Firsthand | Experiences with aging
By Carol Urness
I am blessed with a lifelong passion for books. My parents, both “book people,” read stories to my sister and me. Through reading I discovered friends from different times and places tucked within book covers. I wrote my first novel, Blood and Gold, at age 11. Decades later I set type for and hand-printed many small books. My love of books never left me.
As curator of the James Ford Bell Library at the University of Minnesota, I had the best job imaginable. I taught in the Department of History and the Library School. I traveled Europe seeking acquisitions for the library. I authored or edited 15 books. And I met interesting people every day. Retiring was the hardest thing I ever did, since much of my identity depended on being a professor at the University.
After retiring, I opened a bookshop called Corner Books to downsize my large personal book collection. It was only “for a year or two,” but two years turned into four, and now it has been open for 18 years. The bookshop is also my writing office. One result is Minnesota on the Map, written in collaboration with geographer David Lanegran.
The bookshop brings visitors for many reasons: A woman searching for a blue Bible of 1940, an artist seeking inspiration from books about shells, a man wanting a “great” book about llamas for his granddaughter, a retired fisherman looking for books to help him fulfill his dream of sailing around the world. And I won’t forget the man who came the first time (of many) dressed like Abe Lincoln, wanting books to help in his impersonations!
Being an Internet bookseller brings contact with book people from all over the world, some of whom become friends. We keep a map: our most recent “new” places are Jakarta and Lithuania. The friendships I maintain because of the bookstore make me very grateful.
A state of gratitude, I believe, is one of the most important paths to the enjoyment of aging. From the bookshop I have learned to take time to enjoy the small things, to slow down, to smile, and even to laugh.
You may wonder why I look so happy. Now you know.
News
Declining government funding, inflation, loss of purchasing power, low birthrates, and lack of trust in the nation’s institutions have combined to create a confidence crisis in higher education not seen for decades. Minnesota is no exception.
Since its inception 40 years ago, the University Retirees Volunteer Center has focused on identifying where help is needed within the University community and has provided opportunities for thousands of retirees to use their skills, experience, and interests to help address those needs.
Meet UMRA member Nancy Carpenter. She grew up in the American heartland; nevertheless, she was surprised by the frigid, snow-covered landscape when she visited Minnesota for the first tine to interview for a job teaching chemistry at UMN Morris.
UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees are intended to support projects related to University of Minnesota retirees' research, instructional or work history, or new scholarly interests that contribute to the academic reputation of the University.
After working decades in communications for the U’s Center for Transportation Studies, Pam Snople perks up whenever she sees transportation news. It’s usually the salacious stuff that makes the headlines. But, behind the scenes, vehicle automation research keeps rolling along — including key work by UMN researchers.
Renée Good was killed in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026, during Operation Metro Surge. One month later, a community memorial to mourn her death and celebrate her life was held. Susan Ranney attended the ceremony and wrote an evocative essay on the service, which was published recently in UMRA’s Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays.
Professor Emeritus Alan Kagan has played many roles in his nearly 30 years of service with the University Retirees Volunteer Center. From assisting with phone calls to becoming office manager and eventually serving on and chairing the Volunteer Center’s board, Kagan helped build the organization into the robust operation it is today.
We’re already getting organized to identify and recruit members to step into leadership roles in 2027. As a well-informed and engaged UMRA member, you are invited to play a role in the process.
I’ve been an UMRA member for more than a decade and each year I’m impressed anew by the energy and dedication of the volunteers who do the work of the organization. I invite you to join in their efforts. But if that’s not possible, there’s something else you can do to help support UMRA: Renew your membership.
You don’t have to go far, and you don’t have to drink coffee. It’s the conversation that matters. It’s a new, experimental effort being organized by the wizards of UMRA; a meet-up of members who live in the same zip code.
UMRA will be collecting hats, mittens, and scarves at our November 17 Luncheon Forum to help keep Minnesota kids warm this winter.
Beginning January 1, 2027, the University of Minnesota is making updates to medical plans, the pharmacy vendor, and the Wellbeing Program incentive that apply to retirees and dependents enrolled in these plans.
The University of Minnesota has had a presence at the Great Minnesota Get-Together for 167 years. And on September 3, 2026, UMRA made its Minnesota State Fair debut to talk with fairgoers (on Seniors Day) about retirement and to promote opportunities to volunteer through our University Retirees Volunteer Center.
Like all of us, UMRA member Barbara Heinemann has been reflecting on 9/11 and life in the 25 years since then, with mixed feelings.
December 31 is the application deadline for UMRA’s 2027 Professional Development Grants for Retirees competition. Retirees from all five University of Minnesota campuses are eligible to apply. We invited Brad Hokanson, professor emeritus, UMN Department of Design Innovation, to tell us about the work supported by his 2026 grant to promote teaching creativity in high schools.
Meet UMRA member and volunteer extraordinaire Kay Louis. She devoted her career as an Extension educator — “bringing the University to the people” — to developing and providing programming for adults and youth.
The UMRA membership year runs from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. If you haven’t yet renewed your membership for 2027, it’s definitely time to do so!
UMRA has a Facebook group that is open to UMN retirees and others with close ties to the University, for posting messages about anything University- or retiree-related. Learn more.
This will be a new regular column where you can find organizational tasks that need your help! We are currently looking for help researching a new UMRA Membership Database and URVC volunteer database, and a co-producer for UMRA's Zoom webinars. See more details: