ElderChicks

Even though my mother’s generation was so different in so many ways, she is the person from whom I learned, if not the most about aging, then certainly a great deal. As she aged, she remained active. When she moved from Florida to Rockville to be nearer to the family, she became if possible even more active. Soon after moving into her retirement apartment, she appeared on television leading a protest against higher rentals. She read voracioiusly and got books from the book-mobile, read them and distributed them to others telling them about the books. She atttended lectures, took exercise classes, created artworks, traveled with me and with others. She (and my daughter and I) appeared in a commercial/public service announcement for the Democratic Party and went to the White House to meet President Clinton because of her activities. Sitting at home was not her style until the dementia took hold. Now when I look for role models, I look at Thelma, who started this blog, who is writing a book, who travels and is endlessly fascinated by people around her. I recently attended the Hadassah National Convention in Jerusalem, and saw Bernice Tannenbaum, former National President, who flew to Israel and walked out on the stage to deliver a message at the age of 99. That is the way to live.