Firsthand | experiences with aging
By Lynn C. Anderson
As we age and encounter more challenges while traveling, it’s good to bear in mind that our worst experiences often make the best and funniest memories. Remembering is one of these challenges.
Several years ago, I was returning to San Diego after having spent the holidays in Minnesota. My daughter Stephanie had given me a jar of her incredible homemade jam that I put in my carry-on luggage. During the security check at the airport, the TSA agent removed the jam from my carry-on, and told me I couldn’t take it with me. I had forgotten that jam would be considered a liquid or gel and had to be three ounces or less.
My sad face was evident as I explained that this was a gift from my daughter. The TSA agent took pity on me and said, “Well, I guess it’s okay since it’s frozen.” It was not frozen, but I realized what he was doing and responded not with “Yes”—since I didn’t want to lie to TSA—but rather with “Whatever you say,” and I was allowed to take the jam with me. Needless to say, I have been very careful not to forget TSA regulations since then.
During my decades-long personal and professional engagement with international education, and thanks to speaking several languages, I have managed to see a good part of the world, find my way, and not feel like a foreigner. Despite that, I have managed to almost miss trains, get lost, mix up words and cause embarrassment, and be clueless about some customs. This has gotten worse over the years, but also makes for good stories.
I recently heard a presentation by a psychologist who said it isn’t that we forget, it’s that we fail to remember. We set down our keys or glasses randomly without thinking to ourselves, “I’m putting my keys on the kitchen counter,” or “I’m putting my glasses on the table by the recliner.” Without giving our brains this information, she said, there is nothing for our brains to remember.
Being intentional about remembering can help contain forgetfulness.
Also, before you start wondering, “Am I doing things right?” you should ask yourself, “Am I doing the right things?"
News
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:
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.
UMRA hosted delegates from 14 of the 18 schools in the Big Ten for the 2026 Big Ten Retirees Association conference in July. It was described as “the perfect collaboration” by two delegates we invited to share a few of their key takeaways from the conference.
Developing communication skills is the focus of two programs needing volunteers this fall: the “Reader/Writer Program,” assisting students in Minneapolis Public Schools grades 7-12 to develop literacy skills; and “Partners in English,” engaging in conversation with adults for whom English is not their first language.
After being unexpectedly sidelined at the outset of her retirement, Pam Snopl now enjoys doing many of the things retirees get to do, including reconnecting in person with family and friends, going to museums and weekday Minnesota Twins games, reading, and writing.
UMRA member George Swan retired in 2021 after 30+ years at University Libraries, but still returns to campus to visit one or another of the libraries at least twice a week in his current role as a student/retiree.
UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees program is an annual competition for grants to support projects related to retirees’ research, instructional history, new scholarly or creative interests.
UMRA needs everyone to renew their membership for the coming year. Thank you if you’ve already renewed! If you haven’t, please renew right away.