102-year-old shows age is no barrier in living his life to the fullest
By Jeremy Selweski C & G Staff Writer
By Jeremy Selweski C & G Staff Writer
FERNDALE — Al Cherry of Troy stands up and makes his way over to his lane with a gentle, loping stride.
He picks up his 14-pound ball and grips it tightly in his weathered hands like an old friend, staring straight ahead with unwavering concentration. He looks poised, ready, focused.
As he makes his approach toward the pins, he hears some words of encouragement from teammate Karen Rogers.
“Let’s see a strike, Al,” she says.
Cherry releases the ball with swift force, and it spirals down the right side of the lane before hooking inward and pummeling all 10 pins as if on an urgent mission to grant Rogers’ request.
But he does not celebrate or mutter a word or even crack a smile; he simply saunters back to his chair and calmly sits down. Maybe this is because he’s a naturally quiet, humble person who has done this countless times before.
Or maybe it’s because Al Cherry is 102 years old.
‘It’s amazing’Cherry has been coming to this particular bowling alley, Luxury Lanes in Ferndale, for over 40 years to bowl in its senior league. During that time, it has been like a second home to him. It’s no wonder, then, that following his 102nd birthday on New Year’s Eve, Cherry celebrated here with his fellow Friday afternoon bowlers.
And it appears that everyone who knows him can’t help but be impressed by all the things he manages to do at his age.
“Al is a marvelous, miraculous man,” said Luxury Lanes employee Nancy Livingston. “His mind is still very sharp and his senses are all there.”
“It’s amazing,” said senior league bowler Ray Mason, 80. “Al gives me hope that I can keep doing this for a long time.”
Cherry is certainly no slouch when he steps up to the lanes, either, carrying an average of around 130.
Abridged Article. Read more from: CandGnews.com
He picks up his 14-pound ball and grips it tightly in his weathered hands like an old friend, staring straight ahead with unwavering concentration. He looks poised, ready, focused.
As he makes his approach toward the pins, he hears some words of encouragement from teammate Karen Rogers.
“Let’s see a strike, Al,” she says.
Cherry releases the ball with swift force, and it spirals down the right side of the lane before hooking inward and pummeling all 10 pins as if on an urgent mission to grant Rogers’ request.
But he does not celebrate or mutter a word or even crack a smile; he simply saunters back to his chair and calmly sits down. Maybe this is because he’s a naturally quiet, humble person who has done this countless times before.
Or maybe it’s because Al Cherry is 102 years old.
‘It’s amazing’Cherry has been coming to this particular bowling alley, Luxury Lanes in Ferndale, for over 40 years to bowl in its senior league. During that time, it has been like a second home to him. It’s no wonder, then, that following his 102nd birthday on New Year’s Eve, Cherry celebrated here with his fellow Friday afternoon bowlers.
And it appears that everyone who knows him can’t help but be impressed by all the things he manages to do at his age.
“Al is a marvelous, miraculous man,” said Luxury Lanes employee Nancy Livingston. “His mind is still very sharp and his senses are all there.”
“It’s amazing,” said senior league bowler Ray Mason, 80. “Al gives me hope that I can keep doing this for a long time.”
Cherry is certainly no slouch when he steps up to the lanes, either, carrying an average of around 130.
Abridged Article. Read more from: CandGnews.com
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What a great example of active living.
Many baby boomers are not victims of elder abuse. However, one way to ensure that we are not abused is to stay active, connected and informed. One of the classic technique for elder abusers is to Isolate the victim. Let us not give them that opportunity.
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