die young意思的八卦，YOUTUBE、PTT和Yahoo名人娛樂都在討論

#尋人啟事
#胡湘荷妳在哪裡

我的母親已八十歲，
疫情期間，
母親常在電話跟我聊一些過去的事情，
母親的記憶力非常好，
從她十歲開始到現在，
她幾乎能記得所有的事情。

當然，
她記的幾乎都是些令人心碎的事。

就像她的妹妹＿
我的小阿姨，
跟她失聯了四十三年的事，
一直讓母親忘不了。

小阿姨屬猴，
64歲、
1956年出生。
大約1977年離開緬甸，
去到泰國投靠大舅，
又輾轉在1978年左右去了加拿大。
之後，
就失去了聯絡。

自從有網路以來，
我就幫忙母親在各種尋人版上刊登過尋人啟事，
但都沒有下文。
可能是刊登的資訊不齊全。

四十三年前，
小阿姨從緬甸到泰國又到加拿大，
可能證件、姓名等都跟原本的不一樣了。

近期，
與我母親通話，
母親又提到失聯的小阿姨。
她叮嚀我們是否能幫忙她再找找看。

母親今年八十歲，
她很想知道她的小妹，
是否還活在這世界上？

附上母親說的話，
她讓我公佈在網路上。

希望有緣，
我的小阿姨能看到。

Midi 於永和
2020 April 12

#胡湘荷
#尋人

胡湘荷，妳在哪裡？

阿湘，
我是妳的二姐胡明珠。
我們分別有好長一段時間了。

妳離開緬甸時，
我二兒子才剛出生，
都還不滿一個月，
妳來看他時，
還說：
「他的臉白白的，
是不是我給他擦粉？」
現在，
我二兒子四十三歲，
我呢，
已經快滿八十二歲，
八十多歲，
是老人了。

人家說，
人愈老記性愈差，
我是相反，
我的記性反倒是愈老愈好。
但是，我能記住的，
都是些傷心的事情。

也許，
我們這代人，
也沒有什麼快樂的事情可以記住。
就像妳的離開，
我們從此失去聯絡，
想起妳，
就讓我難過。

妳還活著嗎？
我想妳會活得好好的。
妳有幾個小娃了？
過得怎麼樣呢？

四十三年前，
妳離開腊戌時，
妳還在腊戌漢人學校唸書。

有天放學，
我去攔住妳，
跟妳說：
「妳以後每天下課後就來我家吃飯，
別去大姐家吃了…」
妳說：「好」。
妳也就跟著我到我家吃飯了。

我還記得，
妳才剛坐下，
我不知怎麼搞的，
就說了那些話。

我說：
「大姐讓妳以後來我這裡吃飯，
別去她家吃了，
讓妳三姐去她家吃，
妳三姐不挑嘴，
妳比較挑嘴…」。

這些話，
是大姐跟我說的，
我當時太懵，
太老實，
我也不曉得，
為什麼要說這些大姐講的話？
為什麼要講給妳聽？

我完全，
沒有擔待不了妳的意思呀。
不管多窮，
姐妹間互相照顧都是應該的，
我轉述大姐說妳的那些話，
是沒有任何理由的，
就是我以為是姐妹之間的聊天，
講出來而已。

我那時候過得很困難，
養著六個小娃，
病死了兩個。
但是，
照顧自己的妹妹是天經地義的。

那天，
我邊說就邊到廚房去炒菜，
難得妳來這裡吃飯，
總要多一樣什麼菜才行。

我炒完菜端著出來，
妳就不見了。

當時，
房東許老嬤嬤還在場，
她說，
「我轉進廚房，
妳就站起來走了…」

我那時才發覺；
我講錯話了。

妳這麼敏感的人呀！

我一路追著妳，
追到大水塘路上＿
到妳跟妳三姐住的地方，
妳正在哭。
妳正在哭著跟妳三姐吵架，
妳跟妳三姐說：
「二哥寄來的錢分來…」
妳三姐不敢應妳，
在旁沉默著。
這筆妳要的錢，
確實是妳二哥寄來給妳們兩姐妹的生活費。

