It’s that time of year again
Although it seems a bit earlyto me, articles are now appearing, at least in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram,about the Kennedy assassination, now some sixty years ago if you can believethat. It boggles my mind that so much of our population was not alive then,doesn’t remember the date or the event. They vaguely know about it from historyclasses if it’s not something that’s been censored. For me, that terribleweekend is still too raw a memory. I don’t want to read the recollections ofjournalists who were there, the stories about people who knew Lee HarveyOswald, on the spot reports from the hospital about Kennedy’s medicalcondition. I remember too well driving down the main street of Kirksville, MO,on my way back to my office after lunch. The local radio station seemed to havelost it—the guys on the mic fumbled and mumbled, there was much shuffling ofpapers, and I, who did an occasional interview at the station, was thoroughly impatientwith their incompetence—until I heard what was upsetting them. I went back tomy office and told my boss, who immediately thought only of the president ofthe osteopathic college where we both worked.
That was the beginning of along, dark weekend. Another of my vivid memories is my brother calling onSunday morning to say tersely, “You better turn on your TV.” Lee Harvey Oswaldhad just been shot by Jack Ruby. I don’t remember doing anything else those fewdays besides watching TV.
When my then-husband and Imoved to Texas, I brought with me memories of that weekend. The first time wewent to Dallas and would drive by the site of the assassination, I almost hadan anxiety attack. I didn’t think I could bear to see it. No, the memories arestill strong, and I don’t want to read more about it, but I wonder if thenation would react today as it did then. Gun violence was a rare thing in the1960s. Have we now become so indifferent to it, to patriotism, to true loyaltyto our country (and not the faux patriotism of Christian nationalists) that wewould shrug it off? I hope not. This year, the anniversary of the assassinationfalls on Thanksgiving Day. Will we give thanks for the example that JFK set forus, for his vision of Camelot? I hope so.
I have a new goal: I want tobe a super-ager. With ageism so strong across our nation, it’s comforting toknow that researchers have identified people over eighty whose cognitive powersremain at least thirty years younger. They are people who live an active life,continually challenging themselves mentally as well as physically; they are surroundedby people, and they indulge in some of life’s pleasures. So, no, isolatingyourself and swearing off drink and rich foods isn’t necessarily the key tostaying young. Apparently the big key is mental activity—learn to play amusical instrument or speak a new language. I’m wondering if improving mycomputer skills might quality.
Are super-agers born that way,influenced by genetics, or are there things you can do to achieve that status?Apparently both. We’ve all heard that working crossword puzzles can keep yourbrain active. So can other word games and puzzles, taking online or in-personclasses, learning a new craft-want to take up crocheting? Go for it.
I have a friend who is on theplus side of eighty, a prolific writer with many novels to her credit. She hasdecided she’s through with long projects and had created a whole new outlet forherself on Substack, the online platform for writers. It’s not just a matter ofsaying, “Okay, now I want to write on Substack.” It involves learning how toincrease your audience, how to use Substack’s tools to further your reach, howto plan and schedule your entries, how to interact with other writers on theplatform.
My son-in-law, Brandon, iswriting country western music (he’s far too young to be a super-ager) and hashad one song included on an artist’s album. So when I talked to him about lyrics(I understand words if not the music), he said we must write a song togetherwhen the family gathers for Christmas. A whole new challenge for me, and I’m excitedabout it.
One bit of advice sometimesgiven to the aging is, “Get ready to be uncomfortable.” Uncomfortable as youstretch and reach to learn new things and keep your brain active. As I look aroundme, I realize that’s what the most interesting people I know are doing. Maybeeven cooking a new recipe counts. Ya’ think?
The boys—Christian, Jacob, andseveral of Jacob’s friends, are off at the U. of Arkansas for a footballweekend. So Jordan and I had a delightful happy hour with neighbors Jaimie andGregg tonight with bountiful snacks, except I didn’t think my crab dip was asuccess. I need to taste it tomorrow, but my impression was too much lemon, andI maybe should give up substituting faux crab (Krab) for the real thing. Itjust wasn’t right. I guess even aspiring super-agers are entitled to a cookingfail or two.
Happy weekend!
