It’s official: I’m getting old August 29, 2008

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This is not a “poor me,” or an “angry old bitch” post.

It’s simply my way of working through the losses that come with aging.

My teeth are getting bad.

I need to lose about 30 more pounds (but my doctor would be happy with a 50 pound loss), I need both knees replaced, and I use an asthma inhaler 3-4 times a week in the rainy weather of Seattle.

At my age, a hot night is one in which I must use a fan or air conditioning.

A hot date is an evening cuddled on the couch with four of my grandchildren (#5 is grown up and with her significant other, another grandchild is with her mother in NY, but that’s another post).

I’ve got high blood pressure and will probably be taking medication soon.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way, because that’s life, my friends.

We’re born, we live, we die.
I’ve got a family that loves me, an employer that has moved heaven and earth to keep me working for him, and a landlady that thinks I’m pretty cool to have in her home.

Every day when the alarm goes off, I’m able to get out of bed under my own steam.

I’ve been able to grieve for and accept my past, and I’ve kicked abusive, controlling people out of my life for good.

I’ve learned, finally, that each day is a precious gift to be treasured, absorbed, and set aside to make way for the next golden twenty-four hours.

So, it’s official: I’m getting old.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Aging and hearing loss May 24, 2008

This article from the Seattle PI confirms that I am one of the 38 million aging baby boomers experiencing hearing loss.

And, according to this article, we are not inclined to do anything about it!

That sounds about right.

There are 76 million boomers, and half of us keep saying “huh?” it seems.

Ha!

Aging is an amazing experience, with equal parts of depression and euphoria.

My aging body parts cause me grief some days, most days.

I’m totally in awe that there are parts of me, inside, that are no different from the eighteen year-old girl who graduated from high school in 1967.

But resting alongside this girl is a woman with a lifetime of experience, who keeps learning about herself every day.

So what if we don’t hear as well as we used to, my boomer buddies.

We still rock!

Boomers–can you retire and still eat? May 24, 2008

I’m going to work until I drop–I’ve seen too many people retire and drop dead.

Does that sound noble?

Actually, I can’t afford to retire unless my Lotto numbers come in.