It was under gray overcast skies that we drove to Mitchell this morning to visit my Uncle Harry. He will be turning 95 on Thursday & we wanted to drop in ahead of time to wish him a happy Birthday. In Harry’s own words he said, “it’s the last 95th Birthday I will ever have.” He was in good spirits but I always find it difficult to see elderly folks in the latter stages of their lives. Harry was always an active fellow & it's sad to see him now with his whole world measured by the 4 confining walls of a tiny room. A good friend of Harry’s will be bringing him up to our place a week from today for a Birthday supper.
HARRY OPENS HIS BIRTHDAY CARD & KELLY TAKES DOWN THE CHRISTMAS CARDS TO MAKE ROOM FOR MORE BIRTHDAY CARDS 
HARRY HANDLES A LIVE TARANTULA THAT SOME TRAVELING ZOO FOLKS BROUGHT IN ALONG WITH SOME SNAKES & A TORTOISE FOR FOLKS TO SEE. (took the picture off a photograph in Harry's room)
Wished I had something of interest to write about but the days are beginning to mesh together. Our normal vibrant Spring has been a disappointment & the sadness of April is still in the air. I am beginning to feel both the mental & physical challenges of my 66 years as my understanding of the ever changing world around me ebbs & flows. I am beginning to sense a feeling of tiredness.
I am, like others at this stage of their lives, no matter the age, in a period of transition. I have slipped the surly bonds of youth & traveled across a vast plane of life & learning. I feel I now stand facing another plateau, another challenge, another day & maybe, just maybe, another adventure or two. Maybe tomorrow the sun will shine......................
GROANER'S CORNER:(( One lazy Sunday morning the wife and I were quiet and thoughtful, sitting around the breakfast table when I said to her unexpectedly, "When I die, I want you to sell all my stuff, immediately."
"Now why would you want me to do something like that?" she asked.
"I figure a woman as fine as yourself would eventually remarry and I don't want some worthless bum using my stuff."
She looked at me intently and said: "What makes you think I'd marry another worthless bum!!"
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The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right
now...... AL.
(Smile) There are always more adventures!! Sunshine to see and feel!!
ReplyDeletewe are all just 'puppets on a string' in this game of life!..hang in there Al..summer will be here before you know it..and a new transition will be around the next corner!
ReplyDeleteDon't get too down in the dumps. If you're anything like Uncle Harry, you've still got another 30 years to go!
ReplyDeleteOur lives are kind of like a book..You end one chapter and start another..different ups, downs and turns..Such is life...SMILE, AL!! CARPE DIEM!!!That photo of motormouse made me smile....what a face...adorable, just waiting for a hug!
ReplyDeleteI have been reading for a while, enjoy your posts and love your photos. My husbands Mom will be 97 in October and still does her own shopping & cooking. Maybe we should have her meet Harry. Once the sun shines again, your ebb will be racing with the flow of the day.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like Uncle Harry enjoyed his time with you all. Nice of you to make the trip and brighten his day!
ReplyDeleteI took heart in a study that said that most people will find that there is only a slight change in their abilities at 65 and 74.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope that is true.
In any case, if we accept the process of life and try and make the most of what we have, then we will have done everything possible.
Sounds like you are doing that, and that is all any of us can do. So keep having fun!
Can't agree that we are puppets on a string. Each of us always has choices and the power to make those choices. Perhaps at age 95, Uncle Harry has limited choices, as do we all at times, but Harry obviously has chosen cheerfulness and a great attitude. He could have chosen to moan and complain, but that's not his style.
ReplyDeleteI have been rather moody myself these past few days....lack of sunshine I think. Unfortunately, our forecast here in Indiana still sees more clouds then sun.
ReplyDeleteSorry you are still down, but fully understand. Don't forget that when one door closes, another door opens. Chin up and all that..Grieving takes time, and everyone is different.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you Al, I will be 76 next month and the last 10 years have been extremly difficult. Plus they aren't getting any better,, I can't do the stuff I used to take for granted,,,,My aches and pain's are 10 to 1 worse than they ever were before.. Its frustrating to do stuff and it messes up...I just can't do as I used to... My family tells me I should consider giving up Motorcycle riding or go to a trike...They are afraid for me... I can't drive as long as I used to because my shoulder kills me... So I feel your pain my Man!! I don't know where I'm headed for sure, but it sure is complicated,,, I'm not giving up, but as you say, its hard to keep the dobber up!! Hang in there,,,,You write your feeling well.....much better than myself. But you said it all...
ReplyDeleteI turned 66 myself in April and I know what you are talking about. Our lives have slowed down a little but we are still living! We will keep on wintering in the south and summering back here in our home in BC.
ReplyDeleteI don't drive as far every day as I used to but we still get where we are going, sometimes with a couple more aches and pains or the odd dent. No matter what, we are both better now than we will be in another ten years, so lets take advantage of it.
We are planning on heading back to Mexico next winter as there are still places to see.
We need sunshine. We've only had two days of rain and already I am feeling the effects of the gray skies. I cry very easily and I worry more. Getting old scares me. But I know when the sun shines I will once again have happier thoughts.
ReplyDeleteAt 66, I'm hoping this new lifestyle is just the beginning of many great years for me. Look at you! You're RVing, painting, gardening, planting new trees, blogging, think about everything you do. And that's just in the last few blogs I've read. You're very active and very interested and interesting. I think this weather has a lot of people down, just plain weary and wanting sunshine. Even I've been complaining and I LOVE storms. This will pass - we're in the best part of our lives and it will continue.
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