Not for everyone
June 19, 2012 (Tuesday)
When I was a kid, I walked to some of the schools I attended. Since I went to several different schools, the distance varied from one to another. At one elementary school, the longest part of the walk was from my front door to the street (we had a long driveway). Then it was turn right, walk by one house, and voila, the school yard! When I was in high school, the distance was about a mile, but a female classmate walked with me half the distance, so it didn’t seem as far as it actually was.
Dorothy Borden walks seven blocks to school. She lives in Santa Ana, California and is a senior. Oh, yes, I almost forgot to tell you, she’s 80 years old. She got her GED 20 years ago, but during an argument with a relative a few years ago, she was called stupid or something like that, so she decided to go back to school and get a genuine diploma.
The story caught my eye because I am 80, and several of my friends are 80. I found myself asking, what am I doing at 80 years of age that’s unexpected? I know one thing I’m not doing and that’s what Dorothy is doing. I’m not going back to school.
I seriously thought of going back to college to study some of the things that interest me, like computer programming, but every time I picked up the phone to call about it, I forgot the number before I could dial it. I took that as a sign from on high that perhaps I should become a TV critic instead. I qualify very well for that. Now, let me see, what was I watching this morning..something about a lady lawyer..or was it a teen-age superhero..oh, well, I’ll recognize it from the reruns..and I’ll enjoy it again.
Wait! Don’t leave. I wanted to tell you about this 80-year-old woman who is walking seven blocks for some reason..I’ll remember in a minute. Don’t leave. Wait. Hey, I’m talking to you. By the way, what’s your name again?