After I retired, I went to a club we had in that subdivision and the subdivision was around a lake and many retired people went there to live. The retired people in the club would tell me “what they used to be”. After I left there the first time I heard that, I vowed I would never tell someone what I “used” to be, I would tell them what I am doing “now”, what my goals are now.
I was running the security gate at that place and an ambulance came through and drove around and around trying to find the house. I left and bought a scanner and put it at the gate so the guard would hear when an ambulance was coming in and I had that person make copies of the map in there so he/she could circle the house where the ambulance needed to go and hand the ambulance a copy when they came in and give copies to fire truck and police.
Then, I realized that volunteer ambulance was just that - volunteer and they might get there in 30 minutes or never if there was no one to drive the ambulance. So, in my sixties, I went to EMT school and I was the oldest one in the class but made the highest score on the state test. The instructor told his wife if he had an emergency, for her to call me before she called the ambulance for him.
The security gate would then call me, now a licensed EMT, when he/she head a 911 call from our subdivision and I would go there and provide care, get vital signs on paper and get insurance information so when the ambulance got there, they could load and go.
I am 80 and there is nothing I can't learn right now. My brain works every day to solve the world's problems and prepper problems and political problems and household problems, etc... In my 70s, I traveled Texas and taught Texas Election Law to lawyers and county chairman and taught at least a thousand election judges.
Just use your brain all the time and it will work. If you don't use it, it's like everything else - if you don't use your muscles, you will get to the point you can't walk.
Don't give up on your brain just because you have lived a long time. I will never do that, and besides, I'm running for Miss America when I'm 100.
Pinging you to my post 68. I know you will keep using your excellent brain.
Hi Marcella. Thx for sharing this. What a great story-and a great lesson. I’m 49. Will be 50 in April. I am going to remember this and take your advice to heart.
Yep, the brain is for APPLYING information, not just storing and accessing it.
I got my CDL 2 years ago at age 70...now I drive gas tankers....and can haul hose with the best of the young ones.