Octogenarians

Maurie Hill is a ZoomText Technical Specialist and a Zoomtext user. Maurie is ZoomText’s most passionate and outspoken user advocate not to mention a gifted problem solver. Maurie frequently shares user and life stories. “Maurie’s Corner” was created as a venue for her to share these stories with the world . . .

In my profession, I am privileged to chat with scores of interesting people. My favorite “genre” of people to chat with is the “octogenarians”. They always have a story to tell. Many of them are World War II veterans and have written stories and books about their lives. I often wish these ZoomText users/writers could all meet each other. I have passed on a few of their books to my father, also a WWII vet, and he always says “that sounds like my life.”

Bud Gottesman, for example, is author of “The Reluctant Sailor” where he humorously chronicles his life and times in the WWII Navy. “I was 17 years old and in high school when I joined the navy. I gave up my toy soldiers for the real thing.” Due to a misaddressed postcard calling him to serve, he was considered AWOL before his Navy career began. So his first day in the Navy reluctantly started when 2 heavily armed Shore Patrolman recovered him from his own bed where he was suffering from a severe case of the Measles. This was just the beginning of an unusual naval career. To find out more about Bud and “The Reluctant Sailor”, go to http://www.budgottesman.com.

Macular Degeneration did not stop my great Uncle from writing his book. “Home Grown: Stories” by Richard Lippincott is about my Uncle Dick’s experiences growing up on his Nebraskan family farm and then farming it. “The Lippincott Copper Tops” is a story from his last book unfolding a comical prank among cousins that could have turned deadly for several of my relations! Incidentally, I spent one summer on this farm when I was 9 years old. On this same back porch mentioned in the story, I remember slipping out to the giant HotPoint freezer to sneak yet one more fudgicle. Hey, the days were long and blistering on the farm! Click here to learn more about his book and download it http://www.lulu.com/content/1109703 .

What I love about these characters is that they just don’t give up. In 80 or 90 years they have faced trauma and tragedy beyond their vision loss. They survive and thrive because that’s just what you do. And humor has helped them get through the hard times. It’s simply a joy to have the opportunity to speak to people like this every single day.

If you want to share your story or book with us, talk to me - .