Older, growing older, it's a matter of day by day now. We used to count by years but now it's day by day.
I well remember when I was a year older and how we celebrated. It was wonderful when I got my first tricycle and later a bicycle. That was great. Then I was anxious to get out of High School so I could get a job so I could get married.
I did that at age nineteen. And you know what followed.
We had three of them two and a half years apart - and all girls - but they are all wonderful to us. Couldn't ask for any better children, or
grandchildren, or
great-grandchildren.
Then after working at the International Harvester Farmall Tractor plant for about ten years I felt called to the ministry.
Thirty nine years later and after retiring three times, I thought everything would be so nice and easy, but it wasn't. My wife, Ethel, died after an
unbelievable accident, and I was left alone. My girls were really great. They got me a little Schnauzer, who they named Trix, because every dog I ever owned was named Trix.
That all happened in 1996 and by the fall of 1997 as I looked at a list of older adults in a Seniors list I spotted the name of Rosalie Miller who was looking for a Christian pen pal. The article grabbed my attention immediately and I responded. It turned out that her daughter had put the item in the Seniors list and I was respon- ding to her, but she got in touch with her mother and told her what I had said.
And to make a long story shorter we met in August, 1997 and were married in January, 1998. We said our own vows at the close of Worship and were very happy living in Dublin and Goshen. Then after three and one half months I had an emergency surgery followed by two strokes and then a 2 1/2 month stay in a rehabilitation center before I could return home. My new wife came to see me every day while I was in the hospital and the Nursing Home. Then with the loving and capable care of Rosalie we were able to live in Dublin and Goshen for nine months . However after falling nine times in that period of time without serious injury my wonderful daughters suggested that we should enter the assisted living area of Friends Fellowship Community, where we have been now for over eight years.
So that's the way it is as we grow older, one day at a time. We thank God for every day that he gives us and hope and pray that we can contribute to those we come in contact with.
Earl J Prignitz
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