Newsroom

'To thrive and not just survive'

by Kelli Kennedy

Alice Solomon looks like she has been plucked straight from the set of an old Hollywood movie. She speaks with grand gestures, her words have an air of confidence and she has the captivating “presence” of any star. But the former Mrs. Massachusetts said she hasn’t always felt so confident. After a painful divorce, Solomon said, she went through a time of terrible depression, “learning how to start life over as an older, single woman.”

Now, the “55 plus” Delray Beach woman is a trailblazer for her generation. Self-dubbed “The Gorgeous Grandma,” Solomon writes a syndicated column to teach other singles over 55 to become thriving women. She has also written a book entitled “Advice from a Gorgeous Grandma: For Single Women Over Fifty Who Want to Survive, Thrive, Live, Love, Date, Mate and Have a Ball!”

So, what is a Gorgeous Grandma? Solomon says “every woman over 50 who believes she has her whole life ahead of her, who wants to get the most out of life and who wants to thrive and not just survive.”

“I see my role as a motivator, coach, friend and confidante,” said Solomon, a grandmother of five. “I am focused on helping single, older women find their identity and helping them recognize that they have value.

”On Thursday, she’ll participate in a promotional event called “The Seniors’ Dating Game” at the Grand Bazaar Shops in West Palm Beach. At the discount mall, Solomon will address the crowd and also be available to give some personal advice.“I am so excited about this event, because single women over 50 are so often ignored in this day and age. and here is an event catering to us,” said Solomon.

The event will provide opportunity for 55 and older singles to meet, mingle and interact with games and entertainment, said Solomon. Prizes will be given away to winning couples and singles including dinner at Big City Tavern, a five-hour casino cruise and pampering at a local spa.

Solomon said the event is the first of many events hosted by the Grand Bazaar, which will cater the senior singles crowd. Shop owners of the Grand Bazaar said they are hoping to create a marketplace atmosphere, where people will come to socialize, not just shop.

“We’re taking our cues from shows like “The Bachelor” and “Joe Millionaire,” but this time we’re giving seniors a chance to find love again,” said Grand Bazaar owner Michael Janoura.

Solomon said she was thrilled to come on board with the project. because she believes the event offers a wonderful forum for women to practice her advice. “I’m here to encourage single women to put themselves out there, even though it’s hard, because no one is going to approach them anymore like they did when they were 30.”

After her divorce, Solomon said she struggled to find an identity for herself, apart from her husband. “I come from a generation of women who found their identity following in their husbands footsteps,” said Solomon.

At the age of 50, Solomon sought to create a new life for herself and was accepted to Wellesley College, where she graduated cum laude from the Massachusetts school. Armed with a degree and a new measure of confidence, Solomon said, she was surprised to find “that no one paid attention to women my age,” despite our intellect or experience.

But in classic Solomon style, she “picked myself up by the bootstraps,” and carved a meaningful niche for herself among the circles of “sexy grandmas.” Now, Solomon said she receives hundreds of letters and emails from women thanking her for her inspiration, motivation and most importantly, for identifying with them.

“We have a desire for companionship, regardless of age,” said Solomon, who also conducts “Date and Mate, Gorgeous Grandma Style” seminars. They explore topics such as where to meet men graciously, how to date with dignity, how to overcome feelings of rejection and whether sex is as important now as it was in the past.
“Even though we may be in our sixties, we still have 30 or 40 more years to live,” said the endlessly positive Solomon. “That’s a whole other life. So let’s get out there and live it.”