Lately I’ve been wondering if life is kind of over. I am not really complaining (too much.) I had a successful career in banking and software that allowed me to adequately support my family, and I have a 43 year marriage. I’ve been retired for a year or so. While we all could wish for a little more money we’re doing ok. I’m still a nerd at heart, so I mess around with programming and websites. And I enjoy writing about a variety of topics.
However It does sometimes feel like life is kind of over as far as new things, adventure, and impact.
So, I decided to hit the Internet and try and find some really cool old people. “Old” means different things to different people, so I won’t quibble over exact ages. Here are some of the people I found:
Colonel Sanders
Most people have heard of this one. He started Kentucky Fried Chicken at 65. Its health benefits might be debated, but it sure tastes great!
Grandma Moses
She is a famous American folk artist, and she didn’t even start painting until the age of 78!
Laura Ingalls Wilder
She was in her 60s when she started writing the “Little House” books.
Duncan Hines
He started writing cooking books in his 50s, and in his 70s he started adding his name to several famous products (think Duncan Hines Cakes.)
Yuichiro Miura
He is known as the oldest person to climb Mt Everest at the age of 80!
Smokey Dawson
Never heard of this one but he was an Australian cowboy. He composed and released his first album at 92!
Harriet Thompson
She was a cancer survivor who started running marathons at age 76, and then went on to complete her 15th marathon at the age of 91.
Mohr Keet
He became the world’s oldest bungee jumper at the age of 96.
Tom Allen
Never heard of this one either, but he is Britain’s oldest yoga instructor, at the age of 90.
Kittie Weston-Knauer
Kittie is the world’s oldest BMX racer. She is still going strong at 71!
Wang Deshun
Wang Deshun is an in demand male fashion model. At 80 he is considered one hot Grandpa!
Sister Madonna Bruder
She is an 86 year old nun who still competes regularly in Ironman competitions!
George and Doreen Kirby
These two are the world’s oldest newlyweds according to Guiness World Record books. They were 103 and 91 respectively.
Leonid Hurwicz
Lots of scientists and doctors stay active well into what is considered old age. Leonid won the Nobel prize in Economics at the age of 90. I also read about a Japanese doctor who still practiced at the age of 102!
Fred Mack
Fred celebrated his 100th birthday by skydiving. His first jump was at 95, and his second at 100!
Nelson Mandela
Who can forget this one. After spending 27 years in prison he became the president of South Africa at the age of 76.
Minoro Saito
He kept busy in his retirement years by sailing around the world at the age of 77.
John Glenn
He is famous for going to space as an astronaut at the age of 77.
Fauja Singh
Fauja ran in the Mumbai marathon at the age of 104. I have an uncle who is a retired Navy fighter pilot. He was running marathons in his 80s. He recently turned 90 and I’ll have to tell him he is just getting warmed up!
This list could go on and on. I guess the point is age is only a number and maybe we should just ignore it, within reason, and do whatever we still have the desire to do.
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