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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Trying new things

I strongly believe that it is important to try out new activities and experiences. Several years ago I had tried classes at my local OLLI senior university campus which is actually within walking distance. It was ok but not that engaging.

Well, I decided it was time to try it again. The class list was interesting and many were full by the time I enrolled so I ended up with 2 classes that started today. The first one is called The Decathlon of Life and is by the co-author of a new book by the same name. The people who picked this class are like me in that we all want to ramp up our fairly newly minted retirements.

The second class is Keepers of the Flame on poets of the Emerson, Dickenson, Poe era. The teacher is a retired professor who must be in his late 80's and so enthusiastic. He also tells old vaudeville jokes such as "Why did the young Southern belle turn down an invitation to an orgy? Too many thank you notes to write!". The class applauded his declamation of The Raven that was complete with a croaked "Nevermore".

I'm looking forward to both classes next week.

I'm also adding an exercise class to my workout starting tomorrow. It is a 20/20/20 class for aerobic conditioning and toning. I'm looking forward to ramping up my exercise although I am sure I will be an awkward beginner for the first few times I attend.

The other new things scheduled for this week are having the friends of the library board meet at my house instead of the library so we can celebrate another year of successful fund raising with wine and snacks. Everyone was eager to come once I brought it up. Then on Friday I head to St. Simons Island with some of my book club friends for a 2 night stay at one member's vacation home. I've never been to this Georgia Island but I have heard it is lovely. I'll enjoy seeing the lighthouse, going on a ghost tour, walking on the beach, spending time with good friends, and taking photos.

I don't usually have so many new things in one week but they are making this week great!

11 comments:

  1. Juhli, what a coincidence - my next blog post is going to be on learning like you'll live forever, and I'm specifically going to mention my Shakespeare class, which other than the author, sounds very similar to your Keepers of the Flame class. Our instructor is a retired high school teacher - in fact I later learned my daughters both had her in high school for Shakespeare - and she is fantastic.

    We read our first Shakespearean sonnet last week, and I was blown away at how she made interesting something I'd long assumed was boring.

    It's exciting to realize how much more there is still out there to learn, isn't it?

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  2. It is exciting to find new things to learn! I have found your energy and activity level inspirational by the way.

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  3. Sounds like you will be busy with some very intriguing courses and exercise!

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    1. I think it they are going to help rev up my retirement. I'm adding things in small steps.

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  4. Good for you on all of it! I have recently started two new things...a Jazzercise class (2x a wk) and a watercolor painting class (1day a wk). Annd while you enjoy a couple of days on St. Simon Island, I will be spending a couple of days on Mackinac Island. And can you believe I have been to St. Simon's island? Loooong time ago.

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    1. Your classes sound great! I was going to sign up for my favorite studio painting class too but it was on the same day as the other classes. I'm looking forward to your photos of Mackinac Island!

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  5. You have lots of great stuff going on!

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    1. Thanks - it is turning out to be a great week.

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  6. Hear, hear! And I'm trying to keep up with you . . . B and I took up ballroom dancing; then I joined a table tennis group; now I'm starting to tutor at our community college. What's next? Who knows, but like you, I'm looking forward to it!

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    1. Interesting activities you have going on! How did you find out about the tutoring opportunity?

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    2. It was thru a website -- I'm sorry, I do not remember which one -- but on the site you could search opportunities by geography and interest. It might have been United Way, not sure. Anyway, if you just google volunteer opportunities in your city, state, it will likely get you started. Good luck!

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