Blog Entry #946

Couldn't come up with a title for today's entry so I decided to simply call it Blog Entry #946.  I've been doing this for a while at WHRHS it seems.  

Saturday's LONG RUN was well attended, and the coaches were impressed with the effort and results.  Most student-athletes with experience completed the entire 5.3 Mile out and back route along the Hanover Branch Rail Trail between Abington and Hanover.  Some did a bit more going 6 or 7 miles.  Newcomers were impressive as well, making good progress as we closed out our first week of practice.  

Some of the kids mentioned they crossed paths with some elderly grouches along the trail.  Older folks who groused about the kids they were forced to share space with.  Sad really.  But it provided me with the opportunity to relate a story to some of the kids about the Donovan sisters, three wonderful 60+ ladies who lived in the same house their entire lives at 90 Cottage Street in Randolph.  I delivered the Patriot Ledger to them each afternoon over 60 years ago.  They were all teachers in town, so it was easy to understand why they were so cheerful and generous toward me each day when I arrived.  They'd offer me a cold drink in the summer and ask me if I wanted to warm up inside the door for a few minutes during the winter.  I vividly recall telling myself that when I got old, I was going to be like the Donovan sisters.  I'd do all I could to be kind to young people.  Like our kids, I had encountered plenty of cantankerous old folks as a child.  They were not my role models like the Donovans, who have long since passed. And their paperboy, now an old-timer himself, often recalls that promise to be kind to kids. And with that I think about the Donovan sisters as well and their positive impact on me.  And I try, not always successfully, to follow their lead.

Coincidentally, this morning's Harvard Gazette had an article that's worth mentioning in this blog. It's very short and can be read at this link:

Positive attitude about aging could boost health

The short article points out the benefits of a positive attitude toward aging and offers some suggestions for developing a positive attitude.  The Donovan sisters were on to something.  And I couldn't be happier that some of that rubbed off on me.  In fact, I'm very much looking forward to writing Blog Entry #1,946. 

But today . . . we practice at 2:30. I hope to see you all there.  Bring your smile and your positive attitude.  And I'll do the same!