By: wandarap2005
15/11/2008
11:58 am Yahoo! Profile:
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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, she was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let her 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 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 kinder 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 wit h 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 get *** by a car? B ... |
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By: wandarap2005
15/11/2008
12:00 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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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). |
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By: noozilander
15/11/2008
12:12 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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| Nice Wandarap. Life gets better all the time, ah?! |
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By: nana_mac@rocketmail.com
15/11/2008
12:18 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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| Fantastic !!! and so true. I don't mind my wrinkles because every single one is a story in itself the same goes for my greying hair. |
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By: liddee_lu
15/11/2008
12:26 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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| Ach! when you get to my age there's no rules,lol,they wouldn't dare ! |
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By: nana_mac@rocketmail.com
15/11/2008
12:29 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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| LOL liddee and being a Nana is awesome !! |
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By: liddee_lu
15/11/2008
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| well I have wonderful memories of loving parents..Wandarap's thread is so awesome |
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By: liddee_lu
15/11/2008
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| I'm strolling through the threads...nice to see a new one..later..oh Hi Mr Noozi..*waves* |
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By: cidermad
15/11/2008
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| Great sentiments wanda - and cool way of thinking and puts into words how I feel also. But I do have one vanity and thats NO GREY HAIRS shall appear on my head while I still have the ability to colour it. |
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By: gam.wilson@xtra.co.nz
15/11/2008
12:41 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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Wanda
Just beautifully expressed.... |
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By: wandarap2005
15/11/2008
1:28 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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| Thank you Gam and Cider, Liddee and Noozilander, have been wanting to get that out for ages I think lots of beautifully matured wines like me can relate to that - can't speak for those wines that have corked and turned to vinegar. |
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By: oltrout
15/11/2008
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Beautifully put wandarap.
I first realised I was aging when I looked in the mirror one morning and there was my mother staring back at me! But I love my mum - a wonderful, practical, strong 80 year old. Have to admit, I do colour those gray hairs out though.
And we don't need to put ourselves on Facebook. After all, at our age we already know who our friends are!
(And making more on here). |
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By: nana_mac@rocketmail.com
15/11/2008
2:21 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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| Beautifuuly said oltrout ... we do, indeed, know who our REAL friends are. :) |
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By: nana_mac@rocketmail.com
15/11/2008
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| OMG typo sorry lol. |
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By: katrinamarsh92
15/11/2008
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| What an incredibly beautiful piece of writing, now there's a perfect example of someone who's real in a surreal environment! They do exist, Thank You Lord!. |
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By: machint@xtra.co.nz
15/11/2008
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| I can identify with that thread ! Good stuff. |
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By: unclenana@xtra.co.nz
15/11/2008
2:59 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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wanda
you make me feel good about myself. Thank you. |
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By: stillettos4me
15/11/2008
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| What a great thread, I also do like oltrout and do dye out the gray hair lol, all good though apart from the flabby tummy and double chin LOL |
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By: stillettos4me
15/11/2008
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| and yes it is awesome being a nana even if they are Step grand kids! |
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By: cidermad
15/11/2008
3:37 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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| Hey stilleto - I have that tummy and 2 chins also! and 4 of my grandkids are steppies - (I have 10 in total - yeh just love xmas NOT) |
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By: wandarap2005
15/11/2008
3:49 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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| Hello Supergrans...lol |
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By: david_adams@xtra.co.nz
15/11/2008
3:59 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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as an aging male, the thing I miss most is time.
The older you get the shorter the days seem, the more you want to do and yet the less you get done.
The more people you want to see, sometimes the harder it is.
Grandad to 2, step Grandad to 3 |
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By: wandarap2005
15/11/2008
4:04 pm Yahoo! Profile:
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| Hello David |
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By: cidermad
15/11/2008
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| David - there are only so many hours each day to do 'stuff' and there's no point in beating yourself up |
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By: david_adams@xtra.co.nz
15/11/2008
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lol, I don't beat myself up about it
I accept the fact and reprioritise what I am doing
Hi wanda |
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