As an 80 year old living in a continuing care retirement community for 12 years with my 91 year old husband, I was interested in your comment, "More than once I’ve wanted to just walk out the door and sign up for a studio in a retirement community, which is extreme because that’s the very the coming-of-aging thing i never wanted to do." I retired to a life of purpose and opportunity to be involved in areas I never pursued until working. Why did you think it would be something you would never want to do?
Well it's an irrational fear. I know many who welcome the life simplification of moving out of the responsibility of owning a big house and into a senior living community. My younger self always said "I'll be taken out of here get first" but I now better understand the joy of less responsibility. My life as a writer and generalist will be fascinating no matter where I live. This whole piece is humor in that Jewish comedian way.
Gracefully and delightfully written, Vicki. Thank you for sharing vulnerably and honestly about your journey. I think your memoir would be fascinating!
Vicki, I found this very entertaining and tender. The illusion of control......aging brings humility....and humor if we're lucky. I'm sorry about your bridge--geez!!
I am reminded of the cliche "life is what happens when we are making plans". My plan for staying in my home indefinitely seems less and less likely recently. How do I make plans with my partner when we <seem> to have different ideas of what we want to do in probably less than 20 years and, given the current state of affairs, both internal and external, nothing is at all assured.
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL wherever they might. I'll try to keep up or at least be an involved participant holding on to the(my) rear.
Yes, it does seem that all is falling apart. But it is more complicated than that. We must simply carry on, but mindfully. I know I won't live forever.
But I am alive now--and intend to squeeze out every drop I can.
Thanks for a good post to wake up to on a rainy morning.
As an 80 year old living in a continuing care retirement community for 12 years with my 91 year old husband, I was interested in your comment, "More than once I’ve wanted to just walk out the door and sign up for a studio in a retirement community, which is extreme because that’s the very the coming-of-aging thing i never wanted to do." I retired to a life of purpose and opportunity to be involved in areas I never pursued until working. Why did you think it would be something you would never want to do?
Well it's an irrational fear. I know many who welcome the life simplification of moving out of the responsibility of owning a big house and into a senior living community. My younger self always said "I'll be taken out of here get first" but I now better understand the joy of less responsibility. My life as a writer and generalist will be fascinating no matter where I live. This whole piece is humor in that Jewish comedian way.
There's grace in being able to laugh about it and in between the lines you do that so well!
Funny with grace!!
Gracefully and delightfully written, Vicki. Thank you for sharing vulnerably and honestly about your journey. I think your memoir would be fascinating!
On a practical note: Do you need containers for flour, rice, etc? I don't think a mouse could get through the four that I'm about to de-access.
they are all in glass jars or containers.
Vicki, I found this very entertaining and tender. The illusion of control......aging brings humility....and humor if we're lucky. I'm sorry about your bridge--geez!!
I am reminded of the cliche "life is what happens when we are making plans". My plan for staying in my home indefinitely seems less and less likely recently. How do I make plans with my partner when we <seem> to have different ideas of what we want to do in probably less than 20 years and, given the current state of affairs, both internal and external, nothing is at all assured.
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL wherever they might. I'll try to keep up or at least be an involved participant holding on to the(my) rear.
Yes, it does seem that all is falling apart. But it is more complicated than that. We must simply carry on, but mindfully. I know I won't live forever.
But I am alive now--and intend to squeeze out every drop I can.
Thanks for a good post to wake up to on a rainy morning.