[Colin_Partridge]

Hi gang,
I always dread that time of year when my birthday comes around and think to myself how many more years can I climb these scaffolds and carve these tree's. I worry about it because most people my age cant do it and I often wonder when I am perched up there 15 feet in the air how long will this old body allow me to do this. I will be 64 this year and although the numbers dont bother me, its just a number, I still keep on thinking how long will I be able to keep this up. I recieved an email this morning from my sister in law and I thought I would share it with you please read it all it will make you think differently about growing old it sure did me.Who knows maybe I will still be carving those tree's when I am 100.
Colin

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 wa lked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.

We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would
leave 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 m e! 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.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

"Good friends are like stars.........You don't always see them, but you
know they are always there."

[Hugh]

That is a great story Colin. Thanks

[Marci MN]

You couldnt have posted this on a better day. My disability was getting the best of me this morning and now I have some inner energy to go find something to do and get my mind off it. Thank you. Now where did I put that chunka basswood.......mmmmm......

[Thor]

Kudos to Rose.
Thanks Colin. Now, get back up on that scaffolding.
Thor

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

The secret Colin is keep your toes clinched so you don't fall off your perch!

[Alice in Wonderland]

Thanks Colin for charing this with us, what great wisdom, and just something for you I started to climb a scaffold when I was 64 :-) so you are still very young keep going see attached file ,I started this pole in fromt of the house
Alice

[Marci MN]

Hey Alice, did you finish carving on that pole? Are there pictures of it finished? I'd love to see them!

Two steps up a ladder is waaaay to many for this chick.

[bronco]

Colin,
I just turned fifty at the end of 2005, that is a great story full of inspration for the young and old.
Bill

[Nancy-ID]

Thanks Colin. Everyone should listen to "The Rose", great song, it has always been one of my favorites. By Bette Midler if anyone doesn't know.

[squbrigg]

Advancment of the years is something we can all relate to. It's all those bangs and dings from younger years catching up that bother me! It maybe that I was a bit too active in younger years and that's the problem, something I believe Colin, you can relate to.

Carving is something that helps keep me young, focused and provides me with reasons to get going in the morning. Scariest thing in the world, the day I was not able to carve! Lost the use of arms and legs and ability to think much for a while, what little I could think was focused on pain and inability to lift a tool. Got some/most of it back and ability to carve again over about a year, with limits, but I can live with those. Don't think I could without my carving though.

So thanks but no thanks Colin....I'll leave you and Alice to the ladders and stagings, I get dizzy just getting out of a chair! LOL I'm quite happy carving from the comfort of my chair.

Bob