Always have fun!

Sure, we can grow old if we like. But it does not sound like much fun, does it? Those of us with grandchildren know already– the purpose of grandchildren is to keep us young!!

Last week I was shooting basketball with my grandson. I am not very good at it, but I sure tried! And he laughed and laughed. He and his legally blind Poppy shoot basketball competitively, and they do have fun at that! Zach coaches his Poppy — “that one was a little bit to the left, Poppy” or “you missed that one Poppy!” At six years old, he is a great coach!

And it is much better for us seniors to be out there trying to play basketball than sitting in a chair doing nothing — whether we are good at basketball or not.

I learned a new lesson from our granddaughter today – we went to the grocery store. She carefully wrote out our grocery list and off we went. But we somehow arrived at the store without our list. Jessica said, “Don’t worry, JoanJoan, I remember them all!” And she did! We quickly bought groceries with the help of her young memory. Yippee! From now on, she is going to the store with me so I don’t forget anything, even when I forget the list!

We do need to take advantage of the joy and energy and talents of our grands, no doubt! And I firmly believe all our lives will be richer for the experience — and more fun too!

Related posts

• Journaling for the Grandchildren (5)
• Tips for Senior Living (9)
• Surviving as a Senior (6)
• Seniors and Baby Boomers – Should you still be driving? (11)
• Living Life as a Senior Citizen (4)

We had a wonderful time last evening. We went dancing with the Rock Hill Shag Club. In fact, we applied for membership. Regular dancing is not only great exercise for seniors, but good socialization, too!

Our daughter and son-in-law went with us last night, and they had a great time too! Since the Carolina Shag is the State dance for South Carolina, all ages enjoy it. We have decided that a monthly shag night is a great adult family event, so next time we are hoping our son and daughter-in-law will join us too!

It was fun last night to watch some of the older beach shaggers – the folks who danced at Ocean Drive back in the 1950’s. And oh those folks can really dance! I remember in the 1950’s, Mama would have us dance before school — probably to help us stay warm — we walked to school in those days!

In the 1950’s, we danced everywhere – in friend’s homes, in the high school gym, even in the church social hall! We seemed to dance our way through the 1960’s too!

Note to Seniors — I have finally learned that if I take two Tylenol at bedtime, and coat my feet and legs with Absorbine or some other linament after dancing, I do not have leg and foot cramps in the night! Now I can have fun knowing I won’t struggle for sleep!

Just in case you have never seen the Carolina Shag, I am including a video!
Carolina Shag Dance

Related posts

• No related posts.

This is a continuation of details of my legally blind husband directing a golf tournament. At the present moment he is working on the Optimist Club tournament and yesterday I described how he keeps track of all the telephone calls required.

The tournament will be played at Pinetuck Golf Club near Rock Hill, SC at the end of March. The date was set and the golf course arrangements were made months ago. From this point on, Whitey and members of the Rock Hill Optimist Club will continue to recruit players, sponsors and gifts. The members will make the sponsor signs and have those ready to post on tournament day.

Before the meeting next week, Whitey and I will create a typed list of all sponsors, gifts and players. This will allow the club to review progress and to ensure that members do not call on people that have already been contacted.

On tournament day, Whitey will welcome the players and go over the rules before the shotgun start. A picnic lunch will be served this year in lieu of the barbeque after the tournament and during the auction. Most items will be up for silent auction and the silent auction clipboards will be on tables around the pro shop when the players arrive.

Whitey will play in the tournament, and they will all have a wonderful day. They always do! After the tournament, the remaining items are auctioned.

My job for the next few weeks is to read, type or drive as needed. I do not direct golf tournaments! But we all are looking forward to a successful fundraiser for the Rock Hill Optimist Club.

PS The Optimist Club of Rock Hill has its own Squidoo lens! Stop by and say hello!

Photo courtesy of Erskine College — Thank you, Erskine!

