Staying active is worthwhile final job

In September, while I personally mark Anniversary 8 in a retirement home, Americans celebrate Grandparents Day and National Senior Center Month. Well, "celebrate" may be too strong, more like "observe." Or possibly "tolerate." "Deliberately ignore" might even apply to younger generations unwilling to reflect on their own futures.

But having been thrown into the deep end of the senior pool early, I've discovered pluses never fully appreciated or anticipated beforehand. Now with the fewest responsibilities since age 12, I have the less-stressful time to develop new skills, gratify forgotten curiosities and reminisce a little. It's surprisingly comforting to recall the many things you've done right in your life.

I've been primed to fully admire the courage, determination and inner strength of others in all the books, films and real-life trials I witness, having been through some myself. I can marvel at how many of today's troubles sound so like the news I grew up with.

And it's encouraging to think that if we weathered Cold War paranoia, a Cuban missile crisis, 13 percent monetary inflation and the Newark and Watts riots at various points, we can overcome today.

I celebrate all that and more, observe a few of the neutral senior changes (such as no longer cooking), and tolerate the decidedly negative ones that many live in fear of. Now that I'm retired,

I look on staying active as my final job. And if only to prevent monotony, I work at it. The potential benefits of applying oneself here are something all would be wise not to deliberately ignore.

Tom Gregg

Niles