INTERESTING QUESTION

The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, he was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let him know.

Old Age, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometimes despair over my body, the wrinkles, and the turkey neck, disappearing muscle, less hair, more girth. And often I am aghast when I look in the mirror, because I see an old person that lives there and he is always looking back at me. He looks a lot like my grandfather, but I don’t agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or larger muscles. As I’ve aged, I’ve become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I’ve become my own friend. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50 & 60’s, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over any regrets in my life, I will!

Anon with some editing by Harvey