Related posts

• Directing a Golf Tournament – Legally Blind (11)
• Time for a Seeing Eye or Guide Dog? (6)
• Marriage is Teamwork (10)
• Legally Blind- It’s all about attitude! (15)
• Keep Your Sense of Humor – no matter what! (16)

Whitey, my legally blind husband and former golf professional, often directs golf tournaments for local charities. Right now he is working on the local Optimist Club Golf Tournament, a tournament he has directed for 6 years or more. So how does a legally blind fellow direct a golf tournament?

First, it is important to know that Whitey has a huge list of golfers, friends and acquaintances that he who are serious golfers. A list for Whitey is a stack of 4 x 6 index cards. Whitey writes on the cards with a
20 20 pen which is a very bold point pen. The 20/20 pens do not have the terrible odor associated with normal marking pens. Each 4 x 6 card contains a name, a phone number and some very special “Whitey code”. WCB — means he left a message and they will call back. Of course they will! A check mark and date indicates that he talked to them about the tournament. YES means that the golfer has agreed to put a team in the tournament.

The next project is to find sponsors for each hole. Local businesses make a $50 donation and the club posts a sign on each hole. Again, Whitey has a stack of cards, his list. This includes businesses that have contributed in the past or new businesses that we have heard about through the year. Name of Business, name of contact and a phone number all written with the trusty 2020 pens. And of course, the coding at the bottom of the card indicates the responses.

As his vision has deteriorated, many times throughout the day he brings cards for me to read. This is frustrating for him, I know, and we simply need to research a better system. But for now, it works.

He also finds businesses to donate gifts for the auction after the golf tournament. Tomorrow for instance, one of the Optimist members is taking him on a “pick up gifts” run. They will call on businesses who have agreed to donate a gift for the auction. These gifts are also found via Whitey’s now famous telephone cards.

Of course, we often have businesses who need to receive an invoice or proof of Optimist Club sponsorship, and I email those addresses to the club treasurer and he sends out the bills.

To be continued tomorrow…..

PS The photo was made during a golf trip to Scotland last year. But that’s another story. We just needed a bit of humor in this dry post of details.

Related posts

• Directing a Golf Tournament – Legally Blind, Part II (1)
• Time for a Seeing Eye or Guide Dog? (6)
• Marriage is Teamwork (10)
• Legally Blind- It’s all about attitude! (15)
• Keep Your Sense of Humor – no matter what! (16)

We went to a dance tonight. The Rock Hill Shag Club had a huge dance with the Coastline Band performing! It was a super group and a fun party. And of course, Whitey, my legally blind husband, was excited about going. We both enjoy dancing — shag and country line dancing. With predictions of terrible weather, I was a bit anxious, but we decided to go on. I am glad we did.

In the 1950’s and 1960’s, high school students of the Carolinas flocked to Myrtle Beach — actually they still do. But back in the 50’s and 60’s, everybody danced the Shag or the Carolina Shag, as it is sometimes called. Wikipedia says The Carolina Shag is a six count partner dance done mostly to moderate tempo music (100-150 bpm). During the dance the upper body and hips hardly move as the legs do convoluted kicks and fancy footwork. The Carolina Shag is the state dance of North Carolina and South Carolina.

For some reason, those high school students of the 50’s and 60’s have never let go of those happy, carefree days. Perhaps because it’s such a perfect dance!

Dancing is a great way to celebrate life! What is the custom where you live? Do the seniors in your area still dance the dances of their high school days like we do? We certainly do not dance as well as the professionals, but this video will show you how the professionals do the Carolina Shag. Just click and the video will play right here in this blog. And thank you for visiting!

Carolina Shag Professionals

Related posts

• Surviving as a Senior (6)
• Seniors and Baby Boomers – Should you still be driving? (11)
• Personal Life Organizer (3)
• Living Life as a Senior Citizen (4)
• Exercise for Your Brain (14)