Steve Lopez: The legendary Norman Lear had some sage advice for all of us about aging well

Norman Lear popped up on my computer screen at the designated time, wearing his signature bucket hat. I'd waited weeks for the interview and knew I had to think fast, because Lear was busy — as always — juggling projects.

That was the point of the interview. He was 98 in 2020 and still working like an ambitious upstart. I was 30 years younger than him, contemplating retirement and researching a book about how to know when it's time to go.

I'll admit to being more than a little nervous. Lear, who died Dec. 5 at for one thing, a in the realm of prime-time TV shows that delivered social commentary along with entertainment. As a much younger guy, I half feared Lear might tell me to quit wasting his time.