AGING
It happened yesterday – again! I was checking out at the grocery store and when I reminded them of my senior discount, I was carded!! She just wouldn’t believe I was 68.
She said, “You must work out a lot and stay on the go.”
I said, “Nope, it must be just genes ‘cause I sit around all day reading or getting on the computer, and occasionally, I walk the dog.”
I just love it, of course, when people are surprised about my age. There’s a cute girl (in her late twenties) down the street from me. She said to me one day that I surely didn’t retire from teaching because of age. When I told her what my age was, she began telling everyone in the neighborhood about it.
“You know that lady who walks the little white dog? She’s almost seventy!!”
I really don’t mind if people know my age now. I just wish I physically felt the way I look. What started out as a little ache in my tennis knees has now spread to every joint I have: hips, ankles, elbows, wrists, shoulders, and even my fingers! I finally got the doctor to give me something and that helps, but the pain does take its toll.
The two sisters have it all over me when it comes to caring for themselves physically. They walk (fast!) every day and are very careful about what they eat. Of course, they weigh a lot less than I do, too. And they have always had tons of energy!! They are both constantly on the go.
MA plays bridge, volunteers weekly at the local hospital as well as their church, and is continually attending and having parties! Just thinking about her schedule makes me want to go back to bed!!
And BJ is the same. Her three daughters and seven grandchildren live within a few miles of her and she spends much time with them (when she and Jerry aren’t traveling). She also does a lot of church work. And she makes three meals every day!! Of course, both of my brothers-in-law are retired and the genius is not, so that makes a difference about the meals.
AND . . . there is one good thing about being overweight at this age – my face has very few wrinkles. There are a few around the eyes that I’ve had for years, but the rest is mostly smooth.
Whatever the reason, genes, attitude, or weight, I’m pretty happy with the way I look as long as I continue to be carded.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
MA
MA, short for Mary Ann, was six years old when I was born (BJ was three) so during our early years, she and I were not as close as BJ and I were. I always felt like I was the tag-along when I was with her and her friends. And she had many friends! She is one of the friendliest individuals I’ve ever known.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Like any first born, MA was the sacrificial lamb who paved the way for her younger siblings. If Mother and Daddy felt like they had made a mistake with her, they quickly adjusted and didn’t make the same with us. A case in point: MA had a boy friend in high school and they became “pinned” (he gave her his frat pin). When he broke up with her, MA was so distraught that our parents vowed that BJ and I could not become pinned. And we never did, at least not openly. And so it went – MA was new territory for Mother and Daddy.
Also like most first children, MA always wanted to please her parents. She never talked back, she never missed a curfew that I know of, she always seemed to know what they wanted and usually abided by their wishes. I used to get exasperated with her after we were grown because Mother and Daddy never knew she smoked, which she did until her oldest child started to imitate her. (Of course, they found out about me as soon as I went to college.) But MA usually set a great example for her younger sisters.
Today she and BJ are really great housekeepers. They are both so organized and can get so much done. It was MA’s organizational skills that helped her in her career choice late in life. When her children were grown, she began working for a periodontist who was just starting his practice. She was the only other one in the office to start with. Under her management, the staff increased to include many others. He eventually joined with another dentist and she was in charge of running the entire office. There must have been 15 people altogether by the time she retired.
I am so different from MA (and BJ too) that I used to wonder if I were adopted. But all I had to do was look in the mirror and see the resemblance to them to dispel that thought. But they were both so neat! They kept their rooms straight, and they actually seemed to enjoy cleaning house and helping out in the kitchen. They take a perverse delight now in telling people about how I would manage to get out of drying the dishes when it was my turn. I would forego the dessert and be long gone out into the neighborhood when it came time to clean up; or I would start to practice the piano, something Mother was always nagging me to do, and Mother wouldn’t make me stop to help out. I don’t know who took over my chore, (they probably will say that THEY always had to do it), but I don’t know that for sure.
MA and I became closer when BJ went to Germany for a year (see yesterday’s blog). She was married and living in Chattanooga with her husband and two children then. We wrote frequently during that year, and I visited them more than once. As unhappy as we both were to be separated from BJ, the good news is that we reached out to each other and got to know one another as we never had before. She was my matron of honor at our wedding when the genius and I said our vows two weeks after BJ returned home.
Our relationship has strengthened over the years. When all three of us had moved back to Nashville, we began getting together as couples. We enjoyed the experiences together so much that we started to take trips together. We had some wonderful visits to New Orleans, Vicksburg, Richmond, and for many years MA's extended family and mine spent a week together at Perdido Key, Florida.
