Old Age is a Gift

[Judy Harder]

This says it all..........all you who are older will like it. Hugs and god bless

The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken
aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, she was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let her know.

      Old Age, I decided, is a gift.

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always
wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the
baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person
that lives in my mirror, but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family
for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind
to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't
chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying
that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avant-garde on my
patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.
     
I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood
the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM
and sleep until noon?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's,
and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body,
and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances
from the jet set; they, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as
well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break
when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's
beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and
to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many
have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other
people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right
to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like
the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here,
I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will
be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIPS NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!

MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER!

[frawin]

Judy, that is well written, I have read it 4 times trying to get that good feeling but haven't made it yet. On the other hand being older and having my Grandkids is a real joy. Thanks for sharing it.
Frank

[Judy Harder]

( I just wish I could write like that. 

I am so glad I learned how to copy and paste......
makes my life much easier.

Glad you enjoyed it.  It does bring home the fact that getting old-er isn't for the (Faint of Heart).
We all must get use to the fact that what we could do yesterday, will never be as easy to do
Hugs and God bless
Me

[Teresa]

This is a hoot..

[frawin]

Teresa, that is a HOOT, we know a 93 year old woman here in Midland that might do that. I love it.
Frank

[Teresa]

A little old lady was sitting on a park bench in a Florida mobile home park.
A man walked over and sits down on the other end of the bench.
After a few moments, the woman asks, "Are you a stranger here?"
He  replies, "I lived here years ago."
"So,  where were you all these years?"
"In  prison," he says.
"Why  did they put you in prison?"
He  looked at her, and very quietly said, "I killed my wife."
"Oh!" said the woman. "So you're single."


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Another two elderly people living in a Florida mobile home park, he was a widower and she a widow, had known each other for a number of years.  One evening there was a community supper in the big activity center.  The  two were at the same table, across from one another.
As the meal went on, he took a few admiring glances at her and finally gathered the  courage to ask her, "Will you marry me?"
After about six seconds of 'careful consideration,' she answered, "Yes. Yes, I will."
The meal ended and, with a few more pleasant exchanges, they went to their respective places. Next morning, he was troubled. "Did she say 'yes' or did she say 'no'?" He couldn't remember. Try as he might, he just could not recall. Not even a faint memory.  With trepidation, he went to the telephone and called her.
First, he explained that he didn't remember as well as he used to. Then he  reviewed the lovely evening past. As he gained a little more courage, he  inquired. "When I asked if you would marry me, did you say 'Yes' or did you say 'No'?"
He was delighted to hear her say, "Why, I said, 'Yes, yes I will' and I meant it with all my heart."
Then she continued, "And I am so glad that you called, because I couldn't remember who had asked me."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
An elderly  man was telling his neighbor , "I just bought a new hearing aid. It cost me $4,000.00, but it's state of the art. It's perfect."
"Really,"  answered the neighbor. "What kind is it?"
"Twelve thirty."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Morris, an 82 year-old man, went to the doctor at to get a physical. A few days later the doctor saw Morris walking down the street with a gorgeous young woman on his arm. A couple of days  later the doctor spoke to Morris and said, "You're really doing great,  aren't you?" "Just  doing what you said, Doc: 'Get a hot mamma and be cheerful,'" Morris replied.
To which the doctor said, "I didn't say that, Morris. I said, 'You've got a heart murmur. Be careful!'"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A  little old man shuffled slowly into the "Orange Dipper," an ice cream parlor and pulled himself slowly, painfully, up onto a stool. After catching his breath he ordered a banana split.
The waitress asked kindly, "Crushed nuts?"
"No," he replied, "arthritis!"

[Judy Harder]

While on a road trip, an elderly couple stopped at a roadside restaurant for lunch.

After finishing their meal, they left the restaurant and resumed their trip.  They had been driving for about twenty minutes when her husband asked her to check their map.  That's when the elderly woman realized she had unknowingly left her bifocal glasses on the table.

By then, to add to the aggravation, they had to travel quite a longer distance before they could find a place to turn around in order to return to the restaurant to retrieve her special glasses.

All the way back, the elderly husband became the classic grouchy old man.  He fussed and complained and scolded his wife relentlessly during the entire return drive.  The more he chided her, the more agitated he would become.  He just wouldn't let up for one minute.

To her relief, they finally arrived back at the restaurant.  And, as the berated woman got out of the car and hurried inside to retrieve her eyeglasses, the old geezer yelled to her........ "While you're in there, you might as well get my hat, and the credit card."

[Teresa]

A row of bottles on my shelf
Caused me to analyze myself.
One yellow pill I have to pop
Goes to my heart so it won't stop.
A little white one that I take
Goes to my hands so they won't shake.
The blue ones that I use a lot
Tell me I'm happy when I'm not.
The purple pill goes to my brain
And tells me that I have no pain.
The capsules tell me not to wheeze
Or cough or choke or even sneeze.
The red ones, smallest of them all
Go to my blood so I won't fall.
The orange ones, very big and bright
Prevent my leg cramps in the night.
Such an array of brilliant pills
Helping to cure all kinds of ills.
But what I'd really like to know . . .
Is what tells each one where to go!

There's always a lot to be thankful for if
you take time to look for it. For example
I am sitting here thinking how nice it is
that wrinkles don't hurt.

[Teresa]

Granny made such beautiful pies! One day, I asked her, "How do you get such beautiful pies with the crimps around the edge so even?"

"Well, it's a family secret," she said. "But if you promise not to tell, I'll let you in on it."

"Okay," I said. "Tell me!"

"Well, first, I roll out the dough, making sure it is flat and even. Then I cut out the bottom layer and carefully put in the pie plate and make sure it is firmly against the sides of the plate.

Then I slowly pour in the filling, making sure it's not too full.

Next, I cut out the top layer and carefully put it over the filling.

Finally, I take out my teeth and just run them around the edge of the pie crust and they make the nicest even impressions you ever did see!"

[Judy Harder]

that is funny........I did laugh out loud................ :DGood one Teresa