那時，
媽媽剛去世不久，
大哥人去了泰國；
在泰國北部滿堂安了家，
家裡所有的兄弟陸續去了泰國。
而爸爸因為沒身份證在貴概被移民局抓住，
送到仰光坐滿九年牢，
緬甸政府正打算著把他送到台灣去的時候…

那天，
我看著妳哭，
我就明白了妳的心情。

妳三姐在準備跟她愛人私奔，
在腊戌妳也只有大姐、我和妳三姐了。

我和大姐早結婚，
各自已有有家庭。
如今妳三姐又要嫁人，
大哥他們又遠在泰國，
母親去世，
父親坐牢。
妳接下來就要孤苦零丁的一個人生存了。

一個十八歲的女孩。
我知道妳的害怕和難過。

那天，
看著妳哭，
我很後悔把大姐說的話講出來。

妳應該了解我的。
我一直都盡力照顧我的家人，
當時從雲南背著妳逃難到緬甸邊境，
背了一天一夜。
我都是自願的。

妳記得嗎？
妳到腊戌讀書時，
很想要一條件仔褲，
那時許多人都買不起，
我還是費盡力氣買給妳。
妳知道我是心疼妳的。

妳離開腊戌的那天，
妳說妳要去泰國了。
臨走時，
我拿了300塊錢給妳，
妳知道嗎？
那時候我拿出300塊錢緬幣是到處借來的錢呀。

阿湘，
我知道妳一直都在受苦，
去到泰國，
大嫂可能待不得妳，
妳二哥、三哥他們當時也沒能力照顧妳，
妳在泰國又沒有合法的身份；
哪可能有其它去處。

最後妳選擇結婚，
我想也只是為了解脫這些難過的生活罷了。

之後，
就聽說妳嫁了人，
跟著丈夫家去了加拿大。

之後，
我就再也就打聽不到妳的下落了。

我們最後的連繫，
停留在泰國北部滿堂，
或是停留在泰緬邊境美賽，
我都有些記不得了。

那時，
聽說妳從大哥家跑出來了？
又聽說妳去暫住在一對老年夫妻的家裡？
這些，
都是後來傳到腊戌的消息了。

妳去加拿大前，
還寄來給我和大姐和妳三姐每個人一件衣裳布、
一條籠基。
三份禮物裡夾著三張白紙，
寫著：「大姐的、二姐的、三姐的…」。
我還記得，
那是託「義號佛堂」楊前人帶來的禮物。

那條籠基到現在我還留著＿
孔雀花紋的。

阿湘，
我這個作二姐的也羞愧妳了。
當時，
聽到這些關於妳的困難的消息，
只能每天想念著，
想到傷心，
我沒有任何能力。

那時，
我是，
連從緬甸腊戌到泰國邊境的車票都買不起呀。
當時我養著這麼多小娃，
吃一口飯都難。

阿湘，
現在講這些都只是回憶了，
都是我們老人家的回憶，
都不重要了。

那為什麼還要講這些呢？
就是，
為了，
想讓妳看到，
看到這些我說的話，
證實，
我是妳的二姐而已。
想讓妳知道，
我一直在找妳。

我活到八十歲，
夠了，
人活這麼老沒什麼意思，
都盡是傷心的事情。

我不知哪天會死去。
但如果可能的話，
在死去之前，
能讓我知道一下妳的消息。

我想知道，
妳在哪裡？
我想知道，
妳還活著嗎？

阿湘，
爸爸十幾年前已經去世，
大哥六年前去世，
連大姐，
前年也不在世上了。

妳二哥；
他住在泰國山邊荒地裡，
幫人家看田地，
過得不是很好，
但也不用擔心，
我在泰國的二兒子和大姑娘時常會去照顧他。

妳三哥，
講到也是讓我難過呀。

他大前年腦出血，
去醫院醫好了，
但醫好後，
很奇怪，
突然忘記了漢人話，
只會講泰國話。
後來不久，
他就偷偷上吊自殺了。

你說，
我們兄弟姐妹這是什麼樣的命運呢？

阿湘，
我們家沒剩下什麼人了，
妳三姐、妳四哥還在泰國。
還有我，
我還活著。
我還在緬甸，在腊戌。

除了妳，
我們一家人也就剩下這三個人了。

阿湘，
我們已經分別已四十三年，
妳也有六十多歲了吧？
我很想知道，
妳在哪裡？
妳還活著嗎？

如果有緣，
妳看到這信，
就回我一下吧。

妳的二姐胡明珠，
日日夜夜，
在等妳的消息。

二姐胡明珠　於緬甸腊戌
2020 年4月11日
姪Midi代筆

找人信箱：humingju1638@gmail.com

**************
#notice for a missing person

translated by Jane Lin
****************

Where are you, Hu Shine-Ho?