About twenty years ago, we three couples began spending New Year's Eve together. At first, we really "kicked up our heels" and stayed out really late; nowadays we rarely make it to midnight. But we still have fun.
Once a year, usually in late spring, MA, BJ, and I get together for a night or two at a state park half way between our respective homes. We have a great time discussing the year, old times, and our relationship.
Writing about BJ and MA for the past two days has really brought home the fact that I am truly blessed to have been given such loving and caring sisters. I continue to be amazed at how well we get along and look forward to many more years of "togetherness."
MA, short for Mary Ann, was six years old when I was born (BJ was three) so during our early years, she and I were not as close as BJ and I were. I always felt like I was the tag-along when I was with her and her friends. And she had many friends! She is one of the friendliest individuals I’ve ever known.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Like any first born, MA was the sacrificial lamb who paved the way for her younger siblings. If Mother and Daddy felt like they had made a mistake with her, they quickly adjusted and didn’t make the same with us. A case in point: MA had a boy friend in high school and they became “pinned” (he gave her his frat pin). When he broke up with her, MA was so distraught that our parents vowed that BJ and I could not become pinned. And we never did, at least not openly. And so it went – MA was new territory for Mother and Daddy.
Also like most first children, MA always wanted to please her parents. She never talked back, she never missed a curfew that I know of, she always seemed to know what they wanted and usually abided by their wishes. I used to get exasperated with her after we were grown because Mother and Daddy never knew she smoked, which she did until her oldest child started to imitate her. (Of course, they found out about me as soon as I went to college.) But MA usually set a great example for her younger sisters.
Today she and BJ are really great housekeepers. They are both so organized and can get so much done. It was MA’s organizational skills that helped her in her career choice late in life. When her children were grown, she began working for a periodontist who was just starting his practice. She was the only other one in the office to start with. Under her management, the staff increased to include many others. He eventually joined with another dentist and she was in charge of running the entire office. There must have been 15 people altogether by the time she retired.
I am so different from MA (and BJ too) that I used to wonder if I were adopted. But all I had to do was look in the mirror and see the resemblance to them to dispel that thought. But they were both so neat! They kept their rooms straight, and they actually seemed to enjoy cleaning house and helping out in the kitchen. They take a perverse delight now in telling people about how I would manage to get out of drying the dishes when it was my turn. I would forego the dessert and be long gone out into the neighborhood when it came time to clean up; or I would start to practice the piano, something Mother was always nagging me to do, and Mother wouldn’t make me stop to help out. I don’t know who took over my chore, (they probably will say that THEY always had to do it), but I don’t know that for sure.
MA and I became closer when BJ went to Germany for a year (see yesterday’s blog). She was married and living in Chattanooga with her husband and two children then. We wrote frequently during that year, and I visited them more than once. As unhappy as we both were to be separated from BJ, the good news is that we reached out to each other and got to know one another as we never had before. She was my matron of honor at our wedding when the genius and I said our vows two weeks after BJ returned home.
Our relationship has strengthened over the years. When all three of us had moved back to Nashville, we began getting together as couples. We enjoyed the experiences together so much that we started to take trips together. We had some wonderful visits to New Orleans, Vicksburg, Richmond, and for many years MA's extended family and mine spent a week together at Perdido Key, Florida.
About twenty years ago, we three couples began spending New Year's Eve together. At first, we really "kicked up our heels" and stayed out really late; nowadays we rarely make it to midnight. But we still have fun.
Once a year, usually in late spring, MA, BJ, and I get together for a night or two at a state park half way between our respective homes. We have a great time discussing the year, old times, and our relationship.
Writing about BJ and MA for the past two days has really brought home the fact that I am truly blessed to have been given such loving and caring sisters. I continue to be amazed at how well we get along and look forward to many more years of "togetherness."
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
BJ
Some people wake up in the morning and as soon as their feet hit the floor, they are ready to go. My father was like that. He would whistle while he dressed and he just couldn’t understand those who didn’t awaken with the same energy. I had forgotten, but after spending two weeks with BJ, it all came back to me that she had inherited this get-up-and-go-immediately gene.
