Charles Hartley:  

Life I retired from teaching at the end of the 2006 season, and now have so much stuff to do that I wonder how I had time for work before I retired; writing my “bio” for classmates.com was not on my list. My cat died of heart failure, and two months later his arch-enemy, Dr. Nick, the veterinarian, also died of heart failure; poetic justice. When not spending Suzi’'s (my wife’s) money (she invested well) on pills, we travel to wherever we want and stay as long as we want. If we don’'t get sick from the food and/or the water, I don’'t consider it an adventure. I don'’t ride a motorcycle, but Suzi does; I don'’t even have a helmet. I have a weekly radio show where I play rock and roll music from the 50s & 60s, and know what the 45 rpm label looks like for the biggest hit for the group “The Mermaids”, along with a lot of other “moldy oldie” trivia. I bought a book some years ago and taught myself how to juggle, but it’'s been so long I can’'t juggle anymore (or find the book). At one time I could solve the Rubik's Cube without having read a book on how to solve the Rubik’s cube. With a little brushing up I can say “hello” in ten languages, including English, and “Where is the toilet?” in eight. I know how to ride the public buses in Hangzhou, China, and go anyplace in the city I want. I have lived so long that I have rebuilt my wooden back porch steps three times after they have rotted, all by myself. I can faux-paint marble with either my left or my right hand; it does not matter. I still can'’t whistle, but it does not bother me anymore. I hate people who drive SUVs, vans, or pickup trucks, even though I don’t personally know them; I’'m old, and it’s my right. I don’'t own a cell phone, but still think that I should get one. I have so many tools, spare parts, and pieces of plastic and metal in my garage and basement that I can fix most anything in my house without having to make more than one trip to the home building supply store. I like shopping at the Walmart. A few weeks ago while walking a young man complimented me on...Expand for more