Here Be Dragons

More than 30 years ago I was working on a master’s degree in Kinesiology. One of my classes was in gerontology. Dr. Scheidt was known for his excellent teaching skills and his super creative exams. One of the things he liked to do was to print an obscure essay, which he would ask us to relate to aging. In one test, he used an essay reprinted from Newsweek called Here Be Dragons. The author, James Lipton, relates a story about the seconds before he gets on a bucking rodeo horse. He suggests that risk is sometimes a good thing, and then recounts the story about mapmakers writing “Here Be Dragons” in the margins of their maps. This was before we knew the earth to be round, and it was commonly believed that if you sailed your ship past the borders of the known world, it would fall into a void and be devoured by dragons. I think he was saying, “Look, if Columbus was brave enough to sail into that void, then why can’t you enter that art competition or (fill in the blank here)?”

I’ve lived by that motto ever since. I used to reprint it every year for graduating seniors in my aging classes. What a treat it was to see the essay hanging in some of their offices years later. A dragon hangs over our front door, and the saying Here Be Dragons is emblazoned over our refrigerator (yes, it can have double meanings!) One year we decorated our Christmas tree with dragons. I’ve sky dived (twice), camped in the Colorado woods alone, bungee jumped, and hang glided for 45 minutes over Hawaii on the lap of a very talkative man. None of these things is as scary as putting your art out for people without knowing whether they will love or disparage it.

I’ve got to come back to why this essay was included in a test about growing old. I don’t recall if Dr. Scheidt ever clarified that for us but for me it means to stay vital and alive as your body grows older, you’ve got to take some risks. Get on your boat and sail.

When I decided to do a website, I knew I had to distinguish it from all the other great stuff out there. I took a pause to consider what makes me unique and realized I may be the only PhD gerontologist with a painting website. I’ve been asked many times, since retiring, to share my wisdom to help people prepare for their third age. So you’ll get both with me—my joy for the art that I am lucky to be able to produce, and some sage advice. Today's advice: take some risks but wear a helmet.