Letter of the Day (Jan. 15): Working seniors

January 14, 2012 at 11:00PM
Joanne Gould, 78, works in the deli at Rainbow Foods in St. Paul.
Joanne Gould, 78, works in the deli at Rainbow Foods in St. Paul. (Special to the Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Seniors in the workplace are a reality of our time ("Another day older, and still at work," Jan. 8). Can we manage to acknowledge their place as earners without using a pitying tone?

Another day older? Yes, living is aging, and the process applies to all of us.

That includes actress Betty White, who soon will turn 90 and will celebrate with a comedy special challenging the notion of "those poor old seniors."

The seniors who are over 70 and still punching a clock have something to contribute. Think of them as role models.

From my interactions with working seniors, I've noted deep reserves of self-control and maturity. Other cultures call it wisdom.

These traits make seniors assets to a variety of businesses.

CHAR HOPELA, SAUK RAPIDS, MINN.

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