District 5, Espanola Senior Center 2004

Narratives and drawings by senior citizens from the Espanola Senior Center.  Click an image for larger view.

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round? Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight? Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down. Don't dance so fast. Time is short.  The music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask “How are you?”  Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head?
 
Ever told your child, “We'll do it tomorrow?” And in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die cause you never had time to call and say,"Hi"
You'd better slow down. Don't dance so fast.  Time is short.  The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere you miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift.... Thrown away.
Life is not a race. Do take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

Araceli, age 77

Roslyn, age 83

Rosario, age 85

Olga, age 78

Martha, age 82

Juana, age 74

Dorothy, age 92

Cira, age 82

Joe Greenberg, age 93

Growing older has very little effect on a day to day basis. I go to the Center to eat and see what the people are doing. I do very little activity.

Aulana Seekinger, age 70

I feel very proud of everything I did in my life. From age 16 I had the responsibility of raising my five sisters and brothers. It made me into the strong person I am today.

Gloria Miranda, age 69

The best experience I had was to have eight kids in my life. I feel very proud with this gift that god gave me. I have ten grand children and two great grandchildren.

Yonna Kiriat, age 78

Growing older is very hard. When I reached 75 I had cancer, a gall bladder operation and long time pain in my feet. I get mixed up. Sometimes I fall. I need someone to care of me. But I have transportation to take me to activities so I can continue to enjoy my life.

Fena Ekht Age 78

I came from Russia 3 years ago. I am with my son and daughter in law. I feel good. I am healthy. I like to dance and come to the Senior Center. I have no major problems growing older.

Abe, age 85

I am a holocauster. I had plenty of problems just trying to survive. I was a tailor so my life was saved. Now I have a heart condition, diabetes, and arthritis. I have children and grand children. I am happy.

Churora Jimenez, age 80

I had seven operations in my life. Although I suffered, God helped me to learn how to live. I got married but never had kids. My husband died after 26 years of marriage. I’ve been alone for 11 years.

Gerardo Faraldo Hlera, age 82
I was born in Havana in 1922 to a Spanish family. We were four sisters and four brothers. We were a big happy family. My father left Spain for political reasons during the civil war. In Cuba I have a brother in prison for political reasons. I have a daughter and a grandchild that were born in the USA. He is a student and studies a lot. 

Sylvia, age 75

I am a widow for six years. I feel very lucky that I have three daughters who take care of me. They take me shopping and make sure I have everything I need. Now that I am older I have less energy than I used to but I remain in good health. I take care of my home and do all of the house cleaning myself. I do not have any major problems with growing older. 

Florence Notkin, age 85

The best thing about getting older is that if you have your health you are rich in life and we have to make the best with what we have.

Isabel Arias, age 24

Growing older feels slow day to day, but when I look back it has happened fast. I feel old when I finally come to understand something that I couldn’t figure out before. It feels good to feel wise with experience but scary to see how quickly time passes. 

Laura Villanieva,

I was lucky enough to meet a good companion. He died and I have two kids, a boy and a girl.

Aida Perez, age 91

I am growing older in a country that isn’t mine. Although I am 90 years old, I feel good that I can still do things for myself. Growing older is something that gives me the experience for all the things that we go through in life. I’ve gone through happy and sad things. My belief in God has helped me get through the sad things.

Anita Hershfung, age 73

I lost my husband in a car accident while I was pregnant and then I miscarried the baby. I never remarried. I worked in a hospital until I retired. I’m okay and I like coming to the Senior Center every day.

Rose Kurtz, Age 97

To grow older at first is depressing. I’ve lost a beautiful father, mother, sister and brother and most of all, my lovely husband. Later on you meet nice people and watch your children grow up. As the years go by, you remember the lovely things that have passed by. My children are all professionals. I love them.

Marta, age 76

A young person feels strong and hopes for the future. At the present time I keep thinking about the future, even when I know it is short. Nobody knows how long it will be.

I miss the roses of my face. I accept my gray hair. And I have to accept my limitations because I am not the strong person I was. There is something very positive: I can still learn new things.

Alma Aharez, age 88

I was born in Cuba in 1916 and I worked for 20 years in New York. I have a son and we are very happy.

Julia Primelles, age 70

I am a little sad because I can’t walk well and I am very weak. I still thank God for everything.

Isabel Agala, age 81

I had a wonderful life as a young girl. When I retired at age 62, I felt as young as when I was 47 and lost my husband. I feel happy to be able to live this long. Remember age is just a number, you have to do the best in life. I didn’t have children. I had wonderful neighbors. I am very happy going to bed thinking about my plans for the next day.

Gustave Drea, age 88

I don’t have any feelings about growing older. It is a process that I accept as natural. 

After graduating from University of Miami, I started a private school on a couple of hundred dollars and built it up to thousands of students including the Prince of Wales’ nephew on the German side, and Al Jolson, sonny boy. I had thousands of students because I had the northern tourists’ children use their own books so they did not have to change to the Miami system and miss out on the northern school work when they returned north. This attracted all the tourists’ children. I also had classes out of doors in my front yard, with tables under a canopy. I eliminated physical training so the tourists finished in the morning and had the afternoon for the beach. I operated the school for 35 years until the City of Miami Beach bought my property by eminent domain to use for another purpose. Then I retired. I was also the southern U.S. chess champion. I was also a bridge master.