Age is most definitely a state of mind. I just turned 55 and I joke
around as much as I did as when I was 20. Am I more mature than I was
35 years ago? Maybe just a little. And retirement isn’t in the cards
for me. I’m hoping to either 1. die while having the best sex of my
life, 2. at the bench, or 3.
climbing the highest mountain on my bicycle. I know I’m going to end
up in diapers, but for me - I’m going in the opposite direction ;~)
Jeff Herman
Hello Thomas,
We are both lucky to have a support group. It is so important. My
tools have changed to accommodate my limitations. A 000 brush,
enamels, a torch, and simple bezels make me feel that I am
contributing to the light at the end of the tunnel. Hang in there
Thomas… we are in good company.
Best,
Chris
I am smiling broadly as I write this. This is my last day at 82.
What did i do? This morning I attended a Bowling clinic. Bowled 5
games all over 100 and one at 173! My League average is 106, today
it was 124 in practice. I also attended a meeting for the Charity I
support, Art For Barks, watched California Chrome sadly.
I so thank all of you who wrote to me here online with wonderful
words, and to those who sent private messages. Believe me, my heart
understood the friendships extended. It will beat longer because of
this. Life really is for living to the fullest, and I agree with
Jeffrey Herman, let the last breath be in the midst of an orgasm.
Why not?
I love the words from some songs, “regrets, I’ve had a few, but yet
too few to mention,” another is from South Pacific, “you’ve got to
be taught to hate, before you are six or seven or eight, to hate all
the people your relative’s hate, you’ve got to be carefully taught.”
Show love and appreciation to those closest to you, hug often. If
you were taught self restraint, erase that and physically show love,
hug, touch, speak it. Watch the appreciation and smiles those
gestures bring. Simple things that mean so much.
Yesterday I attended a love filled Memorial for a short life, 51. It
was powerful, sad of course, poignant. When you are part of a cancer
group, there are too many of these. I grew up with few losses, my
parent’s lived to their 90th year. My brothers and their families
are well. One of my “generation” left last night at 98. Sad, that is
a part of life.
Tomorrow, a few hours from now, I will be one year older, do I feel
the change, of course not. Today my growing up girlfriend was 82. In
our phone call we spoke about our trip to Ebbets Field to see the
World Series in 1947. We were photographed and made the local
newspaper. I got into trouble with my father and the Dean of my High
School. Memories I can share with my grandsons. Treasures.
Enjoy living, stay active, share love. Never worry about what
someone may say, it really does not matter at all.
Hugs to all of you, my Orchid friends.
Terrie
Jeff, I agree to most of that
Age is most definitely a state of mind. I just turned 55 and I joke
around as much as I did as when I was 20. Am I more mature than I
was 35 years ago? Maybe just a little. And retirement isn’t in the
cards for me. I’m hoping to either 1. die while having the best sex
of my life, 2. at the bench, or 3.
climbing the highest mountain on my bicycle. I know I’m going to end
up in diapers, but for me - I’m going in the opposite direction ;~)
But I also think aging is a matter of priorities. I’ve reached an
age when a good shit is better than sex. Yet I still haven’t figured
out what I want to be/do when I grow up.
Aggie
Dear Jeff, Live life. Never say die till you are dead. The trails &
tribulations of body are something each one has to go through. No
escaping that. Does not stop us from doing what we want.
Cheers
Umesh
Terry,
A thousand hugs to you today, as a birthday celebration, from all
parts of the Orchid nation. You are an example to many of us for
making the best of the precious gift of life.
May you sing the Hallelujah Chorus’ again and often.
Blessings, MA
Hello Bill ,
Only the best can come from your “brain child.” Rock on in
retirement.
Judy in Kansas
I seems to me like most of the people on this forum are people who
like a project, you might even say we need projects. You wouldn’t be
interested in making jewelry if you weren’t drawn to spending hours
making, creating, building. If keeping your mind and body busy are
key ingredients to ‘staying young’ as you age, I think most of us
will be in pretty good shape.
My Mom is well into her 80’s and lives at one of those retirement
campuses, it reminds me of a dorm for older people (without the
pounding music and smell of stale beer and pot smoke). On a recent
Saturday morning I asked one of her neighbors what they had planned
for the day. She covered her face and with some embarrassment said,
“I hate that question! I never do anything.”
Living like that is hard for me to imagine. I plan on staying busy
making, building, fixing stuff right to the bitter end.
