A tradition that has brought smiles to The Citizen’s readers every Sunday for nearly two decades is coming to an end this weekend.
The Sunday, Feb. 24 edition will feature Dorothy Nelson’s final “Gray Power” column.
Dorothy, 89, has decided that it’s time to give herself a break from her weekly deadline, and while I certainly understand her decision, there’s no question that the newspaper will miss her contributions.
The charm of “Gray Power” is that it has always been a source of inspiration — even for people who have not been a member of the target demographic: senior citizens.
One underlying theme in all of Dorothy’s work is that life is meant to be lived fully, no matter your age or circumstances.
Dorothy, a former school teacher, has conveyed this message in a variety of ways.
She loves to pass along humorous or uplifting passages that she happens upon, whether given to her by a friend or even mailed in from a reader.
She also sprinkles in some tips or information about events and programs aimed at senior citizens.
She’s adept at mixing in a personal story or two, as well. Readers have especially enjoyed her tales about her Uncle Sven. But they weren’t random stories. They had a purpose behind them, such as sharing advice on how to keep your mind sharp or urging readers to write their wills.
Another underlying theme of Dorothy’s work has been her love for the Finger Lakes region.
When Dorothy and her late husband, Henry, retired, they chose to relocate from a suburban New Jersey community to this region because her children and grandchildren had managed to discover this region.
Dorothy’s words in a 2005 column summed it up rather well:
“Many of our friends had retired to warmer climates, such as North Carolina and Arizona. But our choice was for — you guessed it — the Finger Lakes, that lovely place that we too had discovered from our many visits to our children and grandchildren,” she wrote.
“Thoughts of snowy winters didn’t stop us. This is where we wanted to be, close to lakes and farmlands, and family.”
That family has certainly grown to include The Citizen and its readers. And we’re all so thankful this was the place the Nelsons chose to call home.
Executive editor Jeremy Boyer’s columns appear Saturdays in The Citizen and he can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 231 or jeremy.boyer@lee.net
Dorothy, 89, has decided that it’s time to give herself a break from her weekly deadline, and while I certainly understand her decision, there’s no question that the newspaper will miss her contributions.
The charm of “Gray Power” is that it has always been a source of inspiration — even for people who have not been a member of the target demographic: senior citizens.
One underlying theme in all of Dorothy’s work is that life is meant to be lived fully, no matter your age or circumstances.
Dorothy, a former school teacher, has conveyed this message in a variety of ways.
She loves to pass along humorous or uplifting passages that she happens upon, whether given to her by a friend or even mailed in from a reader.
She also sprinkles in some tips or information about events and programs aimed at senior citizens.
She’s adept at mixing in a personal story or two, as well. Readers have especially enjoyed her tales about her Uncle Sven. But they weren’t random stories. They had a purpose behind them, such as sharing advice on how to keep your mind sharp or urging readers to write their wills.
Another underlying theme of Dorothy’s work has been her love for the Finger Lakes region.
When Dorothy and her late husband, Henry, retired, they chose to relocate from a suburban New Jersey community to this region because her children and grandchildren had managed to discover this region.
Dorothy’s words in a 2005 column summed it up rather well:
“Many of our friends had retired to warmer climates, such as North Carolina and Arizona. But our choice was for — you guessed it — the Finger Lakes, that lovely place that we too had discovered from our many visits to our children and grandchildren,” she wrote.
“Thoughts of snowy winters didn’t stop us. This is where we wanted to be, close to lakes and farmlands, and family.”
That family has certainly grown to include The Citizen and its readers. And we’re all so thankful this was the place the Nelsons chose to call home.
Executive editor Jeremy Boyer’s columns appear Saturdays in The Citizen and he can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 231 or jeremy.boyer@lee.net
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