Good luck goes a long way to a good life

I believe that most of us in the financial middle class, have had much good luck. Some successful people I have known sincerely believe that they have done it all by themselves. I list some following that I appreciate, which might remind my unlucky friends of some of theirs:

May 2, 1924: Being born to white — missed negative racism — parents, although not well-educated, who were at least of average intelligence, gave their only child educational opportunities and motivation to work hard. Being raised on a 100-acre dairy farm before electricity or running water — with all those modern conveniences where dairy cows were the “money makers” and required milking, feeding, etc., 365 days a year. In summers, the 8 hour day was often in by 1 p.m. This was a working ethic that has guided me, luckily, all my life.

In a small rural elementary school, luckily, a hard working teacher of 28 students in eight grades used her personal library card to get books for me, supplementing the sparsity in my home and rural school. I learned, very young, reading Kenneth Roberts books, Rabble in Arms (American side of our revolution) and Oliver Wiswell (English side) that history depends on which side writes it and much more. I, partially, returned her great assistance, with helping in several ways at the rural school, which did not have any paid help for the teacher or even a janitor. Incidentally, that teacher was trained at an Adventist School, southwest of Superior, where the Middle River health facility is located today.

My high school years provided, luckily, successful opportunities in writing — school paper and yearbook— athletics — basketball, boxing and softball — and participation in school plays. Having enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve, I was able to complete my freshman college year at Stout Institute in Menomonie, Wis. After WWII military service with the G.I. Bill of Rights, lucky taxpayer funding, I completed my masters at the University of Minnesota and the doctorate at Washington State. I was, luckily, able to find work and satisfactory working conditions that I successfully completed during 41 years as a teacher, superintendent, lab school director and college professor. All the time, in many ways, people helped me, considerately under trying circumstances.

After WWII, luckily, I married an outstanding young lady who blessed me with three children and 54 years until she was taken by a brain tumor. The children have all led successful lives and been more than kind to their 88-year-old Dad and second wife. Almost four years after losing my first wife, I, luckily, met another outstanding lady that had suffered a similar loss of mate with whom I’m now in our tenth year together.

Lucky, in retirement too, I have volunteer driven for the Aging Resource Center and assisted the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. My good luck has never ended. Yet?

Tags: community, seniors, columns