A Season of My Own Making

 Long ago — as the fairytales say — I attended a class taught by a charming and talented man named Jim Hadley at the Piedmont Adult School. Extremely knowledgeable and endlessly prepared, he covered the entire history of Europe over a two-year period. As he moved from Ancient Egypt to the French Revolution, he brought each era to life with lectures, slides, music, and art. His humor made everything both entertaining and deeply informative.

One of my favorite lectures was about octogenarians who accomplished their greatest works after turning eighty. At forty-five, I thought eighty was unimaginably old. But now that I am here, it feels perfectly sensible that after decades of experience — and if blessed with some good health — one might finally be ready to create something meaningful. That idea stayed with me. I promised myself not to collapse into an armchair and wait for life to wind down. Instead, I would do whatever I could to maintain my strength and pursue things that others might consider outlandish for my age.

Not everything I do will benefit society in the way Titian or other late-in-life creators contributed their masterpieces. But I don’t believe that was the point of Jim Hadley’s lecture. The message was simply this: eighty is not a time to doze off. It is a time to stay awake.

For the past four years, I’ve taken a deep breath each September and flown to Lisbon, Portugal. It’s a long journey — especially for me — yet I have never regretted a single trip. I plan to keep going, even when obstacles try to pin me at home.

One of the best decisions I made this year was hiring a personal trainer. I always assumed it would be a frivolous extravagance, but working with Chris has been transformative. By cutting a few unnecessary expenses, I carved out the resources for this small investment, and it has paid off in strength, balance, and confidence. I’m hopeful that when September 2026 arrives, I’ll be stepping onto a plane to Lisbon yet again — ready to see the places, the art, the poetry, and the people who fill me with joy.

Lisbon is a lovely city — physically beautiful, emotionally calming, quietly inspiring. Its architecture, mosaics, the wide sweep of the Tagus River, the Atlantic winds, and the plaintive sounds of Fado have become part of my life’s rhythm. And even if all I do is sit in my condo, walk to the park with a book, enjoy a simple coffee at a kiosk, and let the city breathe around me — I will be content. A change is good. A challenge is even better.

What I discover in Lisbon.
​I  grow closer to the life of my favorite poet, Fernando Pessoa. I visit his old haunts and think of his daily life and inspiration.

I revel in the writings of Jose Saramago and Eca de Queiros, visiting the sources of their inspiration.

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I listen to Fado music whenever I get the chance.

I enjoy the views from nearby beaches, the river front at the end of each day and relaxing in the park outside my apartment in the evenings.

Above all, my comfy little home away from home feels so right!