A Face in the Crowd

You may remember a Seinfeld episode in which Elaine proposes everyone in New York wear a name tag. The idea is laughed off and, in fact, upends a mayoral election. But I say, not so fast. Maybe that idea has its merits. My reason for backing this bold suggestion? Personal experience. You see, there are a few people in my life — usually friends of friends — who I have been introduced to on more than one occasion, but for some reason, they just don’t ever remember me. Then the next time we interact, I’ll introduce myself again, and they inevitably say, “nice to meet you,” just as they did before. Maybe the person suffers from prosopagnosia, the inability to recognize faces. Maybe I’m just not that memorable. Whatever the reason, I used to get upset over it, but now I just try to laugh it off. I think my favorite variation on the "stranger that I know" is running into the person I've seen many times in public but in different settings. It's as if someone hired them to be an extra in different scenes of my life. One of these extras was so prevalent in my first few years in Baltimore, that I took special note. He was very distinctive looking with his thick swoop of hair, his fashionably tight clothes, and his tall, thin stature. I was with a group of friends and noticed him riding a bike down the street. One of the friends said, "there goes Visa!" What an unusual name, I thought, maybe he's foreign. "No," my friend said, "I don't know his name. I call him Visa because he's 'everywhere you want to be.'" Oddly enough, I never saw him again. I wonder what I missed by not saying hi and exchanging pleasantries. The truth is that we don't have anything to lose by just saying "hi," introducing ourselves, and maybe having a nice conversation. In classes this fall, I hope you'll take a moment to introduce or reintroduce yourself to your classmates - the ones you've seen many times before and the ones who are brand new to you. Don't be a wallflower! What do you have to lose?

Stay safe and healthy,

Tracy Jacobs

Get ready for a great semester of classes

Time to lay out your first day of school outfits and sharpen those #2 pencils — classes are starting soon. Here's what you need to know:

• If you are registered for classes, on Tuesday, September 8 you will receive an informational email including directions, parking information and other important details. Please read the entire email to get prepared.
• If you are signed up for Zoom classes, the links will be emailed by the end of next week. You will receive a separate email for each Zoom class you are enrolled in.
• Not registered yet? There is still time to sign up for available courses

Osher at Towson University has a small staff, and we rely on our volunteers to help us in a variety of ways. We currently have a high need for classroom facilitators, who help in the classroom to make sure that classes run as smoothly as possible.

Classroom facilitator responsibilities:

• Arrive at assigned classes 15 minutes before the start time
• Assist the instructor with tech needs such as making sure any presentations are projected on the screen; getting microphones ready for use; adjusting lighting and volume as necessary
• Reading pre-class announcements and introducing the instructor
• Helping facilitate classroom Q & A by bringing the handheld mic around the room

You will receive training and will be supported by staff and other volunteers.

Re/Imagining Retirement Summit

September 25, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Towson University, $75 early rate

Retirement is changing, so is how we think about it. The word “retirement” may seem awkward when there is so much life to live and so many things to do once you decide to transition from your current career life. In fact, your retirement plan may even include work. This summit will inspire you to re-think retirement and consider ways to plan your next act.

Whether you want to travel, spend more time with family and friends, take on new projects and hobbies, or gain new skills for an encore career, this summit will help you create your own playbook for a retirement that is full of meaning, purpose and possibility. If you are retired or considering retirement, this daylong program is designed to help you:

• Get in touch with your passions and interests
• Understand who you are outside of your career identity
• Determine which activities and projects you might want to pursue
• Develop a plan for setting and achieving your goals
• Build connections and community
• Live this stage of life with purpose and meaning