Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Laughter spans all generations

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, Jan. 10, 2002 | 8:19 a.m.

And when you do, it is essential to a pleasant journey that you have good sense of humor.

I'm referring to that time of life when your sight isn't as good as it once was; it might be difficult to hear; odd, brown spots appear on hands and arms; and it is a bit more difficult to get up in the morning.

You are entering the golden years, and, believe me, you need to remember how to laugh.

Sun reader Charlotte McCann is a believer, if a recent contribution to this column is any indication. Her submissions might bring a smile or two:

"The preacher came to call the other day. He said at my age I should be thinking of the 'hereafter.' I told him, 'Oh, I do all the time.' No matter where I am, in the parlor, upstairs, in the kitchen or the basement, I ask myself now -- what am I here after?"

Her other contribution: "I am seeing five gentlemen every day. As soon as I wake up, Will Power helps me get out of bed. Then I go to see John. Then Charlie Horse comes along and when he leaves, Arthur Ritis shows up and stays the rest of the day. He doesn't like to stay in one place so he takes me from joint to joint. After such a busy day I'm really tired and glad to go to bed with Ben Gay. What a life."

Jan. 4 was a red-letter day for Peggy Leavitt. It was her final day as manager of Child Haven, the county's home for abused, abandoned and neglected children.

Peggy is retiring after 30 years of working with children both with the state of Nevada and Clark County.

It is coincidental that another retirement was announced within days.

Bob Lindsey is leaving the Henderson Police Department after 30 years.

I had the good fortune of being associated with both of these outstanding public servants.

Lindsey served several years on the Clark County Juvenile Probation Committee, of which I was a member. We shared with Peggy and others at Family and Youth Services, the joys of success and sometimes the disappointment of failure, all of which have combined to make Family and Youth Services a model agency for the nation.

Naturally Peggy and Bob will be replaced, but the replacements had better be prepared to fill mighty big shoes.

We owe so much to people such as these, who have made careers of helping others -- especially children.

Former Sun reporter, author of the best-selling novel "The Night Stalker" and screenwriter Jeff Rice delighted friends this year with his Christmas card, portraying Santa hopping up and down on the head of Osama bin Laden.

Inside the card are parodies of old tunes.

The much-talented Rice was the first winner of the Most Promising Young Journalist Award of the Nevada Press Association.

Was there ever a mayor who enjoyed his job as much as Mayor Oscar Goodman?

Every time I see Goodman at a public function I admire his boundless enthusiasm for Las Vegas. He's like a kid in a candy shop.

Happy New Year, Mayor. Keep the faith.