on July 23rd of this year I celebrated the 4th anniversary of my 21st birthday
the 4th anniversary of my 21st birthday
the 4th anniversary of my 21st birthday +5 or as my grandson insists it’s the
+5 or as my grandson insists it’s the
+5 or as my grandson insists it’s the 50th anniversary of my 39th birthday
50th anniversary of my 39th birthday
50th anniversary of my 39th birthday however you sliced up it’s 89 now I I’m
however you sliced up it’s 89 now I I’m
however you sliced up it’s 89 now I I’m a Swedish descent and whenever the
a Swedish descent and whenever the
a Swedish descent and whenever the Swedes sing happy birthday to you at the
Swedes sing happy birthday to you at the
Swedes sing happy birthday to you at the end they always say uske feelin roar
end they always say uske feelin roar
end they always say uske feelin roar which means you should live to be a
which means you should live to be a
which means you should live to be a hundred well I tell you there were many
hundred well I tell you there were many
hundred well I tell you there were many many times during my life I did not want
many times during my life I did not want
many times during my life I did not want to live to be a hundred but I’m here
to live to be a hundred but I’m here
to live to be a hundred but I’m here today starting my 90th year telling you
today starting my 90th year telling you
today starting my 90th year telling you I am exactly where I want to be my life
I am exactly where I want to be my life
I am exactly where I want to be my life is exciting my life is rewarding and you
is exciting my life is rewarding and you
is exciting my life is rewarding and you know in order for things like that to
know in order for things like that to
know in order for things like that to happen you have to take adventures so I
happen you have to take adventures so I
happen you have to take adventures so I thought if someone who had lived 89
thought if someone who had lived 89
thought if someone who had lived 89 years shared their adventures with you
years shared their adventures with you
years shared their adventures with you you might perhaps be inclined to take
you might perhaps be inclined to take
you might perhaps be inclined to take that journey too because believe me it’s
that journey too because believe me it’s
that journey too because believe me it’s worth it so I’m here today I’m here to
worth it so I’m here today I’m here to
worth it so I’m here today I’m here to challenge you I’m here to challenge you
challenge you I’m here to challenge you
challenge you I’m here to challenge you to embrace your Falls because only then
to embrace your Falls because only then
to embrace your Falls because only then can you experience that really
can you experience that really
can you experience that really empowering word rise I had my first
empowering word rise I had my first
empowering word rise I had my first major fall when I was about 50 I was
major fall when I was about 50 I was
major fall when I was about 50 I was going through a divorce I have three
going through a divorce I have three
going through a divorce I have three daughters two of them were still at home
daughters two of them were still at home
daughters two of them were still at home didn’t have much money I didn’t have a
didn’t have much money I didn’t have a
didn’t have much money I didn’t have a degree I didn’t know what I was going to
degree I didn’t know what I was going to
degree I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life so for the first time I
do with my life so for the first time I
do with my life so for the first time I sat down and I talked to myself I
sat down and I talked to myself I
sat down and I talked to myself I answered myself and most importantly
answered myself and most importantly
answered myself and most importantly tried to be honest you know sometimes
tried to be honest you know sometimes
tried to be honest you know sometimes it’s hard for women to be honest I hate
it’s hard for women to be honest I hate
it’s hard for women to be honest I hate to admit that you men do some things
to admit that you men do some things
to admit that you men do some things better than we do but but you are more
better than we do but but you are more
better than we do but but you are more honest with yourselves and we are Who am
honest with yourselves and we are Who am
honest with yourselves and we are Who am I
I
I where do I want to live what kind of
where do I want to live what kind of
where do I want to live what kind of people do I want to surround me and
people do I want to surround me and
people do I want to surround me and support me how do I give back to my
support me how do I give back to my
support me how do I give back to my community and I also learned I need lots
community and I also learned I need lots
community and I also learned I need lots of Pat’s on the back and I need to feel
of Pat’s on the back and I need to feel
of Pat’s on the back and I need to feel I make a difference in helping people to
I make a difference in helping people to
I make a difference in helping people to be the best that they can be so with a
be the best that they can be so with a
be the best that they can be so with a friend of mine and 15 extra pounds I
friend of mine and 15 extra pounds I
friend of mine and 15 extra pounds I found out what a nutritionist does and I
found out what a nutritionist does and I