Ah-Shine,
This is your 2nd sister, Hu Ming-Ju. It has been a long time since we last saw each other. When you left Burma, my 2nd son was not even one-month-old. You asked why he was so fair-skinned? Had I put powder on his face? Now, he is 43 and I am almost 82.

Eighty something...I am indeed an old woman! People say that you lose your memory as you age. I am quite the opposite. The older I get, the better I remember! But, what I remember is nothing but sadness. Perhaps, our generation just doesn't have much happiness. Like you leaving home, we losing contact forever…. The thought of you puts me in such despair. Are you still alive? I imagine you living a good life?!! How many children? How are you?

Forty-three years ago, you were still a student at Chinese High School in Lashio. One day after school, I went to intercept you, "From now on, come to my home after school. Don't go to 1st sister's for dinner anymore." You said, "OK" and followed me home.

I still remember clearly that you had just sat down and I said, "The first sister asks that you come to me for dinner. She will take 3rd sister who's easy-going, not like you, a picky eater." I don't know what possessed me that day? Why I had to tell you what 1st sister had to say? Was I too naive? Too honest? Too stupid? I had absolutely no intension not to take care of you - we are sisters!!!! We have to care for each other, no matter how poor we are!!! The first sister's words just came out as a casual chat between sisters. Nothing more!

Life was tough for me at the time. Diseases took away two of my six children. But that didn't mean I would ignore my God-given responsibility as your elder sister. Without realizing the impact of my "casual chat", I went into the kitchen wondering what additional dish I could come up with for your first dinner with us. When I came out with the dishes, you were already gone! According to our landlady, Granny Hsu, you just got up and left as soon as I was out of sight. Only then did I realize my stupid mistake and how sensitive you were! Immediately, I ran after you, all the way to Big Pond Road where you and 3rd sister stayed. You were crying, asking 3rd sister for the money that 2nd brother sent. 3rd sister just kept quiet.

Indeed! The money that you demanded from 3rd sister was to cover living expenses for both of you. At that time, Mother had already passed away. The first brother went to Thailand, had already settled his own family in Pong Ngam. All the brothers followed suit. Father got caught in Kutkai by the immigration for not having an I.D. and had been in prison in Rangoon for 9 years. The Burmese government was just about to send him to Taiwan…. That day, while watching you cry, I understood how you felt. The third sister was getting ready to run away with her lover and both 1st sister and I were married young with our own families to deal with. As an 18-year-old with no mother, a father in prison, you must have felt all alone, sad and very scared.

I was filled with regrets watching you that day. But, please understand that I have always tried my best to take care of my family. When we escaped from Yunnan to Burma as refugees, I carried you on my back all day and all night without any complaints. When you went to Lashio for school, you wanted a pair of jeans so badly, remember? It was such a luxury that most people could not afford. Yet, I gathered all my might to get you a pair. You know I always have a soft spot for you, don't you? The day you were leaving Lashio for Thailand, do you know how many places I had to try to gather 300 Burmese kyats for you???

Ah-Shine, I know it was a huge struggle for you in Thailand. It's impossible that 1st sister-in-law would put you up. Second and 3rd brothers were in no position to help you….. I suppose you were pushed into marriage, just to end this desperate situation. Last I heard, you moved to Canada with your husband. From that point onward, in spite of all the efforts, I just couldn't find any trace of your whereabouts.

Our last contact stopped at Pong Ngam, Thailand. Or, was it MaeSai? I can't quite remember now. The news came to Lashio that you had run away from 1st brother's home. Later, you were temporarily staying with an older couple….

Before leaving for Canada, you sent, via Abbott Yang of the Yi Buddhist Hall, a package for us - each gift had a piece of dress fabric and a longyi, clearly labeled on a piece of white paper: "for 1st sister," "for 2nd sister," "for 3rd sister." I still have that longyi, with a peacock pattern, after all these years!

