Lucy Gray

We were poor but didn’t know it

“At ninety-three years of age, I remember how things used to be and how comfortable we were. We were happy without realizing how poor we were. Now people only seem to be happy if they have lots of possessions. When I grew up it wasn’t what you had, but what friends you had. One felt blessed if you had family and friends.”

“We were a family of six children—three girls and three boys.My father was a laborer and we were very poor, but we were a happy family. We didn’t know we were poor until we saw the other kids doing different things, but we were always busy in different ways. I will never forget the time somebody gave us a Victrola. We had hardwood floors and we danced to that Victrola. I can still remember how much fun we had dancing.

Bob Chamberlin

Fancy amenities don’t make one happy

When we questioned Bob about his elementary and secondary education, he shared that he had had good teachers and was fortunate to have separate rooms for each grade even in the early nineteen hundreds. Ultimately, Bob earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Michigan in 1931. He and his family were deeply affected by the Depression. His father was out ofwork, as were so many others. All needed money and were struggling simply to keep their homes and obtain enough food and gasoline. Bob stated, “It was a grim time for everybody.” He chose to give up his graduate work and go to work to earn money for his family. It was fortuitous that his talents fit nicely with President Roosevelt’s plan to “make work a program of worthwhile projects that are largely man built—not [built] by machine.” He vividly remembers driving to a park and dropping off his father and another gentleman who had been a banker. These men were given a pick and shovel and put to work. Bob states that, in one way, the manual labor felt demeaning. Yet he remembers the sense of pride they felt in doing something for which they earned money and gained instant gratification from their efforts, instead of sitting at home ruminating over their misfortune. During the following years, President Roosevelt continued to expand existing parks and lay out new parks, thereby creating more jobs for people who needed them.

Ruth Youngerman

Simplicity brings you closer to reality

An exuberant, dignified, meticulously groomed ninety-three-year-old woman of small stature greeted us at the door of her home as though we were long-lost friends. We fell easily into conversation. Philosophical remarks permeated our discussion along with phrases, sayings, and good old words of advice from parents, family and friends she adored. Without hesitation, Ruth Youngerman began sharing herfavorite words of wisdom as we sat down for the first time in her living room: “If you want something, ask yourself if you need it.” “Life is better if you pace yourself.” “It’s not what you say, it’s what you do.” The most poignant quotation for Kim and me was when Ruth looked up at us and said, “No two families are ever the same. You don’t understand a man until you know his memories.”

Another important concept Ruth values is simplicity: “Simplicity brings you closer to reality. Our needs and wants are miles apart.” The more you have, the more you have to take care of.” This vibrant woman attributes her long life to good genes, a favorable environment, enjoying nature, healthy eating, and much luck. She feels lucky to have played golf and tennis until she was eighty years old; soon after, Ruth began practicing tai chi. Ruth also loved being in her backyard as much as possible. Her Mother’s Day gift every other year from her husband was a new lawn mower. After cutting her grass, Ruth loved feeling the blades of grass under her feet—a simple pleasure she relished.