Guest essay by Gail Taylor:
Surely, there must be advantages to Becoming 70. I pause and ruminate about the subject in hopes of some inspired thought, but alas back when I was in my twenties, logical thought was traded off in a deal worked out with hands of greed. Is there nothing that I have not already sacrificed on the altar of living life to its fullest? Perhaps I left a bread crumb trail that will allow me to retrace back my steps to another time when some promise lined the road ahead.
At the end of last June I was able to sing the Beatles' song "When I'm 64" as a member of a club
I never thought I'd join!
Guess we're still living the '60s experience in our sixties!
peace & poetry power!
Chris ... & Chase (who is well into his 90s in human years)
Monday, May 13, 2013
On Becoming Seventy
Becoming 70 now is knocking on my door at night reminding of his
eventuality with aches in my back and stiffness in my joints. Even
though I protest vehemently that I am not ready, he chooses to turn a
deaf ear or at least remind me that my ear in fact already does not
adequately catch all the subtle nuances of the spoken word. And what
will he do, I ask you, if I stubbornly dig in my heels and wrap my arms
around the banister? Perhaps just to prove my point I will go to the
very top of that banister and ride it to its base. Alas Becoming 70
reminds me that I traded in that ounce of spunk and self determination
back when I was in my fifties for a ride on the merry-go-round instead
of the thrill of the roller coaster. So here I wait for the inevitable,
its odds of close proximity increasing like the labouring of my breath
with each step I take.
Surely, there must be advantages to Becoming 70. I pause and ruminate about the subject in hopes of some inspired thought, but alas back when I was in my twenties, logical thought was traded off in a deal worked out with hands of greed. Is there nothing that I have not already sacrificed on the altar of living life to its fullest? Perhaps I left a bread crumb trail that will allow me to retrace back my steps to another time when some promise lined the road ahead.
The guest not wanted on this trip surely must be fear. Since the
unknown is not some newly created creature suddenly ready to pounce when
I am least expecting it to do so, I do not understand this newly found
trepidation. That being the case, this fear must then be a different
creature, an ear worm whose haunting chant just beckons there for me,
lulling me into an hypnotic stance, a stance from which some day I will
not awaken.
Becoming 70 hears my cries of confusion and gently holds my hand as we
stand atop that escarpment peering back those many years. Interestingly,
I can see that not only unease lays among the fallen leaves; there is
love and possibility lurking in the gentle knobs that will become the
buds of tomorrow's spring branches. Still wasted moments of bitter words
hang like curing carcasses from the limbs and I can see that how I
choose to spend what is left of my journey is still largely up to me.
There is much that I know can now turn a blind eye to such as the dust
bunnies under my bed. I can continue to research and rant about the
injustices I discover or I can toddle off to tea parties. Three guesses
which route you think I will take. Yes indeed, I have retired to take
up ranting and raving and
so far it sure beats working, except for the
pay that is.
About Me
- Gail Taylor
- It seems as though I have done so many things over the years that it would be hard to list them all. I guess what I am most proud of is my ability to work with older adults and share my computer knowledge. I did not come to the computer age willingly or with great anticipation, but rather kicking and screaming about the man in my computer who had no logic. I dibble and dabble in all forms of art from pencil drawing, sculpture and computer art in addition to writing poetry, articles and short stories.
1 comment:
Chris Faiers/cricketMay 13, 2013 at 8:45 PM
Gail, I'm laughing & crying, ruminating,ranting & raving along with you : )At the end of last June I was able to sing the Beatles' song "When I'm 64" as a member of a club
I never thought I'd join!
Guess we're still living the '60s experience in our sixties!
peace & poetry power!
Chris ... & Chase (who is well into his 90s in human years)
