In the season of Thanksgiving, Elaine Cook and Bev Eberhard, nonagenarian ukulele enthusiasts from Minnesota, stole the spotlight with their tuneful tenacity at a local musical variety show. Celebrating their 90th October birthdays with birthday treats from their ukulele group at the MAYC fall musical, these vivacious ladies proved that age is just a number when it comes to pursuing passions and embracing community life.
Having planted roots in Blaine for a quarter-century, Cook was lured into the local ukulele scene after an online discovery by her daughter, as revealed in a statement obtained by the city's Civic Alerts. Previously, strumming on her ukulele had been an exclusive treat during her annual Hawaiian excursions since 2008. She joined the Silver Ukes three years ago and has since become a regular, hitting fitness classes 2-3 times a week for the same duration. Cook's advice for aging with grace is straightforward: "Keep active, you can’t just sit at home."
Fridley local Bev Eberhard, with 55 years in the city under her belt, found her way to the MAYC through word-of-mouth four years ago. Eberhard, wielding her guitar, quickly synced with the North Country Jamboree, and a short six months passed, and she joined the harmonizing Silver Ukes. Her longevity recipe is a well-rounded blend: "good diet, exercise, socializing with friends, staying involved in activities, doing things you like to do, gratitude for each day, and staying connected with family…with 10 great-grandchildren I have earned high dividends on my initial investment!" she cheerfully told the city's Civic Alerts. Despite her age, the Fogerty Arena is no stranger to Eberhard, whose blades carved the ice competing in the World Amateur Figure Skating event two decades ago and continued to skate up until two years ago.
These dynamic ladies are still strumming and singing with the Silver Ukes, an example of lifelong dedication to joy and community. Through their music and active lifestyle, Cook and Eberhard are symbols of inspiration, as heralded by the local civic announcement. They echo a message undeniably relevant in our times—age should never be a barricade to living fully and fostering connections.
