The 2012 Senior Games experience

Dear Editor:

The word "stamina" is defined as Staying Power; endurance. During the 2012 senior games in Lehighton these past two weeks this word took on a form of its own as I watched seniors participate outside on a raw, cloudy ominous morning last Monday. The forecast called for more of the same damp, weather for the whole day, but at 8:30 a.m. the field was filled with exuberant individuals aged 60 to 88 years old. They were all ready to compete. Ice water was provided, but none of the warm coffee or tea I had secretly hoped for.

Because I was on the service-side of the games, I had become a forced observer, since my duties were minimal (handing out lunches). Boy was I in for a surprise. In the back of my mind I didn't really think they had the guts to stay for the whole days events which were scheduled to end at 3 o'clock.

The games of the day included distance power walking across the field and back, a softball throw, bocchi, and ending with horseshoes. There was one-half hour for lunch.

I had the privilege of mingling with area high school students and some kids from Concern Treatment for Boys who were there as record keepers. It was an intergenerational mix of non-stop activity under the ominous blanket of black-grey clouds. It was impossible to sort out the participants by age, because somehow, for the day, the age barrier had been transcended. The only things to give away the ages of the participants were the placards designating age groups for competition. Not one person had lost their stamina during the morning, through lunch; not even to the very end of the day's competition.

After lunch, as large drops of rain began to fall I waited for the games to end abruptly and I secretly hoped they would because I was cold and wet. I thought the competitors would at least complain and break up to go to the cars or go home but no on left! Boccie and horse shoes had to be played. I sat with the women as they waited their turns at horse shoes. I was offered a share under their umbrellas. Some didn't use umbrellas; they simply put their hoods over their heads or put on rain hats.

What a great crowd of seniors! What a great show of endurance and strength amid laughter and cordiality. What great admiration I have for the seniors who competed; those with many health issues, those with arthritis and high blood pressure; those with prosthetics; those who were widowed, those who had their share of sadness and grief. At the end of the day I saw many still strolling around the field with some wearing as many as three medals around their necks. I am so blessed to have been part of their day.

Victor Pituch, who is himself 83 years old and the coordinator of the games was out before they began, clearing out weeds from the horse shoe beds, and later being helped by a fellow senior. Let us never forget that it s these people who have worked hard in this area all their lives; who have seen the good and bad times, and who now stand as an example to us. I truly believe that we will never see the strength and vitality that they now share when we reach their age in our generation. May we strive to be like them.

Respectfully submitted,

Faye Ruckhardt,

Nesquehoning