6 July 26, 2023
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Salon discussions about growing old
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What we can achieve
The summer of 1969 is 54 years ago now, but in the grand scheme of things, 54 years is not a great deal of time, but a lot has happened in those five decades and a great deal was achieved in the years leading up to that summer. Thinking of this particular point in time, images of events like Woodstock or anti-war protests might be the first images to come to mind. Others may look at the things taking place on a sociological level and the divide that existed at that time may seem the most obvious from a historical perspective as the country was torn over the issue of American participation in Vietnam among other issues like the civil rights movement It was a turbulent time, the culmination of a decade that saw the assignation of John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert as well as Martin Luther King Jr. But in the midst of all that was taking place, there were things that, at least for a few moments, could bring the country together. July 20 marked the anniversary of first moon landing. At least for a few fleeting moments, much of the country, if not the world, watched with its collective breath held as Neil Armstrong took those tentative steps down to the lunar surface from Apollo 11. While there is some debate about what exactly he said and how his words were transferred across hundreds of thousands of miles of space back to Earth, the intent of his words ring true. The steps he took were small for one person, but the steps represented a monumental leap for the entirety of the human race. Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin along with all the other members of the previous Apollo missions that orbited the moon and returned home, were farther away from Earth than anyone had every been or has been since. The space program was gradually taking shape with the Mercury program and by the early ’60s orbits of the planet had been completed, but the moon was still very far off. In 1962, just nine years before Armstrong took those historic steps, President Kennedy posed a challenge to the scientific community. As he noted other explorers who went before, crossing oceans, searching for new lands, climbing insurmountable heights and odds in the search for new experiences and new knowledge, Kennedy set forth an aggressive timeline for American space exploration with a goal to land and return from the moon by the end of the decade. While speaking at Rice University, Kennedy said, “But why, some say, the Moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask, why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? ... We choose to go to the Moon. We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills; because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win ...” There was a lot of learning that had to happen along the way, a lot of creation and discovery. There were also losses as the crew of Apollo 1 lost their lives in a fire. And there would be challenges after. Most famously Apollo 13. But through this all there was incredible perseverance that continued to push forward and follow Kennedy’s mandate to seek new knowledge and climb new mountains. Looking back on that incredible moment of July 20, 1969, it was an amazing feat of human ingenuity accomplished with less computing power than the average cell phone or laptop has these days. It was because of space exploration that much of the technology, like cell phones and GPS to name a few, have come to be common place. But more than any of these creations, it represents all that we can accomplish when humans set a goal and work together to achieve even that which may seem impossible.
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All of the stylists too difficult. And I Ramblings were busy and the think her only famfrom the waiting area was full. ily lives in Califorempty nest There was no place nia. She was alone Ann Ferro for me to sit. That was and I think, lonely. a first. I must have That computer looked quite perplexed because connection was important to her.” Mary Beth stopped working on her “Oh my gosh,” was a reply to client’s curls and dragged a stool that sentence. “I just read a note out from under her station. on my medical insurance Part D “This is the best I can do right report that loneliness is an epinow, Ann,” she said. demic among the elderly. LoneliThen one of the women whose ness, it said, negatively affects coiffeur was coming to completion health. They were asking for ideas waved her hand and said, “ I’m about how to change that …make sorry; it’s my fault. I was so late people less lonely.” today. It was a kind of emergency. Sandy, the elder stylist shook My neighbor flagged me down as her head. “It’s loss that creates I was getting in the car and asked loneliness. Loss of people, loss of for help. She seemed genuinely your capabilities as the culture, desperate. What could I do?” the society changes. I remember “What was the matter?” A voice how I learned what was considered from the back room queried. to be a required skill … etiquette “Martha is in her late 70s … ... who to introduce to whom, and I know that is not old , avoidwhen to stand when someone ing eye contact with most in the enters a room, how to set a table, room, “but she told me she bought how to write a thank you note. I a computer last week so that she don’t need to know these things could see one of her grandson’s any more. I need to learn what the graduate from college … this after- current slang is or how to, like noon…today and she had no idea your neighbor, use a computer. I how to use the computer to see the sometimes feel like the world is ceremony. I’m no computer whiz leaving me behind. Sometimes I but I was able to help her … she can’t participate in conversations paused. I understood her anxiety.” that include words like venmo, AI, She said she hadn’t seen her website, clickbait, etc. I have a cell neighbor in months. phone, but I only use it to make “I used to see her on her way to calls. My grandkids think I’m a a weekly luncheon or going to the cave dweller.” hospital where she volunteered, The salon was now abuzz with but not anymore,” she said. “I thoughts and comments about asked her about this, and it’s so growing old, loss, isolation and sad and so common - the luncheon loneliness. doesn’t happen anymore. Two of Another client told the group friends died and the other gal is how they had to bring her father having some financial troubles. across the country to live with She doesn’t go to the hospital anythem after their mom died. “He more because her arthritis makes was so lonely, he forgot to eat. He doing a lot of things she did there was so sad all the time.”
