Dear Shirley,
The kids are back in school. Young people are away at college. And, by golly, there are a whole bunch of older people taking classes, too.
Here in Grand Forks, there is a relatively new Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. It's known as OLLI, and it is administered by the Division of Continuing Education at UND. It's a great opportunity for the wave of Baby Boomers who have now joined the 55 and older population and want to pick up on learning they might have missed along the way. It's also a chance to learn for older people who have long forgotten what they knew about the Civil War or want to pick up on the advantages of digital photography. It's a chance to get the basic understanding of computers or maybe journey through seven dimensions of wellness.
Some people I know took classes this summer. Others are moving on into fall classes.
Grace Sondreal says she hadn't studied the Civil War "for eons." So she took the course - two hours, one day a week - taught by Dr. Eric Burin, an associate professor of history at UND. And in that class she enjoyed the discussions and the perceptions of others.
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She likes OLLI because the classes focus on the arts and literature and offer a broad spectrum of choices. She is signing up for a course starting Sept. 18 on Shakespeare for Everyone. In high school, she wasn't exactly attracted to Shakespeare. But recently, she checked "King Lear" out of the library and has a new appreciation for the enduring popularity of the famed English bard. This course is taught by Dr. Burt Thorpe, a professor of English.
Marge Newark has signed up for a course in Tai Chi, Joy Through Movement. She has always wondered what that would be like, Shirley, and she will soon find out. She has already taken a course in spirituality, and that was a new concept for her. Now she is into the digital photography course and is having a ball with it. She is learning how to take more than humdrum photos. She has been out shooting old country churches.
And she doesn't think the cost is bad. You pay $25 to be a member of OLLI and $50 for each series of classes you choose. I know you won't be signing up, Shirley, but I think you would enjoy something like this if they offer it through the University of Arizona. In this area, people can sign up by calling Connie Hodgson at 777-4840. I found a bunch of information at www.conted.und.edu/olli
I love this time of year, Shirley, when everything is new and people are starting another chapter in their lives. The mornings are crisp and cool and the midday sun is warm. And, of course, we always have talk of the first frost and when it will come.
You probably have the same feeling of renewal in Arizona. Your days should be cooler. Thanks for sending the clippings from the Tucson Daily Star about the former Wildcats basketball star at Arizona giving $3.5 million to the university there. Richard Jefferson must be doing pretty well with the New Jersey Nets. And I see Lute Olson, former Grand Forks Central High School player, is still going strong as coach at Arizona. Your newspaper calls him the greatest sports figure in Southern Arizona history. He's a Hall of Famer and has won 589 games at UA, including the national title in 1997.
I wish you could fly up to Pierre, S.D., this weekend for the reunion of our old classmates. I plan to drive down there and hope to reconnect with people from the days of World War II.
Love from your sister, Marilyn, watching birds filing flight plans to go South.
P.S.: A dumb thing happened here. Someone stole the Yard of the Week sign from 1521 University Ave. The realtors say if anyone would return it, no questions would be asked. Just give it to any realtor office.
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P.P.S.: You are so polite not to mention the grammar gaffe in my letter last week. Did you notice the line about "summer has went by fast"? Well, I make my share of mistakes and the editors at the Herald fix most of them. This time, some gremlin got in there, and that is what happened. Believe me, Shirley, I do know better than that. I don't know where summer went, but I know it soon will be gone.
Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or telephone 701-772-1055.
