Are we on the brink of being put out to pasture? Or rather, are we entering into the most significant period of resurgence we’ve ever experienced? Who do we applaud? Do we admire those who hang up their careers and live for that 2 P.M. daily nap or those who have the gumption to start all over again – those who realize they now have the freedom to do as they please?
I’m here lying on my bed with two important beings in my world – my college girlfriend and my shih-poo, Mickey. Mickey is curled up against me, having wormed his way between us again. Where did this girlfriend of 58 years ago come from? Oh, that’s another story entirely – in fact it’s all in a book I’m writing.
But now it’s 6 A.M. and the sun is just beginning to rise. Sunlight is starting to illuminate the window panes, and a single star is still shining through the encroaching daylight, calling forth pleasant memories of my deceased wife, Barb. I’ll only be able to see it for a few more minutes until it fades, and I’ll need to wait until late tomorrow evening to see it again.
I think to myself, “What more do I want at this stage of my life? What tasks are before me at 77, soon to be 78?” I’m not ready to hang it up, to retire completely. I’m an old psychologist and still an active writer and musician. My brain is still working for a living although my body has, admittedly, slowed down considerably.
I reach over the dog and touch the love of my life from so many years gone by. That always brings a quick response from her and a few noises like coos and oohs.
What’s my purpose now? How did I get through the passing away of my beloved wife until, finally, the sudden rediscovery of a long-lost love? What is my new mission? Things are very different now that my mobility has been compromised. I’m down, yes, but certainly not out.
I look around me. I see Carol on her newest path, busily quilting a story for the ages, working hard to save the old center school, and getting metal placards made that will highlight the Mantua Historic District. No languishing for Carol!
What are you going to do these senior days? No doubt you have experienced some of the same kinds of things I have. For example, I can’t work on my Model “A” like I could just a few years ago but I desperately don’t want to give up on my old cars yet. They are a primary enjoyment, an energy outlet, a very good reason to go on living. And I certainly can’t give up on my guitar music, my playing of 60s and 70s folk music with Cal, the banjo expert. A music partnership becomes very much like a good marriage. You learn to anticipate what your collaborator does and will do while you also know what he can’t do. And you learn about each other’s mistakes and how to cover them so that the music doesn’t stop but just goes on. You laugh together – you are the only two in the room who know that you’ve just screwed up, but you covered it so well nobody else knows or cares.
Do you have a partner like that, someone with whom you work exceptionally well? Cal is one of the people in my life who sustain me. We’re back to playing music together weekly now but he almost died seven months ago. Five months ago, I did not think I would ever walk again, albeit slow and wobbly. Yet here we are on the other side of our respective hurdles. Jerry is another important player in my life. He’s my partner in our ongoing work on Model “A”s. We’ll keep at it until we drop. Barney is my friend who drove me when I couldn’t drive myself. And also, I can’t say enough about that same-age woman from 58 years ago who is now my life partner until we time out of this planet. We keep one another going.
Who are the people in your life who keep you going? Write to me (skipstaxidermy@yahoo.com) about them, about how they help you with the day-to-day as well as life’s major foibles. As our numbers become fewer we need more and better communication among those of us remaining. So, share your ideas.
For the past 30 years I’ve written about the OLD ROAD. Now we have become the ones on the old road.
