I have recently mentioned that I am 74 years old. I know it’s hard to believe, but that is how many years I have lived. Overall, I feel that I, for the most part, have made good choices along life’s highways. Yes, I may have hit a bump or two along the way. Nonetheless, I believe I’ve made a few wrong turns, but somehow I ended up where I hoped I would be.

     There have been, as I said, a few rough spots. One of the most challenging events in my life was when I was in my early fifties, and I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. I had a hard time accepting this diagnosis, but eventually I did. Initially, I was told I might last five years, no more. But, by the grace of god or the doctor who was caring for me, I am still alive and generally feeling well. Luckily, about the same time I was diagnosed, a new cardiac drug was developed, and I was one of the first patients to take it. It is called Entresto. I took this medication for many years. And about a year ago, my present cardiologist told me that I no longer needed to take it. So, here I am, seventy-four, feeling, well, pretty damm good. I hope to live another ten years.

     I retired at sixty-two years old, as I didn’t think I would live much longer, but guess what, I have lived and hope to live another ten years. I recently stopped volunteering at my volunteer job, taking care of at-risk animals at an animal sanctuary here in North Carolina, for nine years.

     I have to admit I have had an interesting life, although I didn’t always follow the path that most people follow in their lives. In my early working life, I was a dental assistant, and then I worked a psychatic aide in a state mental hospital, Ancora in New Jersey. Then I sold high-risk insurance with the Ellis Brothers in New Jersey,

     Then, when I was about thirty-six years old, I decided that I wanted to go to college, and had two young children who were four and seven.. I applied to three universities and art schools. And I was accepted at all three after they examined my art portfolio. I was offered a scholarship at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, for the first year. And then I took out student loans.

     It took me twelve years after I graduated to pay off all my student loans. After four years, I graduated Summa cum Laude (with great honors) and had art teaching credentials.

     I was the only adult student in my class. Nonetheless, I had a good experience. I was popular among the younger students because I decided to befriend as many fellow students as I could while I was there. And sure enough, I was accepted and treated as a friend and fellow student. Overall, my experience was positive and life-confirming since I graduated at the top of my class.

     I was given a standing ovation at my graduation. This was some thirty years ago. Unfortunately, when I got out of school, I found that New Jersey and Pennsylvania were no longer funding art programs in Public Schools. I was devastated at the time. Nonetheless, I didn’t give up.

     After almost a year of sending out resumes to public and private schools I gave up. And then one day, I got an advertisement in the mail saying a large home in Pitman, New Jersey, was for sale. And they were having an open house that following Saturday. I jumped on this. And we went to the open house that weekend.

It was a huge old home; it had been empty for about eight years. And needed significant repair,

At that time, we were living in Pennsauken, NJ, in a family neighborhood. The elementary school was a ten-minute walk from our house. It was a quiet neighborhood for the most part. Although we had a couple of neighbors who had loud fights and disagreements, we could often hear them arguing. But, overall, it was a safe and decent town for our children, with many children living within walking distance of our street. We lived there for fourteen years, and then we or should I say I decided we needed to buy a larger house. Since I had just graduated from Temple University Tyler School of Art, I wanted to live in an area where both children and adults would come to my art classes.

     And it just so happened that one Sunday, I found an advertisement for a large, older home that was for sale in Pitman, New Jersey. And so, we went to the open house. And sure enough, it was a huge, old house. I felt it had great potential. It required extensive renovations, including a new heating and air conditioning system, since it only had two air conditioners in the windows on the second floor. So, we made an offer for the house, and it was accepted, since no one else made an offer, given the house’s extensive repair needs, including a new roof. The house had belonged to a doctor but had been empty for eight years. We fell in love with the house even though we realized it needed a great deal of work and updating.

     But we went for it. We put our house in Pennsauken up for sale, and it took some time and effort. We ended up renting it for a short time until the renters were able to procure a down payment loan, etc. It was touch-and-go for a while.

     Eventually, we sold the house in Pennsauken and moved into what would be our home for the next twenty-four years. We didn’t know anyone in Pitman or anyone in the whole area. But, over time, we made friends with all of our new neighbors, and our children were able to walk to school in Pitman, and they made friends. Over time, they came to love Pitman as much as we did. But, I wouldn’t say it was an easy transition, but over time, it all worked out for the better. Good schools. Plenty of kids, a safe area with a downtown with stores. We came to love Pitman and made many friends while we lived there. We lived there for twenty-four years until we were of retirement age. At which point we had to sell our house, because there was no way we could afford both the upkeep and the real estate taxes in New Jersey once we retired.

     I would be lying if I said it was easy. We had made many friends in Pitman, and so had our children. But we realized once retired, we would have to move to a more affordable part of the country.

     And, that my friends, is how we ended up retired and living in North Carolina. We have now lived here for nine years. Our oldest daughter is married and living in Philadelphia. Our youngest daughter chose to move with us to North Carolina.

     Was it easy? No, no, it wasn’t. We didn’t know anyone in North Carolina, so it was like starting all over again. But here we are, nine years later, living in Willow Spring, NC. Is it perfect here? No. We live in a small development with about twenty-five homes. And believe it or not, our neighbors keep to themselves and rarely even wave at us or say hello. I often say hello, but they don’t acknowledge it. It’s weird, but we adapted to it. Our youngest daughter lives with us, and our eldest daughter is married and lives in Philadelphia with her husband. It’s not ideal since we seldom see her more than once a year. But that’s how life happens sometimes. You have to learn to adapt, as the saying goes.