Ah-Shine, I feel deeply embarrassed to be your elder sister. Upon hearing the challenges that you had to face at the time, I could do nothing but worrying and feeling sad. I couldn't even afford the bus fare from Lashio to the Thai border. I barely managed to feed my own children!
Ah-Shine, What's the use of talking about these old memories? These sad memories of us old people have no importance but to serve to show you that I am indeed your 2nd sister.… that I have been looking for you all these years.

To live in my eighties is more than enough for me. It's not much fun to live this long - just a lifetime of sadness. I have no idea when I will die and I don't really care. I just wish that I could hear from/about you before I leave this world. I want to know where you are. I want to know if you are still alive.

Ah-Shine, Father passed away more than a decade ago. The first brother left us 6 years ago, so did the first sister 3 years ago. The second brother works as a field caretaker in a remote Thai mountainside. It's not a good life, but both my 2nd son and first daughter are also in Thailand; can visit and take care of him often. The saddest is our 3rd brother. He had a stroke 3 years ago. After recovery, he suddenly forgot his Chinese, could only speak in Thai. Not long after, he hanged himself! Please tell me what kind of fate has been bestowed on our siblings??? What is the meaning of life???
Ah-Shine, There aren't that many of us left, only 3rd sister and 4th brother in Thailand and me still in Burma. In Lashio.

Ah-Shine, We have been apart for 43 years. You should be in your 60s by now. I really would like to know if you are still alive and where you live. God willing, you will see this letter and reply!!! (humingju1638@gmail.com)

Waiting to hear from you, day and night!

Second sister, Hu Ming-Ju
Lashio, Myanmar
April 11. 2020

#香菸盒是包包腿是準備逃跑 🚬💃
#法國時品牌Yazbukey巴黎私宅台灣獨家公開首度曝光！👄
#李佑群老師與Yaz本人的創意對談
#YOUTV巴黎時裝週特輯特別企劃
#巴黎時裝週日記①
我喜歡自由的時尚觀，穿著也不拘泥固定風格，對我來說，巴黎的時尚不是只有高大上，也有許多充滿創意的大膽俏皮。

巴黎時裝週的其中一天早晨，我特別起了個大早，拜訪了法國時尚品牌Yazbukey 的設計師Yaz Bukey 本人，直闖她在巴黎的私宅和香閨，很榮幸地她告訴我，自己不但是第一位來到她美妙宅邸的台灣朋友，我擔任製作人，我們打算拍攝的 #YOUTV ，也是第一個進到她家的台灣媒體。

總編輯當久了，對畫面風格有必須一致的偏執狂，為了迎合腦中預想的影像，自己特別戴上了JW Anderson 的彩色條紋圍脖，在身上增加多一點繽紛來迎接今天#YOUTV 的主人Yaz Bukey女士。

其實喜歡時尚的朋友，一定對這個品牌不陌生，不少韓星和好萊塢大咖都是它的擁護者，最近Yaz 才在自己的IG 上公布了和植村秀聯名系列的彩妝品照片，引起不少迷姐迷妺尖叫。天馬行空的Yazbukey 創立於巴黎，由Yaz Bukey 和Emel Kurhan 主導，事實上，Yaz 的身分大有來頭，她是鄂圖曼帝國公主的後裔，難怪創作的單品不少都帶有中東異國風情。

Yaz Bukey 出生自充滿傳奇色彩的土耳其伊斯坦堡，據說她是「鄂圖曼帝國的公主，埃及國王穆罕默德阿里的後裔」，也讓品牌在前衞之餘，多了些神秘感。她大學畢業後來到時尚之都巴黎，進入Studio Berçot 高等時裝設計學院攻讀時裝設計，並曾在我喜愛的Maison Martin Margiela、Alexander McQueen時代的Givenchy 等處實習，也曾當過Jeremy Scott 的首席助手，積累了豐富設計經驗之後，終究成立了自己的品牌。

