Looking for the Fountain of Youth? Many magazines and self-help books have suggestions: exercises to do, drinking the fruits of the vine, eating plants (veggies, beans, soy, and nuts), making love, and using your brain by learning a new language or starting to play the cello. Okay! I am just sharing what was reported on the World Wide Web. (And we know that everything you read on the internet is true.)
I never was very good at languages, and learning to play an instrument would require buying an instrument – I don’t think so. But… In the Using Your Brain category, I do have something to share that is not quite so drastic. Friends and almost friends had mentioned to me about the Richland College Emeritus Department. Some of these dear souls took courses and learned something new. Some took trips. (I would like that.) Long story short – I signed up to get their emails, and for over a year they have cluttered my inbox. Fast forward to the beginning of a new school year, and new learning opportunities from the Richland College Emeritus Department streamed into my mailbox. One such email mentioned the Emeritus Lecture Series. What really caught my attention was that Rose-Mary Rumbley would be speaking at several of the lectures. Now, I do enjoy hearing Rose-Mary speak. She is intelligent, well read, and funny. Whenever I have the opportunity, I try to hear her. Now Rose-Mary was not the only speaker listed in the bulletin. Several other presenters were listed, and I thought that perhaps these people might be almost as entertaining as Rose-Mary. The best part of this is that the lectures are FREE. (That’s what I like.)
Now, here is the catch. The lectures are presented at retirement establishments – not assisted livings or nursing homes. I had to think twice about that because… Then I thought about the Richardson and Allen retired teachers groups who meet in retirement communities, and I that is not bad. In fact, these places are NICE. Some of them remind me of luxury hotels.
Of course, Rose-Mary was not scheduled to speak until October, but says I to myself, “Maybe some of the other presenters are also good.”
It was a slow day, and Mrs. Ralph agreed to go with me. On that particular afternoon, Steve Lund, Retired Accademic Dean of Dallas Lutheran School was scheduled to speak on Mozart’s “Tragic Masterpiecce”.
We got to the retirement home a little early. Fresh flowers filled little vases on the tables, and the residents were friendly and active. Good first impressions.
Now, I know very little about Mozart. When Mr. Lund asked what we knew, I was hard pressed to come up with an answer – I barely remembered The Magic Flute. That was it. (Others in the room had plenty to share – Made me feel dumb.) Well, I am here to tell you – I learned something that afternoon.
Mr. Lund was personable, knowledgable, and passionate about Mozart’s Symphony 40. The year was 1788, and Mozart was 32 years old. His music had lost popularity, and Mozart was broke – begging friends for money. His baby daughter died, and his wife was ill and living elsewhere.
Symphony 40 is written in G Minor – I think that is suppose to be the most depressing key. Well, Mozart had every reason to be depressed during this stage of his life. Mr. Lund took us through the entire symphony, and it was surprisingly entertaining.
Well, I enjoyed the lecture so much that I am planning to hear Mr. Lund again. There are two other lectures he is giving during this series – One is about Beethoven’s Mighty Tempest Sonata , and the other is about Wordsworth’s Tintern Abbey: What is it that is so Amazing About Nature?
Hearing Mr. Lund inspired me to try another lecture. I have friends that LOVE the movies. We decided to hear master storyteller Gayle Ross as she told tales of the famous movie producer Samuel Goldwyn and the stars of the MGM studios. “What did I learn,” you might ask?
Gayle had the most wonderful pictures of the old movie stars. You know the black and white stills of beautiful actors and actresses that appeared in the classic films. Along with the pictures, she had tales to tell.
I also learned that Samuel Goldwyn was not a very nice guy, and he was a very difficult man.
But, he insisted on making the best movies that he could make. He used the best writers he could hire. My movie buff friends really enjoyed this lecture. I liked it, and I want to hear Gayle again.
Anyone can attend these free lectures. Check the Richland Emeritus website for the schedule. The lectures are at four different retirement communities. On the schedule, it says to call for reservations, but when I called, they told me it was not necessary.
Blessings to you and yours,
On October 1, 2014 Rose-Mary Rumbley will be presenting at Meadowplace.
Oct 1 – “Favorite Outlaws” – Oscar Wilde, the playwright, once wrote “you Americans love your heroes, especially if they are outlaws.” We do a little hero worship.
Presenter: Rose-Mary Rumbley, author, teacher, lecturer
I plan to be there.