She's 91. He's 95. Still active, going to town council meetings in DC, leading school sing outs, etc

[DFW]

He's a retired (sorta) judge, still participating in local Washington, DC politics. His wife, my dad's cousin, was a school teacher, tutored Caroline Kennedy in the White House 60 years ago, still helps out with local schools. He is a friend of Morris Dees, founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center in Alabama.

He (they) drove out here (Langley area of northern Virginia) from downtown DC to have lunch with my brother, his wife, and me. We got take out from a fabulous local Afghan place. I have never eaten there, myself, because it's ALWAYS full, but you can order take-out (give it time!). They had a house in Georgetown decades ago. It was pretty old, and needed renovation, but the price of Georgetown real estate went so bonkers, I'm sure that they got plenty for it as it was. It was enough to buy themselves a decent apartment in DC, close to downtown (Conn. Ave.).

They are both mentally 100% still there. Their children and grandchildren are all over the place, have their own health issues, etc., but all get by. I am just in complete awe of the two of them--a truly remarkable couple.

Maybe there is something of her left over in the genes my dad passed on down to us. His cousin is just delightful, and her husband is a marvel to behold. His steady gaze and voice make one think he is 20 to 25 years younger. He is not a blood relative, unfortunately.

I always used to think I would be history by the time I approached 80. But this couple, the very epitome of what I envision as ideal elder Democrats, give me hope that with the right combination of genetic luck and positive outlook, I'm not up for oblivion as soon as the odds seem to say I am.

With people like this in DC, I can understand why the Republicans will fight to the death against statehood for the District of Columbia. There are VERY few people that live there that act or think like them--certainly none of them that are related to me!

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

1. great story!

[DFW]

3. I hadn't actually seen them in four years

We had talked on the phone, but my visit to the States are brief, and hours for personal stuff are carefully allotted. Since Jan. 1, I have gotten to see Katrina Vdh and Norm Ornstein, but I have had unexpected medical stuff, and that has cut into time for personal fun.

But this couple rewrites the definition of "old," and I just hold them in complete awe.

[secondwind]

2. Loved reading this.

[elleng]

4. Thanks!

[Sucha NastyWoman]

5. I bet you, yourself

Are just as amazing.

[DFW]

7. Compared to people like them

I am as dull as dish water, believe me.

[highplainsdem]

9. Not at all true.

[7wo7rees]

6. So happy you were able to get together with them!

True treasures! Hope you are feeling better and thankful you've been able to see a few friends.
When do you fly home?

Ms7wo7rees

[DFW]

12. I fly home this evening. I have to stop in Paris first.

There are no direct flights from Washington to Düsseldorf, so I have to change somewhere. Delta used to have a nonstop from Atlanta to Düsseldorf, but they canceled it when Covid hit, and haven’t re-instated it. I don’t know why, it was always full. When you fly overnight, the thing to shoot for is to arrive at your final destination, not arrive half asleep and then have to go through immigration, security, a change of terminal, and then another flight.

[7wo7rees]

13. Safe trip. I hope it goes smoothly for you!

Keep us all posted. I know you'll be glad to get home to your better half!

Ms7wo7rees

[DFW]

14. Oops. Too late. Anything BUT smooth.

Air France contacted me this morning to tell me that my onward flight from Paris to Düsseldorf on Friday had been canceled.

They wanted to reroute me from Paris to Vienna to Düsseldorf (sort of like Dallas to Houston via Phoenix), getting home 6 hours later than scheduled. Europe is notorious for losing luggage, so I said no way.

Other possibilities were via London (with a massive terminal change), Frankfurt (but only a bus to Düsseldorf), Zürich (but only one hour to make the change), København (but no seat available on the connecting flight), and the Washington-Amsterdam flight does not operate on Thursdays. They offered the connection through Amsterdam tomorrow, and I took it. I hate it, and I don't get to see my better half until Saturday morning, but I will not put myself through the panic and uncertainty involved with their other solutions.

[7wo7rees]

19. Aw jeez!! Hope I didn't jinx it!

Airline travel just is not what it used to be.

Bright side, you get another day with your brother and sil and maybe a more pleasant trip home. Hope so.
Ms7wo7rees

[DFW]

20. I would have preferred to be back in Germany tomorrow

But with all the alternatives, I just did not feel like being some air line’s ping pong ball. I’ll chill here in Virginia until tomorrow afternoon, and then head off to Amsterdam on the rebooked flight.

[highplainsdem]

8. K&R! I love hearing about older people like your cousin and her husband.

And I'm glad you were able to get together with them.

People like that give us all hope.

[DFW]

10. He was telling us about "an older guy" he knew

“Older” because he was already 100!!!

[betsuni]

11. K&R

[Initech]

15. Conservatives stand for the opposite of everything good and decent in society!

That's why we must continue to fight them on every level!

[DFW]

17. Only the ones with a capital C, and defined in Republicanese

It's not a question of "conservative" as defined in English.

After all, I am your classic conservative, at least as defined in a dictionary of the English language (as opposed to Republicanese).

I still work for the same outfit that recruited me out of college in 1975. I have been with the same wonderful woman since 1974. We have raised two solid, intelligent children who have grown up, think independently, did well in their respective colleges, and have jobs in which they earn their own living, have stable, long-term relationships, and are well-respected in their chosen fields.

I am risk-averse, and do not like to make rash, un-thought-out decisions. I have no debts. I have no addictions, not even to alcohol, religion, gambling, or nicotine. My favorite American philosopher is the 18th century Thomas Jefferson.

I am the epitome of “conservative.” Why am I a Democrat? Simple: I do not believe that having a different ethnic background, belief, or income makes one a superior or an inferior being to myself.

[PufPuf23]

16. Thank you and thank your friends for staying the course.

Many older folks are not just in health decline but literally dropping out of society, becoming invisible, because of the complex of wealth-health-social connection.

Today's elders need safety. Democrats care.

[DFW]

18. Like myself, they remain active as long as they can, to the extent they can.

Nature has granted them both an exception from the norm, and they have embraced that exception to the fullest. They will continue to do so until they can't any more. Dropping out was never in their vocabulary, and they very much DO care.

By the way, they ARE friends, true enough, but also relatives. She is my father's cousin.