A Word on Aging

I don't want to look like this when I am old. I am trying to take care of my skin now, so that it will be nice when I age. However, I admire this woman of age still strutting her stuff out on the beach, I'll be doing that! Enjoying life!

When I age I want to spend time with my family....I guess I want to spend time on the beach with my family. While I am out there on the beach with my family (with my skin protected) I want to be enjoying the moment, not complaining about how I would raise my kids different or about how my hemorrhoids are irritated by the sand in my suit.

I want to give my children and grandchildren gifts that they want, not gifts their parents want them to have. Something they wouldn't have thought of buying themselves. However, knowing me I will probably give a totally practical gift.

Yep, this Grandma is not stressing out about filling her pill container, fighting with younger people in the grocery store line, or grumbling about how others don't do things her way. She is flexible. She has a smile. She is not worrying herself into a tizzy.

Here's another Grandma. She is a hard worker. She has no time to sit around and rot in a recliner, she's got people to cook for and things to do....all with a smile!

A here's another one, doing his thing with a smile!

I have lots of opportunities in my line of work to get to know the elderly. This semester I am taking a class that focuses on the elderly and resources that they have (or do not have) available to them. I also have three grandparents that I am in regular contact with. While I am no expert on the subject. I have had my share of encounters with the elderly; enough encounters to know how I want to spend my time on this earth differently. While I tease and (dream) about looking great throughout life, I think a smile on the face and a great attitude have far more value. Hard times will come, there will be chronic illness to deal with, my body will fail, I will get lonely; but I can't let that all turn me into a grump, a complainer, or a crotchedty old bag!