Speakout 12/30

Friday, December 30, 2005

Call 471-6636

Get over yourself and off of me

Well, here we go again bashing the elderly. No, you did not get my sore spot. I do not feel the least bit guilty for serving on these non profit boards. The profit boards are out of my league in this stage of my life. I am just standing up for my rights as a senior citizen. It don't take a bachelor's degree or a PhD to use your brain. God gave us all one. It takes more than a degree to serve on a board of any kind. Common sense and a lot of hard work are the main things. I do not suffer from dementia or Alzheimer's. I have enough sense to know when it is time for me to step down. I suppose you would rather sit on their duffs until it's time for them to go to the nursing home or assisted living facility and let your hard earned tax dollars pay for it. As for as volunteering as a Pink Lady, I do that. Nutrition Center, do that. And a lot of other things, including my church work. No matter what you or a lot of other narrow minded people say, I'm not ready to give it up and stay home and play the martyr.

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To the person who keeps calling in to persecute older people for serving on boards and doing something useful in spite of their age. Shame on you. You should be glad that they can and will get out and do this instead of just sitting at home and getting older and letting someone wait on them hand and foot. Besides, age is just a state of mind. It doesn't mean you have to give up your usefulness and dignity. When you reach your golden years, I'm sure you'll change your way of thinking. Or at least I hope you will or you will make yourself and everyone around you miserable.

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I'm calling in response to "I got your sore spot." First of all, I have neither a sore spot or a guilty conscience. I was personally asked to serve on the board I am on. You are either an employee or a former employee that was probably dismissed for not performing your job satisfactorily. You have a lot to learn on work ethics. You are right on one thing, I haven't been to school recently. However, it doesn't take much education to pick someone who is up on things and capable of making a decision. This is called common sense. This is something you lack. Do you think your grandparents ought to be put out to pasture just because they are senior citizens? For your information, not all senior citizens are suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's and need someone to take care of them. We've been taking care of ourselves for many years, and some of us are even taking care of our children and grandchildren. As far as serving for recognition and meals, you are sadly mistaken again. You need to get your facts straight. I have plenty of food and skills to make my food at home. I could care less if my picture is in the paper. I know what I look like. In addition to serving on the boards, I am also a volunteer at least four days a week. Before you start running your mouth off, take a look at your own life. What is your work ethic? Could you really do a better job on the board because you are younger? Do you think younger is better? Have you been asked to serve on the board? If not, ask yourself why. What makes you think you are more qualified than an older person? We have more knowledge and work experience than young people. Regardless of what you think, age is not a contributing factor for someone being on a board. It is a question of your character. Our input in important, needed and wanted. Otherwise, we would have not been asked to serve on the board.