Thoughts on Getting Older

I received this in an email and I loved it so I thought I'd share it here. Not that I'm old by any means but when I take those first few steps out of bed in the morning I'm really not to sure anymore.

"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 sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), 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 a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

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 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten.. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)

MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER!"

Pictures from Thanksgiving weekend

The 5 Burgess kids - yeah we're all still kids at heart.










The 5 Shipley's - oops make that 4 - Scott missed this one, he's away hunting in Canada.





We had a gingerbread house making contest at Ann and Ric's. The house that Sarah, Jenny and Sam created was deemed the winner according to Judge Dorsey Shipley (and yes he was once judge of the orphans court). Not quite the same type of judging but we thought he could handle the task.

Sarah, Jenny and Sam work on their house.

Our Family's finished entry.

Judge Shipley

All of the entries

Thankgiving

We had a very nice Thanksgiving weekend. Sarah was home from college for a few days and we were able to spend Thanksgiving day, just the 5 of us, at home which was nice for a change. We did our respective big family dinners with the Burgess and Shipley families on Saturday and Sunday. Scott and the kids spent Thanksgiving day preparing dinner for the evening. Here's a picture of Sarah and Jenny preparing roll dough for some of Scott's famous rolls. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family. I began setting up the Christmas tree before heading out to work for the afternoon at the Big K, yes I'm still there a few days a month and yes they were open on Thanksgiving. I'll be able to officially retire and draw a monthly check from Kmart October 1st, 2009. Hopefully the company will still be around by then. I'm not really to sure what would happen to my pension if the company were to go belly up. I am just soooooo thankful that I had the opportunity to change careers 2 years ago. Thank you Fern for coming into Kmart that night. I love my current job with FCB and I know longer worry about the stability of my employer. In addition I am so thankful that Scott was able to give 22 years of service to the Army Reserves which has enabled us to enroll in the military insurance, Tricare Prime, saving us thousands of dollars per year in medical insurance premiums and virtually eliminating the worry of medical insurance as he and I both begin to reach our golden years! Oh my, that's kinda strange to even think in those terms.