Life After 60
Like most of us I’m sure my life has had many turning points – one certainly was leaving home after college, another my first job. And then marriage, and parenthood, and that three ring circus as a working woman/wife/mother!
And then in my early 60s I retired after my long career as a high school librarian and my life took some unexpected and delightful new turns.
I was invited by a friend to join the board of a non-profit entitled Literacy for Incarcerated Teens / LIT. She explained that LIT is an advocacy group that funds libraries, as well as arts and literacy programming in juvenile detention centers in New York City.
I had worked with at-risk students in inner-city schools, and celebrating the achievements of those kids who graduated and went on to college or good jobs was very rewarding. (See The Diary of a Young Girl and Tanesha)
But despite all that we teachers and counsels did, many students fell thru the cracks, and I saw working with LIT as a way to help those kids. (See Literacy for Incarcerated Teens)
Of course I still had time for more post-retirement projects, and as a former librarian who prided herself on her organizing skills, I founded Rooms for Improvement: Home Organizing for Town & Country. Entering folks’ homes to help them organize and declutter their living spaces and their lives brought me unexpected rewards. (See Second Career – Home Organizer!)
And so life after 60 for me had several turning points, I even planted a vegetable garden for the first time. (See Wisdom in the Weeds)
And then in my 70s I took up a brand new sport. (See Pickled!)
So don’t call me between 9:30 and 11:00 in the morning – if it’s not raining I’ll be out on the court trying to keep my eye on the ball!
– Dana Susan Lehrman
Dana Susan LehrmanThis retired librarian loves big city bustle and cozy country weekends, friends and family, good books and theatre, movies and jazz, travel, tennis, Yankee baseball, and writing about life as she sees it on her blog World Thru Brown Eyes!
www.WorldThruBrownEyes.com
As you’ve pointed out, your life has been a series of turning points, Dana. Can’t hold a good woman down – you keep at it. As they say in the Bible – To every season, turn, turn, turn/And a time for every purpose under Heaven.
Thanx Betsy, it takes one busy woman to know another!
I love the way you always find meaning in what you do, and keep moving forward. You probably didn’t plan on administering Retrospect either. Don’t stop now.
Thanx Khati!
And no I never foresaw I’d be agonizing over writing prompts for a storytelling website every week – but here we are!
My 22 year old very athletic son has become such a Pickleball devotee! I don’t suppose you take a “cold plunge” after each game the way he does? I found it very uplifting to read the thumbnail sketch of your multiple careers/vocations and turning points. I’m proud to have you as a contemporary, showing the way to continued happiness, vitality, and spirited living!.
Thanx Dale!
I think the only cold plunge I might take is an adult beverage!
It sounds like you’re doing all the right things in keeping your heart, mind, and body active in good (and fun) causes, Dana! I’m sure you will have yet more turning points to come before, as Joni Mitchell sang, “…the last revolving year is through.” In the meantime, enjoy the pickleball!
Thanx Jim, and I do love pickleball!
The LIT program sounds like a great way to fundamentally improve people’s lives and prospects. What a lovely thing to do for humanity!
Thanx Dave, LIT is a wonderful program and rewarding at both ends!