How anyone can be so cheerful that early is beyond me, but she comes into the room clapping her hands and greeting everyone with a joyful good morning. I would hear something like the following each morning: “Oh! Peggy Wade, it’s another beautiful day! Isn’t this wonderful?” (I don’t know when I’ve been called that!) I would open one of my eyes and look at her like she had just gone completely over the edge. And that was after my first cup of coffee!
Seriously, BJ is one of the most positive people I know. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for her when we were growing up and sharing a room for 9-10 years since she is so neat and I’m the opposite. My idea of cleaning my half of the room was to shove everything under the bed or into the closet. Her clothes were folded neatly into the drawers and HUNG in the closet. Thankfully for her, she was able to have her own room when she was thirteen.
In fact, we are different in many ways, but somehow we complement each other. She is able to cheer me up when I’m discouraged (except in the early morning) because she is so darned upbeat and optimistic. And I understand that because I’m optimistic also and need her to remind me. On the other hand, when she has her head in the clouds sometimes, I can give a gentle pull and put her on more realistic ground.
The two of us were very close growing up. We were close to MA too, but she was just enough older to have other interests than our more childish endeavors. When BJ married and moved to Germany, I really struggled – in fact, I can look back now and realize that I was indeed in trouble emotionally. Thank goodness, it was during this time that I met the genius and that brought me out of my funk.
But back to BJ, she is one of the most spiritual persons I’ve ever known. She truly lives out her Christian faith. She is ALWAYS giving to others – her family, her friends, church members in trouble, the homeless – everyone she comes in contact with. And the giving is from the heart, too, not done out of guilt.
She really brings joy with her wherever she goes, and she has been to many places: Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mexico, the Philippines, somewhere else in South America, I forget where. These have all been on mission trips. And she and Jerry have traveled all over the world. Last summer they RVed to Alaska and back and next fall they plan to visit Switzerland again.
There’s so much more I could say, and probably will later, but for now it is enough to say that I am very grateful to have BJ as an older sister who has always been an excellent role model for others, especially me.
(MA, get ready, your time is coming.)
Some people wake up in the morning and as soon as their feet hit the floor, they are ready to go. My father was like that. He would whistle while he dressed and he just couldn’t understand those who didn’t awaken with the same energy. I had forgotten, but after spending two weeks with BJ, it all came back to me that she had inherited this get-up-and-go-immediately gene.
How anyone can be so cheerful that early is beyond me, but she comes into the room clapping her hands and greeting everyone with a joyful good morning. I would hear something like the following each morning: “Oh! Peggy Wade, it’s another beautiful day! Isn’t this wonderful?” (I don’t know when I’ve been called that!) I would open one of my eyes and look at her like she had just gone completely over the edge. And that was after my first cup of coffee!
Seriously, BJ is one of the most positive people I know. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for her when we were growing up and sharing a room for 9-10 years since she is so neat and I’m the opposite. My idea of cleaning my half of the room was to shove everything under the bed or into the closet. Her clothes were folded neatly into the drawers and HUNG in the closet. Thankfully for her, she was able to have her own room when she was thirteen.
In fact, we are different in many ways, but somehow we complement each other. She is able to cheer me up when I’m discouraged (except in the early morning) because she is so darned upbeat and optimistic. And I understand that because I’m optimistic also and need her to remind me. On the other hand, when she has her head in the clouds sometimes, I can give a gentle pull and put her on more realistic ground.
The two of us were very close growing up. We were close to MA too, but she was just enough older to have other interests than our more childish endeavors. When BJ married and moved to Germany, I really struggled – in fact, I can look back now and realize that I was indeed in trouble emotionally. Thank goodness, it was during this time that I met the genius and that brought me out of my funk.
But back to BJ, she is one of the most spiritual persons I’ve ever known. She truly lives out her Christian faith. She is ALWAYS giving to others – her family, her friends, church members in trouble, the homeless – everyone she comes in contact with. And the giving is from the heart, too, not done out of guilt.
She really brings joy with her wherever she goes, and she has been to many places: Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mexico, the Philippines, somewhere else in South America, I forget where. These have all been on mission trips. And she and Jerry have traveled all over the world. Last summer they RVed to Alaska and back and next fall they plan to visit Switzerland again.
There’s so much more I could say, and probably will later, but for now it is enough to say that I am very grateful to have BJ as an older sister who has always been an excellent role model for others, especially me.
(MA, get ready, your time is coming.)
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
FACING REALITY
OK, this is NOT good, definitely not good! I am having MAJOR withdrawal pains from the beach. Maybe if I talk about it some more, I will start the recovery process.
