An Interview with Betsy Stone
Janice Cain: Today Laura Marvin and I are sitting in HHANA's driveway and here comes Betsy Stone. Hi Betsy! So good to see you. We have watched you walking in the neighborhood with your walker for the last eight years we have lived here. Come and sit with us and tell us about yourself.
Well, first of all, the reason I use a walker is for my balance. I have MS. But, I grew up in Watertown, New York with four brothers and (smiling) my parents named me after an old gray mare. After that I lived in Canton and worked at Dillard's selling men's fragrances. When my husband was transferred to Columbus, I began working for Arlington Models where I was Christian Dior's U.S. representative for new products.
My next move was to Denver… my favorite place. I have always been a walker and an animal lover. When I lived there, the friendly dogs in the park would come smiling and wagging their tails to the park bench where I was resting. I am sure they miss me as much as I miss them.
Janice Cain: You live on Poplar now. What brought you here from Denver?
Well, a cleaning person was vacuuming my carpets but forgot to unplug the cord. I tripped over it and took a nasty fall that required hip surgery. That's when my daughter, Susan, and I decided to buy a house together. That was 10 years ago.
Janice Cain: You mentioned your canine friends in Denver. We have a lot of dog walkers in our neighborhood. Have you met some of them?
Oh, yes. There was one time I was walking on the rough sidewalk. A sweet young girl was walking her excited puppy who ran and jumped on me and I fell to the ground and couldn't get up. She raced across the street and got her dad who came to my rescue. I didn't get his name but he was a kind neighbor.
When I asked Betsy if she keeps track of her steps, she said her goal is 5,000 steps. She then showed me her fitness app which displayed 2.10 miles — and it was still only mid-afternoon.
Janice Cain: Any last words before you leave today?
She laughed and said, “I walk the streets but I don't make a dime.”
From HHANA's Front Porch
Janice Cain, Reporter