How I’d Change the World
By Sara Jane Coffman
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 If Jay Leno were to come up to me on the street and ask me how I’d change the world, here’s what I would say.
For starters, I’d tell him that I’d eliminate dust. (Or, if dust has a purpose, I’d like someone to explain it to me.)
Second, I’d make it easier to get band-aids out of their wrappers. (Am I the only one who has trouble with this?)
Third, instead of the optometrist asking me: “Is this better . . . or is this better?” he’d tell me. Aren’t I paying him to tell me?
Fourth, red underwear would yell: “No! No!” if you threw them into the washing machine with your whites.
Fifth, men would jump up and take the garbage out if you asked them, even if it meant missing the last two minutes of a football game when their team was on the one-yard line about to score a touchdown to win the game.
Sixth, the Pennsylvania turnpike wouldn’t have ninety degree turns as soon as you come out of the tunnels, especially when you’re reaching around to try to find your sunglasses to put them back on, and especially when, if you miss the turn, you’ll drive straight off the mountain.
Seventh, I wouldn’t have anyone’s birthday on the first day of the month. Right now, some of my friends have their birthdays on the first of the month . . . and I don’t discover that until I turn the page of my calendar and then it’s too late to send them a card.
Eighth, knees would have shock absorbers that could be replaced every 5,000 miles.
Ninth, when you made sugar cookies from scratch, the dough would come out of the cookie cutters like the recipe says it will, instead of your having to poke your finger into the cookie cutter or slam it against the counter to get it out.
And tenth, when you’re wearing a hat, and you take it off, your hair would look as good as it did before you put the hat on.
No. Wait! BETTER. It would look better than before you put the hat on.
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 Special Note:
Congratulations to Sally, whose new book, I’m Older. Shouldn’t I Be Smarter? was released in March!
The West Lafayette Public Library is hosting a book signing for the new book on Saturday, May 13, from 10:00 a.m. to Noon ET. (It’s also available for purchase on Amazon, along with her other books.) |
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PURA Annual Spring Conference Deemed a Great Success!!
By Dr. Norman D. Long, chair, PURA Spring Conference Committee
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The PURA Annual Spring Conference held at the Beck Agricultural Center on April 19, 2023, was a refreshing return to yesteryear with more than two hundred registered attendees and eighteen vendors. 2023 signaled the return to an in-person format for this popular and educational PURA event for the first time since 2019. Members enjoyed a full hot buffet breakfast followed by speaker Dr. Matthew Ward, from Purdue’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, who discussed “Living with Chronic Pain without Addiction.”
PURA member David Caldwell led a stretch break with some armchair exercises, then Dr. Jerry Lynch, Purdue Professor Emeritus of Economics, gave us insight into macro-economics as he talked about “Securing our Financial System with Retirees in Mind,” before we took a morning break to visit with vendors.
Just before lunch, a panel presentation on “Mental Health for Seniors” was highlighted by representatives from the National Association of Mental Institutes, Mental Health America, and the Lafayette Police Dept.
A delightful box lunch from Christo’s restaurant was enjoyed along with fellowship, and more time to talk with representatives of Purdue Insurance & Benefits for retirees and visit Vendor Booths. The afternoon began with a Keynote address “Life is Made up of Unexpected Things!” by West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis, who received an appreciative standing ovation from the crowd.
An inspirational panel from the Tippecanoe County Public Library, the West Lafayette Public Library and the Purdue Libraries shared the topic of “Library Services for Seniors.”
Closing the event was the ever-popular “Awarding of Vendor Door Prizes” followed by the PURA protocol of “Hail Purdue” to conclude the day’s event.
A review of the day’s speakers and their information will be posted soon on the PURA website at: www.purdue.edu/retirees.
If you missed this unique event, plan now to attend with us next year on April 17, 2024. Planning is already underway for yet another powerful and different agenda.
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Left, Dr. Ward discussed a variety of approaches for coping with chronic pain.
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Dr. Jerry Lynch discussed major elements of the U.S. economy and how they may, or may not, affect our major sources of retirement income.
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West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis will step down at the end of 2023 following a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. He reminded us how important relationships are in life, and that partnerships—in all endeavors—are the key to success. |
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Morning stretch break with PURA member and Silver Sneakers instructor,
David Caldwell |
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From left, Nick Shenkel (West Lafayette Public Library), Jos Holman (Tippecanoe County Public Library) and Rebecca Richardson (Purdue University Libraries) shared their institutions’ programs, resources for seniors, and membership eligibility.
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| From left, Sheri Moore, Sgt. John Yestrebsky, and Brandi Christianson shared information about area mental health resources, physical and mental safety, and avoiding being taken advantage of. |
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| June 5 PURA Monthly Meeting |
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Program:
Electric Cooperatives—Their Place in the Power Grid (Tipmont and Wintek)
Presenter:
Rob Ford, Communication Director, Tipmont REMC and Wintek
As Power Companies work harder and harder to meet the ever increasing power needs, it begs to ask the question, “How does all of this work in the BIG picture?” Join us in June to learn more.
Rob Ford is a 20 year communication and marketing veteran with experience in media, health care, energy, and telecommunications. He has led large-scale strategic communication campaigns during his career, including branding, crisis planning, website development, and new product launches. Rob joined Tipmont as Communication Director in 2015. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Communication from Purdue University, and lives in West Lafayette with his wife and three children.
Join PURA in person at Lafayette VFW, Duncan Road, Lafayette, Indiana. Or join us via Zoom broadcast from our studio at the VFW (connection information at the end of this newsletter.) Lunch begins at 11:45 a.m. ET; program begins at 12:30 p.m. ET; speaker at 12:40 p.m. ET.
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Zoom Connection Information for PURA Meetings
The Zoom connection information for PURA monthly meetings is shown below. The link, Meeting ID, and password will be the SAME for all future normal monthly meetings.
Members who wish to join via phone call audio only will need the separate Passcode shown below. (The password/passcode for that method is different from the normal “computer connection” to Zoom.)
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Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/97285398989?pwd=MlB4U0FudEplMFRoWm1GTkZzNmYrZz09 Meeting ID: 972 8539 8989
Passcode: BoilerUp
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,97285398989#,,,,,,0#,,41051096# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,97285398989#,,,,,,0#,,41051096# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 972 8539 8989
Passcode: 41051096
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acvQQKVcnE
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