He suggests, “Stay positive; get swept up …” and tells “seeing the sunrise and hearing the birds sing reminds me that I am truly, immensely blessed.” And he reminds that “the better we are, the better we’re all gonna be.”
Those are Facebook posts made by Eric Wellman, a retired social worker who is the frontman for The New Age Adenas. It’s his advice, that’s all.
Most days Wellman bikes and hikes to adventure when the weather is willing, and sure, it’s exercise, too, but he seldom peddles those common training trails. Instead, it’s about the unseen and unknown and discovering what’s behind the proverbial Door #3 because it’s different each and every time.
It’s the same curiosity that nudged him toward a guitar and his first chord, and then to a second musical note to begin his very first song about the home he adores. Wellman is a man at peace now that he’s earned retirement from a career of helping others, and his deep breaths, that confident smile, and his freedom from “The Man” glows off him more attractively than the glitz of artificial satisfaction.
So, Wellman plays his music, and he grooves, glides, and jives while loving the lady stage left.
Easy peasy.
What are the three best parts of living as a retired person in the Upper Ohio Valley?
The three best parts of living as a retired person, are the same as before retiring:
1) The beauty of the changes of season. It’s plush and green from spring through summer, and in the fall as the weather cools, the colors are amazing, and it feels so good outside. Our winters are mostly mild, although we occasionally have a significant snowstorm that turns our area into a winter wonderland.
2) The people. Generally speaking, I find most of the people that I encounter, regardless of religion, politics, or whatever, to be fun-loving, caring, and genuine.
3) I love the history, especially the architecture of the houses and buildings around our area. It’s encouraging to see an effort to preserve them.
Why does music provide you joy?
Music for me, God willing, as long as I can, is an amazing gift that I have with me at home, or anywhere I go. It’s a hobby that turned into the best habit.
What’s better? Listening to music or making music?
I’d say I like playing music more, but I listen to music all of the time. They go hand in hand. I love hearing new music, it inspires me to learn new songs, and it inspires me to create my own.
Which season is your favorite and why?
I’d say Fall is my favorite. The colors, the exhilarating feel of the weather cooling … feels comfortable to me. There’s a certain excitement I get in the Fall that I really can’t explain.
I lived in South Carolina near Myrtle Beach for eight years. It was nice, but I definitely missed the change of seasons.
What was your first thought when you heard Mary Blake sing that very first time?
The first time I heard Mary sing, I was amazed that this woman was here, in the valley.
She was powerful and beautiful, full of energy, and engaging with everyone she met. When we became friends, it was so fun to sit with her and trade off songs for hours.
