Magic of Aging October 2007 by R. H. Carter

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{sidebar id=1}What a wonderful time of the year.  The mornings and evenings are getting cooler and the birds, squirrels and deer have so much to eat.  The squirrels are beginning to store acorns for winter.  It’s just as exciting in the senior center.  I know, we continue to experience illnesses and we often experience the loss of a dear friend in the center.  However, the seniors in the center enjoy the time they have knowing they won’t be here forever.  Happiness and excitement are the prevailing feelings in this environment.  Recently, I discussed life with a few seniors and received their approval to share it with others.

Ms. Billie Stradleigh just turned 97.  She attends church at St Teresa.  She loves to read and still corresponds with her friends around the country.  She was born in New York and married a Lieutenant in the Air Force.  Wherever they were stationed she volunteered her services.  She was a Grey Lady volunteer at hospitals in Texas, served as a choir mother in Falls Church, Virginia and Washington.  She has been a member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the VFW over 50 years.  Ms. Billie has been coming to the senior center over 15 years.  She enjoys the food and music but most of all she enjoys being around other people.  As she talked with me, her greatest smiles came when she talked about her husband and talking with her friends.

Ms. Rebecca (Harris) Adison has lived in Wakulla County since birth.  She is a very youthful 73 years old.  She was born at Wakulla Station and lived there and in Mt. Zion most of her life.  She was married for 26 years.  She had 6 children and 3 are still living.  There are 13 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.  Mr. Lewis Baily, better known as Deacon Bailey, was her great uncle.  Back in the 1960’s and 1970’s Deacon Baily used to visit me regularly in the courthouse where I worked.  Ms. Addison worked at Metcaff’s Crab House until she was 65.  She began coming to the Senior Center before she retired.  She and Ms. Marjorie McPhearson were the first two seniors from our center to move into the apartments next door.  Her apartment is the nicest place she has ever lived.  It’s the first time she has had air conditioning.  She loves the other seniors and thinks the staff is the greatest group of people in the world.  She really enjoys folding newspapers for the Florida Wild Mammal Association.  Her children call her regularly to make sure she is happy visiting the center.

Mr. Bob Robertson was introduced to the senior center by Mr. Buck Miller.  He believed he was blessed by God for Mr. Miller to bring him here.  He brings his wife, Betty, and they enjoy this place together.  He fought in World War II from 1943-1946 and the Korean War in 1950.  He would go fight in Iraq right now if they would let him.  During the two wars he grew from 6 feet to 6 feed 4 ½ inches.  He believes in freedom and understands the price that has been paid for our freedom.  He believes in structure and strong discipline.  He is not tolerant of irresponsibility.  His greatest joy in life is to make other people happy.  You should see him dance with his wife and all of the other ladies.  He and several other seniors go to the VFW center one day each month and he volunteers to call bingo.  On June 3, 2007 he suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed on his left side and with double vision.  He refused therapy and began his own exercise program that sounded excessive to me but he has no remaining paralysis or double vision.  He doesn’t appear that he has ever been ill in his life.

It’s a real pleasure to discuss individual lives and experiences with seniors.  Try it; you’ll like it.

Maintaining the senior center is a financial challenge.  We could not succeed without community support.  We are proud of Wakulla County and how our citizens love and contribute to senior programs.  I especially want to thank the County Commission for their continued support.  Times are tough for those trying to reduce taxes without hurting public services.  The County Commission must be commended for standing firm in supporting our older population.

This article originally published on September 25, 2007.

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