Thursday I went to Hattiesburg to the Lifetime Learning Institute, associated with the University of Southern Mississippi. I had received a personal invitation because I had let my membership lapse and they are trying to get membership up.
It's an organization that caters to "senior" citizens (You have to be 50 or over to join.) From where I was seated in the meeting room, I could gaze upon the backs of mens and womens heads--a sea of gray hair with only three artfully colored women's hairdo's in the room.

First the meeting was opened with introduction of new officers and short speeches. The microphone wasn't working so people in the rear kept saying speak up!
I always get an inferiority complex around these people. They are the upper social class in this town--retired doctors and professors-those of that ilk. Teal would be right at home in that milieu. Although--although-- a woman came up to me and said "You used to write for the paper!" That made me feel special. And I saw a doctor I recognized from the hospital and we chatted a few minutes about retirement.
The institute offers classes in all kinds of subjects but what I'd like are classes in sculpting and making pottery--didn't see any in the booklet.

After hors d'oeuvre's and coffee, the group disbanded, but I sure would have liked to have had a word with the member who designed the flower beds out front. As scarce as parking is there, he instead used the entire space to arrange concrete sided unremarkable flower beds rather than having pretty beds at the front and parking near the door. A sign that the place isn't friendly to folks who have trouble maneuvering. I don't know whether to join again or not.

susil