Lovely
Rose at 87
The
first day of school our professor introduced himself and
challenged
us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood
up
to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I
turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me
with
a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, "Hi handsome. My
name
is Rose.
I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"
I
laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and
she
gave me a giant squeeze.
"Why
are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.
She
jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married,
and
have a couple of kids..."
"No
seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her
to
be taking on this challenge at her age.
"I
always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting
one!"
she told me.
After
class we walked to the student union building and shared a
chocolate
milkshake.
We
became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we
wouldleave
class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized
listening
to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and
experience
with me.
Over
the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily
made
friends wherever she went.
She
loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon
her
from the other students. She was living it up.
At
the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football
banquet.
I'll
never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped
up
to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she
dropped
her three by five cards on the floor.
Frustrated
and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone
and
simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent
and
this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in
order
so let me just tell you what I know."
As
we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing
because
we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.
There
are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and
achieving
success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've
got
to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.
We
have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even
know
it!
There
is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.
If
you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and
don't
do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I
am
eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do
anything
I will turn eighty-eight.
Anybody
can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The
idea
is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no
regrets.
The
elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather
for
things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those
with
regrets"
She
concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose."
She
challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in
our
daily lives.
At
the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all
those
years ago.
One
week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.
Over
two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute
to
the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late
to
be all you can possibly be.
When
you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice
to
your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!
These
words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.
REMEMBER,
GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.
We
make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give.
Some
say love, it is a river
That
drowns the tender reed.
Some
say love, it is a razor
That
leaves your soul to bleed.
Some
say love, it is a hunger,
An
endless aching need.
I
say love, it is a flower,
And
you it's only seed.
It's
the heart, afraid of breaking,
That
never learns to dance.
It's
the dream, afraid of waking,
That
never takes a chance.
It's
the one who won't be taken,
Who
cannot seem to give.
And
the soul, afraid of dyin',
That
never learns to live.
When
the night has been too lonely,
And
the road has been too long,
And
you think that love is only
For
the lucky and the strong,
Just
remember in the winter
Far
beneath the bitter snows,
Lies
the seed, that with the sun's love,
In
the spring becomes the rose.