I have recently noticed that our generation does not appreciate our senior citizens. I know that there are some of you out there who love the elderly, but for those of you who do not, have you ever spent any time bonding with them? I’m here to tell you I love senior citizens, and I’m proud! When it comes to grandparents, everyone appears to love their own. That would be where my love for the elderly originates: my grandparents. Maybe you love yours because they buy you a cool Christmas present every year or because you spend time together learning new things such as driving, hunting or baking. But what about all of the other people their age? Why do you not like them? Sure some drive slow on occasion, but I do too, so stop complaining that it is always them. I am surrounded with the coolest senior citizens ever on a daily basis—my neighbors, the Springers. The Springers have and are living such remarkable lives and have many stories to prove it. Mr. Dennis Springer was a Marine stationed in the Suez Canal in Egypt, worked many different jobs and eventually opened his own business. Since he was young, he has had a lifelong passion for horses and won many competitions roping calves. Mr. Springer has inspired my love for horses, and I will never be able to thank him enough for it. Mrs. Janie Springer is a phenomenal artist; her artwork is displayed through their whole house. The Springers are also very generous and allow us to use their property for almost everything: hunting, fishing, riding their horses and walking our dog. In return, we help them out when needed. I also love having the elders at my church to talk to every week. Elderly simply isn’t the right word because these people are really just “seasoned citizens.” They are like the sweetest, wisest teenagers you could ever meet; they are always so full of life. One couple in particular that I look forward to seeing every Sunday morning would be Dave and Kay Allen. They are so much fun to talk to even if it’s just a small conversation about how our weeks went. They make me feel like I am the most exciting person in the world. The Allens believe it is important to “enjoy life because time goes by so fast.” The Allens were my inspiration to tell you how much I love the seasoned citizens because of the youth that they can find in their age. Over several generations, many things have changed. There weren’t cell phones, computers or iPods. Automatic cars were not nearly as common as they are today. Mr. Springer once told me that he and his friends in the Boy Scout troop would go out in the woods in the summertime. They would camp out for a while and come home whenever they felt like it without the worry of being kidnapped. Similarly, Dave and Kay drove around and didn’t worry about locking their car doors because it was a safer time period then. Not only are our elderly friends full of cool stories and great advice, but they have many talents including: sewing, cooking, baking, gardening as well as some that they may not be able to do anymore due to old age. Maybe they were a star athlete in high school and college. They probably have great experiences they can share with you. My maternal grandmother has done a considerable amount of sewing throughout her life and even made my mom’s senior prom dress. If I could learn to sew like that, I think it would be the coolest thing ever. Another thing I find so fascinating about many people in the older generations is that they have really interesting collections that they take a lot of pride in. For example, Dave collects model trucks, Kay has a collection of some 300 glass slippers and although it’s not as specific, Mr. Springer has a nice collection in his basement of his hunting accomplishments including a stuffed bear, deer heads and even animal rugs. Elderly people are by far the most fun and wise people you can talk to. Even if they are a Carl Fredricksen from the movie Up, they could open up if you pester them like Russell. Fellow classmates, staff and readers, I challenge you to find someone to talk to who is a few generations older than you, not including your parents. I guarantee you will appreciate the knowledge that older generations have and possibly learn a cool story that you will want to share with a friend.