Everyone needs inspiration. People often ask how I decide what to write about. Often it is by inspiration. I read. I observe. I listen. All of these things lead to what I write about.

This time I want to focus on an experience that was an inspiration for me. Picture a 90-year-old woman. She was full of life and full of energy which is not always the case for someone who just turned 90. She did not fit the typical stereotype in any way.

Last Sunday evening while at Chautauqua Institution I was inspired by Alice Parker. I knew nothing about her, but apparently many of the people in the audience did because when they asked for a show of hands for those who had been influenced by her there was a veritable waving of hands on all sides of me.

On the program she was called “America’s Song Leader.” Ms. Parker shared her expertise of music with all of us that night for approximately 90 minutes. She showed us how to sing, taught us to sing, not with gusto, but with quiet reserve. The result was nothing but beautiful. There was a congregation of untrained, for the most part, voices that blended to create magnificent harmony. While the pattern during this forum is always for people to get up and leave as they feel they need to, that was not the case. Most everyone stayed throughout this entire performance.

I was in awe, not of her vocal quality, but of her knowledge of music and her facility with it. On several numbers she gave us the tempo and the beat by tapping on the lectern behind which she stood. If I can be as active as Alice at age 90 I am certainly willing to give it a try.

She so inspired me that I looked up some biographical material to share with you. She is a noted composer, conductor, and teacher. She “has published more than 500 titles, ranging from operas through song cycles, cantatas, and choral suites to many individual anthems.” Each year she tours throughout the U.S. and Canada. We were indeed fortunate to run into her tour at Chautauqua.

Within the last couple years she has numerous honors bestowed upon her. She also holds numerous honorary degrees from prestigious institutions. No matter what credentials she possesses, she is a national treasure who so willingly shared with all of us.

The booklet that was used for her program had a current copyright of AliceParker@melodiousaccord.org. Many of the songs were her work, but some were familiar hymns known to most of us there. Even though the melodies and words were familiar the directing that Alice did was unique to her. I was just so impressed.

At age 90 she certainly could be sitting back on her laurels, but she is not content to do that. I will be eternally grateful to this wonderful woman who made me look at music with a critical eye.

The week we spent at Chautauqua had the Department of Religion title “America’s Spiritual Songbook.” Alice was simply the introduction to a week of fabulous music, interesting history, and most definitely enjoyment. There was even music at the morning lecture!

I guess you might say that I revere the generation that preceded me. For the past 14 years I had a good friend that I visited frequently. At the beginning of August Goldie left us at the ripe old age of 105.

When I first went to visit Goldie I went to find out some family history. She was my father-in-law’s cousin so she had the information I was looking for. I thought I had better get to her before she passed on. What developed from that first visit – that was for me – was an appreciation of her sense of humor and her zest for life. Oh, in the last few years she did get somewhat depressed. She was the only one left of her immediate relatives and friends. In spite of that she continued to be interested in the news.

When her eyesight failed she lost her freedom. She moved to a facility so that she would get proper meals and medical care. Oh, how Goldie missed being able to serve coffee. While she had her own apartment we always had a cup of coffee. In the early years of my visits she enjoyed hearing about my travels. She wistfully mentioned that she and I could have traveled together and had such a good time.

For the first few years she looked at my photograph books when I returned. Soon I noticed that she could no longer see well enough to enjoy the pictures so I just detailed my trip for her in words.

When she recalled foods that she missed I tried to make whatever she was hungry for and take it to her. The last thing I shared with her was pickles. She did not get pickles in the facility where she was living. Even though I arrived mid-morning, she wanted some right away.

These two ladies were an inspiration to me. One I knew on a personal level, but the other one put herself out there for all of us to enjoy. If you have relatives that fall in this category please take the time out of your busy schedule to enjoy them. They will not always be with you. They hold so much knowledge and if you get them talking they will willingly share it with you. It is a way to learn history with a personal touch.

Everyone has a story. Please visit these older relatives and learn about your family history. For those of you who live on a farm or in a homestead that has been in your family for generations this is especially true. You will someday want all of the information that you have gathered to pass on to the next generation.

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell, Pa. Contact at hickoryheights1@verizon.net