Older persons are wonderful. There's no other way to describe it.
Their years of experience makes them an invaluable bank of knowledge and wisdom, and it's all free :) You just have to talk to them to withdraw. I spent much of my high school days volunteering at senior homes. Each second was well worth it. I recall nights before I got my license, my mom would come along close to midnight and have to pry me away. I would be consumed in a 1950's showing of "Carousel" between Mrs. Clarke and Dorothy on the living room couch, or in the middle of a pink yarn crochet session trying to attempt a scarf.
I spent hours with Roy analyzing paintings hung on his bedroom walls, listening to him reminisce over the making of each one until his snoring took over. I sat in the foyer waiting patiently with Mrs. Clarke for her packages from Germany (they always enclosed a delectable box of chocolates and a beloved postcard, my German lesson).
I met both my grandfathers once, when I was two. Both eventually died of cancer, and oceans and miles had kept us apart anyway. I did meet "Grandfather" though. He was everything I imagined my own grandfathers to be. Though I lost him too, not to cancer, but to another sad experience, I will always think of him fondly.One day I'll be old too, and hopefully as amazing as the seniors who have blessed my life ;)
Their years of experience makes them an invaluable bank of knowledge and wisdom, and it's all free :) You just have to talk to them to withdraw. I spent much of my high school days volunteering at senior homes. Each second was well worth it. I recall nights before I got my license, my mom would come along close to midnight and have to pry me away. I would be consumed in a 1950's showing of "Carousel" between Mrs. Clarke and Dorothy on the living room couch, or in the middle of a pink yarn crochet session trying to attempt a scarf.
I spent hours with Roy analyzing paintings hung on his bedroom walls, listening to him reminisce over the making of each one until his snoring took over. I sat in the foyer waiting patiently with Mrs. Clarke for her packages from Germany (they always enclosed a delectable box of chocolates and a beloved postcard, my German lesson).
I met both my grandfathers once, when I was two. Both eventually died of cancer, and oceans and miles had kept us apart anyway. I did meet "Grandfather" though. He was everything I imagined my own grandfathers to be. Though I lost him too, not to cancer, but to another sad experience, I will always think of him fondly.One day I'll be old too, and hopefully as amazing as the seniors who have blessed my life ;)
Happy 91st birthday this year "Grandfather", Happy International Day of Older Persons.
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| Pencil sketch, a favourite medium of mine, of "Grandfather" (Note: no tortillon/stump) |
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