I heard someone say the other day that all they expect out of old people is that they stay out of the way and die with a little respect. They classified old as anyone past 70 or 75( the average life span) and really didnt see any point on putting a drain on the system. They had obviously never met either one of my 95 yr old grandmothers. They had never heard the wealth of knowledge and experience , the fantastic stories of days gone by. People statistically on their second lifetime and going on fourth generation at least! Like my grandmother Ravenal Chamberlain coming home from the hospital in her mothers arms....on a horse drawn wagon. The life in the mountains all the way down to today walking 1.5 miles a couple times a week and still driving herself where she needs to go! Or how about we go back in time a bit to the revolutionary war and a man named Samuel whittemore...... Whittemore was in his fields when he spotted an approaching British relief brigade under Earl Percy, sent to assist the retreat. Whittemore loaded his musket and ambushed the British Grenadiers of the 47th Regiment of Foot from behind a nearby stone wall, killing one soldier. He then drew his dueling pistols and killed a grenadier and mortally wounded a second. By the time Whittemore had fired his third shot, a British detachment reached his position; Whittemore drew his sword and attacked. He was shot in the face, bayoneted thirteen times, and left for dead in a pool of blood. He was found alive, trying to load his musket to fight again. He was taken to Dr. Cotton Tufts of Medford, who perceived no hope for his survival. However, Whittemore lived another 18 years until dying of natural causes at the age of 98. .....this was during a time everyone likes to claim no one lived past like 40 haha. So I just thought Id throw out there that our older generation (if I say elderly my grandmother may box my ears) is to be cherished and not cast aside. To be spoken to not whispered about. To be revered rather than ignored. As C.S. Lewis put it - You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 08:26:41 +0000
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