|
|
The
views expressed
on this page are soley those of the author and do not
necessarily
represent the views of County News Online
|
 |
Quality People
By Bob Robinson
They keep talking about “The Golden Years.” I’m not sure who came up
with the phrase, but I don’t think it was anyone in their “golden
years.”
According to Sandra Snider, faithwriters.com, it was strictly economic.
Financial service providers and retirement community builders coined it
to spin the myth that old age is a lot like childhood… no more
responsibilities. Sit back and enjoy!
“The life you’ve waited your whole life for is waiting for you. Let the
fun begin because it’s your time to shine! Enjoy the best years of your
life!”
Maybe they are the culprits. Maybe not. It makes sense. It sounds like
something marketing types would come up with. I would know… I’ve had to
pull off a few phrases like that for clients in the past.
So let’s look at the golden years.
Hip replacements. Knee replacements. Worn out body parts in for repair…
assuming, of course, you can afford it or your insurance will cover it.
Aching backs. Aching legs. Just about everything aches from the time
you get up until the time you take your nap; then get up from your nap
and go back to bed a few hours later after a hard day of aching.
Hearing aids, canes, bifocals, trifocals, whatever focals. Just got my
first set of hearing aids… hopefully my last. Too expensive. That
reminds me… I need an eye checkup. Probably in the bifocal stage by now.
You move oh so slowly. Takes twice as long to get from one place to the
next as it did a few years earlier. When I arrived from California 11
years ago (after a brief sojourn in Michigan), I was passing people on
the street like they were standing still.
Now they’re passing me like I’m standing still.
I can still push a pretty mean shopping cart… not because I’m fast;
because I know what I want and where it is. I’m not there to look at
labels or chat with friends. I just get the stuff and get out.
Short term memory loss. I can remember my favorite teacher over a half
century ago, but I sometimes can’t remember if it’s Saturday or Sunday
or where I’m supposed to be on Monday. Even in my crazy years (14 to
24), I knew exactly where I was supposed to be at any moment in time…
and I had the energy to get there.
If I don’t write it down today it’s lost somewhere in the jumbled mess
that I call my mind.
I never used to pay attention to obituaries. They always seemed like
such a negative pursuit. Now I look for names I might recognize. Some
of my friends say they look to make sure they aren’t there. Fortunately
I’m not at that point yet, but I’m sure I’ll get there.
In truth, there isn’t too much “Golden” in the “Golden Years.” Except
for one thing recently discovered… knowing Quality People.
I still have two or three friends from my youth. We seldom talk, but I
believe they are quality people. That’s it. Fifty some-odd years… 2 or
3 quality people.
We have a gold mine of quality people in Darke County. Stop and think
about it. We have churches that are more than just Sunday morning pit
stops. Their members practice their faith in the community. We have
community service organizations to help our youth, victims of cancer
and other diseases, our homeless and families in need. Even our
four-legged friends.
I’ve belonged to several of these organizations over the years.
The people who keep these groups alive are volunteers. They don’t ask
for thanks. They simply do what needs to be done. Many are in my
generation. To my surprise, many are still working full time, raising
families and fitting their service in when they can.
And this was a complete shock to me – probably because of memories of
my own youth – many of these volunteers are our teenagers.
There is one individual in particular whom I am privileged to call a
friend; one who is often the invisible benefactor to many. He has
stepped up to the plate when he has learned of a need more times than I
can count.
He doesn’t have to be asked. He sees. He does.
Thinking of what he has done in the years I’ve known him is the reason
I started thinking about this article. And there are a couple of others
I know who have done the same or similar things…
Quality people.
Have I met people like these before? Maybe. If I did, I didn’t see it,
didn’t realize it. They might have been out there. I was just too young
and stupid to notice.
Now that I’ve achieved my seasoned years, I’m noticing. And I’m
appreciating. It’s a good feeling. I see a value in human beings
that I’ve never seen before. Forget the hearing aids, canes, aches and
knee replacements. An old codger like me has gained something that
evidently takes a lifetime to learn… a lesson that is priceless.
There are many Quality People in this world. You just have to open your
eyes, notice, and appreciate. To these individuals, I say thank you.
You have given me a new outlook on my own “Golden Years.”
|
|
|
|
