Well, it happened. I’m 64…..I just can’t believe it. I’m honestly having a hard time believing it. I was ALWAYS the baby of the family. I was the youngest! I loved that title. Daddy loved to introduce JoKay and I by saying we were Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the end….. ha…. I loved being the youngest in my adult Sunday school class and the youngest on staff at school.
Well friends, those days are GONE.
But…as Randy Travis would sing ………On the other hand…..
On the other hand there are significant advantages to age. I’m not quite certain they are particularly “fair and balanced”…. for example, It seems everybody stays in a wad about Nancy Pelosi being in her 80’s but no one mentions Mitch McConnell’s age…. hmmm….
Consider Hollywood and how older actresses are limited in roles while those distinguished looking men are not. It’s changing a bit…. but not much,
And then there are those men who have gray hair and are deemed “sophisticated” while we women are told it “ages” you. If you do buck the trend and go gray you’re called brave…ha… trivial, I know.
Also…there’s the wisdom thing. There was a time when older (gosh I hate that word) folks were treasured for their life knowledge and not laughed at because they can’t get HULU or NETFLIX to work on the TV. Bah Humbug.
Oh let’s be positive Suzanne
Every year is a blessing. Another day to enjoy God’s creation, and for me, plenty of time to do it. When the weather cooperates I sit outside on the patio in my new rocker Jack bought me for my birthday and I contemplate the flowers, the sky, the birds and the fat squirrels who love to dig in said flowers…. It reminds me of my Grandma Smith who would rise before Dawn, meet Buster in the garden and wait for the “varmints” to come so they could shoot’m….. If this reminds you of the Clampetts you would be correct.
And…….let me say that for almost 40 years I said God didn’t mean for me to go to work in the dark or to stay at work until dark.
And now I don’t have to
Heck, I’ll even get up and go BACK to bed. How’s that for an age advantage?
And my grandchildren? Friend… they are the light of my life. Everything they do or say makes my heart skip a beat.
These smart YOUNG teachers video their lessons and I’m just overwhelmed at how precious they are! I want to secretly pull up a chair in the corner of their classrooms and just watch. They are my heart. All four of them. Kathryn, Cooper, Camryn and John Wilson… Susu loves you so.
Of course there are the freedoms we “older” folks enjoy too.
Let me list a few for you…
- I don’t particularly care if my furniture color scheme is outdated. If I want a red chair I’ll buy it. Facebook needs to QUIT telling me about the “mistakes” older people make with their decorating. You know what? I’ll decorate any way I want to and be happy doing it. So there.
- I’m not concerned about what hairstyle “ages” me. You are the age you are even if you have a bucket on your head.
- I may wear black pants that are older than my grandchildren….
- I’m not apologetic about my beliefs. Take me or leave me. I believe what I believe. I don’t really care. I’ll be nice about it and I’ll love you but I won’t compromise just to make you more comfortable.
- The same goes for my faith. I know what I believe. I know what matters and what is just for looks. I’m pretty sure God is hoping we are authentic about our faith. We don’t have to (as Irene would say) put on a show.
- And then there is appreciation and my desire to let people know I love them. It’s important, now more than ever, to make people feel loved and and appreciated.
This past weekend Jack and I attended the funeral of Carlene Williams. Carlene was the mother of Mark Williams, one of Jack’s life long friends. Jack’s high school friends are a special group of men who, although miles apart, are still best friends. They have been there for each other through thick and thin. They have been best men, groomsmen…they have celebrated graduations, weddings, births and mourned deaths. AGE has made me appreciate all of them (and their wives) more than ever. Only AGE and time can do that. It’s a blessing for sure.
As I sat through Carline’s service I thought about her life and mine. She was so nice and so kind to me, even before I met Mark or Jack. Her circle was wide and her positive influence ran deep in the lives of thousands of people……. in the schools where she taught, the town where she lived and the church where she worshipped. Her years were so full of goodness. She left this world a better place. Her legacy lives on and won’t be forgotten.
Age is a blessing. A God given opportunity for us to make a difference in the lives of not only our families but to everyone we come in contact with while we’re here
I think about how our faith is shared and how happy we are that Carelene is with her family in heaven………..and yes that is the ultimate desire for us all……But let me add that GOODNESS for GOODNESS sake is important too. AGE allows us time to share goodness, empathy and kindness more than ever. We now have the time to think, to act and to donate to causes we care about, and the wisdom (we hope) to do it!
I’m sure we’d like to be asked our opinions a little more…..but nothing’s perfect, right?
So here’s to AGE.
To being 64.
To laughing at mistakes, to empathizing with friends who have illnesses or loss, to sympathizing with those who need help.
To praising God and loving people every day, even if you’re 64
It’s just a number
Walking Home 