The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challengedus to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to lookaround when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at mewith a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose.

I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and shegave me a giant squeeze!.

"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.

She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids..."

"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to betaking on this challenge at her age.

"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared achocolate milk shake.

We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we wouldleave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easilymade friends wherever she went.She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At! the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our footballbanquet.I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped upto the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she droppedher three by five cards on the floor.

Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone andsimply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let mejust tell you what I know.

"As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playingbecause we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achievingsuccess. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to havea dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.

We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!There is a huge difference! between growing older and growing up.

If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don'tdo one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anythingI will turn eighty-eight.

Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. Theidea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather forthings we did not do. The only people who fear death are those withregrets.

"She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose." She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in ourdaily lives.

At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun allthose years ago.

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.

Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute tothe wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to beall you can possibly be.

When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!

These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.

REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.

We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

If you choose not, then you refuse to bless someone else.

"Good friends are like stars.........You don't always see them, but youknow they are always there.