OLLI and Me

by Pamela and Romain Nelsen

Pamela and Romain Nelsen with Dean Dennis Pendleton

OLLI at UC Davis Extension has become the center of our retirement lives. We retired to Davis to take up the pleasure of learning, but didn't expect something such as OLLI to turn our random curiosities into an organized program, with a light touch. Pamela takes courses when she can and finds her own stock of treasures in the associations. I've gone from student to volunteer, both learning and organizing. And with each equipment flub, I've a new opportunity to ad lib another quip to my store of embarrassments.

My volunteer work on Curriculum since 2005 has been a tale of Jonah swallowing the whale, often more than I would handle, but what a catch. I've quit more times than I can count, but I've taken such pleasure from the pleasure our members take from my efforts that I go back to work to quit again. The OLLI work rewards me full measure, even as I grouse about the detail. I've come to take the many kind comments as a personal bonus.

Thanks to all our members, UC Davis Extension and the Osher Foundation for putting this Osher Lifelong Learning Institute into our lives.