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Nov 2008
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Al & Lola Ouska
Active Lifestyle for Active People
Reno residents Al and Lola Ouska maintain a very youthful, fun filled life by staying mentally and physically active.
Al and Lola Ouska
Married 61 years, the couple swear by daily exercise often done in the company of friends. Lola is an avid reader of crossword puzzles, and both play bridge with a church group. Al plays tennis most mornings beginning at 7 a.m., while Lola swims, and the two often hike trails in Nevada and California, sometimes trekking distances of 8 miles with hiking groups.
“I think a lot of mental stimulation comes from being aware of one's surroundings,” Al explained. “Reading the daily newspaper, watching the news, keeping up with the world. It would be easy to fade out if you didn't maintain contact with events and activities. That is the mental part of it.” Additionally Lola takes lifelong learning classes and Al frequently surfs the Internet. “It taxes your mind,” he said.
Lola and Al on deck of “Fire Lookout” at Mardis Peak.
But by far, Al and Lola agree that the other key aspect of aging well is remaining physically active. “We have hiked for a number of years with the Newcomers Group, and a hiking group with the Lutheran Church of the Good Sheppard in Reno. We still hike a couple times a month,” Al explained.
“Where we use to be at the head of the pack, we're now at the end of the pack,” Lola mused.
“Just climbing the mountain in higher elevations, the fellowship you gain with other hikers is really an important element of the experience. You talk about so many things along the trail. It can be spiritual,” he said.
Al and Lola recently hiked Mardis Peak near the Tahoe Rim Trail. They have also hiked Castle Peak, off I-80.
Together, Al and Lola have hiked over 155 different trails over the past 19 years; many have been duplicated several times. Some have been over 10,000 ft. in elevation. Their favorite hike is Little Lakes Valley in California near Mammoth Lakes.
Equally important to destination is friendship and fellowship in activities. Al has been playing tennis with the same men for a number of years. Whether they play indoor or outdoor, doubles or singles, they meet most mornings at Lakeridge Tennis Club. At 88, Al says he is now the senior member.
In addition to swimming several times a week, Lola, 82, participates in a tappercize class. “It is the best exercise for bone strength. I like it.”
Feb. 08 - Al and Lola Ouska of Reno, four generations of enthusiastic skiers, taken at North Star. Pictured are Lola, 82, grandson Jason, 34, Adam, 6, Al, 88, and son Jerry, 60.
Amazingly, Al and Lola admit they do not push themselves for motivation. “We can't wait to go,” she remarks, adding as an afterthought, “We still downhill ski!” She produces a picture taken last February of herself, Al, son Jerry, 60; grandson Jason, 34; and great grandson Adam, 6. “We skied Northstar and Sugar Bowl.”
If there is spare time, Al and Lola spend it in church activities. “We've been in the choir since 1990,” Al says. He works with the church health and wellness team, and the Parish Nurse conducting health classes and writing the newsletter. He is also legislative chairman for the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, and has visited Congressional members in Washington, DC to brief them on issues such as preservation of benefits. Prior to retirement, Al worked in human resources and hospital administration with the Veterans Administration over 20 years.
Lola, a former nurse with the National Institute of Health, has given 18 years of service volunteering with the Day Break program, an adult daycare center at the Washoe County Senior Center.
Of the things she had wanted to accomplish in her life, Lola has already achieved: to fly a glider plane in Minden, and to white water raft down the Colorado River.
“My God, how could I say no!”