I’ve been practicing the Vulcan Salute lately---hey, we all need a new hobby once in a while. I was have trouble keeping the last two digits on my hand together when I spread my other fingers to show the required space in between the middle and ring fingers, but I guess I’m not the only one who finds it difficult. A lot of actors in the Star Trek series, I read, had to position their fingers off camera with their other hand before going on camera with the salute while they said the Vulcan Blessing of, “live long and prosper.” For training purposes tape helps, though, so let it be known if I die with two fingers Scotch-taped together you’ll know why.
I had three great-aunts who all lived to be over 100, the
oldest being 104 when she died. The sisters worked together right up to a year or
less before they died in 1980s. In their younger years they had inherited their
father’s newspaper in a small town and after the newspaper went out of business
many, many decades later the sisters used their printing presses and
old-fashioned type setting skills to print wedding invitations, programs for
school events, business cards and flyers, etc. It’s always fascinated me that
brides would trust women over 100 not die before they got their invitation orders
filled.
One of the sisters was a colorful character, a staunch political
activist who wrote books on local history and she was a frequent guest speaker
at the local school and a near-by university. Like me, she never took her
husband’s last name when she married only she did it long before the Women’s
Movement came along. She didn’t want to lose the name connection with our ancestors
who are minor figures in the history books. She’s my role model for how to age well
and since I’m hoping I’m lucky enough to share the sisters’ longevity gene I
suppose I need a game plan for the next 30 years of my life. The only trouble
is my game plan hasn’t gotten past the thinking stage and the idea that I need
to learn the Vulcan Salute. If I was twenty and trying to figure out what to do
with rest of my life I’d cut myself some slack for not being able to do it with the snap of the fingers and the can-do attitude of a five-star
general. Darn, I’m getting antsy over my future!
Earlier today I had the TV on and I heard the actor who
plays Jack on The Young and the Restless
say in an interview that he never gets tired of playing the role because Jack
has such rich history. “I’m forever writing Jack’s story,” he added. Then this
afternoon in the car I heard Alan Jackson singing, “I’m a work in progress…be
patient with me.” Put together, I couldn’t help thinking the universe is trying
to tell me something. Maybe something like what Rasheed Ogunlaru said in this
quote: “Legacy is not what's left tomorrow when you're gone. It's what you
give, create, impact and contribute today while you're here that then happens
to live on.” I don’t think my aunts, while they were alive, gave a thought to
their legacy but they left one all the same. Their life’s work plus that of their father’s before them is now archived at a university in the form of bound
copies of every single issue their newspaper put out from start to finish---a
legacy of 100 books for 100 years of small town history.
While waiting for a red light today I actually discovered
the secret for learning the Vulcan Salute---at least for me. If you put your outside
digits together first before trying to create the space in between the middle
and ring fingers it’s much easier to achieve the salute than pairing your other
two fingers first. But something is strange. I’m a left-handed human but I can
only do the Vulcan Salute with my right hand which makes me wonder if I’m
half-Vulcan like Mr. Spock. ©
“Life is what happens
to you when you’re busy making other plans.”
John Lennon.
Hear that Ms. Widow Lady?
Time’s a ticking….
I love the story of your great aunts; they sound like marvelous role models. (Oh, and thanks for the tip on achieving the Vulcan salute :-)) -Jean
ReplyDeleteUsually when I tell people I want to live to be 100 I get negative responses from people who have no desire to do so. Finally it dawned on me that not everyone has such great role models in their lives for how to age with so much grace and spirit.
ReplyDeleteLive long and prosper in your retirement.... :)
Live long and prosper, sister! says this left handed gal with her right hand salute.
ReplyDeleteI, too, have a great role model in my father, who will turn 100 in May. When my Mom died, we cheered him on to his next chapter, and indeed, he found happiness and companionship. He now has befriended a few ladies, and only recently turned his car keys over to his kids. He's a sweetie I hope to emulate.
We young folk have to stick together, because these next few decades could be mighty interesting. Keep us posted on your game plan.
Your father sounds very cool!
ReplyDelete