Saturday, 17 January 2015

Growing old

When you get to our age there is not a great deal you can still do that you did when you were younger. Ones knees and hips give out, ones blood pressure is either high or low and you tire easily. Apart from which most of ones relations and friends have gone to the great beyond.
I used to love dancing. Well that's out. Long walks. They're out. Late nights? Yep, them too. Travelling long distances no longer appeal and we have a horror of  long flights to distant countries, despite loving to travel for so many years.
One can look back and say to oneself - oh, I wish I'd done that - seen the Northern Lights, visited New Zealand. Too late now!
But that doesn't mean we don't enjoy life. There is a special joy in having been married for almost 40 years and knowing he can still make me laugh. We can both act the fool at times. We love meeting up with our daughter and her partner and seeing them so happy together.
Having moved back recently to the south west we still miss our dear family who live in the north east. We had so many lovely times with them for ten or so years. Used to meet once a month for an evening together when we played silly games and chatted about one thing or another.
The North East, now there's a great place you've missed if you have never visited and the folks thre are just lovely and friendly.
But that is getting off the subject of growing old. I wouldn't be young again, even if I could. I have learnt so much in my 82 years and am still soaking up knowledge. How very ignorant we are for there is always something new to learn.
I have met some lovely people and had some fascinating conversations and friendly arguments. Seen so many great places. Travelled all over England and enjoyed its beautiful scenery and visited wonderful places. Lived abroad but wouldn't  live anywhere else but our beautiful England.
I am grateful for so many things not the least being I still having my wits about me.
I have received the attention of so many wonderful nurses and doctors over the years. Some cared for me when I was 4 and had rheumatic fever and was in hospital for 18 months.  Some removed different parts of my anatomy over the years and have kept me going, especially last year when I had my gall bladder removed and a resection of the bowel. (This was the second resection which was unexpected because things went wrong during the gall bladder removal.)
I have had some wonderful friends - the sort who you might not see for years but when you meet its as though you had never been apart. Only a few of those though for they are as pearls.
I have been lucky to have been born a very positive person and I still wake each morning wondering expectantly, what the new day is going to bring and I rarely go to sleep now with some worry in my mind.
So really I have been and am very lucky. I have people who love and respect me, whose company I enjoy and, I hope, who enjoy my company otherwise why would they keep coming back?
Do I have regrets? Yes, a few but so much more to be thankful for not least a wonderful husband who loves and respects me. A man who is kind and understanding and is also loved by those who know him. An honest man and a gentleman.
So for now, all you lovely people, I'm turning out the light and going to sleep.




No comments: