Women’s Stories of Successful Aging
Kay Dilger Metcalfe: Written Reflections on Aging
“With my interest in writing about Old Age . . .” (April, 25, 2007)”
In this piece, written during a spate of writing in spring of 2007, when she was 94, Kay asks a key question: “How I wish the knowledge in one’s brain, especially of great importance would survive after death. How can it pass into oblivion?” These writings may be her attempt to transmit and preserve the knowledge she has gained.
4.25.’07
With my interest in writing about Old Age from my own personal thoughts, experiences of 94 years spent with a life-style of relatives, my own Mother, Father, and friends.
I recently read an article with a notable saying similar to the following: “I shall leave this World with more satisfaction, gratitude, pleasure & contentment for having come to know you.”
This will include many names, my family of course and numerous others & is importantly my legend which has little chance of remaining. How I wish the knowledge in one’s brain, especially of great importance would survive after death. How can it pass into oblivion?
The 4-30-07 New Yorker magazine arrived to-day with a most remarkable relevance to “The Way We Age Now,” article by Atul Gawande, assistant professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School.
It has given me pause for various comments to surface.
The May 7-’07 New Yorker Magazine has an article about The Life of Ralph Ellison, author of “Invisible Man” whose house on Lincoln Hill Rd. Plainfield, Ma. was burned down Nov. 1967.