NEVER did I expect to be 78 years old! But here I am – healthy, strong, resilient, my brain works most of the time except for most proper nouns, living a busy but gentle life. I am a childless, cat lady with a mostly feral cat named Girl (I can relate, somewhat, to being feral). I have so many very close friends, and know many others who also an integral part of my life and grateful for all. My living environment is one of joy, I can listen to my classical music, my jazz, Eric Clapton, Lady Gaga and Rod Stewart, watch a YouTube video of almost anything along with movies, theater performances and operas all on my very large television screen (that I even, most of the time, know how to operate). I sit on my patio on the East side of my house and enjoy the birds, squirrels, racoons, other feral cat visitors, my neighbors, the sunrise and watch the moon appear in the evening. I watch the world with interest, how things have changed and how some things have remained the same, and history that has repeated itself. I’ll give you some other examples.
NEVER did I expect to become an educated person. I had difficulty with school. I believed during grade school and high school that I was just bored. I know now that I am dyslexic. I didn’t read in the usual way. But I could always remember enough of what my teachers said during a class lecture to get about half the answers right on a test. I was very involved in extra curricular activities, band, orchestra, piano accompanist for our annual school operettas, glee club, an alto with our state award winning girl’s sextet, pep club, and other activities. I could also write – my English classes were my forte. I was the Editor of the Colt Capers (newspaper) and Editor of The Rhetorette – the high school yearbook. (Thank you Dr. Martha Booth!)
NEVER did I expect to go to college – I wasn’t interested. But my parents sent me off to The University of Missouri at Columbia. Because I couldn’t read (undiagnosed dyslexia), I hired people to read me the textbooks at the beginning of the semester so I could at least get through an exam. Well, it didn’t work like in high school and after two semesters, the University suggested to my parents that they find another place for me. SO, I NEVER expected to return to my hometown and attend Central Missouri State College. Something clicked and I ended up with a double major in Sociology and English with a minor in French. I hung out with the theater crowd; became a hippie and women’s rights fanatic! I learned to play Bridge, Hearts, and improved my Canasta skills that my great aunt had taught me. I met people who were smart, inquisitive like me, who were aspirational, many of whom I still consider friends, (there are no antiques like old friends…). Since those wonderful days I finished a masters degree and a PhD, both of which I NEVER expected to attain!
NEVER did I expect to find a career that was as absolutely satisfying as it was and to some degree still is!
Along the way…
NEVER did I expect John F. Kennedy to become President in 1961. I became a Democrat then!
NEVER did I expect the flawed Richard Nixon to become President in 1969.
NEVER did I expect George McGovern not to win the presidential election in 1972.
NEVER did Iexpect Ronald Regan to become President in 1981 and for his legacy to reign for years!
NEVER did Iexpect Barack Obama to become President in 2009 (still a Democrat)
NEVER did Iexpect Hilliary Clinton to lose the presidential election to you-know-who and certainly NEVER expected you-know-who to ever become reelected! (now a more centrist Democrat)
NEVER did Iexpect to meet…
Bennett Cerf, Dan Rather, Cokie Roberts, Sam Donaldson, Bob Woodward, and George Stephanopoulos. Harry and Bess Truman, Aga Kahn, Teddy Kennedy, Robert Reich, Ann Richards, Hillary Clinton, Alan Simpson, Colin Powell and Dick Chaney. Dr. Donald Johanson. R. R. Knudson and Kate Millett. Fran Lebowitz, Lauren Bacall, Lily Tomlin, Mandy Patinkin, Anthony Hopkins, Rosie O’Donnell and Matthew Broderick. Placido Domingo, Marilyn Horne, Kiri Te Kanawa, The Chad Mitchell Trio, Guy Lombardo, Ronan Tynan, Donny Osmond, Dolly Parton and waved hello to Elvis Presley! And…so many others, not so famous who were wonderfully talented musicians, artists, actors, writers and journalists.
NEVER did I expect to be so privileged to have all of my friends! They are the joys of my life – all so different, diverse, talented, smart, kind, loving and unique, worldly and mostly all globalists. To all of you, a very happy holiday season. I guess I will NEVER experience a world that is at peace.