Mark
I think you might like a book called Cold Tangerines, I quote from:
“I want a life that sizzles & pops and makes me laugh to get to the
end of tomorrow and realize my life is a collection of meetings, pop
cans, errors, and dirty dishes. I want to eat cold tangerines and
sing out loud in the car with the windows open, wear pink shoes,
stay up all night laughing and paint my walls the exact color of the
sky right now. I want to sleep hard on clean white sheets and eat
ripe tomatoes and read books so good they make me jump up and down.
I want my every day to make God belly laugh, glad he gave life to
someone who loves the gift.” Rachel Hayward, 82 and looking forward
to every day!
Delightful. I turned 83 this year and feel exactly as you. I dig in
my yard, replant and move things all the time, do all my own
housework and wash my dishes by hand (no sense in using a dish
washer for just one person). I entertain nonstop and hope I never
tire of getting my “good” things out to use and to set up things for
guests. I love living and have no intention of giving it up before I
reach 100, so figure I’ve got 17 more good years before I need to
even think about calling it quits. Life is great if you like living,
and I do!
Kay
PS: I think I will definitely look for the book “Cold Tangerines” -
the title is very enticing.
Still don’t know what the word “retirement” means. I’m having too
much damn fun living & teaching. Some of my friends are now going to
Florida & spend 5-6 months doing tiddly-e?. I call Florida “G-ds
waiting room”.
As of today, I have officially signed commitments for two more
colleges to teach next Spring & Summer. By the end of this December,
I have 30 students to teach gem-stone setting.
Most of them know me through our great & honourable Orchid web-forum!
I usually wake up at 3:00 A. M. & check my emails. As I’m on a
24-hour clock, many of the contacts are scattered all over the world.
All of this, because of “Orchid”.
Gerry Lewy
This subject is super. I have been retired for 15 years and knew
before then that I was going to be designing and teaching this
wonderful avocation of jewelry making in retirement. I am busy every
day. Don’t see any let up. I enjoy doing what I do. The students are
mostly one on one, and some are friends now. The acquaintances I have
made will last me the rest of my life. At 86 I can’t think of a more
complete and rounded life I have had and will continue for as long as
possible. Thanks to Orchid I have made friends and now am getting
friends and students from Facebook. Thanks all.
Hello Gerry, You are inspiration for all of us.
Cheers!
umesh
Some of my friends are now going to Florida & spend 5-6 months doing tiddly-e?. I call Florida "G-ds waiting room".
Oh Gerald, have you got it backwards. God forgot the dehumidifier
and the air conditioning.
More like God’s hot house.
Aggie, grumbling in Orland, while checking the 45 day forecast.
We’re supposed to stay in the 80’s daytime temps until mid Nov. Don’t
mention the humidity!
Hi all,
This topic comes at a good time for me. My wife of 61 years passed
away a couple of months ago so I’m looking at what to now. I’m still
doing lapidary work and wire wrapping jewelry and have a chance to
move into a senior facility where they plan to have me teach
lapidary and chrysanthemum culture, my other interest, but I haven’t
made up my mind yet. Oh yes, I’m 4 months shy of my 95th birthday.
Keep going guys.
Irv Baker
Dearest Irv. It was lovely to see you at the show in SanRafael.
You’ve always been a great teacher. if you can get them to build you
a lapidary shop and a hot house for growing chrysanthemums in an old
folks home, you’ll enrich many lives. Way to go, Irv!
Mary Jane St. Amand
Irv,
Very sorry for your loss, my parents had 62 years together, both were
in their 90th year. The decision to relocate is/will not be easy. If
you have relatives and/or friends close by and are active within your
own home, give it some time. If cooking and occupying yourself is a
chore, lean towards hiring help into your own home, or consider the
other option.
Never stop your Lapidary or horticulture, they both are rewards of
the Earth and nurturing them keeps you physically and mentally
active. Consider teaching basic Rock and Mineral identification to an
after school program for youths. that really will keep you on your
toes.
Enjoy the rest of your life, why not?
Hugs
Terrie
Sometimes it is good to revisit old topics (and friends). I went thru the posts and saw the reference to the book “Cold Tangerines”.
I bought this book after reading about it on Amazon.
I am now 70, a retired dentist and jewelry dabbler, a cancer survivor, a divorce survivor and a remarriage enthusiast.
The best is yet to come on my adventure in this lifetime.
I wish all of you the fulfillment of a happy and challenging life and one filled with gratitude.