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Age 91 ... and still ‘Cavalcading’
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BY: VIOLET SPEVACK CJN Columnist
“So, I imagine you’ll be retiring now that you’re 80,” remarked one of my bright, young CJN colleagues at the fabulous “Lady of Many Hats” party tossed for me at the time.
I went home with a dazzling collection of creative hats made by staff members, reflecting my various activities. However, I wasn’t ready to turn in my “Cavalcade” hat. It still fit me to a “T.”
A decade later, just last year to be exact, at a breakfast celebration, everyone thought it was probably time for me to retire. Except me! Actually, I was wondering what to do with the rest of my life. Just that week in the mail I received a colorful brochure from a Midwest college describing emerging new fields of endeavor, new careers that beckoned to people like me. I almost fell for it. Until I realized it was a long-distance computer education.
Meanwhile, I’m still typing on an old electric Smith Corona typewriter. Still a low-tech lady in a high-tech world. However, I felt I still had new roads to travel and more columns up my sleeve. This was no time to retire.
So, here I am, many articles and columns later and age 91.
And the CJN finally gave me a desk of my own. Before that, I used to write at any open desk, borrowing other people’s materials.
It’s light years since I started that first “Cavalcade” column on March 5, 1965. It’s been a challenging assignment, recounting your fascinating stories, accomplishments and dazzling adventures. As the years rolled by, my territory broadened to include the arts community, the world of music, health organizations and more. Our Jewish people have always been ardent supporters and leaders of The Cleveland Orchestra, Great Lakes Theater Festival, Opera Cleveland, as well as organizations in our great Jewish community. “Cavalcade” has been fertile ground for writing about generations of you, you and you! How could I ever leave this special domain?
As the well-known poem goes, “When I am old, I shall wear purple …” To which I add … “and I shall keep on writing.”
I went home with a dazzling collection of creative hats made by staff members, reflecting my various activities. However, I wasn’t ready to turn in my “Cavalcade” hat. It still fit me to a “T.”
A decade later, just last year to be exact, at a breakfast celebration, everyone thought it was probably time for me to retire. Except me! Actually, I was wondering what to do with the rest of my life. Just that week in the mail I received a colorful brochure from a Midwest college describing emerging new fields of endeavor, new careers that beckoned to people like me. I almost fell for it. Until I realized it was a long-distance computer education.
Meanwhile, I’m still typing on an old electric Smith Corona typewriter. Still a low-tech lady in a high-tech world. However, I felt I still had new roads to travel and more columns up my sleeve. This was no time to retire.
So, here I am, many articles and columns later and age 91.
And the CJN finally gave me a desk of my own. Before that, I used to write at any open desk, borrowing other people’s materials.
It’s light years since I started that first “Cavalcade” column on March 5, 1965. It’s been a challenging assignment, recounting your fascinating stories, accomplishments and dazzling adventures. As the years rolled by, my territory broadened to include the arts community, the world of music, health organizations and more. Our Jewish people have always been ardent supporters and leaders of The Cleveland Orchestra, Great Lakes Theater Festival, Opera Cleveland, as well as organizations in our great Jewish community. “Cavalcade” has been fertile ground for writing about generations of you, you and you! How could I ever leave this special domain?
As the well-known poem goes, “When I am old, I shall wear purple …” To which I add … “and I shall keep on writing.”
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