SpringRidge at Charbonneau By KERRY PHILLIPS
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Flipping the script on aging |
Each May, Older Americans Month invites us to challenge outdated notions of aging and celebrate the creativity, resilience and impact of older adults. This year’ s theme,“ Flip the Script on Aging,” encourages a bold new narrative where aging is seen as a season of growth, purpose and renewed expression.
Nancy Kaesler, a 91-year-old resident of SpringRidge at Charbonneau, is doing exactly that. A lifelong learner, musician and now two-time published author, Nancy continues to live with passion and meaning at the active retirement community.
Nancy and her husband, Walt, relocated from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to SpringRidge six years ago to be closer to their family.“ We
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Nancy Kaesler poses with a copy of her latest book,‘ Mexican Door.’
COURTESY PHOTO: KERRY PHILLIPS
were familiar with the community,” she said.“ Our daughter had another family member living here, and after visiting and having lunch, we knew this was where we wanted to be.”
The couple still travels back to Colorado each fall to enjoy the changing aspen trees and observe the annual elk rut near Rocky Mountain National Park. At SpringRidge, however, Nancy has found the comfort and space to focus more fully on her writing.“ I’ ve always written a bit,” Nancy shared.“ My first degree was
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in English, and I wrote poetry periodically over the years. I was also deeply involved in music and taught piano for nearly 45 years, after going back to school for a music degree.”
In 2014, Nancy published her first book,“ The Little Girl in the Yellow Dress: A Musical Memoir Digging for the Roots of Performance Anxiety.” Her latest work,“ Mexican Door,” released just last year, is a collection of poems written over the course of six decades. Walt, a retired architect turned photographer, took the cover and author photos.
“ Some of the poems reflect nature, some are based on stories I’ ve heard over the years and others come from my impressions of wildlife in Africa,” she said.“ A few were even inspired by life here at SpringRidge, particularly the experience of leaving one home behind and adjusting to a new one. That sense of transition is something many people feel.”
Living at SpringRidge, Nancy said, allows her the freedom to focus on her writing.“ There are so many chores involved in keeping up a
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house, and here, we don’ t have to worry about any of that. If a lightbulb goes out, I just call maintenance. I still like to cook, but only when I want to. Most days, we make lunch in our apartment, which is spacious and comfortable.”
The peaceful setting and lush surroundings have also influenced her creative process.“ We love the established landscaping, the flowers and the trees. Our windows look out into the forest,” she added.“ My husband, who’ s also a photographer, took the photo for the cover of my book.”
At SpringRidge, residents like Nancy are redefining what it means to grow older while living with passion, creativity and connection. It’ s not just about flipping the script on aging. It’ s about writing an entirely new one.
If you would like to purchase a copy of“ Mexican Door,” please call Nancy at 503-694-8275. The cost is $ 20 for pick-up or $ 25 to have the book shipped.
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