PEGGY SHARES HER STORY

For almost four decades, Peggy has been working for a company based in the Chicago suburbs that installs underground utilities and cable, the vast modern-day networks of pipes and fiber that tie all of us together but none of us can see. That small irony doesn’t seem to weigh on her mind very much because, frankly, most all of her work deals with above-ground responsibilities.

“I’ve been working there for 37 years doing everything as the president’s right hand, so to speak. Payroll, insurance, payables, receivables, you name it, I kind of do it all,” says this 62-year-old executive assistant. “I’m a hard worker, a totally dedicated person, a creature of habit. I like to do things at the same time every day and have a routine.”

Peggy then shares a tidbit that shows she has another side. “I love to talk to people. I used to bar tend besides working my full time job for like four years, and I loved it because then I socialize with people and get to know stories and it was lot of fun. I used to call it my fun job.”

She stays in shape and keeps up her energy levels by a disciplined exercise regimen. “I have worked out since I was 28 years old, and until the pandemic hit anyway, I would get up at quarter to three in the morning and get to the gym usually about four o’clock, work out for two hours. Take a shower and go into work. During the pandemic I’ve been working out at home, until I feel comfortable enough to go back to the gym.”

Peggy credits her strong faith as the bedrock value that has guided her through the years. With her husband, three grown daughters and a father who’s marking his 99th birthday this year, she adds that a loving family and good friends are also important. “I just try to have respect for people the way I want to be respected, and treat people equally because nobody’s better than anyone else,” she says.

About five years ago, Peggy began noticing she was having trouble trying to recall facts and figures in her work. “My memory used to be sharp and even though sometimes you can look some things up on a computer there’s things we don’t even have a computer for.” Her husband suggested she try Prevagen, and before long she was remembering things again.

“Prevagen has helped my memory,” Peggy reports. “I really notice at work that I can remember things like I used to.” It’s probably just as well, though, that she doesn’t have to remember where they buried all that cable.