I am 62, but I feel like I am 42. I was born in Omaha and grew up near the now closed St. Richard’s Catholic School in North Omaha, until my parents moved the family to Papillion my freshman summer of high school.

I moved back to Omaha after I married my best friend, Michael. We have been married 40 years, and they have been the best years of my life. We have two amazing and successful boys, who I am very proud of. Bryan is an anesthesiologist and Keith is an architect.

My family is the most important part of my life. Raising my boys was always my first job, and I took it very seriously.

My husband started the company Purdy & Slack Architects 37 years ago. For 30 years, I was in and out of the office working with him. It was the perfect job, because I could still be a volunteer mom at school and at church.

After the boys were out of the house, I wanted to show my creative side, so I got a job in fashion retail. I loved my work. Each time my customers came in the store I wanted them to feel their most beautiful when they left.

I stopped working seven years ago to assist my aging parents and be a grandparent to my identical twin granddaughters. These two tasks amounted to a full-time job. I now have three beautiful granddaughters and am always hoping for more.

The way I stay young is to have a positive attitude, stay busy, and have fun with my family and friends. Keeping my body fit and strong is important. I work out four days a week, two of which are strength training.

I believe staying social is a big part of living life. I have a circle of friends, and we have several couples we love to spend time with. Everyone brings something different to the table, so it keeps it fun and interesting.

Another part of staying young is that I take off my makeup and do my skin-care routine every night—no excuses. It pays off. In the morning I get up, shower, do my hair, put my makeup on, and look my best every day. We all have bumps in our lives and if you take care of yourself, they are easier to handle.

Mike and I love to sit on our deck and catch up on each other’s day. We frequent our favorite restaurants, spend time with friends, and travel when we can.

The first thing I do every morning and the last thing I do at night is spend some time alone to be thankful for all my many blessings. If I keep God in the center of my life, everything else will fall into place.

---

This article was printed in the 60Plus section of the January/February 2020 issue of Omaha Magazine.