encore performances #6...

 encore performances #6...

   This is the sixth post featuring special People Over Sixty (POS) who have retired and make an effort to keep relevant by finding activities and exercise that suits their personalities, needs, and capabilities.

  Most of us find being older to be challenging in different ways than life presented at a younger time.  Chief among those changes are health issues that seem to crop up out of nowhere.  There doesn't seem to be a handbook or other guide at Barnes and Noble or anywhere else on growing old gracefully.  It's an individual effort, but many seem to share the same discomforts and they are as common as losing one's car keys.  Still, the joys life brings are many and looking to the future and being a functional part of society can and should be exciting.  

  

  Day to day life unfolds and is presented in such a manner that we never know what tomorrow will bring each of us no matter our age.  There are so many positive things going on with young and old and that is certainly true with today's three guests.  Each one is over 65 and each one has a personal battle to fight, but each is excited about what will unfold in the coming months and years.    

  

  This latest group of POS led startlingly different lives, but have arrived at the same place, retired with lots of available time.  All three live in Louisville, Kentucky. 

  Ralph Gilpin is 83 and has been retired since 1991.  

  I quit working when I was in my early 60s, he stated.  I was a salesman for Ford Motor Company and I sold semis all around the country.   

  So, you worked directly for Ford and not a dealer?

  That's right, he agreed.  I talked to Ford dealers only.  Of course, Ford doesn't make semi-trucks anymore.  They sold out to Freightliner years ago.

  You've been retired for 20 years.  How long did you sell semis?

  I started working for Ford in 1955, he said.  I moved to sales in the early '60s.  

  You also said you got married along the way about then. 

  I did, Ralph smiled.  Her name is Abigail.  We've got two boys and a girl, three grandkids, and one great grandchild.  

  Every Abigail I've ever known is a beautiful woman.

  Well, this one tops all of 'em, he proclaimed.  

  You've had 20 years to do anything you wanted to do.  How did you choose to spend your time?

  I work with the Red Cross, he said proudly.  Every week, I spend time at the blood banks.  Twice a week, I go see families of recruits of our Armed Forces and explain the services of the Red Cross.

  That's pretty remarkable.

  What people don't know is we have three call centers around the country and families can get in touch with any Armed Forces member anywhere in the world, he informed me.  I spend time at a call center in different parts of the country on a regular basis too.  

  Do you respond to different crises as they unfold here in the states?

  I do.  Just got back from California helping firefighters any way I could, he said.  Fixing them food, pouring them a cup of coffee, anything I can do.  Many times, I'm part of a team that helps assess damages.

  Ralph Gilpin, you are a notable man.  

  I hope that's a good thing, he laughed.  

  Steve Cottner retired five years ago from a local lumber company.  He and his wife, Kathleen have two grown children.  

  I was a general sales manager for 32 years, he said.  I usually had 13 sales people working for me.  Together with the owner, one of my duties was to price lumber for builders.

  We keep hearing about the increased cost of lumber and building materials in general.  What's going on?

  The price increases are frightening, Steve said.  We built a new house five years ago and our builder has told us since then that the price of our house would be double today from what I paid.  

  What do you think is causing these increases?

  Normally, prices fluctuate, he responded.  I don't think lumber prices will ever come back to where they were for a lot of reasons, mainly, the supply is short and wages.  Everybody is paying higher wages now.  

  How long ago did you step down from full-time employment and what do you do with all your spare time? 

  It's been six years now, he stated.  My wife and I have gone on about 22 cruises.  We just love to travel.

  You've been on 22 cruises in six years?

  No, no, Steve corrected me.  We've been on a number of them since I retired, but some before that too.  We actually enjoy being on the boats more than going ashore because there's so much to do on ships now. 

  Do you travel on land or strictly cruises? 

   

  Oh, absolutely, we go anywhere, he said.  We do a lot of traveling to national parks too.  There's a passport at parks you can get to show you've been there and we enjoy getting those.  Two months ago, we went out west to Zion Park, Bryce Canyon, and two others.  

  Teddy Roosevelt would have been proud of you.  

  Absolutely, Steve laughed.  We have seen a lot of his doings out there.  You know, things he's responsible for.  It's pretty impressive.  

  You also said you and Kathleen are baseball fans.

  What we really like to do is go to spring training camps in Florida, he admitted.  Last time, we saw Washington, Houston, and Atlanta on the east coast.  Then we went to the other side and saw the Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.  

  Last question.  Have you ever been to Arizona for training camps?

  We went out there for a few games, he said, but I think we'll go back to Florida.  It's a lot more fun.  Thanks for talking to me, I've enjoyed it.    

  Our next guest is 83, a retired minister, divorced, and uses a walker to afford him mobility.

  You've certainly led a life of compassionate work, pastor.   

   I've had an unusual life, I will say that, said retired pastor, Richard Schnelly.  

  Start at the beginning.  Way back when, where were you sent and what were you doing?

  I was an assistant pastor at a church here in Louisville my first six years, he said.  Then, I was sent to northern Kentucky where I was director of a children's home for seven years.  

  So, in a way, you had two completely different careers in your first thirteen years in a lifelong career in the ministry.

  Yes, I did, he confirmed.  After seven years at the children's home, I was brought back here where I served as a pastor for 28 more years.  I retired in 2001. 

  Did you ever marry?

  I was married for a short time, but it didn't work out, he conceded.  We didn't have any kids, but I still hear from about 40 kids from the children's home every once in a while.  

  You retired 20 years ago.  How do you spend your life?

  When I retired, I spent 15 years as a docent at the zoo, he informed me.  Along with that, I just completed 20 years as a volunteer at St. John's Center for the Homeless.  

  Pastor, you have led an incredible life of giving and then giving some more.  

  It doesn't seem like it's been as long as it has been, he claimed.  That is until I get a call from one of my kids from the home and he or she tells me a grandchild is on the way.  That's when I feel my age.  

  Since you no longer have something professionally or charity work to keep you busy, what do you do?

  Well, I used to travel, he said wistfully, but I can't do that anymore.  So, now Nacho takes up my time.  

  Nacho?  Is Nacho a Chihuahua?

  Nope, Nacho is a parrot, Pastor Schnelly said proudly.  Nacho is a very dark green female and she sings beautifully.  She's 28 years old and she'll live to be 80 so I've made provisions for her.

  Provisions?

  Naturally, pastor replied.  I'm 83 and Nacho has 50 more years to live.  My mail carrier wants Nacho down the road.  

  I see.  Out of curiosity, what does Nacho eat?  

  She loves green beans, grapes, black cherries, and pellets, he said knowingly.  And, that's all I give her.  Want to hear a great story that actually happened?

  When you put it that way, you know there's only one answer. 

  But, first, a reminder...

  Coming up:  meet a woman who traveled the world for British American Tobacco, and; meet some more POS and find out what dreams and wishes they have on their Bucket List.  

  Now, here's that story from Pastor Schnelly in his own words.  

  Several years ago, he said, I was having trouble with my television set.  Now, this is back in the day when a guy actually came to your house to fix the darned thing.  Nacho watched the guy walk into the living room.  He never took his eyes off the guy.  He watched him bring in his tools, open the tool box, and then watched him take the back off the television.  Nacho looked right at the guy and said, What are you doing?

The repairman said, I'm going to fix your boss's television.  Nacho replied, Would you like a beer?  

  HUH?  What's up with that?