I wouldn’t call them role models, but they have done things in their older years that have given me food for thought.
This week, we heard that Diane Rehm, who has hosted a popular talk show for 37 years despite a speaking disability, will be retiring after the presidential election. She is currently 79.
Jimmy Carter’s mother (remember Miss Lillian?) joined the Peace Corps around the time he became president. She went to India.
My mother ran for Congress in her early 70s.
My friend Dorothy kept going to her editing job in her late 70s. In her late 80s, she was asked by her former boss to edit a book. (This time she declined politely, reminding him he now knew how to identify a dangling participle.)
Just putting it out there.
Photo: National Endowment for the Humanities
Diane Rehm, popular talk show host for 37 years, plans to retire after the election.
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
Yes! Think of Elie Wiesel and Jimmy Carter working for humanity into their eighties, Fred Benson and Mary Donnelly of Block Island going in to their offices to work in their eighties. I love to see an elder grandma here ride her bike to community events and travel the world to stay in touch with her children and grandchildren. Oh, and have you heard of Peggy Freydberg of Martha’s Vineyard? She started writing poetry at ninety and got to see the proofs for her first book at 107, just before she died last March. Role models, one and all!
Oh, that’s the best! I must try to get a copy of Freydberg’s poetry!
The older I get, the more grateful I am to have role models like these for inspiration and reassurance. Thank you for sharing. (Also I had no idea that Diane R. looked like that…from her on-air voice I had imagined her very differently!)
Her voice is not glamorous. It’s a disability. I used to be surprised that she was given a show, but when I heard a few shows, I understood how good she was at her job. That should be what matters to an employer.
So many people seem to buy into the idea that they are old and finished when they reach a certain age, be it 60, 70, whatever. And once a person decides they are old, I guess they are. But I love the ones who refuse to think about age and just think about what they want to accomplish each day!
Yes, KerryCan. That would be you, I think. You do so many things in detail and in depth, I think you must be very tired at night.