A Reflection on Aging. By Steve Chappell
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Good day, all.
I'm back and glad to be so! In spite of my not-so-recent retirement, I have been invited to contribute to
this new venture in utility journalism published by the Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association (TMEPA).
When TMEPA Executive Director Mike Vinson asked me to come on board, I gladly accepted. Having been associated
with utility folks for over 30 years now, I welcome the opportunity each month to share with you some of my
observations, adventures, and musings.
Right out of the starting gate is a reflection on aging. A bit sensitive and boring, right? Perhaps. But one day —God willing — you will join me among the ranks of the retired. I remember an overheard conversation some 25 years ago between my father and uncle regarding their respective retirements from DuPont — dad’s from the Chattanooga Nylon Plant and Uncle Charlie’s from headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.The gist of the conversation was personal freedom. For 40 years, my dad and uncle answered the call to duty, i.e. serve the interests of E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company. I’m pretty sure occasions arose when personal interests conflicted with employer interests, but 40 years came and went in the twinkling of an eye, and the storms always passed.
At the time of the conversation, Ed Chappell and Charlie Jones were free to follow their own paths. No more bosses (except for Mom and AuntRebecca), meetings, airports, rental cars, and nights away from home.After his retirement from DuPont, my father became fascinated with this new technology called the computer, which he purchased from Radio Shack, and taught himself how to use MS-DOS. Shortly thereafter, he took his newly acquired computer skills and found a job in data processing for a small industrial supply company until his death in 1996. Uncle Charlie, on the other hand, spent his golden years doing exactly what he had planned to do from day one: boating, fishing, and spending time with family.
Regarding the personal freedom that comes with retirement, I now know exactly how they felt. But there is one
perceptible difference. Once retired, Charlie and my dad lost all contact with those they had shared the golden
years of their professional lives with.
Conversely, your humble correspondent refuses to go quietly into that good night or fall off the edge of the
earth. The best years of my life have been those shared with you, my colleagues, friends, and even casual
readers. And — God willing and with your blessing — will continue to be so.
Winsome Wisdom
Betty Friedan: American writer and women’s rights activist (1921 - 2006)
"Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength."
I'm back and glad to be so! In spite of my not-so-recent retirement, I have been invited to contribute to
this new venture in utility journalism published by the Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association (TMEPA).
When TMEPA Executive Director Mike Vinson asked me to come on board, I gladly accepted. Having been associated
with utility folks for over 30 years now, I welcome the opportunity each month to share with you some of my
observations, adventures, and musings.
Right out of the starting gate is a reflection on aging. A bit sensitive and boring, right? Perhaps. But one day —God willing — you will join me among the ranks of the retired. I remember an overheard conversation some 25 years ago between my father and uncle regarding their respective retirements from DuPont — dad’s from the Chattanooga Nylon Plant and Uncle Charlie’s from headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.The gist of the conversation was personal freedom. For 40 years, my dad and uncle answered the call to duty, i.e. serve the interests of E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company. I’m pretty sure occasions arose when personal interests conflicted with employer interests, but 40 years came and went in the twinkling of an eye, and the storms always passed.
At the time of the conversation, Ed Chappell and Charlie Jones were free to follow their own paths. No more bosses (except for Mom and AuntRebecca), meetings, airports, rental cars, and nights away from home.After his retirement from DuPont, my father became fascinated with this new technology called the computer, which he purchased from Radio Shack, and taught himself how to use MS-DOS. Shortly thereafter, he took his newly acquired computer skills and found a job in data processing for a small industrial supply company until his death in 1996. Uncle Charlie, on the other hand, spent his golden years doing exactly what he had planned to do from day one: boating, fishing, and spending time with family.
Regarding the personal freedom that comes with retirement, I now know exactly how they felt. But there is one
perceptible difference. Once retired, Charlie and my dad lost all contact with those they had shared the golden
years of their professional lives with.
Conversely, your humble correspondent refuses to go quietly into that good night or fall off the edge of the
earth. The best years of my life have been those shared with you, my colleagues, friends, and even casual
readers. And — God willing and with your blessing — will continue to be so.
Winsome Wisdom
Betty Friedan: American writer and women’s rights activist (1921 - 2006)
"Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength."
