Lessons About Getting Older
by Irwin Lengel
(Florida)
Lessons About Growing Older
Spent the day assisting my son and daughter-in-law moving boxes around in their basement and carrying others up to the first floor as the movers placed them in the wrong place when unloading the truck. So, how do I feel – every bit of my 76 plus years and then some. The Tylenol I took an hour ago has yet to kick in.
So, what lesson(s) did I learn today about getting older – just this:
I never was one to lie about my age and never bragged about it either. But having worked as hard as I did today, one thing I would not want to do right at this moment is go anyplace where I might have to stand in a line as the older I get, the fewer things out there seem worth waiting in line for. And yet we did go to Walmart and the lines were unreal – no longer will I go to this Walmart on a Friday evening.
Also, not once in my 76 plus years have I ever thought about turning back my odometer because while I may not be considered a good-looking guy, I want people to know why I look the way I do. We senior citizens travelled a long way and to put it bluntly, the wear and tear reflected by my old wrinkled and liver spotted body are true signs of why I look the way I do. Them thar’ roads we travelled weren’t paved and many of them were old dirt roads with a lot of ruts in them.
Would I ever want to turn back the clock due to being dissatisfied with my lot in life? Nope, not me! I think of certain things from my past like learning Geometry, Biology, and several other not-so-fun classes and think to myself – why would I want to put myself through that misery ……again! I’ll stay right where I am – thank you very kindly!
Now, on those days where I really give thought to my life – there is the possibility that I might want to go back to a specific year or so but only due to my being reminded every day that I am getting old. How do I know – because everything or almost everything about me either dries up or leaks! Did someone say Prostate Surgery! But then we have to “Depend” on something – don’t we?
Funny part about this aging process is that it happens so fast, we learn that we made it over the hill and can’t remember how we even got to the top.
After one passes a certain age we begin to realize that there is a part of the aging process that is considered a nice change from being young. Especially if we are retired! I am referring to the fact that we no longer have any bosses to listen to (well – there is always our wives), no more schedules to follow (but then there are the honey-do’s”). Oh well, we can’t win them all!
Believe it or not – at our age – it is only when evening comes that we realize how wonderful the day has been. With that I will end this piece with a quote by Will Rogers: Being young may be beautiful, but being old is comfortable.” Time for my slippers and a good book.
Until next time!
