Tayari's Blog: Are You Truly Occupied?
Posted by TayariJones on May 26, 2008 10:50 AM
Filed under
Travels & Rambles
I wasn't going to blog today, but I ran across this great quote from Roger Ebert talking about Studs Terkel, the writer/activist who is still going strong at age 95.
The lesson Studs has taught me is that your life is over when you stop living it. If you can truly ‘retire,’ you had a job, but not an occupation. ... I have seen those whose lifelong occupations absorb them, and who are not merely maintaining, but growing.
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There are 3 comments on "Are You Truly Occupied?". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by Jackie ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
I knew it!!!! That was just a job that I retired from.
May 26, 2008 12:23 PM
Comment #2, by ExMathMajor
It recently occurred to me that I'm in a career (writing) where age matters less than your brain's capability to communicate clearly. So long as I'm able to blink (re "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"), I'll be writing.
I had the honor of being interviewed for Studs' book on race many years ago. I was living on the North Side of Chicago in a less-than-ideal area, and neither of us had a car, and I worried about him getting home by himself. That was almost 20 years ago; obviously I needn't have worried.
May 26, 2008 05:31 PM
Comment #3, by Judy
ExMathMajor reminded me of the time Studs Terkel gave the commencement speech at the college where I teach. I watched from the audience as the President gave this lengthy intro with Studs at his side. I found myself wondering, "My goodness, why is he having this man stand so long. He'll never be able to give the speech. Someone needs to get him a chair." Studs must have been 90 then.
Well, I too needn't have worried. Studs not only stood for his entire speech, he had a tiny piece of paper at which he glanced only once. His speech was fabulous and inspiring. I thought, "Wow, if I'm doing as well as Studs, I've got almost forty more years to write!" Studs Terkel is truly an amazing man who gave me a whole new perspective on "getting older."
May 27, 2008 11:20 AM