found out what a nutritionist does and I thought to myself ah here’s where I
thought to myself ah here’s where I
thought to myself ah here’s where I belong I can do this I can do a good job
belong I can do this I can do a good job
belong I can do this I can do a good job at this because not only will I meet my
at this because not only will I meet my
at this because not only will I meet my needs to help people to be the best that
needs to help people to be the best that
needs to help people to be the best that they can be but it will also make me
they can be but it will also make me
they can be but it will also make me accountable for my own vanity my career
accountable for my own vanity my career
accountable for my own vanity my career went on for quite a while but there’s
went on for quite a while but there’s
went on for quite a while but there’s something I’d like you to think about
something I’d like you to think about
something I’d like you to think about when you think about yourself you know
when you think about yourself you know
when you think about yourself you know when you buy a new car it’s a big deal
when you buy a new car it’s a big deal
when you buy a new car it’s a big deal right and it comes with a manual and the
right and it comes with a manual and the
right and it comes with a manual and the manual says put premium gas in it so you
manual says put premium gas in it so you
manual says put premium gas in it so you put premium gas in it it says bring it
put premium gas in it it says bring it
put premium gas in it it says bring it in every five ten thousand miles for a
in every five ten thousand miles for a
in every five ten thousand miles for a lube and an oil job you bring it in for
lube and an oil job you bring it in for
lube and an oil job you bring it in for a little bit of oil job if you want it
a little bit of oil job if you want it
a little bit of oil job if you want it to look nice like it does when it’s new
to look nice like it does when it’s new
to look nice like it does when it’s new you not only have it washed and clean
you not only have it washed and clean
you not only have it washed and clean but you detail it from time to time and
but you detail it from time to time and
but you detail it from time to time and here we stand with the most magnificent
here we stand with the most magnificent
here we stand with the most magnificent piece of machinery that was ever
piece of machinery that was ever
piece of machinery that was ever invented have you read your owner’s
invented have you read your owner’s
invented have you read your owner’s manual
manual
manual [Music]
[Music]
[Music] do you know what you came with you know
do you know what you came with you know
do you know what you came with you know what you had to work with to be the best
what you had to work with to be the best
what you had to work with to be the best that you can be
that you can be
that you can be I had my next fall see it was about five
I had my next fall see it was about five
I had my next fall see it was about five years ago and I was at a leadership
years ago and I was at a leadership
years ago and I was at a leadership training meeting and it was in a Nora
training meeting and it was in a Nora
training meeting and it was in a Nora Torre and pretty much the size of this
Torre and pretty much the size of this
Torre and pretty much the size of this maybe it was a little bit larger and I
maybe it was a little bit larger and I
maybe it was a little bit larger and I was coming down to come to my seat which
was coming down to come to my seat which
was coming down to come to my seat which was sort of in the front and you’ll
was sort of in the front and you’ll
was sort of in the front and you’ll notice up in the back there they have
notice up in the back there they have
notice up in the back there they have some railings that you know will lead
some railings that you know will lead
some railings that you know will lead you down to a certain spot and of course
you down to a certain spot and of course
you down to a certain spot and of course you know your children become your
you know your children become your
you know your children become your parents after a while you know hold on
parents after a while you know hold on
parents after a while you know hold on to the railing mother look where you’re
to the railing mother look where you’re
to the railing mother look where you’re going
going
going what’s up so you know I had my hand on
what’s up so you know I had my hand on
what’s up so you know I had my hand on the railing but I was coming down and as
the railing but I was coming down and as
the railing but I was coming down and as usual you noticed my hands are never
usual you noticed my hands are never
usual you noticed my hands are never behind my back I’m always talking and I
behind my back I’m always talking and I
behind my back I’m always talking and I put my foot down to go into what I
put my foot down to go into what I
put my foot down to go into what I thought was the aisle well it turns out
thought was the aisle well it turns out
thought was the aisle well it turns out to the the aisle ended where I was going
to the the aisle ended where I was going
to the the aisle ended where I was going to put my foot down so I took this
to put my foot down so I took this
to put my foot down so I took this tremendous fall and I knew I’d done
tremendous fall and I knew I’d done
