A recent NYT essay caught my attention. The article centered on Dr. Bob Ross of Ortonville, Minnesota. He has been a primary care physician in that small community since 1977, caring for most of the 2,000 residents even as he aged along with them. He delivered babies, fixed broken 9 year old arms, performed sports physicals, and provided care for adults as they dealt with the shock of cancer diagnosis, failed pregnancies, crushing accidents, and more. The line from the essay that got to me was this one: “He’d witnessed and grieved enough death in his lifetime to believe that it was an immense privilege to grow old, and he planned to do whatever he could to preserve it.”
As usual, a thought provoker at just the right time.
Several of my walking friends and my husband and I went to Erie, Pa to watch the eclipse. It was a 7 hour drive and more activity than my “old” body had experienced in the last year or two. And, what “came up “ while the “sun went down “ was a feeling for the planet that made me want more not less. Birds, water, earth all overpowering with miracles. I want to keep observing it all.
I have to keep checking my “tuning fork “ so I can sing along as my body asks for more time off.
Watch “Ancient Earth” on Netflix. It too can help keep your motor running as the information reminds one of how lucky we are to be here at all. My god, what we have unearthed about earth.
So, I am trying each day to forgive myself for letting age render me useless. And I am forcing myself to put on my bifocals so I can see more clearly! This isn’t something to miss! This life, this second on earth, this mystery that can never be totally solved except by “being here now”.
Thank you Graciewilde for setting off a small earthquake under my ego! I am shaken awake!!!
You hit the mail of aging right on the head...the opposing forces ever-present. It's hard sometimes to fight to maintain exuberant life, when it seems so restful to let go
Because I also grew up partially in Italy, there is a huge difference between how older persons are considered there than here. I always connect getting older with trees. I know it may sound weird - But I see the beauty in nature threw all its stages and this is how I view us. How was Mendocino? My book is now officially at Copperfields in Sebastopol. If you decide to buy it, only 7.95, one of the flash fiction stories called UXMAL, yes like the place in the Yucatan - there is quite a fascinating "Old woman" - A curandera that I met - who certainly bewitched me. Happy Spring Gracie. 💐
Thanks for your post and reference to Dr. Bob in NYT article. We have company.
As usual, a thought provoker at just the right time.
Several of my walking friends and my husband and I went to Erie, Pa to watch the eclipse. It was a 7 hour drive and more activity than my “old” body had experienced in the last year or two. And, what “came up “ while the “sun went down “ was a feeling for the planet that made me want more not less. Birds, water, earth all overpowering with miracles. I want to keep observing it all.
I have to keep checking my “tuning fork “ so I can sing along as my body asks for more time off.
Watch “Ancient Earth” on Netflix. It too can help keep your motor running as the information reminds one of how lucky we are to be here at all. My god, what we have unearthed about earth.
So, I am trying each day to forgive myself for letting age render me useless. And I am forcing myself to put on my bifocals so I can see more clearly! This isn’t something to miss! This life, this second on earth, this mystery that can never be totally solved except by “being here now”.
Thank you Graciewilde for setting off a small earthquake under my ego! I am shaken awake!!!
You hit the mail of aging right on the head...the opposing forces ever-present. It's hard sometimes to fight to maintain exuberant life, when it seems so restful to let go
Hi Gracie! I think I have seen that bike!
Because I also grew up partially in Italy, there is a huge difference between how older persons are considered there than here. I always connect getting older with trees. I know it may sound weird - But I see the beauty in nature threw all its stages and this is how I view us. How was Mendocino? My book is now officially at Copperfields in Sebastopol. If you decide to buy it, only 7.95, one of the flash fiction stories called UXMAL, yes like the place in the Yucatan - there is quite a fascinating "Old woman" - A curandera that I met - who certainly bewitched me. Happy Spring Gracie. 💐
Certainly we can try to live in a way that growing old actually is a privilege to look forward to.
Maintain a good level of fitness in order to remain active.
Maintain the curiosity to want to know what comes next.