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Paul Olson, 103 |
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Paul Olson, who turns 103
on December 10th
— Happy Birthday! — with Bess, 100. |
Paul Olson was born and raised on a
farm in Iowa and later took over
running the family farm. “I’m
retired from there,” he says.
In high school, Paul began playing
the saxophone and played in the
school band, plus a dance band with
some friends. Later he also played
sax in the town band and a few more
local dance bands over the years. “I
was never good enough to play
professionally,” he says, modestly.
Since moving into town and to an
active retirement center, Paul has
continued playing with a group of
friends – most 20 years younger – in
what they call the “Just For Fun
Band.” The
five piece group entertains
regularly at nursing homes in the
area, and, of course, play for
dances and functions at their large
retirement center. So perhaps
it can be
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said of Paul that what he lacked in
professional ability in his younger years,
he has more than made up for with the
longevity of his music making!
“People really enjoy the old tunes,
the ones they grew up with, and I remember
them all.” The band’s play list also
includes more current favorites, he’s quick
to add.
Paul moved from the farm after losing
his wife in 1997. On his first day there,
he was shown to a dining table and
introduced to a few of the other residents;
he was seated next to a woman by the name of
Bess. They soon discovered that they had
gone to high schools in neighboring towns,
and she graduated just a couple of years
after he did in 1925.
“We struck up a conversation and have
been together every day since,” Paul says –
you can hear the smile in his voice. “It’s
nice when you find someone who grew up in
similar circumstances and around your own
age. We have a lot in common.”
What they also have in common is they
are now both centenarians! Bess turned 100
earlier this year, and Paul will be
celebrating his 103rd birthday on December
10th.
Happy Birthday, Paul! – and best
wishes to you both. |
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Respecting the privacy of this centenarian
and all centenarians on our website, we ask
all media (or other businesses) to please
direct inquiries to Lynn Adler:
adler@ncap100s.org. |
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