tremendous fall and I knew I’d done something wrong because it really hurt
something wrong because it really hurt
something wrong because it really hurt and here I had about 500 women everybody
and here I had about 500 women everybody
and here I had about 500 women everybody looking down and of course they had to
looking down and of course they had to
looking down and of course they had to call 9-1-1 and four women I tell you
call 9-1-1 and four women I tell you
call 9-1-1 and four women I tell you it’s just a lightful I don’t know how
it’s just a lightful I don’t know how
it’s just a lightful I don’t know how they gets a chance of firemen but it
they gets a chance of firemen but it
they gets a chance of firemen but it really helps when you’re hurting and you
really helps when you’re hurting and you
really helps when you’re hurting and you look up at these experiences and they
look up at these experiences and they
look up at these experiences and they decided that they had to take me out and
decided that they had to take me out and
decided that they had to take me out and because it was a small place they
because it was a small place they
because it was a small place they couldn’t get a gurney in so they brought
couldn’t get a gurney in so they brought
couldn’t get a gurney in so they brought in one of those boards you know you’re
in one of those boards you know you’re
in one of those boards you know you’re watching all the football nowadays and
watching all the football nowadays and
watching all the football nowadays and you see lots of times when they can’t
you see lots of times when they can’t
you see lots of times when they can’t take the player out on a gurney they
take the player out on a gurney they
take the player out on a gurney they strap him to a board they lift him up
strap him to a board they lift him up
strap him to a board they lift him up the whole stadium goes crazy applauds
the whole stadium goes crazy applauds
the whole stadium goes crazy applauds and puts his fingers up I’m going to be
and puts his fingers up I’m going to be
and puts his fingers up I’m going to be fine well I took that trip
fine well I took that trip
fine well I took that trip and I believe me my heart goes out to
and I believe me my heart goes out to
and I believe me my heart goes out to these young men because it really hurts
these young men because it really hurts
these young men because it really hurts you’re putting on a good show
you’re putting on a good show
you’re putting on a good show they got me to the hospital and now I’m
they got me to the hospital and now I’m
they got me to the hospital and now I’m 84 years old
84 years old
84 years old much fractured my femur so they decide
much fractured my femur so they decide
much fractured my femur so they decide we have to operate so in comes this
we have to operate so in comes this
we have to operate so in comes this lovely young nurse with a pair of
lovely young nurse with a pair of
lovely young nurse with a pair of scissors I swear they looked that long
scissors I swear they looked that long
scissors I swear they looked that long and she said I’m here to cut your pants
and she said I’m here to cut your pants
and she said I’m here to cut your pants off and I looked at her and I said over
off and I looked at her and I said over
off and I looked at her and I said over my dead body you don’t understand I have
my dead body you don’t understand I have
my dead body you don’t understand I have a Tahari suit on
[Applause]
[Applause] so I said to her okay I’ll make a deal
so I said to her okay I’ll make a deal
so I said to her okay I’ll make a deal with you I’m going to count to three I’m
with you I’m going to count to three I’m
with you I’m going to count to three I’m gonna hold on to the side of the bed and
gonna hold on to the side of the bed and
gonna hold on to the side of the bed and when I say three you could pull my pants
when I say three you could pull my pants
when I say three you could pull my pants off and she said I can’t do that I said
off and she said I can’t do that I said
off and she said I can’t do that I said oh yes you can
so I said one two three
so I said one two three she pulled and I screamed and these are
she pulled and I screamed and these are
she pulled and I screamed and these are those pants
I also went back to work about three and
I also went back to work about three and a half weeks later but I had one leg
a half weeks later but I had one leg
a half weeks later but I had one leg that was an inch and a half shorter than
that was an inch and a half shorter than
that was an inch and a half shorter than the other and I’m a shoe freak
the other and I’m a shoe freak
the other and I’m a shoe freak I had like 60 pair of shoes in my closet
I had like 60 pair of shoes in my closet
I had like 60 pair of shoes in my closet and I thought what am I gonna do so I
and I thought what am I gonna do so I
and I thought what am I gonna do so I was lucky here comes my vanity again I
was lucky here comes my vanity again I
was lucky here comes my vanity again I found a gentleman who could fix my shoes
found a gentleman who could fix my shoes
found a gentleman who could fix my shoes so that when you looked at him you
so that when you looked at him you
so that when you looked at him you didn’t realize that one shoe was much
didn’t realize that one shoe was much
didn’t realize that one shoe was much taller than the other little vanities
