slippers. So if your kids have recently seen the movie and you want to keep the magic alive check them out!

An added bonus of the site? They regularly partner with non-profits all over the world to raise children's global awareness about what's going on in places they may have never heard of! Each month there is a new GoodQuest that encourages the kids to work together toward a common cause. This month kids are helping the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation by building 10,000 virtual camp buildings. If they reach the goal, they will fund the construction of a camp in Uganda for children living with HIV and AIDS.

So if your kids are glued to the computer, they mind as well have fun & do good all at the same time eh?!

Not the movie...the book! By Truman Capote...prolific, controversial...however you think of him, the man inspired one of the greatest movies of all time!

USA Today wrote about the anniversary and see below for a snippet of the movie!

I definitely have movies and Hollywood on the brain (saw Batman this weekend!!). I was perusing our website today and found this great article:

Former Philadelphia cop Patricia Getty is making the most of her retirement years. After more than a quarter of a century on the force, Getty began a second life as an actor. Recently she appeared as Margaret Tutweiler, the director of communications for the George Bush 2000 election team, in the hit HBO film Recount. You can read more about Getty in the AARP Bulletin.

How about you - do you have a dream role you want to pursue in your golden years, or have you already?

I won't lie that I'm thrilled Mamma Mia! has gone Hollywood. While some classic theater hits gone to the silver screen may not have worked, I predict that this will be a great film, and I'll tell you why - the cast. Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth? Buy me a ticket.

The best thing about this story is that the majority of main characters are 50+ and in the midst of the drama and heartache. It seems most movies with older main characters these days (which are few and far between) are ones like The Bucket List or Away from Her, which aren't the lightest of movies.

This is not to take away from the power and depth of movies about getting older, but it'll be refreshing to see a movie with older characters finding love again and partying their butts off in the Greek islands - what can get better than that? Check out the trailer below.