THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 23, 1996 TAG: 9605210156
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 58 lines
The driving rain kept more than half the contestants away.
But the spirits of the remaining five people competing in the Norfolk Senior Olympics' talent contest last Thursday at the Jewish Community Center were hardly dampened by the lack of participation.
Best of all, every contestant took home a ribbon.
As a crowd of about 50 cheered them on, the contestants told jokes, tap-danced, sang songs and played musical instruments. A few pre-schoolers who had wandered in after swimming lessons danced and swayed to the seniors' tunes.
A minor catastrophe was averted when contestant J.J. Hart realized he had forgotten to bring music for his tap-dance routine. The three judges, all recreation specialists with the city, volunteered to do an a cappella rendition of ``Tea for Two.'' Stoically, Hart danced a few steps.
But then from the audience came a better solution. Norfolk resident Dick Windley, an accomplished pianist, knew how to play ``Tea for Two.''
With Windley's help, the show went on.
The finale was the hit of the show. Decked out in a gold-sequined hat and silk dress, Berkley resident Bernice Anderson sang and played a jazzy piano rendition of the gospel song ``My Mother Prays for Me.'' Another contestant, Arthur Cousins, joined her on the washboard.
The crowd clapped and cheered, and a few even danced.
``I just love to play for people,'' said Anderson, at 101 the oldest participant in the annual three-day Olympics. ``I come and do this every year.''
Now in its 13th year, the parks and recreation-sponsored Senior Olympics drew some 700 seniors who participated in more than 40 different activities. The average age of the participant was 70, but many, like Anderson, were much older.
Activities included track and field events, swimming, table tennis, dancing, frisbee throwing, cards, golf and more.
Many participants, like Helen Lapping, who did a comedy routine for the talent competition, have taken part in Olympics for years.
``It's a lot of fun,'' said Lapping, 75. ``My husband and I made up our minds ... no sitting around. You have to keep going and trying to find new things to do. There are a lot of things like this in Norfolk for old people to do if you just seek it out.''
For Anderson, who turns 102 July 22, the secret of her longevity has been to stay active. A former performer with several gospel groups in New York City's Harlem area, Anderson has continued to play the piano, sing, get out among friends and ``live right.'' In June, she plans to preach at a Christian revival in South Carolina.
``I don't want to watch any TV,'' this former psychiatric nurse said. ``You have to serve the Lord and be honest and leave people alone that aren't doing right. You can't do wrong and get by.''
It helps, she added, if you can sing. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Bernice Anderson, who turns 102 in July, does her thing on the piano
during the Norfolk Senior Olympics talent contest. by CNB