January - March 2020

Girls Just Want To Have Fun Robin Bruner and Tondra Frisby have been friends for years, with paths that have crossed through professional and volunteer activities. They walk on common ground with a shared belief that age has nothing to do with the number of birthdays you celebrate. It’s the celebrating that matters, and embracing whatever life has in store. Tondra Frisby and Robin Bruner They are approaching seniorhood with purpose. Both believe in surrounding themselves with young people. They make lists, take time to reflect, and set goals for the years to come. Robin calls it her “anti-aging” plan. She intends to return to painting, an old hobby, but she wants to learn a new skill. As a registered nurse, she hopes to travel on a medical mission to a faraway place, and to use that experience to gain new perspective on her life. Robin challenges assumptions, like being too old to wear jeans. “Who made that rule up?” she scoffs. Tondra rejects the idea that “she needs to act her age” and continues to roller blade for exercise. She sees herself in her second half of life, and intends to make it the time to live her best life. Tondra’s strength comes from “a great stock of independent women in my family. When my great-grandmother was 93, she was still living by herself, driving, doing her own shopping.” Both women approach aging as “a new chapter in the book of life,” that includes laughter and trying new things, like rock climbing and tap dancing, with a positive attitude. Tondra and Robin tap at Sandusky Recreation’s Introduction to Adult Tap Dance class. “Old is all up here,” Tondra contends as she points to her head. Robin has self-imposed marching orders: “I’ve got a lot of things I want to do, yet. I know I have got to step it up.” Meet you at the top, Robin and Tondra! 13