“I’m wondering how many older people find themselves lost in today’s culture with few if any friends or acquaintances to call on for help or just a cup of tea,” continued Sandy. “I’ve read about building a small house in your yard for your parents or grandparents to live in. I think they call it a granny pad. But that requires kids who would want this and the money to do it. And … maybe granny would not want to move into something like that.” Lil, who was having bailage done for a big family get together, noted that a lot of people want to stay in their own home, whether it’s an apartment or a house. “Your home is familiar, full of memories and meaning and is defined by and defines the occupant.” “What about senior citizen groups?” someone suggested. “There is one in our village that seems to be thriving.” Being the know-it-all, I said something about people needing help finding someone to share their life like a senior citizen friend dating service. And then it came to me! “What if they had pets?” I threw that idea out. There was a silence that ended with observations that a pet could outlive the owner or that senior budgets couldn’t accommodate the additional cost of a cat or dog. I plunged ahead., “Why not adopt an older pet, one that is at the stage in its life that is the same as the person. When there are pets left after someone dies, they go to a rescue. I’ve read how sad they are, how lonely they are. I don’t know what the cost would be, but the value is obvious for Salon l Page 7
Village board members divvy up duties When the from 10 a.m. to 7 Liverpool Village p.m. on Sunday, Livin’ in Board of Trustees Aug. 6, at Dwyer Liverpool conducted its Memorial Park annual organion Little York Russ Tarby zational meeting Lake in Preble. on July 10, newly Admission is elected Mayor Stacey Finney free. designated the individual reKnowlton, who lives in sponsibilities of the trustees. Liverpool, is known as “Mr. Each of the four trustees Bluegrass of Central New were assigned to act as the York.” He hosted the first allboard’s liaison to certain debluegrass radio show in New partments. York City in 1960. Knowlton Melissa Cassidy will focus arrived in Syracuse as a U.S. on finance, codes, the planAir Force public affairs ofning board and zoning board ficer. In 1997, he was named of appeals. Rachel Ciotti will “Broadcast Personality of the act as liaison to personnel Year” by the International and the health insurance and Bluegrass Music Association. retirement programs. Knowlton’s “Bluegrass Matt Devendorf will Ramble” radio program oversee the justice court, airs Sundays from 9 p.m. to police and the Gleason Center. midnight on WCNY-FM 91.3. And Michael LaMontagne, He’s been producing the show who is deputy mayor, will here for a half-century. liaison with the department of public works and serve as the New deputies welcomed village’s MS4 representative, On July 14, the Ononoverseeing our stormwater daga County Sheriff ’s Office systems. welcomed 16 new deputies to help keep our communities In case of rain… safe. This was Sheriff Toby If wet weather on Monday, Shelley’s first graduating class July 31 cancels the appearance for his administration. of Nashville singer-songwriter Among the new deputies Mark Stuart here at Johnson were a couple local fellows. Park, the 21st century trouLuke DiPirro from Cibadour is also scheduled to cero who graduated from the perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sheriff ’s Police Division and Aug. 3, at Jamesville CommuMichael Wentling-Raymie of nity Church, 6300 E. Seneca North Syracuse who graduated Turnpike, in Jamesville. from the Sheriff ’s Custody Division.
Knowlton’s 50th Picnic Aug. 6
WCNY Classic FM presents Bill Knowlton’s 50th Anniversary Bluegrass Ramble Picnic
Le Moyne alum now an AllStar Le Moyne College head
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SKANEATELES - JORDAN - ELBRIDGE - MARCELLUS - CAMILLUS
baseball coach Scott Cassidy, who lives in Liverpool, had to be beaming as he watched the 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star game on TV on July 11. One of the National League’s relief pitchers was 25-year-old Josiah Gray of the Washington Nationals, who – seven years ago – had excelled as a closer for Le Moyne College. When he pitched here, Gray did so under the direction of Cassidy, who had also been a pretty effective righthanded reliever in the big leagues. At Le Moyne, Gray surely learned some tricks of the trade from Cassidy, who’d spent five years as a majorleague hurler. At the 2023 All-Star game in Seattle on July 11, Gray threw one perfect inning by retiring three American League hitters, one on a flyout, one on a groundout and one by a strikeout. Gray’s National League club won the game by a score of 3 to 2. It was the first victory for the Senior Circuit since 2012.
Last word
“I’m known for having the world’s worst collection of pants. For many years I had a quilter who made them, such as plaids that would stand up by themselves if I took the batteries out. I will continue to dazzle in my sartorial style.” – “Bluegrass Ramble” host Bill Knowlton
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