Aging
Since I’ve moved here, because I’m aging, I have had that fact pointed out to me many times. My great-grands, as they are learning about numbers and math, have certainly pointed out my age as they try to count up to my age. Henry, now 8, was learning some math terms and Meredith (2 years younger) tries to keep up with her big brother. The word Henry was learning was “infinity.” Mere asked Henry if I was as old as infinity. He assured her that I was nowhere near that.
A couple of years ago my 5-year-old neighbor and I were chatting about his hockey experiences, when out of the blue he asked me how old I was and I replied 88. Then he said, “You’re REALLY OLD!!”
Now I’ve turned 90 and am so fortunate to be as independent and healthy as I am. Yes, I celebrated! Believe me, I can’t believe my good fortune either. People have asked me what I did to get this far. I have not had the same lifestyle as Willie Nelson, and he is a year older than me. I think we just inherited good DNA and got extremely lucky.
A week after my birthday I had chest pains, went to ER and to make a long story short it was not heart, but I had my gall bladder removed and I’ve adjusted nicely. But the hospital trip was quite an ego boost. As you probably know staff always asks your name and birth date. Everyone that asked me commented that there must be some mistake about the birth date because I didn’t look or act “that old.” And I must have equated that to mean I can DO all things, too. So when the doctor said I could go back to exercise class, I did. All was going well until we did the balancing … hang onto chair, one leg up, raise one arm and then the other arm up. I tentatively released the grip, then some fingers, then all of them … and then I toppled back, scaring me and the whole class. And I got lucky because I ended up fine except for the goose egg. What did I learn? I’m 90! I can’t do ALL things!
My advice is to enjoy each age you are. With each age there are advantages and disadvantages and they are different for each of us. Take advantage of your strengths, but don’t overlook your weaknesses.
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. – 2 Corinthians 4:16
They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green. – Psalm 92:14
Claire Welch
No comments:
Post a Comment