General Chat

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 (who looks like my mother!), 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 grey hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.
I don't chide myself for eating that extra biscuit, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly chiminea that I didn't need, but looks so avante 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?

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 grey even though I dye it, 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)

Oh, to have had the maturity I now posess when I was younger. I can now see past the "outer packaging" that covers people. An untidy wrap could hide a treasure......a pretty box a sting!!!!

Wise words Belair,all so very true .
Gwyn

Belair,you know the old saying,"You,re as "Old as you feel" Well, I,m feeling pretty good.**M**.

Give me back my youth - Each added year becomes more hazardous, legs begin to ache, back starts to droop, brain begins to hurt.. Oh, I've had 73 wonderful years...But although I have great friends etc., I also had greater friends when I was a teenager - and I had my youth.....you can't beat it....

How true Belair.

How lovely to be yourself, and not worry about what others think.
Nice to have that piece of cake that you would not dare to have in case it was a moment on your lips and forever on your hips.
I look in the mirror and see my Grandmother, Mother did not make it past 26, so thank goodness I did.
Hair the colour I always wanted, nice ash blonde, which used to come out of a bottle, and now is natural. (yes silvery white).
I am now 77, and have many happy and sad memories.
Unlike John, my friends are better, and more truer now, than in my teens. Still perhaps it was better for boys, girls seemed to want to pinch your boyfriends and did back biting.

what thought provoking words Belair. You've made me sit up and think. Tomorrow instead of avoiding the MIRROR I'll face it fair and square and ignore those wrinkles and sagging jaw with great defiance!

Belair

Really loved your words - thank you.

Mind you, don't subscribe to old age, only youth deficiency!

Take care
Steph x

The friends we have now we have known for over 40years, some my husband went to primary school with. We go out with some or all of these friends every week, and holiday with some, we all try to get together for s short break in December usually about 18/20 of us.

My Favorite Things (at age 69)
by Julie Andrews

To commemorate her 69th birthday on October 1, 2007 actress/vocalist, Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP.
One of the musical numbers she performed was "My Favorite Things" from the legendary movie, "Sound Of Music."

Here are the lyrics she used:

Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Cadillac's and cataracts, and hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the pipes leak,
When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pains, confused brains, and no need for sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.

When the joints ache,
When the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had,
And then I don't feel so bad.

(Julie Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted over four minutes and repeated encores.)

My granma always used to say,
The alternative to getting old is dying young, think I'll settle for the wrinkles and creaky bones.

Loved the words. particularly empathise with the fact that you're lucky to get to be grey etc when others haven't My mother died when she was 56 and having got past that by a couple of years and having taken early retirement I am already enjoying free time that she never had chance to have. Grateful for every day she didn't get now

Wonderful Julie Andrews song - Belair, have bookmarked this to take off and show all my friends.