Sassy senior citizens wear smiles...and little else for a good cause
5:14 p.m. Friday, September 26, 2008
A group of sassy seniors bared it all in hopes to raise more than $7,500 for Alzheimer's research. The untraditional models were nervous during their shoots for the "Living in Retirement" fundraiser calendar. They dodged wasps, coped with pokey brambles, and stood or sat courageously behind strategically placed objects.
"Here's mine, October. When we got to the location, it was prickly and I thought, 'I'm not even going to worry about that,'" said one of the models. "I was kind of a little concerned that she had enough of the pumpkin over me."
Whatever pain or anxiety they had is now replaced by a sense of pride and purpose.
Betty Born is the woman behind the calendar.
"All of us, there is not one of us who may not be subject to this disease at some point and it's dreadful," she explains.
More dreadful than exposing all that skin in her senior years.
Most know the women as members of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees organization. Now, new titles have been awarded to them.
"I'll tell you, when I walked into my church, they said 'Hi, Miss November,'" says Anna Mae with a big smile.
She volunteered to make phone calls for the group, but ended up becoming Miss November. She says the experience, while unfamiliar, was fulfilling.
"I just think about doing all I can for whomever I can and whenever I can and as long as I can and I'm happy about that," She adds.>
Community feedback has been primarily positive, but Born says she's encountered stores too wary to stock what she calls a "tastefully done" calendar.
And, all the calendar girls say the benefits of the project far outweigh any negative consequences.
"The community doesn't bother me because I can always come back with some kind of an answer to support what I was doing," explains Born.
Like many women, Born viewed modeling as a challenge, one that took her out of her comfort zone.
And, when asked about any body image issues, Born, like many models, seemed content with what has become of hers.
"I no longer have the body of a 16-year-old, but look at January. That's where I am, you know. Now, do you see anything wrong with my body?" she wonders sheepishly.
And, what do their husbands think?
"My husband is very proud of it, too. In fact, he's the one who's pushing and shoving. We got to take this here, and here and here," she explains.
For Born, she's not only fulfilled her promise to support Alzheimer's research, but also made one special man happy for months to come.
"And I sent one to my high school sweetheart who's a widower and he said, 'I'm going to put it in my bedroom.' He's going to keep it there all year, on January."
You can buy your calendar at tomorrow's Farmer's Market or by calling (785) 272- 1154.
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