Skip to main content

65-60-55

Today is a monumental day in our family history.  My oldest brother turns the wonderful age of 65.  He becomes an official recipient of Medicare, along with  half priced meals for dining out, and discount airplane seats. The golden years or better yet, the sunset years loom before him.  It still sounds strange to me to say I have a brother who is 65 years old; it's like saying you have a brother who could be your father. . . but not.  With this day, I realize another unfortunate fact.  My brothers and I are separated by multiples of five, so with the oldest being 65, it's only a matter of months before we too will join him at 60 years, and 55 years for me, no less.  Wow, that means we all will be senior citizens!  Not only that but we could be considered geriatrics!  Whew!



Somehow, it seemed so much better in years before, 5-10-15, 20-25-30, even 40-45-50!  I wonder how did we arrive so quickly? I pondered these numbers as I walked the golf course this gray foggy morning.  It has been awhile since I've been on the green, and true to myself, I was a bit rusty on the tees. Why do I tweak the ball this way and that?  There I go into the trees again or what a great shot, but directly into the sand!  I strive for consistency, but it doesn't seem to arrive until the last few holes.  Yep, golf is always a life reminder for me because so many aspects play out like it.  My life isn't that perfect drive, more often it's a series of "ups and downs" as I seem to meet up with hazards surrounding my aim.  And now, I realize I am getting ready to step into the back nine of time . . . 


Of course, that time reaches you before you feel you're ready.  Why, if it's anything like my golf game, I feel like I'm just getting warmed up!  I understand my parents so much better now, as I use to hear them comment on the brevity of life.  But I'm deciding to grind it out, to keep playing with all my heart.  Just like today, even though it wasn't my best day and I had to listen once again to my husband's gentle reminders of "lining up" and "swinging through," I'm deciding to approach this time with grace and joy. I'm going to smile, laugh, and play more often.  Even in spite of shots gone wrong and temporary tears, I'm staying in the game. . .     


So today, I am very thankful for my "senior" family that we've become.  It is just one more blessing God had hidden long before in our smaller numbers, but now revealed in the awesome 65-60-55!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hummingbird Lessons

My eye caught a small round mound stuck upon a branch.  Looking closer, I found indeed it was the start of a hummingbird nest.  And yes, I now had the mother hummingbird buzzing around my head, reminding me that I was in her space.  I have been able to witness at least 3 other hummingbird families come to life, and I was always mesmerized by these "tiny vulnerabilities" becoming resilient birds in only a matter of five to six weeks.  The nest was right out my patio door, and I had the best view to watch them daily.  I was smiling. I had a hunch that babies would be coming soon, because our hummingbird feeder had been especially sucked dry only a few weeks earlier.  One day I found at least 4 hummingbirds at one time feeding, which is highly unusual because most times they come one at a time and don't seem to want to share the space.  If they would share, it was two only at a the bar and of course on opposite sides.  I was filling that feeder at le...
Post a Comment
Read more

Last of the Mohicans

Glenny, Jerry, and Bobby were the brothers of my Mother Verna.  I'm not sure why she seemed to always attach a "y ending" to their names, but it stuck with her and even them, regardless of their grown up years.  She also did it with my brothers, Johnny and Petey.  Maybe it was just a term of loving endearment in her big sister and motherly role.  No doubt it has happened once again this past week, as she welcomed her baby brother Bobby into his heavenly home. . .   Uncle Bob was probably the one brother I knew best from Mom's family.  Growing up, it seemed that we didn't always have a chance to spend a lot of time with her side of the family.  Grandma had died in her mid 50's of breast cancer, and although I was told that I was named after her, I arrived too late to ever have known her.  I only see her in the picture hanging on my wall.  Times spent with Grandpa and Uncle Jerry were limited due to lack of accommodations in their home....
1 comment
Read more

Complicated Relationship Living

Today is Mom's birthday.  If she were here,  we would be celebrating her 109th day of life.  I can't believe that it has already been 20 years since she said goodbye to earthly living.   I was much too young back then, at the age of 45, to lose my Mom.  You always long for at least one more conversation to ask the questions you didn't get a chance to do.  You often wished you would have had more talks, especially as you find yourself on a different side of life, other wise known as the senior years. As parents we always desire to keep our family ties together and close, but it doesn't always work out that way.  When our  parents were still living, and as they grew more elderly, they of course were the bond that brought my brothers and myself together.  As adult children, we each had a unique relationship to them, but I am realizing now, that we didn't necessarily have a tie with one another.  We were children of the nuclear family, ...
Post a Comment
Read more