Granny
Gold Member
You know, I was looking at some of my old posts and I came across one that still stands true. But it brought to mind a recent TV "reality show" on TVLAND called "Forever Young." The only reason I even knew about this show is that I give in-home companion care to elderly clients and one of those clients only watches TVLAND.
Anyway, I don't know if any of you saw it but, for those who did not, it was a great show that just had its final episode last week (much to my sorrow). It was actually billed as an "experiment." Basically, there were 5 people over the age of 70 ... and I don't remember what "story" they were given by the producers, but they all met at this beautiful big house to do this show. One of these over 70s women, by the way, was 85 years old and had been a Vegas showgirl in her day. Then along came the other half of the show - 5 people under the age of 30 who had been told they were going to have this great vacation: "Woohoo! It's party time!!" One of the 30s people was lesbian, another gay.
When the under 30s got to the back yard and pool area ... there were these old people and everybody's question was, "Who are you?" One under 30 person's reaction was, "We're living with ... OLD PEOPLE?" The object of the show was to see whether the generations could bridge the gap. And bridge the gap, they did. The youngsters found they could learn a lot from the old folks and vice versa.
This show was hillarious! I don't know when I've enjoyed a show so much. I was just laughing hysterically. As they got to know each other and went through different challenges together they did come to love and respect each other. It was such a heartwarming, clean, fun, show.
Anyway, I came on this post I had made sometime in the past:
The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.
She said, 'Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?'
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze..
'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked.
She jokingly replied, 'I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids...'
'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she told me.
After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.
We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time machine' as she shared her wisdom and experience with me..
Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends
wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed
upon her from the other students. She was living it up.
At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.
Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.'
As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, ' We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.
There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.
We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!
There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.
If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.
Anybody! Can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.
The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.
She concluded her speech by courageously singing 'The Rose.' She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those months ago.
One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.
When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your
friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!
These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.
REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make a Living by what we get. We make a Life by what we give.
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
'Good friends are like stars..... .....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.'
-----
This is truly a message for the ages: it will always be relevant.
Anyway, I don't know if any of you saw it but, for those who did not, it was a great show that just had its final episode last week (much to my sorrow). It was actually billed as an "experiment." Basically, there were 5 people over the age of 70 ... and I don't remember what "story" they were given by the producers, but they all met at this beautiful big house to do this show. One of these over 70s women, by the way, was 85 years old and had been a Vegas showgirl in her day. Then along came the other half of the show - 5 people under the age of 30 who had been told they were going to have this great vacation: "Woohoo! It's party time!!" One of the 30s people was lesbian, another gay.
When the under 30s got to the back yard and pool area ... there were these old people and everybody's question was, "Who are you?" One under 30 person's reaction was, "We're living with ... OLD PEOPLE?" The object of the show was to see whether the generations could bridge the gap. And bridge the gap, they did. The youngsters found they could learn a lot from the old folks and vice versa.
This show was hillarious! I don't know when I've enjoyed a show so much. I was just laughing hysterically. As they got to know each other and went through different challenges together they did come to love and respect each other. It was such a heartwarming, clean, fun, show.
Anyway, I came on this post I had made sometime in the past:
The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.
She said, 'Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?'
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze..
'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked.
She jokingly replied, 'I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids...'
'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she told me.
After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.
We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time machine' as she shared her wisdom and experience with me..
Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends
wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed
upon her from the other students. She was living it up.
At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.
Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.'
As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, ' We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.
There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.
We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!
There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.
If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.
Anybody! Can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.
The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.
She concluded her speech by courageously singing 'The Rose.' She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those months ago.
One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.
When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your
friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!
These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.
REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make a Living by what we get. We make a Life by what we give.
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
'Good friends are like stars..... .....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.'
-----
This is truly a message for the ages: it will always be relevant.