taller than the other little vanities
taller than the other little vanities good thing then I guess it was about
good thing then I guess it was about
good thing then I guess it was about March or April of this year I was at a
March or April of this year I was at a
March or April of this year I was at a friend’s house and talked about what we
friend’s house and talked about what we
friend’s house and talked about what we were going to do for a certain program
were going to do for a certain program
were going to do for a certain program and I forgot because that does happen
and I forgot because that does happen
and I forgot because that does happen when you reach my age at her kitchen
when you reach my age at her kitchen
when you reach my age at her kitchen went one set down into the family room
went one set down into the family room
went one set down into the family room so I’m talking about and then I water
so I’m talking about and then I water
so I’m talking about and then I water and down I went in this whole side of my
and down I went in this whole side of my
and down I went in this whole side of my face hit the hardwood floor and believe
face hit the hardwood floor and believe
face hit the hardwood floor and believe me that word is right hard wood so then
me that word is right hard wood so then
me that word is right hard wood so then I got a hematoma on the right side of my
I got a hematoma on the right side of my
I got a hematoma on the right side of my head about the size of a tennis ball and
head about the size of a tennis ball and
head about the size of a tennis ball and it was draining all down my face and is
it was draining all down my face and is
it was draining all down my face and is funny I only drained down one side and
funny I only drained down one side and
funny I only drained down one side and it stopped right here so I got to
it stopped right here so I got to
it stopped right here so I got to thinking okay what are you gonna do I
thinking okay what are you gonna do I
thinking okay what are you gonna do I maybe 89 years old but I’m very busy I
maybe 89 years old but I’m very busy I
maybe 89 years old but I’m very busy I have a very busy life so I thought to
have a very busy life so I thought to
have a very busy life so I thought to myself well what are you gonna do are
myself well what are you gonna do are
myself well what are you gonna do are you going to kind of you know hibernate
you going to kind of you know hibernate
you going to kind of you know hibernate for a month or whatever and that’s when
for a month or whatever and that’s when
for a month or whatever and that’s when I thought oh how about scarves and I can
I thought oh how about scarves and I can
I thought oh how about scarves and I can wear the color that matches my face
wear the color that matches my face
wear the color that matches my face every day my final thought to you I’m
every day my final thought to you I’m
every day my final thought to you I’m gonna read it’s something that I shared
gonna read it’s something that I shared
gonna read it’s something that I shared with a friend of mine who maybe 10 12
with a friend of mine who maybe 10 12
with a friend of mine who maybe 10 12 years ago and she reminded me of it so
years ago and she reminded me of it so
years ago and she reminded me of it so I’m gonna read it because I wanted to
I’m gonna read it because I wanted to
I’m gonna read it because I wanted to come out exactly right there is never
come out exactly right there is never
come out exactly right there is never any need to be hard on yourself or to
any need to be hard on yourself or to
any need to be hard on yourself or to think you should have it all figured out
think you should have it all figured out
think you should have it all figured out you always know as much as you are meant
you always know as much as you are meant
you always know as much as you are meant to know at any given moment and growing
to know at any given moment and growing
to know at any given moment and growing into your fullness is a process that
into your fullness is a process that
into your fullness is a process that unfolds with divine timing you and your
unfolds with divine timing you and your
unfolds with divine timing you and your life are beautiful works in progress
life are beautiful works in progress
life are beautiful works in progress enjoy the discovery of who you are and
enjoy the discovery of who you are and
enjoy the discovery of who you are and embrace your life’s lessons your
embrace your life’s lessons your
embrace your life’s lessons your instruction manual will naturally create
instruction manual will naturally create
instruction manual will naturally create itself I truly believe that and I hope
itself I truly believe that and I hope
itself I truly believe that and I hope you walk away feeling the same way
you walk away feeling the same way
you walk away feeling the same way don’t fret the Falls folks and
don’t fret the Falls folks and
don’t fret the Falls folks and especially young people don’t be afraid
especially young people don’t be afraid
especially young people don’t be afraid of those Falls don’t let them get you
of those Falls don’t let them get you
of those Falls don’t let them get you down use them to teach you to rise
down use them to teach you to rise
down use them to teach you to rise [Applause]
”
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