Jackie Walker Walker

At right, she is enjoying the great view, one of the benefits of trail riding. I believe it was in Colorado. At left is Jackie with her horse, J R, standing in front of the trailer she pulls when she is on a trail ride.

Richard Thompson

Richard is on the Left

Carole Jo Holmes Blassingame

Carole Jo may not send you information on herself, but playing the organ is a big part of her staying young. Carolyn Reynolds Dreyer and I ran down about a week ago. She proudly gave us a mini-concert, not nearly long enough for us, we would have loved to hear more. Carole Jo plays at church for the Sunday services and other services as needed.

Holley

Mike Chapman

Life is good.  Every day all day!  Life is good.  I keep young witnessing weddings, celebrating “Quinceaneras”, urging members of the parish to help others through the church, and preaching to a congregation full of babies!  There is such joy in helping folks who need food, clothing, shelter, an ugly bill paid.  I enjoy helping others help others.  Sometimes I even get to see the results.  Being pastor of a parish with 600 young, working, immigrant families (all of whom of twenty or thirty years younger than I am) keeps me happy, positive, and hopeful for the future!

I am also an avid member of the YMCA, watching my food and drink intake, and humbly monitoring Acid Reflux and Arthritis........Father Mike


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Holley Robinson Izard

My youthful accomplishment today including riding in the 4th of July parade in a 1957 red chevy convertible with my granddaughter, Holley Grace. This is her third year to participate with my Daughters of the American Revolution group in our little hometown, flag-wavin' parade.

After the parade, we made 7 doz. snickerdoodles, using a recipe I wrote down in high school home ec class and my new RED Kitchen Aide mixer.

My body isn't getting younger, but I'm enjoying life.

Wave your flags and enjoy your freedom! Holley

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Nancy Domjanovich

Hi Marilynn,
I learned that Nancy Domjanovich did a 122-125 mile bicycle trip recently with her club and I looked it up on the Internet. How about this for keeping young? (Of course, it wouldn't keep me young, it would do me in!) -- Carolyn Mc

Carolyn Reynolds Dreyer

I still get up 4:45 AM each school day and drive I-30 for a hour to get to my class at the high school where I teach. In some ways I am too old to keep this up, but in another way, I can't do anything else knowing how wonderful this work is.

I had eight students this year.....five of them in wheelchairs....many nonverbal....not that they can't communicate with us! They are absolutely the bravest, most resilient kids you can imagine. One of my favorites is Mikey. I got him as a 9th grader and when he settled in with us ( about 2-weeks) he began to love us.....unfortunately, he expressed it by saying, "I love you, bitch!" That took a little retraining, but now two years later he is a gentleman and on his way to becoming a scholar. His vocabulary has remarkably expanded ( and refined) and his independence is wonderful (most of the time!) He has a serious seizure disorder that impacts him is so many ways, but he comes out of each episode ready to rumble.

Unless a person is one of the few who have the blessing of knowing intimately these wonderful and special kids, one cannot realize what a wonderful relationship exists. I'm not sure about whether it's keeping me young, but most days it's a blast.

John Kuras

I agree with Fred about having somewhere to go each day.  I try to stay busy since I've retired.  I've taken up fly fishing in the Georgia rivers and streams.  Besides being in beautiful surroundings (notice the butterfly in the picture, not to mention the clear water), you have to maintain your agility to keep your footing on the slippery rocks.  I'm having lots of fun and getting exercise at the same time.

Sidney Sudberry Greathouse

A flute would have been much easier to haul around, but I just love the drums!  It takes me 30 min. to carry them downstairs and pack them in my Element, then after I arrive, it takes another 30 min. to unload and put them back together.  While I am hauling and assembling, I wonder if it is worth the effort, but after we start playing, I have no doubts.  We have so much fun!
Sidney

Fred Jumper

You have to have something to do. Some place to go. Some activity to look forward to. Something to talk to friends about. Something with a challenge and stress. (just a little) You want to feel useful. A lot of that can be accomplished around the house but the best way is a job (part time of course).

I recently started my fourth part time job since I retired in 2005. I am a enumerator. I looked it up and it means to count people. I work for the Census. This is my second week of a total of 8 weeks. I have not decided if I like it or not. They said it would be fun but I haven't noticed that part yet. It is interviewing people, most are nice but others are scary. Dogs are a problem, but it helps to keep you young or at least in shape. The paperwork is challenging and complicated. They say we'll catch on. We'll see. The best part is you can set your own hours at $14.00 a pop and 50 cents per mile. woo hoo. I'll try to finish my 8 weeks and then look for job number 5. It's all about staying young.....Fred

   

Bill Dillon

I send the same E-mails over and over to see if anyone notices; so far, no one has!.......Bill