When we hear the word “aging,” I’m sure many things come to mind. Some of you thought of the picture I have above. No judgment here; cheese and wine do age. I rarely drink, but I’ll partake in a cheese and prosciutto charcuterie any time. As much as I would like to talk about food, and I will in future posts, this is about all of us. Actually, it’s just about me, but some of you might relate.
I’m 54 years old, and 55, the official age of a senior citizen at least in these parts, is coming soon; too soon. Where did the time go? When did I become my Dad’s age when I thought he was too old 25 years ago? Whether I like it or not, there’s nothing I can do to stop the process. Here’s what’s happened since I turned 50, a few before that half-century mark:
AARP applications, unsolicited by the way, arrive in the mail on a weekly basis.
Marketing phone calls from unknown sources telling me I qualify for Medi-Care.
White hairs start showing up on your arms.
Visits to the restroom during the evening are more frequent.
Classical and easy listening are on your Spotify playlist.
You ask, what’s Spotify?
You start to consider attending an opera.
Buying souvenirs is not as exciting as it used to be because you realize you have way too much stuff.
When shopping for a new car Maserati, Cadillac, and Lexus are at the top of the list.
When your daughter’s dog considers you the grandpa of the family.
When your Target or Walmart shopping list includes a pill box and Metamucul.
When the seniors at church start to ask, “When are you coming to our luncheon?”
When your day starts at 4 AM.
Does any of these sound familiar? My younger readers may not have experienced these personally, but maybe their own parents or grandparents will recognize them. The list you just read has happened to me. It’s okay to laugh I won’t be offended. If any of them happened to you, you’re obviously not alone. I won’t make fun of you at all. In fact, I empathize.
55 came awfully fast. Is it considered middle age? Only if you live to be 110. Whatever the unwritten age rules are, the fact is we are all getting old whether we like it or not. There are things we just cannot control, and getting old is certainly one of them. May God bless the folks who are trying to hang on to their youth. I have friends who did what they could in any capacity to look younger. I hope they didn’t spend too much money.
I have more memories of my paternal grandparents. Grandpa, of course, was retired, and from what I remember his day consisted of smoking a pack of Kool cigarettes and drinking a tall can of Coors which he affectionately called Kool-Aid. He also spent most of his time making guitars. He was great working with wood. He and my Grandmother made the most of their last years on earth. I was sad when they passed and I miss them to this day.
Why bring up my Grandparents? Although I plan to travel more in my retirement years than my Grandparents did, I too want to fill my days with creativity and spend time with friends and family. I remember envying my grandparents’ relationship because even at their advanced age, they enjoyed each other’s company. They made it very obvious. I hope to accomplish that as I march toward my 60s.
Here’s another sign you may be getting old, you start to ramble. :-)
Lastly, I do hope this write-up makes you laugh and reflect. Again, we cannot control the aging process. However, we do control how we live our lives. It’s all about choices. Find the joy in your life. Embrace family and friends and don’t burn any bridges. You may need someone to help you cross the street, carry your cane or push your scooter.
I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving holiday. I’ll have more to write come Christmas time. Until next time, peace, love, tranquility.