u235

I read stories like the one below and it affirms my belief that some women just "have what it takes", no matter their age. Our society likes to shutter off the elderly, parking them till they wither because it's just too time consuming to care for them. That's sad because we lose touch with our history and the capabilities that an active and mature mind can offer.

I have hope that our understandings will change as the Boomers age. While they're the most self-centered generation that I've ever encoutered or read about they have the singular power to change american society and viewpoints simply based on their numbers. In fact it's their lack of desire to shoulder the responsibility of their own parents that has established old people as useless, burdensome baggage to be minimally maintained.

I'm certain we'll see a change in that attitude when they're the ones facing the retirement home...

WAYNESBURG, Ky. (AP) -- Miss America 1944 has a talent that likely has never appeared on a beauty pageant stage: She fired a handgun to shoot out a vehicle's tires and stop an intruder. Venus Ramey, 82, confronted a man on her farm in south-central Kentucky last week after she saw her dog run into a storage building where thieves had previously made off with old farm equipment.
...
She had to balance on her walker as she pulled out a snub-nosed .38-caliber handgun.

''I didn't even think twice. I just went and did it,'' she said. ''If they'd even dared come close to me, they'd be 6 feet under by now.''

Props Ms. Ramey. You kick ass.