"HOOYAH! HOOYAH! HOOYAH! HOOYAH!" Art exclaimed while moving through a very large gathering of his family and friends signaling the beginning of a powerful and inspirational night of celebration. In response, a standing ovation offered in honor, appreciation and encouragement with countering shouts of "HOOYAH! HOOYAH! HOOYAH! HOOYAH!" rang through the air. I can't imagine a more fitting way to begin this celebration for Art,
a WWII Frogman.
I attended the 100th birthday party of an amazing friend last night. It's hard to imagine living that long. Even more, it's difficult to imagine living as long as Art has successfully. Fortunately, Art's 100 years have been filled with intentional and meaningful living. Art has not just occupied each year he has been given, he has packed each year full with bravery and vigor as he has worked hard in building relationships, helping others, connecting others with one another, learning new concepts and processes and thinking and working outside of the box.
A few of the outside of the box things Art has done that were shared last night were: using explosives to remove tree roots, making a coat rack out of rebar, using rebar to guide the growth of tomato plants, raising a pet pig with his brothers and sisters, flying his friends and family in his own airplane from Stark County to Pennyslvania for an evening supper date ("not anything fancy"), using a FAX machine when they first became available, using computers when they first became available, talking on SKYPE to others at a beach at the age of 99, allowing his grand kids to shoot machine guns, and working in non-traditional ways.
I had the opportunity to speak with one of Art's engineering friends for a while at his party. His name was Jack. Jack told many stories of how Art used to get in at ground zero and help out on each project as if he were a laborer. As the president of his firm, he could have delegated the responsibility of supervision. Instead, he got right in and helped out on the job site. He told a story about how one of the products on the job site was not working properly and how Art had a new product provided on site within hours of discovering the problem. This was all arranged after discovering the problem late at night. He was very impressed with Art's long life of hard work, commitment to progress and getting things done right.
Yes, Art enjoys talking, but he also enjoys getting things done. If he sees something that needs taken care of, he takes care of it. He doesn't waste a whole lot of time contemplating whether or not he should get involved. He figures out a way to make a difference and he takes care of problems. A good example of this is how he immediately purchased a state of the art scale for his son's wrestling team when he found out they were using a bathroom scale for weigh-ins.
Many may look at growing to be 100 as a life that must have had many problems...especially in the later years. However, Art doesn't seem to have the ability to get down or depressed by the problems that come his way. Of all the time I have spent with Art over the last 10 years, he has never told me not to get old! As a Physical Therapist, I hear "Whatever you do..., don't grow old..." at least four or five times a week. Art has never said that.
There is much to say about a man who wrestled for Ohio State, was the Commanding Officer of the of the Under Water Demolition Team 17 in WWII., was the president of an engineering firm and the father and grandfather of many wonderful, bright, ingenuitive and proactive children and grandchildren. I hope to reminisce off and on about the things Art has taught me. But, after leaving the party tonight, I was just reminded of the importance of living a life on mission.
What mattered most to all the people at Art's party tonight was the way Art befriended them and helped out in one way or another. It seems Art has made a difference in people's lives by giving them books to read, buying them helpful gadgets and devices to use to make their jobs run more smoothly or more efficiently, connecting people to others who have experience, sharing some of the secrets he has learned along the way and by leading the way by not falling into the traditional patterns and ruts that come along over the process of living in our daily routines.
What a great celebration of life! HOOYAH!
