With a Theme ‘Age Is Only A Number’ Vintage Revelers Rock at Senior Citizens Welfare Association -Milagres Unit Bash
Mangaluru: Old is Gold!-that’s right.We don’t believe age is any more than a mere number. Not with these smooth party “young” ladies and men on the floor. Look at them go! Even in the glorious age of white hair and senior citizen discounts, their inner children are not only alive and well, they’re shaking things up too… literally. They are getting with the groove, boogey-ing, dancing well, singing oldies, and having some fun and frolic. All this and much more talents unleashed by the lovable, cute and enthusiastic young “Seniors” was witnessed by the gathering assembled for the ” Senior Citizens Welfare Association -Milagres Unit Bash”, held on Wednesday, 29 November 2017 at Milagres Hall-Mangaluru from 10 am onwards. With these “Young” revelers comprising of Mamas/Papas, and Grandmas/Grandpas, the hall simply reverberated!
As they say that “Ageing is not ‘lost youth’, but a new stage of opportunity and strength”- there is no age limit when you are capable of having some fun and want to party- even senior citizens know how to party hard and have fun and frolic. Imagine a 60 plus year old lady swinging her body to a Konkani tune by Goan Lorna Cordeiro named “Bebdo” (Drunkard), and a couple other grandmas and Grandpas lifting their legs and shaking their hips to Baila dance hits. With all these vintage folks unleashing their hidden talents even at the “golden Ripe Age” made everyone feel that even older folks have the capacity to rock the world with their talents in their vintage years. “You don’t stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.” had said George Bernard Shaw. These “Young” bunch were proved to be exceptionally talented, having some fun and laughing throughout the programme- Truly “Vintage Revellers” !
Yes, it was a houseful event with nearly 200 plus tickets being sold, and everyone was eager to have the best time of their life at this once a year extravaganza hosted by Senior Citizens Welfare association-Milagres Unit-Mangaluru. The programme began with a prayer invoking God’s blessings rendered by Marylou accompanied on guitar by Mangaluru’s music legend FM Lobo, which was followed by welcome address by Winston D’Souza- President of the host Association. The chief guest for the occasion, Fr Valerian D’souza- Parish Priest of Milagres Church-Mangaluru, was joined on the dais by Simon Pinto (Bendore Parish), Julie Mascarenhas (Bejai) John D’Souza (Angelore), Winston D’souza (Milagres)- all Presidents of their respective Church Seniors Association; and Capt Vincent Pais-Vice President of Catholic Association of South Kanara (CASK)-Mangaluru.
Addressing the gathering, Capt Vincent Pais briefed about the existence of CASK, its activities and their community services- and invited Mangalorean Catholics to join the organization, thereby help it grow and reach greater heights. Beaming with joy and happiness being among bunch of “Golden Girls” and “Handsome Guys” of four parishes, Fr Valerian D’Souza addressing the audience said, “Remember that you are not too old to have some fun and frolic. Even though you may be in your 60’s, 70;s or 80’s, you still look like you’re still in your 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. That’s the beauty of getting old! Even though you look old exterior, but internally you are still young.”
“Make the best use of today’s function, have some fun and cherish the memories when you return home. While the present young generation is attached to the electronic world, engaging themselves all the time browsing through Internet, chatting or whatsapping on their smart phones or sending communication through SMS’s, but remember you too are the living computer of the yester years. You have more knowledge than the present generation-because you all completed your academics in a hard way-reading and writing, rather than the present education made easy through online/Internet. Don’t think you are old, always think you are young- have fun and may God bless you all” added Fr Valerian D’souza.
Through a power point (audio/video) presentation, Patsy Lobo on the theme “Age Is Only A Number” said that there are many ways to find meaning in life after 60-where you can discover the magic in you. It was indeed a very informative and convincing audio/video presentation, which received a loud applaud from the audience. In order to take the audience into a world of laughter a comedy skit named “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” enthralled the crowd, which also received roaring applaud. Melora Pais- the founder of “Silver Oasis”-a Centre for the Elderly located on Falnir Road-Mangaluru interacting with the audience said that to keep oneself young and healthy is to engage themselves in various activities and exercises, and at Silver Oasis they can avail all these facilities, and invited them to join the Centre and make a difference in their lifestyle.
There were quite a few cultural performances by the members of all the four Parishes, which included dances and short plays- and the pictures in these report will speak more than my words. The vote of thanks was proposed by Zeeta Farias- Secretary of Milagres Senior Citizens Welfare Assn. and the entire programme was compered professionally with touch of wit by Gulobi Fernandes of CASK. Apart from all the entertainment, there were also a few spot games, where the winners took home some exciting gifts. The formal function ended with a sumptuous lunch, followed by a Housie Housie game- and winding up with a baila dance session. Yes from songs to Dance to skits, the bevy of “Young Revellers” simply Rocked the House! Ending this column with few thought-provoking words of wisdom on “old age’-
“The tragedy of old age is not that one is old, but that one is young. The complete life, the perfect pattern, includes old age as well as youth and maturity. The beauty of the morning and the radiance of noon are good, but it would be a very silly person who drew the curtains and turned on the light in order to shut out the tranquility of the evening. Old age has its pleasures, which, though different, are not less than the pleasures of youth. The old are in a second childhood. When we’re young we have faith in what is seen, but when we’re old we know that what is seen is traced in air and built on water. No one wishes to grow old, to outlive their illusions. Only a short respite from cares and sorrow, a brief time of flowers, and music, and love, and laughter, and ecstatic tears”.
Aging gracefully is one thing, but trying to slow it down is another. There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age. Women/men sit or move to and fro, some are old, some young. The young are beautiful – but the old are more beautiful than the young. To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kind, cheerful, reverent–that is to triumph over old age. Looking at you all here, I don’t think you all looked old, but looked young, energetic and cheerful- Hats off to the organizers, especially Patsy Lobo for bringing a change in you through her ideas and planning. May God bless you all, dear Seniors”. Yours Truly at Team Mangalorean (Mangalorean.com) will always support the seniors in their programmes!
