by VICTORIA HENLEY
CTFashionMag.com
Vera Wang designed her first dress at 40 years of age. Estelle Getty landed her career- defining role as the wise-cracking Sophia on “The Golden Girls” when she was 62.
And Ramona Boatright did not officially catch the “travel bug” until she was in her late 80s; but when she did, she decided to explore her newfound passion in the grandest of ways.
Upon explicitly stating to her daughter, my mother Lynn, and myself, her granddaughter that she regretted not traveling and going on more adventures in her younger days, she was offered the chance to intermittently accompany them on some work-related travels for our fashion company, Magnifique.
Little did her offspring know that this adventure-seeking senior would soon be joining them full-time following Lynn’s unexpected position as her full-time caregiver, and they subsequently dove headfirst into an array of travels: ranging from arduous road trips spanning the nation, plane rides around the world and a plethora of adventures simply too outlandish to believe.
Never one to shy away from a new experience, Ramona, in the latter portion of her eighth decade on this planet, swiftly found herself fully immersed in a brave new world: touring zombie-laden haunted houses, elegant nights at the opera, extravagant fashion shows and pageants, often staying out well past 1 a.m. and enjoying a cocktail or two in the company of some Branson, Mo. cowboys.
Accumulating a wealth of experiences which many do not get to enjoy in a whole lifetime, Ramona quickly developed an “insatiable appetite for elsewhere.”
Frequently assigned to assist at her granddaughter’s Magnifique fashion shows, Ramona even enjoyed the distinctive privilege of photographing the legendary Oak Ridge Boys while I interviewed them at the Mansion Theater in Branson, Mo. for her IHeart Radio spotlight feature.
This fun-loving grandmother’s most memorable adventure to date is a trek to the tropical paradise of Honolulu, Hawaii, where she enjoyed staying in the heart of the bustling, yet tranquil, city with her daughter and granddaughter. Her adventures in Hawaii included a vast assortment of outings, ranging from an action-packed trip to the Kualoa Ranch (the setting for a plethora of blockbuster Hollywood films, including “Jurassic Park” and “Blue Hawaii” starring Elvis Presley), where she enjoyed a safari tour, a boat ride and a Hollywood movie set tour.
Additional thrilling experiences on the island included 5-star cocktails and chef prepared food at the prestigious Japanese restaurant franchise, Zetton Group and master chef Roy Yamaguchi, Diamond Head Crater, and a VIP front row seat at Paradise Island Fashion Week, Hawaii’s premiere couture event.
Most amazingly, Ramona braved the elements, muddy terrain and gargantuan mosquitoes on the long, tumultuous steep incline to the Manoa Falls Trail, an epic two-mile trek to the towering, larger than life Manoa Falls. Throughout the duration of her slow, yet steady, journey, dozens of tourists attempted to deter and discourage Ramona by telling her the hike was too intense and dangerous for her, yet she ardently pushed forward, determined to reach the top with every ounce of grit and tenacity she could muster. Although exhausted, she stated the feeling of pride and accomplishment she felt upon reaching the waterfall was an indescribable joy.
Frequently inspiring glances of awe and gasps of disbelief at her unconventional newfound lifestyle and sporadic schedule, Ramona says she firmly believes that age is merely a number and maintaining a youthful mentality remains her secret weapon in her unwavering zest for a full, high-octane life.
