Old Age.
- 28 July 2013 22:14238941I love my Mum and Dad to bits and now have the privilage of helping them deal with the aches and strains of old age. Mum has memory difficulties and Dad mobility restrictions and yet they both still have a lust for life.
They have just celebrated 60 yrs of marriage and their love for each other is evident in the little gestures and knowing looks they share.
They have seen so many changes in their lifetime and have adapted accordingly, proof that no matter what life throws your way you can endure.
Take a moment next time you feel impatient when an older person takes longer to perform that which may, to you, seem to be a simple task and remember they are doing the best they can. - 28 July 2013 22:26238943they sound like a couple seen every day in our town centre lesley, the man with suit and tie and the lady "done up to the nines" and i know that both are in their 90's.
the bloke said to me a few years back that he needed a hearing aid but wouldn't have one like mine as it would spoil his good looks. - 28 July 2013 22:28238944It hasn't spoilt yours Howard!
- 28 July 2013 22:34238945you are such a tease lesley i bet you say that to all the men, except brian of course.
lovely piece about your mum and dad though they set a standard for many of us. - Alec Sheldon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,037
28 July 2013 22:42238947Lovely post Lesley. - 29 July 2013 00:59238949Lesley,- _ Dorothy and Charlie are lovely people, as was Rhoda your wonderful Nan. When we first moved to Dover 31 years ago I knew no-one and for a while your mum and dad and Nan were all I knew. Through them I got to know others but it would have been a lonely time with just a young baby and a husband working long hours. Please wish your mum and dad all the best from us and long may they enjoy their lives together. A lovely post from you - a wonderful daughter xxThere's always a little truth behind every "Just kidding", a little emotion behind every "I don't care" and a little pain behind every "I'm ok".
- 29 July 2013 07:51238955My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man;
I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.
William Wordsworth, 1802.I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
29 July 2013 08:30238956Lesley, that is a lovely post to see first thing in the morning.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 29 July 2013 09:45238962It certainly is, thank you.
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Lincolnshire Born and Bred - 29 July 2013 12:05238970In life there is no thing more true
complete as one, we are, we two
the best of thee abides with me
and the best of I resides in thee
No faults we e'er allowed to harm
all foibles developed into charm
the best of thee resides in me
the best of I abides with theeIgnorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing. - 29 July 2013 12:48238972
Thoughts on old age -
Oh the joys of being over 50!!! JOYS OF BEING 40, 50, 60, 70, + ...
1. Kidnappers are not very interested in you
2. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
3. No one expects you to run into a burning building.
4. People call at 9 PM and ask, "Did I wake you?"
5. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
6. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.
7. Things you buy now won't wear out.
8. You can eat dinner at 4 P.M.
9. You can live without sex but not without glasses.
10. You enjoy hearing about other people's operations.
11. You get into heated arguments about pension plans.
12. You have a party and the neighbours don't even realize it.
13. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
14. You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.
15. You sing along with elevator music.
16. Your eyes won't get much worse.
17. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.
18. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service.
19. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.
20. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.
21. You can't remember who sent you this list.---------------------------------------------------
Lincolnshire Born and Bred - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
29 July 2013 13:05238974Good one Kath ......... can I add another couple.
22. You can go out not looking your very best knowing nobody will notice.
23. Your family think you should seek a medical opinion when you know you only have a bad bruise.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 29 July 2013 17:59238995Thanks for all your kind comments, I count myself lucky to have such a loving family.
Jacqui, the penny has just dropped, hope you and yours are all well.
Nan was indeed a wonderful character, remembered by many as "Mrs Foote, our school cook" (Archers Court), dart player and sandwich maker for the cancer league for many years.
She was a from up North but loved her life in Old Park Rd and later at the Battle of Britain Flats. Shopping with her was a real treat, so many people stopped to chat.
Nan stayed at my Mum and Dads to pet and garden sit when they went on holiday.My son Simon was about three at the time, went up the garden to help Nan pick some peas and came down sobbing claiming that Nan had called him an animal. Turned out that she had said, "come here pet and hold this basket for me"! - 29 July 2013 18:15239000I love this:
When I Am Old.
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me,
And I shall spend my pension
on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals,
and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired,
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells,
And run my stick along the public railings,
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens,
And learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat,
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go,
Or only bread and pickle for a week,
And hoard pens and pencils and beer mats
and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry,
And pay our rent and not swear in the street,
And set a good example for the children.
We will have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me
are not too shocked and surprised,
When suddenly I am old
and start to wear purple!
Jenny Joseph---------------------------------------------------
Lincolnshire Born and Bred - 30 July 2013 08:05239020Good first post Lesley and all the ensuing ones too.
Jean's Mum is almost 94 and since Jean died I have been looking after her, although she lives on her own, just up the road from me. We chat on the phone each day and I see her most days.
She is a bit slower than she'd liike to be and easily gets confused, but she gets the bus down to Town for a trip to the hairdressers and does small bits of shopping.
I take her out for lunch 2/3 times a week and she's even started coming out in the evenings with friends, so she's a "game old bird" and now seems to enjoy life more. She's wearing smarter clothes, puts make-up on and is quite cheery (I'll get worried when she start putting lippy on though !!).
Look after older people if you can, after all, they were young once too.
Roger - 30 July 2013 09:50239028My father at 91 still cultivated his vegetable garden, including potatoes, tomatoes beans, etc.
He always looked at Countdown and could do the mental arithmetic (his speciality) as well as those on the team. He did crosswords, and always welcomed visitors to talk to and could talk on a wide variety of subjects.
With a little bit of understanding and help, the elderly however old, always have something useful to contribute to society through their experiences of life, and, if appreciated and loved can continue to have a meaningful life as they get older.---------------------------------------------------
Lincolnshire Born and Bred - 30 July 2013 11:57239046Lesley, that's lovely.
- 30 July 2013 13:11239052What a lovely thread, the stories, the poetry & the feel good factor, enjoyed this read very much, thanks Lesley
- 30 July 2013 15:24239066Yes, thank you.---------------------------------------------------
Lincolnshire Born and Bred - 30 July 2013 19:33239078My pleasure!