100-Yr.-Old Woman Crossing Guard--Amazing!

I read a delightful story in the PLAIN DEALER Thursday morning, March 26, 2009, about Anna Lark, a 100-yr-old woman, who works as a Cleveland school crossing guard every day! She said she didn’t want to just sit at home doing nothing and this gives her a reason to get out of the house. I think this is great! It’s amazing to me how she is able to stick on a schedule still and hold a regular job like this. Oh, and she walks a couple blocks to get there, even in the winter! Cleveland winters are cold, snowy and icy! I can picture myself helping at an animal shelter or the zoo when I retire. I just hope I am in good enough health by then to be able to do it. This is the kind of news I like hearing and reading!

I thought about how my dad was at age 89. There was no way he could have worked a regular job like this lady did at that age. For one, his legs were so bad that he wouldn’t be able to walk without a walker (because of the diabetes). I can’t picture a city hiring a school crossing guard that used a walker. Then there would be the sleeping problem—he used to fall asleep during the day and wouldn’t wake up for hours! When he was taking Toprol, he could even be in the middle of doing something and just fall asleep. He would doze off while reading the comics, cleaning the litter box, and even fell asleep while shaving in his chair one day! An alarm clock wouldn’t help keep him on schedule because he was so hard of hearing that he wouldn’t hear it! He was very happy to stay at home and always said he was never bored because there was always something to do! He never regretted taking early retirement at age 62 and I intend to do the same. Hopefully, it will work out.