Rarely do we have a time where so many age related stories occur simultaneously, but this weekend, July 17-19, 2009, was one that warrants attention.  Following is a brief overview:

Walter Cronkite
Apollo 11’s 40th Anniversary
Oldest Driver in a NASCAR Series Race
World’s Oldest Man Dies at 113
96-Year Old Shoots 15th Hole In One
Tom Watson, The Oldest Player to Lead a Major

 

Walter Cronkite – November 4, 1916 – July 17, 2009
We lost a true legend July 17, 2009, “the most trusted man in America,” as he’s been referred to due to his extraordinary broadcast journalism career. I had the pleasure of meeting him seven years ago (link to story) and distinctly remember that while he claimed he was happy in his retirement, he still had that fire for reporting and yearned to be part of the action when news broke. While he never admitted it, he even seemed a bit regretful about stepping down too soon – leaving the CBS full time anchor position after 30 years in 1981. But Cronkite was 65, and retire is what you did at that age then. Yet he never really retired completely. He was still writing, reporting, working on specials, and I remember his account for CNN in 1998 of John Glenn’s return to space after 36 years.  So if you love what you do, even if you take the man out of the job, you can’t always take the job out of the man. Cronkite loved what he did, and that’s why he did it so well.

Apollo 11’s 40th Anniversary – Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins
While Cronkite originally reported it, today we celebrate one of, if not the most memorable mission for NASA: landing on the moon. I heard Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, 79, speak a year ago and remember how passionate he was about the entire country’s collaborative effort in that accomplishment. The 1960s were tumultuous times, yet in 1961 when President John F. Kennedy declared the challenge to land on the moon, it was a rallying of the American public that had never been seen before. The pride that was felt in this country as the American flag waved proudly among the lunar landscape, gave significant meaning to Armstrong’s famous line, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. And it should still inspire us all today because if we can put a man on the moon, why can’t we … ? You fill in the blank, because much as it was then, is still true today, anything is possible – if you believe, you will achieve.

McGriff, 81, Becomes Oldest Driver in NASCAR Series Race
And on the subject of believing and still achieving, how about the Sunday story of Motorsports Hall of Famer, Hershel McGriff, 81, becoming the oldest driver to take part in a national NASCAR series race? Not only did he finish in 13th place, he even broke the record he set back in 2002 when he last raced.
McGriff, who has been racing for more than six decades, has four wins in NASCAR’s Cup and 37 wins on the West series. Doesn’t sound like he’s going to let age put the brakes on his dreams any time soon.

World’s Oldest Man Dies at 113 -- American, 112, Now on Top
Henry Allingham, one of two surviving WWI British veterans, died in London on July 18, 2009, just one month after being officially recognized as the world’s oldest man. Born June 6, 1896, his life spanned three centuries, and while he often jokingly attributed his longevity to “cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women,” it was his love of service to his country that Allingham was most passionate about. American, Walter Breuning, a 112-year old from Great Falls, Montana, now officially takes over the World’s Oldest Living Man title. Gertrude Baines, 115, of California, is currently the oldest woman on record and you can read about her in the Living to 100 story on this website.

Paul Smith, 96, Shoots his 15th Hole In One
Brentwood Country Club member, Paul Smith, 96, shot his 15th hole-in-one twenty years after scoring an ace on the same hole at age 76. The only difference this time apparently, was club choice -- he used a nine iron back then, but this time it was his trusty driver that got the ball in the hole.

Tom Watson, 59, The Oldest Player to Lead a Major
And speaking of club choice, can you say 9-iron, please? To think that one of the most glorious sports stories was almost in our hands and slipped away -- likely due to that powerful, physiologically produced hormone called adrenaline, was definitely a heart-breaker, and one for the ages.

Whether it was the missed eight foot putt on 18, or more likely, the eight iron shot that was right on the stick but unfortunately ran long. Watson (and the millions of us watching and rooting him on) will likely look back at this British Open as both one of his greatest accomplishments, but without question, one of his greatest disappointments, too.

This was more than just a sports story -- it was front-page news in many newspapers, including USA Today. And while much of the focus was on Watson’s age, maybe more attention should have been on what can be achieved, regardless of age.

Watson’s a fit, athletic man, who at age 59, likely has the physiological make up of an age considerably younger than his mere chronological age. As a 5-time British Open champion, not only is he a great golfer, he’s an extraordinary links player. And it’s no coincidence that just last year, Greg Norman, at 53, made a serious run at this title, too. Links golf offers that -- its style of play is more about finesse than just all-mighty power.

But stories like these always bring up the age factor because accomplishing feats after one’s prime is as unusual as it is inspiring. Yet when you talk about it with the athletes directly, they often gristle a bit, as age is not something they want to focus on because they don’t really even think about it. And if they do, they don’t think about their age as a handicap, but rather they are more inclined to believe it’s an advantage because experience can only come with age. The truth is, they’re just out there doing their thing, and while they know they may be older than their competitors, they still believe they can win, or they wouldn’t be there in the first place.

The exciting thing is, we are going to continue hearing inspiring stories of people accomplishing amazing feats regardless of age, and they won’t just be in the sports world.  As we learn more and more about the aging process, we discover that it is possible to slow down, and even reverse many of the age-related aspects we just accept as being as is. In fact, much of one’s limitation starts with our beliefs. So as we discover what’s really possible with age, we begin to recognize that it’s likely a combination of many factors -- lifestyle, mindset, and even technology, which play equally powerful roles. Medically, scientifically, and technologically, we are breaking new ground toward achieving things we never thought possible.

But all of this can only be done with the human spirit, and Tom Watson’s story will always reminds us that age is just a number.

Kelly Ferrin, gerontologist and author of “What’s Age Got To Do With It? Secrets to Aging in Extraordinary Ways” has been studying aging and retirement issues for over 25 years. She was one of the first to ever receive a degree in this field from the prestigious Andrus School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California, the top school in the nation for age-related studies.

website: kellyferrin.com ••• email: ageangel@earthlink.net