We live in a society that focuses on youth, for its talent, energy, and physicality, but all around us are the stories and remarkable lives of those who have been on the planet for much longer and have much more to share. We are very fortunate to have seniors in our 068 community who’ve led extraordinary lives. For my Senior project at Wooster School, I spoke with several seniors to learn about their lives. Seniors have so much to teach us, they are living history, and they have a perspective on life that young people cannot have.
Three Ridgefield residents I interviewed all had immensely different upbringings, yet they all eventually found Ridgefield. Their reasons for settling here in town varied from the school system to the New England charm reminiscent of their home in England.
Eve Mencher, 90, came to Ridgefield 11 years ago, after moving from Wilton where she had lived for 45 years. Eve told me about her life growing up in England during World War II, of traveling to Egypt in her early 20’s to be a nurse at a boarding school, and of briefly being taken prisoner of war because of the Suez crisis. She talked about her great adventures all over the world, and of learning to really appreciate the beauty in small things.
Ben Shaw, 85, found Ridgefield 57 years ago after seeing an ad in the newspaper for a house for sale near Lake Mamanasco. Ben talked about how he traveled to Vietnam, Bulgaria, Thailand, and Patan with his wife, Darla.
Such amazing things came up when these seniors told their stories – their greatest adventures, and their most exciting journeys. One of the seniors told me all about her school trip to the Supreme Court, where they heard the decision on Brown vs. the Board of Education. She told me about her travels to hear Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I have a dream” speech at the March on Washington in 1963, and her solo travels around the world.
When asked about their regrets, they spoke of allowing fear to hold them back and their inability at times to keep an open mind. One said, if you are asked to do something, just start by saying “yes.”
Each of these seniors has lived in Ridgefield for a very long time now, and although they find the town has changed, it remains a strong and vibrant community. All the seniors mentioned how special they consider Main Street. They love Ridgefield because of the choice of parks, restaurants, churches, lakes, art galleries, and theaters. They all value the unusually strong sense of community in the town – the concerts and gardens in Ballard Park, the Christmas lights, and the parades.
Their best piece of advice? “Put the phone down and appreciate your surroundings.” They recommended always keeping an open mind, whether in relation to new places or new opportunities. They all believe in staying grateful.
This project and the people I met has become more than a piece of school work to me. I have built connections with these remarkable people. They have let me into not only their houses but their lives too, and they have all been extremely kind. I am grateful for their willingness to share their stories. Each one of them has shown me that the key to living a long life might well be to live an interesting life, to embrace opportunity, be kind to others, and to do it all with an open mind. •
