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Oh, say, can you see?
I was around 15 years old when I found out that my eyesight was less than perfect. My mother was behind the wheel as we drove through the countryside. I looked out the passenger window in awe. “Look at that enormous cow!” I cried out, pointing at what had to be the biggest cow on record. “What cow?” my mother asked. I pointed again. In unison, my mother and my siblings who were sitting in the back seat, yelled out, “that’s not a cow! That’s a barn!” Within days, I had also mistaken a fire hydrant for a small child as I wondered how the child’s mother could carelessly walk so far ahead of her own flesh and blood. Just prior to making a citizen’s arrest, I realized that it wasn’t a child. It was a fire hydrant. Giant cow or small barn? Little kid or fire hydrant? In no time I was at the eye doctor, and it was conclusive. I was nearsighted. I’ve been wearing contact lenses or glasses ever since. But alas, I am now at an age when reading the fine print and even the not-so-fine print is getting hard. If I wear my glasses, I remove them to read. If I wear my contacts, I squint or wear “readers”. I told the eye doctor that my distance vision was improving, thinking he would challenge me on that. Instead, he said that it was indeed improving as the consequence of a thickening lens and changing eye shape which happens as we age. Those seemed like fighting words to me, but I kept quiet. By my calculations, there may come a day when my improving distance vision and my worsening up-close vision converge for a blissful moment of perfect sight. Until then, I’ll be keeping all my corrective eyewear nearby.
Stay safe and healthy,
Tracy Jacobs
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Our summer lecture series is open to both Osher members and non-members. It’s a terrific way to introduce a friend to Osher! Each lecture is about an hour and a half long. Unless otherwise noted on the schedule, lectures will take place in the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) Building at Towson University. Parking in the adjacent Towsontown Garage is included. Registrants will receive directions and parking information before the program starts on June 5.
The flat rate for the entire Summer Lecture Series is $75 per person.
- The History of the Port of Baltimore with Jack Burkert
- Christian Nationalism, the Capitol Riot, and the Growing Threat to American Pluralism with Matthew Taylor
- The Captain, “Pop” Warner, and the Carlisle Indian School with Jacqui Hedberg
- Indigenous Americans in Statuary Hall with Jacqui Hedberg
- Located at Edenwald: History of Ekphrastic Poetry with Michael Salcman
- Online Only: Taking a Bite Out of Pop Culture: 50 Years of “Jaws” with Arnold Blumberg
- Effects of a Changing Climate on Public Health with Michael Allen
- South Africa from a Rural Perspective with David Berger
- The Bollywood Industry: History and Current Trends with Enakshi R
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Through a special collaboration with the Osher National Resource Center at Northwestern University, we are offering 6-week online courses. These courses meet via Zoom and each is 90 minutes long. Space is limited, so register early. Each course is $80. Osher membership is required. Join or renew now for the 2024–2025 membership year (July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025).
The deadline to register is June 21.
- Mondays at 1 p.m. starting July 8: Bugs and Their Bizarre Biology
- Tuesdays at 1 p.m. starting July 9: The Great Films: From the 1920s to the 19060s
- Tuesdays at 7 p.m. starting July 9: Women Psychoanalysts: Stories and Theories
- Wednesdays at 1 p.m. starting July 10: An Introduction to the National Park System
- Thursdays at 1 p.m. starting July 11: James Baldwin: Speaking to Us at 100
- Saturdays at 11 a.m. starting July 13: The World’s Fascination with the Automobile
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Find out what classes are coming up this fall. The full online catalog and online preview will be available in early August, but it's not too soon to plan ahead!
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We will be hosting a pre-recorded info session in July to share what has been going on behind the scenes and answer questions that you may have about the Osher at Towson University program. So, whether you are a new member or have participated for a while, we invite you to submit questions and/or topics in advance to learn more about our program.
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Meet Up on Thursday, June 20th
Montpelier Arts Center, Laurel, Maryland
Free Admission
Osher member and instructor, Howard Cohen, has curated an exceptional glass art exhibition that will be on view at the Montpelier Art Center in Laurel, Maryland from June 7 – July 28, 2024. The exhibit highlights the work of 12 remarkable artists from the Washington Glass School. They illuminate the diverse worlds we live in, using the medium of glass to initiate conversations and create profound connections. This is a rare opportunity to learn about the artists, the artwork, and how the exhibition was created.
You are invited to have a guided tour with the curator on Thursday, June 20 at 11:00 a.m. followed by lunch nearby for those who are interested. Please contact Howard Cohen at glassguy529@aol.com with any questions and to sign up. The Montpelier Arts Center is conveniently located near the Route 197 exit of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. The facility is air-conditioned and has ample parking for visitors.
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June 13–30
College of Fine Arts & Communication (COFAC)
For the first time in nearly 20 years, 2024 heralds the revival of summer arts celebrations at the College of Fine Arts and Communication (COFAC) with the debut of the Summer at the Center festival.
This festival isn’t just a celebration of, but a tribute to, Baltimore's vibrant artistic tapestry and COFAC's long history as a part of it. Set against the backdrop of the Center for the Arts’ theaters, concert halls, classrooms and dance studios, the festival will showcase performances from both Towson University departments/student groups and the wider Baltimore professional arts community.
All ticketed events have a discount for TU OneCard holders!
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The director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Towson University, Tracy Jacobs, discusses the importance of lifelong learning to promote health and well-being.
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Support Osher at Towson University. Your tax-deductible contribution helps to provide a rich experience for our members and a vibrant, affordable program for years to come.
Donate online through the link below. If you prefer to donate by check, please make check payable to “Towson University Foundation, Inc.” and note Osher fund in the memo line. Mail to: Towson University Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 17165, Baltimore, MD 21297-0219.
If you would like to honor a friend or loved one with a donation in their memory, please consider supporting Osher at Towson University with a gift to the Osher Excellence Fund.
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