As I mentioned, BJ and her husband Jerry went with me for two weeks. They are consummate beach people; they remind me (almost) of Zonker in Doonesbury with the tanning, etc. They both love to sit all day in the sun just soaking it up. I’m not that into it, but I do enjoy sitting for an hour or two, just feeling those warm rays sink into my body. I try not to think about cancer; instead, I concentrate on vitamin D and the endorphins I’m receiving. Whatever it is I’m getting, I definitely feel a GREAT contentment watching the ocean, feeling the breeze, and enjoying the sensation of the sun’s warmth.
There are several other benefits to derive pleasure from. One was the dolphins. They came almost every day, jumping and cavorting around, sometimes quite close to the shore. We even saw several gray ones as well as the more common black. Their seeming delight as they swam along seemed to me to be a reflection of the way I was feeling.
Another positive aspect of this particular beach was the shelling. There were tons of all different types, shapes, and colors each morning. I took long walks with Rufus usually twice a day. (He walked twice as far as I did because he doesn’t get the concept that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but then he never had Miss Jim Lee Allen for geometry, either.) Almost every walk produced several unusual specimens. And I now know where these condo owners get their ideas for color schemes. I always thought it was the sky or water, but some of the shells looked just like places we have stayed.
And, of course, the sunsets. I have never seen anything to equal it. The way the colors and light played across the waves as the sun seemed to melt into the water just took my breath away every night. I took some pictures but haven’t looked at them yet. I’m sure I was not able to capture an image of the magnificence we witnessed evening after evening.
Well, it has helped a little to try to recall some memories of that experience. And it helps that today, unlike yesterday, is bright and sunny outside. So I’ll take Rufus for a walk and try to get my feet on the ground again. And MAYBE I’ll get some work done around the house.
OK, this is NOT good, definitely not good! I am having MAJOR withdrawal pains from the beach. Maybe if I talk about it some more, I will start the recovery process.
As I mentioned, BJ and her husband Jerry went with me for two weeks. They are consummate beach people; they remind me (almost) of Zonker in Doonesbury with the tanning, etc. They both love to sit all day in the sun just soaking it up. I’m not that into it, but I do enjoy sitting for an hour or two, just feeling those warm rays sink into my body. I try not to think about cancer; instead, I concentrate on vitamin D and the endorphins I’m receiving. Whatever it is I’m getting, I definitely feel a GREAT contentment watching the ocean, feeling the breeze, and enjoying the sensation of the sun’s warmth.
There are several other benefits to derive pleasure from. One was the dolphins. They came almost every day, jumping and cavorting around, sometimes quite close to the shore. We even saw several gray ones as well as the more common black. Their seeming delight as they swam along seemed to me to be a reflection of the way I was feeling.
Another positive aspect of this particular beach was the shelling. There were tons of all different types, shapes, and colors each morning. I took long walks with Rufus usually twice a day. (He walked twice as far as I did because he doesn’t get the concept that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but then he never had Miss Jim Lee Allen for geometry, either.) Almost every walk produced several unusual specimens. And I now know where these condo owners get their ideas for color schemes. I always thought it was the sky or water, but some of the shells looked just like places we have stayed.
And, of course, the sunsets. I have never seen anything to equal it. The way the colors and light played across the waves as the sun seemed to melt into the water just took my breath away every night. I took some pictures but haven’t looked at them yet. I’m sure I was not able to capture an image of the magnificence we witnessed evening after evening.
Well, it has helped a little to try to recall some memories of that experience. And it helps that today, unlike yesterday, is bright and sunny outside. So I’ll take Rufus for a walk and try to get my feet on the ground again. And MAYBE I’ll get some work done around the house.
Monday, November 26, 2007
ULTIMATE VACATION
No, I haven’t died, I just thought I had -- and gone to heaven. I have just returned from spending three and ½ weeks in Cape San Blas, Florida and I feel like I have landed back on Planet Earth with a dull THUD. The planning of the getaway began this way:
Brenda: "Mom, what would you think about spending Thanksgiving at the beach?"
Me: "Sounds good to me. I’ll look up some places online."
So I went to the trusty internet and looked at the place we stayed last summer and found that renting the townhouse in the off season for one month cost just $200 more than renting it for a week! So the wheels began turning.
BJ and her husband agreed to go with me for 2 weeks and then drive my car back. Then three days later Brenda and her children would be down. Then the genius would be there the day before Thanksgiving and I would ride back with him. It was all arranged and off I went on November 1.
