Year-end Reflections

· December 29, 2019 · This and That · · No Comments

As we come to the end of the year, we are drawn to look back. The amount of time spent will be determined by the events and how much we were affected.

Personal events quickly come to mind. What has taken place around us?

As we look at events, we find ourselves starting down the “rabbit hole”. It is easy to avoid reflecting on anything that does not appear to affect us personally.

Many excuses can be offered.

I have everything I need; I am too old to receive much damage from what is taking place.

If it becomes a problem someone will fix it; it’s not my problem. There exist uneven portions of “the good, bad and the ugly.”

Unfortunately, the year-end reflection can teach us all lessons.

Whether or not we choose to acknowledge their existence, they deserve attention. If our individual behavior can make things better, we should do our part.

Happy New Year

Note: Beloved Spouse is guest blogger

Nothing Says Love Like a Kitten

· December 20, 2019 · This and That · No Comments

There were many reasons not to get a pet, but reason flies out the window when one picks you.

We decided when Sybil, our cat of seventeen years died that would be it for us; no more pets. Beloved spouse’s grief was such that he was adamant about being pet-free.

After a year, unbeknown to the beloved spouse, late at night, I checked out the cats for adoption online, but none really spoke to me, reinforcing the decision to remain pet-free.

Okay, if I happened to find a British Shorthair for adoption, then maybe. The likelihood of finding one of those was akin to Mitch McConnell expressing undying devotion to Nancy Pelosi.

I visited the pet store during adoption events, but none appealed to me. Beloved spouse, a sucker for anything with four legs and a tail, avoided these events, except for that fateful day on the way to the gym. I casually mentioned I would like to check out the cats for adoption at the pet store; just to see––.

A crowd had gathered around a certain bad boy exhibitionist preening, yawning and batting a toy in his crate. He was over the top adorable and made eye contact with me.

I told myself he was so adorable; he probably wouldn’t be available after our workout- but if he was ––.

I am convinced the cat waited for us. Maxwell has made himself at home and for the most part, resides in the beloved spouse ‘s man cave.

Beloved spouse ordered a special house to ensure Maxwell has complete privacy taking care of his personal needs.

And Max is computer literate. He has discovered functions on my laptop that confound the experts who have come to enjoy my daily online help chats.

Max on laptop

Getting Old Sucks

· December 3, 2019 · Stuff I Probably Shouldn't Have Said · · No Comments

“Getting old sucks” is a common comment; mostly heard from less experienced people approaching the fourth quarter of life.

Many stages of life come with challenges; teenager angst, sleep-deprived new parents, harried working moms and caring for aging parents.

Growing old does come with some harsh realities; losing friends, ill health, and coming to grips with one’s immortality. I’d argue growing old has the advantage of freedom over most of the other life stages.

For instance, you accept the fact that some people love you and some people don’t like you. You don’t care one way or the other, immediate family excepted, (in some instances.)

You can stay up late; watch mindless television and eat buttered popcorn without one scintilla of guilt.

Skipping the gym one day is justifiable; you lifted that heavy bottle of vodka to prepare your daily martini or two. And everyone knows calories consumed by food ingested standing over the kitchen sink do not count.

Wearing sweats nearly everywhere puts you right up there with fashion-forward soccer moms, not that you care. You ditched stilettos, dresses and on occasion, certain undergarments and still feel good about yourself.

Older people are marginalized for being clueless, so use it to your advantage. Park guilt-free in the supermarket online pick-up lane. If confronted you can get away with a vague, clueless facial expression indicating you didn’t know.

You can eat at 4:00 pm if you like and care less about the early bird dinner jokes.

The most under-rated benefit of growing old is the ability to endure thanks to a lifetime of experience. Some people have not had the advantage of life’s learning experiences. The next time I hear someone complain “getting old sucks,” I’m going to bless their heart.

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