A message from Sandy. Here’s an inspiring story I found that reminds us it’s always dangerous to generalize about “old people” and “young people” as there will always be exceptions.

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her whole being. She said, ” Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I am 87 years old. Can I give you a hug?”

I laughed enthusiastically responded, “Of course you may!” and she gave me a giant squeeze.”Why are you in college at such a young and innocent age?”I asked. She jokingly replied, “I’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids…..”

I was curious what might have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. ” I always dreamed of having a college education and now I’m getting one!” she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.

We became instant friends. Every day for the next 3 months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was mesmerized listening to her as she shared her wisdom and experiences with me. Over the course of a year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her 3×5 cards to the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, “I’m sorry I’m so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I’ll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.”

As we laughed she began, “We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

There are only 4 secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You’ve got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.”

Anybody can grow older. That doesn’t take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don’t have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets. 

She concluded her speech by courageously singing “The Rose.” At the year’s end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.  One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. 

These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.