Retirees on learning curve

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Bob and Lee McLaird at BGSU’s Jerome Library. (Photo: J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune)

Bob and Lee McLaird are technically retired, but they aren’t
letting that stop them.For them, retirement means just "tired again" and they’re proving that
in a big way.Between remodeling their new house and actively participating in their church, the married
couple of 39 years are enrolled in an Early American Horror class at BGSU."If I could afford it, I
would have been a professional student," said Bob, 70. "I’m not working toward a degree – I’m
just having fun."However, earning degrees is nothing new to the couple.Lee has undergraduate
degrees in Library Science and English and a Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of
South Dakota.Bob is much the same with dual undergrad degrees in English and Chemistry, and dual
Master’s degrees in Library Science and English from the University of South Dakota.These degrees took
them all around the United States, and they finally settled in Bowling Green in 1987 where Lee worked at
the Jerome Library as an archivist and Bob worked at the old career library."It was fun. I worked
for about ten years at a local museum in South Dakota," said Lee, 60. "Then I got pulled into
BGSU’s main library. Now I’m ready for the next great challenge called retirement."For Lee, it’s a
hard challenge. She’s used to always working and that rhythm stopped when she retired in January
2013."It took me about 12 minutes to adapt," she said. "But we like being busy."The
couple’s go-go-go attitude was put to good use when they learned the English department offered a class
on Edgar Allan Poe.Through BGSU’s Senior Adult Grants Program (SAGE), Bob and Lee took the class free of
charge because of their age and Ohio residency.Learning about Poe is what originally sparked Bob’s
interest – he wrote a 179-page thesis on Poe in 12 days in 1982."In all my years of schooling, I’ve
never had a course that discussed Edgar Allan Poe," Bob said. "My real interest in literature
is where literature and science cross – Poe is a perfect example of that."The class involved
looking at many of Poe’s stories and discussing them as a group."The kids came up with some
surprisingly good comments," Bob said. "I like seeing how other people respond to
ideas."Dr. Allan Emery, the associate professor who teaches the class, thinks the couple comes up
with some pretty good ideas of their own."They’re authorities on the subject and have enthusiasm
for literature and discussion," Emery said. "These people are back in school simply for the
fun of it and it’s a reminder to us all to have fun for fun’s sake."Because Lee interacted with
students when she worked in the library’s archives, she enjoyed seeing them in a different
setting."I used to be surrounded by students all the time," Lee said. "It’s kind of fun
to see them in a classroom."When they’re not telling the class about their theories regarding Poe’s
story "The Tell-Tale Heart," the couple spends time with their paperback book
collection.They’re up to 15,000 books."There just aren’t enough books to read. I’m not going to die
until I read them all," Bob said. "I need to live forever."Bob and Lee encourage every
Ohio resident over 60 to check out a BGSU class.For them at least, retirement is an opportunity for
older people to re-experience younger opportunities."You’re only as old as you let people think you
are," Bob said.BGSU’s SAGE program can be reached at 419 372-8136.

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