HIGH SCHOOL SURVEY ANSWERS: at 75
1) I’m a girl
2) Divorced, still single
3) 3 Children - one boy 2 girls
50, 48, 46
4) 3 Grandchildren - one boy 2 girls
16, 12, 9
5) Psychotherapist, private practice and Facilitator; groups for Women Over 60; co-founder “Retirement” or WHAT NEXT™; photography; Early Music Ensemble; Teacher, in Denver and DC
6) Yes, still working
My name, though “optional”, is Ruth(ie) Neubauer
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1.In grade school, I was sure 16 was about as old as you could get!
2. “Old”? Now? - short white hair, lower back aches, bunions, forgetting, not enjoying driving at night, stronger eye glass prescriptions……. Then again, I can still shoot hoops with my grandson! And I still have plans for the future. And I’ve just completed a total renovation on a great condo in Denver on the 19th floor with a view of the mountains and clouds and sunsets, and weather patterns plus a working wood fireplace. I feel like I’m living in a postcard! I try not to think about the numbers.
3. On the other hand, moving to a new home in my 70’s has forced me to think about mortality, legacy, the whole business. Like I’ll never do this again!
My 2 closest first cousins died in the last 2 years (both Ray Neubauer and Eva Neubauer) and those are big time Reality checks. There is no denying.
4. I’m not sure about the bucket list thing. Every day is an adventure. I’ve seen a lot and travelled a lot and love it but no longer crave it as I used to.
I am planning to create a program called “The Wisdom of Elderhood” for men and women over 65 who wish to explore questions relevant to our lives at this time. I’ve been teaching/facilitating 2 different classes at OLLI both at American University in DC and now at DU in Denver discovering that using “writing as a tool” to explore issues is really meaningful. I hope to start my program in January, 2017 with groups of 12. NEED HELP marketing. Know anyone to suggest in the Denver area??????? For now, that’s my bucket list!
5. Continuing to explore unconscious motivations, habits, beliefs, and feelings is a lifetime project and continues to fascinate me.
6. Are you kidding? The world is a mess.
7. My children’s friends.
8) I’ve been thinking about this “legacy” question for a while now.
The obvious answer is my offspring and theirs - being energetic, contributing, socially aware people, doing good work in the world.
But the real answer for me is living the legacy. Every day.
My work has been mostly anonymous so there’s nothing tangible or material about it. It’s about spirit more than anything. It’s an invisible legacy. Yes, I’ve been published but my heartfelt legacy is in my work as a facilitator for others to discover themselves.
I’d love to think that part of my legacy is passing along the joy of celebration.
9.
10. Being hit with a stick by the 4 boys in our class of 12 my first day in 2nd grade.
Joe Papaleo giving me a report card which said “she passes with flying colors”. My father was beaming.
Being 5th in the girls jump rope line. Margaret was first!
Loving Mrs. Edwards’ class.
Buying the dotted swiss material for my graduation dress knowing I knew nothing about sewing.
That was all 2nd-6th grade.
7-12 was another story. “Poignant” was kissing Steve in the stairwell at one of the amazing Bar Mitzvahs. Being co-captain with Joy of the basketball team. Getting my favorite number 13 for my field hockey uniform. Getting a ride in Jay Pobliner’s home elevator. Oh my gosh. There are too many. I loved my years at Fieldston.
11. Ms. Spodheim’s french class from which I was demoted the first year and excelled in the 2nd year. Frieda Hirzler and Pat Katzenstein were a perfect team to teach us team sports. One was soft, the other hard as a rock. Discipline above all.
12. “Everything Counts”. (my own)