500 Years of Living

500 Years of Living follows six fascinating men, now in their 70's (see bios) as they present vignettes from memorable moments in their lives. Their memories emanate from WriteLife, a memoir writing course in Salve Regina University's Circle of Scholars program for older adults. Memoir topics were prompted by questions like: How did you learn about hard work? What fight/argument did you win? At a crossroads, what did you lose in your choice? Writers responded to these challenges by creating seven, 3-5 page essays in eight weeks. Their stories appear in three sections: "The Early Years," "The Family Years," and "The Work Years." Come along on a boyhood bike trip to the cool waters of a swimming area - like the ones we can all recall as a kid. The lens shifts to Aleppo as we learn lessons from a stern father for whom a rule is a law. Meet "Little Lewis" soon to be the best four-legged friend of the policeman who saves him. Join U.S. Navy Lieutenant Heins as he oversees the steady roll of a Vietnamese gunboat off the coast of Phu Quoc island. The settings are familiar or extraordinary with scenes that evoke memories of home or take us to distant parts like Syria, Jordan, Iwo Jima, Vietnam and aboard ships. Essays offer remarkably frank insights by men who assess their lives, then tell their stories well.