Yazbukey 以配件飾品為主，風格搞怪大膽，詼諧中帶有不少諷刺意味，尤其運用了工藝技術，將壓克力為主的材料創作出宛如項級珠寶的質感。

我敲了敲Yaz 私宅的大門，她熱情地迎接我，一頭捲捲的金頭髮、大膽的紅唇、浴衣風格的罩衫和銀蔥的褲子，身上的T恤和手指上的戒指都是大家最熟悉，宛如品牌印記的大嘴巴，好有個性的女人！

Yaz 帶我穿過廚房走廊之後，看到的是充滿色彩的小巧香閨，條紋沙發床、臉孔插畫的抱枕、熱帶植物的綠色盆栽，再加上各種新奇古怪的YazBukey 飾品和手拿包，Yaz 私生活的地方和品牌給人的感覺一模一樣，我真的來到Yazbukey 的奇幻世界了。

「可以跟我聊聊你作品的靈感來源？」

「我喜歡深入研究老電影、老音樂、看許多以前的攝影作品，從這些不同的元素中，重新創造我自己的故事，但同時也會在其中反映出現今社會的趨勢，所以基本上是一種展演背後故事的藝術形態，所以透過說故事這樣的概念，我的作品都會帶有一點超現實主義的元素。」

Yaz 拿起了長得像香煙盒的手拿包接著說：
「我一開始發想運用樹脂玻璃的設計是平面概念，然後思考如何做出3D的實品。這個香煙盒其實是一個手拿包，我把字改為“Live fast die young”，因為現在是個禁煙的時代。」

你以為Yazbukey 只有叛逆嗎？其實她有些概念還蠻衛道的。

「至於這些作品的靈感來自於Magtree，你知道嗎？就是古老年代使用木頭、象牙等材質的Margtree，是純手工，不是鐳射切割，所以它們很特別。」Yaz 帶著我介紹她房間裡其它品牌的作品，接著指了她身上T恤的嘴巴圖案。

「這是我們最經典的嘴唇，它叫做“C’est Ahh“嘴唇，他正在說著“啊～”」

除了香煙盒造型的手拿包，我驚訝地發現了煙灰缸上擺的不是真的香菸，竟也是Yazbukey 的飾品。

Yaz 笑了笑拿起其中一支煙遞給我，大方地請我“抽煙”，然後說：「你看，這是是假的香菸，我們可以假裝一下抽根菸吧！」

「這非常的...健康」我說。

「沒錯！抽菸新方法！」於是兩人自顧自地在鏡頭前演起來，果然不知不覺間我也掉進了Yazbukey 的幽默世界。

「還有，如果你不想在家裡擺鮮花，可以混搭這些我創作的花朵造型裝飾，這些其實是我最喜歡的花，但我不喜歡它的味道，所以我用樹脂玻璃做了一樣的花⋯⋯你知道的，這中間的蕊永遠都在掉落，然後又是會染色的橘色，ＮＯ！」

「我看到有隻腿？」

「沒錯，腿是我非常重要的作品，開始，我們是先製作成項鍊，因為在法文有個俚語是” Prendre les jambes à son cou”直譯是將你的腿放在你的脖子上，代表著你一點都不想待在這個地方，很想逃跑的意思。所以每次我被迫要去參加我不想去的場合時，我就會帶著腿項鍊。」哈哈哈，聽完Yaz 的說明不禁莞爾，那麼我以後如果參加了很想逃跑的派對，應該也要戴上它。

Yaz 看我一直把玩其中一個紐約黃色TAXI 車頂燈造型的包包，大方地說送給我，能得到設計師本人的禮物，實在又驚又喜。

忘了說，我們在聊天的時候，Yaz 養的小狗“Monroe”一直跑上沙發來搗蛋。

「我有為這隻小寶貝設了她的IG帳號，她比我還紅，還有日本粉絲畫了好多她的插畫送給我，你可以追蹤。」

我立馬打開手機搜尋，看到了Monroe 的IG，第一句話就寫著：「I am not a Chihuahua ！」(我不是吉娃娃！)

更多精彩影音內容都收錄在我的《#YOU TV》巴黎特輯中，請一定要看👉 https://www.facebook.com/yougunlee/videos/10156213872048545/
👉 https://youtu.be/jdaJSoiLWwQ
要看最獨家最時髦，只有在我的《#YOU TV》。

