When I'm 64

The Golden Years. That phrase used to describe the period in your life after you retired from your career. The term may not be current, but it seems that for many in the area, the years following employment are golden.

The folks we talked to at the Chestnut Hill Senior Center and Cathedral Village retirement community for our Retirement Options supplement are busier than ever. Senior Center members take tai chi and short story discussion classes, go on trips to interesting places and work hard at raising money and interest in center. Residents of Cathedral Village, just one of many excellent area facilities, participate in as many or as few activities as they wish.

The message I got while editing the supplement is that it is important to plan ahead. Several people told me that residents are happier if they made decisions about whether or not to relocate to a retirement community when both the husband and wife are in good health.

With this section, and another planned for July called "Mature Living," the Local will give you ideas on what to do to plan for your retirement years, so that you don't have to ask the question the Beatles asked many years ago, "Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64?"

Katie Worrall

An appreciation for love of the sport

By Kara Daddario

Sportsmanship, even on the sidelines, seems to be a disappearing practice. Sports venues have seen a vast epidemic of cheating, unfair play, and worst of all, overaggressive parents. It speaks loudly when one is getting red-carded yet they aren't even playing the sport.

I can't speak of all sports fans as appalling spectators because for as many parents that I have found who live their lives through youth sports teams, I have also found supportive coaches, parents and players who lead by example and sustain some of that "it doesn't matter if you win or loose" construct. It was not until I began rowing in the spring of my freshman year, however, that I discovered the woman who completely broke the mold.

My first encounter with Evelyn Seymour was at University Barge Club over spring break of 2001. If I can remember correctly, it was snowing and I was miserable. I walked into the boathouse only to find Mrs. Seymour ready with warm food and a huge smile. This trend was to continue.

Over the years, Mrs. Seymour has been at the boathouse almost as much as the rowers, providing us with everything we need — even my outlandish requests for tea or accommodating my newly developed vegetarianism during spring break practice.

She created newsletters and t-shirts for our program and never failed to get everyone involved with crew — even if they were hesitant about the early morning shifts.

It wasn't long until Mrs. Seymour's involvement earned her the title of "Aunt Eve" to the Springside crew team. What is truly amazing about Mrs. Seymour's involvement with the Springside crew team is that she only has one son who rows, yet given the amount of support she provides it is as if she has 22 daughters.

The parental and student involvement in crew far exceeds most sports at Chestnut Hill Academy and Springside School. On any given Sunday, parents are setting up tents at 6:30 in the morning, hauling pounds of food between the boathouse and the grandstands, all while cheering for their children as they race down the river. Led by Mrs. Seymour, these are truly the new breed of spectators who embody those nostalgic elements of sheer love of the sport.

Mrs. Seymour does more then organize countless events and meetings, and she does more then always have the right food at the perfect time waiting for you at the boathouse. Mrs. Seymour is a pillar of support for both teams. She never tries to coach and she never yells at officials or other rowers on the river. Rather, she is the person who waits at the boathouse after your race to greet you with a smile and give you that big hug in both triumph and defeat.

Thank you, Mrs. Seymour, for proving to a whole generation of athletes that parental involvement doesn't always include red cards. You have led by example and supported us all through the practices that felt like they would never end and in those moments of glory when we crossed the finish line. Your support is exceptional and has never gone unnoticed for a moment.

Kara Daddario, who recently completed her senior project at the Chestnut Hill Local, will graduate from Springside School next week. She was a member of the varsity crew team.