Elder advice, part 2

Doug Meckelson’s Elder Wisdom Circle started when he was just a boy, with just one elder – his grandmother, Revay Meckelson, of Spokane.

Meckleson grew up in Yakima but made frequent trips to Spokane to visit her.

“Grandma and I formed a strong bond early on and she became my number one ally in the world,” Meckleson writes in the introduction of his forthcoming book. “In Grandma’s eyes I could do anything I set my sights on – and, if given enough time, could surely change the world. Looking back now I realize that she gave me total and unconditional love, the biggest gift anyone can give.”

When Meckleson was in his 20s, he decided to write a letter to his 80-something grandmother, telling her all of the wonderful things she had done for him. But when his parents tried to deliver the letter to her, she did not answer the door bell. She had died in her sleep.

Meckelson eventually moved away from Washington, becoming a businessman in the San Francisco area.

Even though he was successful in business, he said he felt like his life was unfulfilled and, in 2001, he took a half-time schedule and started volunteering with seniors.

The more he worked with them, the more he realized what an untapped resource they were.

And the Elder Wisdom Circle was born.

“This is my passion,” Meckelson said during a visit to Spokane. “This is what I want to do.”

He is sure his grandmother would be proud of the path his life has taken.

“I think she’d just be beside herself,” he said. “She would be thrilled.”