Day 22

At the museum gathering, I was surprised by being named Volunteer of the Year! I have been there for many years and wrote the history column for the Triplicate for a long time too. It is pleasant to have service recognized by the members. Today I will get out for another early walk. Feels good to start the day with stretching and out to push my speed and duration. I want stamina and wellness and I can do it. Carol’s family is leaving today.

When my teaching career ended prematurely due to an injury at work, I was lost. I felt isolated, rejected, certainly depressed by the pain and the loss of my role as a teacher. I moped around for a few months and then woke up one morning saying to myself that if I was going to wake up every morning I had to do a better job of it. That day I looked for help in our community and found RSVP. At that time it was for people over 60 and that excluded me. The first volunteering I found was tutoring adults at Sunset who wanted to learn written English. About that time, RSVP changed to 55 years old and I signed up for their program and I started my second career as a professional volunteer. Since then I have been a volunteer in police service, known as VIPS, served on a couple of boards, wrote a column for Times-standard 60+ column, wrote a monthly column and delivered senior news and wrote the history column for the Triplicate., was an assembly member for the California senior legislature, greeted visitors at the chamber of Commerce, handed out cookies at the blood bank, guided the visitors at the museum, enjoyed being in my daughters class and helping her. For a decade I registered diners at the senior center. With two others, we established Teen Court for the Juvenile Justice Commission. I tended two art galleries. And a couple of other part time opportunities. I attend Board of Supervisors meeting, and a member of the Democratic central committee. Participate in my church activities, and thoroughly appreciate my place in our community. I wholeheartedly recommend getting out and finding a place to add to our mutual lives.