Cape San Blas, an 8 mile long peninsula sticking out into the Gulf, is a favorite vacation spot for us for several reasons: 1) it is undiscovered (so don’t tell anyone!), 2) it has no high rises, either condos or hotels, and 3) the sunrises (over the bay behind us) and sunsets (over the Gulf in front of us) are spectacular. There are also very few people here at this time of year and even in the summer it is not crowded. I could walk on the beach with Rufus (the only beach I know of on the panhandle that allows dogs) and not see a single soul. Or I might meet one or two people out walking their dogs as well.
Our town house was RIGHT on the beach; by that I mean that we would walk down the steps from our house and step onto the beach that is most of the time about twenty yards wide. One time during a storm the water came right to the steps, but that only happened once. The building itself is built on a concrete and steel wall so it seems pretty safe. But when you first step onto the deck or screened in porch, depending on which floor you are on, all you see is water. You have to walk to the edge to see the sand. I’ve never stayed that close to the water in all the years I’ve been going to Florida. It’s an awesome feeling, like being on a boat.
Of course, there are some drawbacks. There are only two small convenience stores on the cape and only one very small restaurant with extremely slow service. The nearest town, Port St. Joe, is ten miles away. It is a quaint little town with interesting shops and one or two good places to eat. Apalachacola is 25 miles away and there are also some charming little stores and excellent restaurants there.
The biggest downside for us is the distance. It takes about 2 -3 hours longer to reach the cape than it does Destin, Perdido Key, Gulf Shores, or Fort Morgan, all places we have stayed. But that is one negative aspect I can overlook. In fact, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages for me.
This was the third time in a year I have been to this part of Florida and I hope I can go again soon. Isn’t this what retirement is all about? Going where you want to go when? So I’m starting to save for the next one now. Maybe next time I can find a place with high speed internet. Or maybe not.
No, I haven’t died, I just thought I had -- and gone to heaven. I have just returned from spending three and ½ weeks in Cape San Blas, Florida and I feel like I have landed back on Planet Earth with a dull THUD. The planning of the getaway began this way:
Brenda: "Mom, what would you think about spending Thanksgiving at the beach?"
Me: "Sounds good to me. I’ll look up some places online."
So I went to the trusty internet and looked at the place we stayed last summer and found that renting the townhouse in the off season for one month cost just $200 more than renting it for a week! So the wheels began turning.
BJ and her husband agreed to go with me for 2 weeks and then drive my car back. Then three days later Brenda and her children would be down. Then the genius would be there the day before Thanksgiving and I would ride back with him. It was all arranged and off I went on November 1.
Cape San Blas, an 8 mile long peninsula sticking out into the Gulf, is a favorite vacation spot for us for several reasons: 1) it is undiscovered (so don’t tell anyone!), 2) it has no high rises, either condos or hotels, and 3) the sunrises (over the bay behind us) and sunsets (over the Gulf in front of us) are spectacular. There are also very few people here at this time of year and even in the summer it is not crowded. I could walk on the beach with Rufus (the only beach I know of on the panhandle that allows dogs) and not see a single soul. Or I might meet one or two people out walking their dogs as well.
Our town house was RIGHT on the beach; by that I mean that we would walk down the steps from our house and step onto the beach that is most of the time about twenty yards wide. One time during a storm the water came right to the steps, but that only happened once. The building itself is built on a concrete and steel wall so it seems pretty safe. But when you first step onto the deck or screened in porch, depending on which floor you are on, all you see is water. You have to walk to the edge to see the sand. I’ve never stayed that close to the water in all the years I’ve been going to Florida. It’s an awesome feeling, like being on a boat.
Of course, there are some drawbacks. There are only two small convenience stores on the cape and only one very small restaurant with extremely slow service. The nearest town, Port St. Joe, is ten miles away. It is a quaint little town with interesting shops and one or two good places to eat. Apalachacola is 25 miles away and there are also some charming little stores and excellent restaurants there.
The biggest downside for us is the distance. It takes about 2 -3 hours longer to reach the cape than it does Destin, Perdido Key, Gulf Shores, or Fort Morgan, all places we have stayed. But that is one negative aspect I can overlook. In fact, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages for me.
This was the third time in a year I have been to this part of Florida and I hope I can go again soon. Isn’t this what retirement is all about? Going where you want to go when? So I’m starting to save for the next one now. Maybe next time I can find a place with high speed internet. Or maybe not.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)