Buddy System
To break free of his midlife funk, Ray Romano,
52, created Men of a Certain Age, a smart TNT
series about three friends—played by Romano,
Andre Braugher, and Scott Bakula—who find
themselves, yes, in a midlife funk. The show was his
way of dealing with his own angst about aging. “I was
looking in the mirror and going, ‘ Whoa, that’s why
women aren’t looking at me like they used to.’” He
carries his normal PSA number—0.4—in his wallet but
claims not to fear mortality. “You have to just think
you’re gonna do the next great thing. Then, when
you’re dead, it catches you by surprise.” —Joe Rhodes
John and
Yoko, 1980
YOKO ONO
Legacy Keeper
TESY OF JOHNLENNONBUS.ORG; DAVID MCGOUGH/ TIME LIFE/GE T T Y IMAGES
REGINA BENJAMIN, M.D.
Heal Thyself
Sworn in as the 18th U. S. surgeon general in
January, Regina Benjamin, 53, left behind a
family practice in rural Bayou La Batre,
Alabama, where she made house calls and
ministered to patients, regardless of whether
they could pay. In her new role, Benjamin says,
“I gained 300 million Americans as my
patients.” We asked for her thoughts on…
; America’s biggest health
crisis “Obesity. Two thirds
of all adults and nearly
one in three children are
overweight or obese.
The good news: We can
be healthy and fit at
any size or weight.”
; How she stays fit
“I like to hike,
run—slowly—
and dance.”
; Feeling alive
“In Alabama I
would marvel
at the sunset
over Mobile
Bay. I try to
find something beautiful each day.”
—Meg Grant
...............
“I never
thought of
treating
my patients
as work.”
...............
CLOCK WISE, FROM TOP LEF T: PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY GLUEKIT (BALLOONS: MAR TIN
MISTRETTA/GETTY IMAGES; PORTRAITS: COURTESY OF TNT); MICHAEL LEWIS; COUR-
Imagine giving disadvantaged kids a chance to create music. That’s the
inspired idea behind The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, a rolling recording
studio that helps children write and record songs. Yoko Ono, 77, is promoting
this year’s tour—crisscrossing the country—to mark Lennon’s 70th birthday
in October. It’s a cause he would have supported enthusiastically, says Ono:
“John and I wanted everyone to be able to make music.” —Dan Daley
