Last week was the beginning of fall classes at Ollie (the Osher Life Long Learning Institute for people over 50 years old). The online list of classes sounded so interesting, I signed up for four classes on Tuesday and Thursday. On Tuesday morning bright and early I got up and headed out the door. I talked my husband into driving me to West Portal Station so I could save time getting downtown. If I walked from my home to the streetcar and then rode it to the West Portal Tunnel, it would take me 45 minutes or so. This way, it takes ten minutes to get to the tunnel and another 10 minutes to get to the Westfield Center. Very Efficient.
My husband let me out and said "Don't run." He knows I like to run for streetcars, so I obeyed--I skipped. How defiant. I felt like a school child walking with my blue lunch bag I had packed to save money and my new folder to take notes in class. It felt like a new beginning after the lazy days of summer (well I don't remember much summer, it was mostly foggy.)
My first class was very intriguing--I was spellbound listening to the Professor talk about Politics and Religion. He is very knowledgeable and funny and talks from years of experience teaching political science. I took lots of notes--I couldn't help it.
After my simple lunch, sitting with some other students, we were ready to start our next class--Views from Behind the Walls and Beyond. This is about our California prison system, which I wanted to delve into since I correspond with a relative who is incarcerated in San Quentin. This class should help me understand the political and other issues facing our prison system. I think I am aware of some of the personal issues, but I want to hear from someone who worked there.
On Thursday, I was signed up for the Joy of Choral Singing, but since only six people signed up, the class was cancelled. This was disappointing since it was actually the main class I wanted to take. I really love to sing, but apparently the other Ollie members are a little intimidated. I had signed up for a Ballet Class last year, but it had to be cancelled the next semester, because only a few people had the courage to dance. Why don't more "over 50's" want to sing and dance?
My last class is about "An Artistic History of Medicine." I'm interested, but the lights are turned down in order to see the photos of art work on the screen, and after the break, I fell asleep. I think I was tired since I had walked all the way from the Civic Center where I had procured my mother's death certificate at the Health Dept. I also had walked all through Nordstrom's waiting for the class to start. Unfortunately, I had gotten my time mixed up, and was a half an hour late for the class. I'd better plan ahead this week. I don't want to waste my time sleeping in class.
My rides home are interesting. The first day I took the 71 bus which goes down Haight Street and then across Irving on 23rd avenue to Noriega. It's fun to watch the people come on and off the bus. There were two older couples who boarded the bus who spoke with an accent--maybe Russian. They were carrying bouquets of flowers and reminded me of our bus ride inVilnius--Many of the Lithuanians were carrying flowers on the bus ride home to their tall apartment complexes at the edge of the city. I kept wondering if it was a custom or just a way to brighten the day.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow's classes.
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