Age 50 - A New Beginning

Myrtle Laabs sits slumping just a bit in her chair. Her short, white, curly hair stands out against the lapel of her purple wool coat where a “wild woman” pin is jauntily clasped. The pin, created from random fragments, is individually crafted and there are no two alike, which is why Laabs says she likes it. She speaks slowly and quietly, but with determination, and nearly blind eyes squint as the 105-year-old Laabs tells about how she began painting watercolors when she was 86.

When people think of growing older, starting a new life is not usually what comes to mind. Slowing down, relaxing and rest are what most people think of when they consider their advancing years and retirement, but not so for Laabs and other members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Osher members have reinvented themselves in their later years by taking classes, getting involved in local programs and even starting new careers. Some see it as a chance to do the things they always wanted to do but never could, while some see the possibility of fresh adventures.

“It is one’s attitude that determines what your life is going to be because the action that you take is what counts,” Laabs says.

Laabs has a background in art and previous projects include creating a poster to promote war bonds in World War I and making totem poles when she lived in Utah, but she didn’t begin painting watercolors until she after her husband died in 1989. This is when she entered the Elderhostel, another local program for seniors, and began picking up some painting techniques.

When Laabs opened a small gift shop some years ago, she sold others’ artworks, but when customers requested specific images, Laabs started painting them herself. She eventually showed her paintings in several joint exhibits. When the Osher Institute was inviting artists to submit their works for show, a neighbor of Laabs encouraged her to enter. She was accepted, and it gave her the first opportunity for an individual showing.

Laabs is not the only artist to give her first showing at the Osher Institute; Ellen Gregory has been taking photos for most of her life, but only began thinking of herself as an artist and professional photographer in July when Kathleen Dorn, the coordinator for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, told Gregory she wanted to give her a complete showing in the gallery.

“This was the first time ever, besides in my own home, that I’ve ever shown my photographs,” Gregory says. “The accolades are just incredible.”

Accounting had been Gregory’s main line of work for most of her 67 years, but her plan was to own a bed-and-breakfast when she retired. After growing up in the Bronx and then living in L.A. for most of her life, she bought some rural land in Farmington and for the next 10 years worked on remodeling her two-story house. Then a fire six years ago destroyed all her retirement dreams.

Gregory is thankful that one of the things most important to her, her photographs, survived the fire. The heat from the fire had melted the plastic in the photo albums, in essence laminating the photos and ironically protecting them from smoke damage. She only recently finished the project of cutting the photos out of the melted plastic.

With her camera always by her side, Gregory would take photos during her Osher classes, and the institute began using her photos in brochures and pamphlets. This became the catalyst for Gregory’s recent showings, which, along with the fire, made her forget her idea of a bed-and-breakfast.

The Osher Institute offers a variety of classes for members, who must be 50 or older to join. It provides interesting and convenient continuing education for individuals in their later years who may want the opportunity to learn new things but find the classes offered by the University of Arkansas too restrictive.

“The stick-in-the-muds don’t go to these classes,” says Tom Paradise, a professor of geography at the UA and member of Osher. “It created a community that didn’t exist before of older people that are curious, who want to learn (and) that are interested.”

How to Make Sushi, Spanish for Travelers and Identity Theft are examples of previous classes offered that are meant to appeal to the over 50 crowd. There are no prerequisites, homework or tests in these classes; the point is learning for pure enjoyment.

“OLLI is providing not just classes, but providing a venue for its members to share ideas and share work,” says Mike Adelman, a retiree from the corporate business world and chairman for the advisory board at Osher.

Adelman was first involved in Osher as a student, and it gave him the opportunity to meet several hundred people who were in the same situation – retired or “experienced” and looking for intellectual stimulation. There is a lot he wants to learn, but he is not interested in repeating the college experience.

Melinda Nickle agrees. “I just thought it was a good idea for people who are retired to have this opportunity to take classes without having to worry about doing homework or having to go three times a week and find a parking place.”

Nickle retired from teaching high school in 2001, and has become increasingly active in the community. Her plan was to ride horses and do a great deal of reading when she retired, but she barely has time to read for her book club.

“OLLI has kept me really busy; I love the classes,” Nickle says. “Just to have the chance to do things you might not do. I loved the kids when I taught, but I’m glad I retired – a new life.”

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute receives its funding from The Bernard Osher Foundation based on the number of its members. The location in Fayetteville just reached its goal of 300 members and now has its sights set on 500, the point at which it can request a $1 million endowment.

Bernard Osher made his fortune as the director of World Savings, the second-largest savings institution in the United States, and the owner of the fourth-largest auction house in the world, Butterfield & Butterfield.

“He is elderly with no kids, so he decided to start sharing his money,” says Paradise, who used to be the director of the jewelry and objects division at the auction house. “He set up the foundation specifically for active older people.” Now it has bloomed into a huge program across the U.S.

Now the Osher members are seeing people who have taken the classes become the teachers. Paradise and Nickle have both taught classes, and after getting involved with the institute, Gregory began teaching digital photography.

Gregory is hoping to continue establishing herself as a professional photographer. She has created her own Web site and recently had another showing at Ultra Studio in Fayetteville. “I would love to earn some money doing this to supplement my retirement.”

Laabs also continues painting. “Experiment; try unknown things. Just because they say it can’t be done doesn’t mean it can’t be done.”