Since she was featured in thrive. more than three years ago, Edna Siniff has continued to lead an active life. She’s still a crack shot with a bow and arrow and a National Senior Games competitor, though this year might be her last at the event, she says. That’s only because she’s shifted her focus to mentoring and growing the sport for other seniors. We caught up with Edna to talk about her passion for teaching, how she weathered the COVID-19 pandemic, and a book she recently published about her self-built straw bale house.
thrive.: When we last spoke, the world was just on the cusp of entering the COVID-19 pandemic. Things shut down quickly in the months that followed and life changed for everyone. Knowing that you live an active, social life, how did you get through the pandemic?
Edna: At the start, I was very isolated, as many people were. My apartment is in my daughter’s house, but we stayed apart and did all communication by phone or text. Because I have diabetes and asthma, and because I’m older, I was definitely in the high-risk category if I got COVID-19. So, I was cautious and my daughter and her husband were very helpful and protective of me.
Archery was put on hold for a while as I was not comfortable using shared facilities, but I kept my strength up with resistance bands and outdoor walking in the neighborhood. I’m still using my walking poles for balance support.
Socially, my biggest salvation was that my other daughter, who lives three blocks away, hosted outdoor dinners and campfires in her yard once a month, sometimes more often. It didn’t matter if it was snowing, we would meet there, stay distanced, talk loudly and have a meal made over the fire. We could catch up and stay social. It was wonderful at a time when many families were not able to maintain those connections.
I keep up on my vaccines and have been able to avoid COVID-19 to this point. I’m thankful for my family, for playing such a big role in helping me through the worst of that time.
thrive.:You put archery on hold during the pandemic, but I know you’re back at it now. Are you still as passionate about the sport as you were a few years ago?
Edna: Yes, I still love archery and was excited to pick it up again, though I felt totally out of it at first. But I was still hitting the paper from 20 yards. It took a while to really get back into it and I’m still working on it. But I did qualify for the Senior Games in Pittsburgh, where I will have to shoot distances of 60 yards, 50 yards and 40 yards — 30 arrows for each. It’s a marathon and it takes a lot of practice and patience. I take breaks and I stay hydrated.
This will probably be my final Senior Games. I can still do it, but I’m having way more fun sharing the sport and recruiting more seniors. I’ve been working with the Minnesota Native Elder Games, helping get seniors in the Native American community — and others — involved in the sport. I really enjoy teaching and sharing my experiences, and helping others find a new passion.
I have received such a benefit from it, healthwise, and I see too many seniors who develop health issues because of inactivity. If I can help show them how much enjoyment there is in this, it can make a big difference in their lives.
thrive.:And speaking of teaching, I heard you authored a new book about building straw homes.
Edna: Yes, the book is “My Adventures Building a Straw Bale House” and it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I have a background in publishing and still enjoy writing, and the pandemic gave me some extra time to work on this project.
The book chronicles my construction of a straw bale house in Washington state in the 1990s. I’ve had a lifelong interest in alternative housing construction and I am very proud of this home I built over the course of a decade. I hope it opens some minds to different possibilities and inspires others to take on new projects, to find new joys in life.
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