Leah Young
07/17/2003 Wayne County STAR Newspaper
Cornucopia
by Kate Chamberlin
986-1267 E-mail: KATHRYNGC@JUNO.COM
Copyright © July, 2003 by Kate Chamberlin
Age
Satchel Paige posed the question: How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?
The term “Aging” should be used to refer to the processes of “accruing maturity with the passage of time”. The goal of geriatrics is not to promote senescence, but to maximize the
positive aspects of aging. In the words of the Gerontological Society of America, gerontology should be “adding life to years, not just more years to life.”
With that in mind and another birthday looming on the horizon, I cant agree more. Okay, okay, so I’m blind. I’m still pushing the envelope of my life. I don’t feel old, although I’m hobnobbing with twenty-some-things as we wait for our nursery school age children to come bursting through the door. I relish their exuberance of untarnished young adult lives and optimism.
I marvel at the speed with which pre-schoolers mimic, to perfection, the people around them and how it then evolves into their own unique brand of personality. Their fresh interpretation of ordinary events is astounding. I suspect they would consider me to be “old”.
I enjoy learning from those who have accrued more maturity than I. I honor their wisdom, patience and quiet confidence. Leah Young, formerly of Newark, is one of my role models. She will be 101-years old on August 17. Her regal serenity with her infectious laugh and compassion is most admirable. I suspect she would consider me still just a spring chicken.
Much of the beauty, science, and law which we have today is due to the continued ability of talented people who pushed and developed their abilities despite the fact that they were ‘senior citizens’.
Based on their lack of serious illness or trauma, and upon their physically active life, there are many elderly who are more fit and more functional then those who are “thirtysomething”.
With each day that passes; with each barrier over-come; and with each spiritual fire I sustain, I can attest to accruing maturity with the passage of time, yet I don’t feel old. I suspect this is good, so, I’ve decided to joyfully celebrate each birthday and let others keep track of the count. On second thought, maybe you ought to let me know when I’ve reached 101!
…Fern said: The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
–George Carlin
NOTE: Leah Young went into Our Lord’s embrace on Thursday, September 22, 2011. She was with us for 109 years.
Godspeed, my friend. I love you and shall always cherish our friendship.