Remarkable People Over Eighty
No. One on Slate's List, 80 over 80
I was thrilled to see that my favorite person in the whole world was number one on the list Eighty Most Influential People Over Age 80 of 2009 put out annually by Slate magazine.
Thomas S. Monson is the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, otherwise known as the Mormons. He has been in the church leadership for most of his life. My family and I anticipate every word that he says, because he is a prophet of God for us in this day. Twice a year there is a conference in Salt Lake City where he presides and we are given counsel on how to live a happy life while we are on this earth. He promotes the doctrine that “families are forever” and even performed the marriage (sealing) for my daughter and her husband at the Salt Lake LDS Temple.
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Another person on this 80 over 80 list that I admire includes Barbara Walters as number four. She is an intelligent interviewer whom I have watched for many years. She seems very sincere and passionate about what she does. She has contributed much to women’s acceptance in the working world. Forbes named her the third most powerful woman in media in 2009.She has the ability to be sweet and bold at the same time.
Since I am from Hawaii, I will mention Daniel Inouye who is number 3 on the list. He is a senator from our state, and has been a member of Congress for as long as Hawaii has been a state. Also Daniel Akaka , number 51, who is also a senator from Hawaii.
I love music, and so I will also choose B.B. King , who is number 22 on the list. Rolling Stone named him the third greatest guitarist of all time. Then there is Tony Bennett , number 35, whom I have listened to for as long as I can remember. I think my father has all of his songs memorized.
A few TV icons I have watched over the years are Bob Barker , number 66, of The Price is Right , and Betty White number 40. I loved The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls . Now I am really showing my age. Of course I can’t leave out Kirk Douglas , #76 and his outstanding performance in Spartacus .
I always admired Billy Graham and the good he has done throughout the world. He has advised several of our US Presidents. Too bad he is unable to continue advising President Obama.
Since there are a few scoundrels on the list, I checked out how they chose the 80 over 80 . Slate said, “We've ranked these still-twinkling stars according to their power and importance, with extra credit given for energetic achievements post-80 and for being really, really, really old”.
Of course my very most favorite person over 80 is my father. He is still full of energy, wit and fun. For his 82nd birthday he went skydiving. I love cheering my father on, and hope he can make it to 100. I’m sure they just overlooked him, but he should definitely be on this list.