(Text: YouGun Lee Photo: Paul Chen Assistant: Debby Chen )

#內容超長恭喜你看完了
#Yazbukey #Yaz #Paris #ParisFashionWeek #PFW #Style #Fashion #Chic #巴黎 #巴黎時裝週 #YouGunLee #李佑群老師 #佑群老師 #李佑群

。。。要活得無怨無悔：上了年紀的人，通常不會因做過的事後悔；卻常因在年輕時，未曾去做自己想做的事而遺憾，只有心懷悔恨的人，會恐懼死亡。。。。

其實這不是第一次看到類似的故事。但因為人太健忘。所以三不五時提醒一下。
有時候覺得遲疑是因為人有太多莫名的包袱。。。去吧！

（轉貼）《任何人都會變老，但不一定每個人都會長大》

開學第一天，教授自我介紹後，要每位同學主動去結交一位新朋友。
當我站起來環視四週時，有人輕輕拍我的肩膀。
我轉過頭，看見一位滿臉縐紋，個子矮小的老婦人對著我微笑，那笑容光亮璀燦。
她說：「嗨！帥哥，我叫蘿絲，今年87歲。我可以抱你一下嗎？」
我笑起來，熱切的答道：「當然可以」，她果真緊緊地將我抱個滿懷。

我開玩笑的問她：「你年紀這麼小，怎麼就來上大學了？」
她也調皮的回答道：「我準備來這釣個金龜婿，生幾個孩子，然後退休去雲遊四海。」
「此話當真？」我明知故問。

我很好奇，到底是何動機，促使她年屆古稀，還來上大學。
她告訴我說：

「我一直夢想要受大學教育，如今終於得償宿願。」
下課後，我們散步到學生聯合大樓，兩人分享了巧克力奶昔，從此我們成了摯友。
往後三個月的每一天，我們總是一起離開教室，天南地北的聊個沒完。
她像一部「時光機器」，將智慧和經驗與我分享，而我總是聽得津津有味。

一學年下來，蘿絲成了學校鼎鼎大名的人物。
不論走到那裡，她總能輕易的結交到新朋友。
她經常打扮得漂漂亮亮的，陶醉在同學們對她的關注之中。
學期結束時，蘿絲應邀到我們為足球隊舉辦的晚宴中演講。
我永難忘懷當晚她賜予我們的珍貴禮物。
主持人介紹她給聽眾之後，她碎步走向講台，正當要開始演講時，她手中的講稿不慎掉落地上。

有幾秒鐘時間她顯得有點懊惱和靦腆，不過立刻就幽默的對著麥克風淡淡的說：「抱歉，我最近老喜歡掉東西，剛剛我本想喝杯啤酒壯膽，卻喝了威士忌，沒想到那玩意兒簡直要我的命，看來我是記不得事先準備的東西了，那我就講最熟悉的事情吧。」

在大家的笑聲中，她清了一下喉嚨，然後開始說：『我們不是因為年老而停止玩樂，我們是因停止玩樂才會變老，只有一種秘訣能使人青春永駐，快樂成功。

就是你們必須經常笑口常開，幽默風趣；你們必須時時懷抱夢想，當你們失去夢想時，你們就形同死亡，我們的週圍有許多人像似行屍走肉，卻不自覺。』

『變老和長大之間有很大的差別，任何人都會變老，但不一定每個人都會長大。

長大的意思是，你必須不斷在蛻變中找尋成長的機會而善加利用。
要活得無怨無悔：上了年紀的人，通常不會因做過的事後悔；卻常因在年輕時，未曾去做自己想做的事而遺憾，只有心懷悔恨的人，會恐懼死亡。』

那年底，蘿絲終於完成她的大學學業。
畢業後一星期，她在睡夢中安祥去逝。
超過2千名同學參加她的葬禮。
我們聚在一起，向這位以身教教導我們：只要下定決心，不管年紀多大都可以實現夢想…

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

I turned round to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with 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 she gave 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 be taking 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 a chocolate milkshake.

We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave 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 easily made 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 football banquet.

I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.

Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply 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 me just tell you what I know."

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

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a 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't do 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 anything I will turn eighty-eight.

Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea 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 for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with

regrets."

She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose."

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.

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

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.

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