Octogenarian. There’s
a mouthful of a word. Six syllables:
oc-to-ge-nar-i-an. Hard to pronounce.
Worse to spell. Sounds like it might
have something to do with October.
But the word has nothing to do with a month of year and
everything to do with people who are in their 80s. It means older person. A person with years of experience. A person with stories to tell and adventures
to share.
“Eighty, it’s the new 60,” someone told me the other day. And yet another person reminded me that a 80
year old can have a forty-year old mind. Sounds encouraging. Hopeful. Optimistic. But true??
Oh, I by the way, I am now an octogenarian. It happened last Friday, which was my
birthday. I had imagined bells would
ring and there would be loud shouting.
Maybe there was, one thing about 80, one’s hearing is not quite as sharp
as it once was.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS:
Age is a state of mind.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: It’s time to sign up for my writing class at
The Clearing (Saturday, November 1). It’s all about writing stories from your
life—to be shared with families, friends and more. Go to this link for further
information. http://theclearing.org/current/classes_workshop_description.php?id=3
If that doesn’t work, write or call The Clearing:
12171 Garrett Bay Rd, Ellison Bay, WI 54210
(920) 854-4088.
12171 Garrett Bay Rd, Ellison Bay, WI 54210
(920) 854-4088.
UPCOMING
EVENTS:
July 29,
Ephraim Historical Foundation. 7:00 p.m. Barns of Wisconsin.
August
2, Neillsville Library, 10:30 a.m.
Stories From the Land
August
20, Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. Madison. 5-7 p.m. Stories
From the Land. For more information: elindell@wisconsinacademy.org
Purchase Jerry’s DVDS and his
Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin (a fund
raiser for them):
The
library now has available both of Jerry’s DVDs, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps and Jerry Apps A Farm Story.
Also
available are several of Jerry’s book including The Quiet Season (on which the DVD A Farm Winter is based), as well as Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old
Farm, (which are related to the DVD Jerry
Apps a Farm Story).
Contact
the library for prices and special package deals.
1 comment:
Happy Birthday, Jerry Apps! Remember what Henry Fonda's character said in "On Golden Pond" on the occasion of his 80th birthday? Someone asked him 'how does it feel to be 80? and he replied, "about twice as bad as it did to turn 40." I never quite understood that, since I didn't mind turning forty at all - and you don't sound like becoming an Octogenarian (must it be capitalized? ) feels like a bad thing to you. I'm not there yet, but saints be willing, I will be one day, and I intend to enjoy every moment, like we need to enjoy every moment of every year we live. Again, Mr. Apps, Happy 80, as my Swedish relatives say "skol" and as I say, "I wish you many many more."
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