Celebrating Being Old

The six weeks of Hospice care for my husband before his death on June 23rd saw my husband aging each day--looking older than his 76 years. 

A birthday was coming up for me also, and my husband died two days before I turned seventy. I just seem to never celebrate those decades appropriately and this year my husband had died and couldn't celebrate with me. 

When I was a widow the first time and turned 50, the gentleman I was dating didn't get it right. Then I thought that when I turned 60 I should celebrate at a Plant City tea room because my husband was so busy working. This was before dementia and I didn't know our friends Sally and Jake. The tea room event never was pulled off even though I hinted to friends.  

However, Sally got this decade birthday right as she planned a 70th b.d. luncheon at her home. It was so lovely. What a thoughtful friend Sally is! The guests that came brought two cards, as it turned out--a birthday card and a sympathy card. 

I am at the head of the table. 

That day Jake was at the Senior Center, and although he had been going there with my husband, he became accustomed to going there by himself as we all saw hubby going downhill. Six weeks later  Jake asked, "So did your husband actually die?" They were such good buddies. Life goes on even if memories fade. Part of my grief is that Jake doesn't have his buddy. 

I started a Pinterest board on aging.* Here are some pins you might enjoy.

We should take the best of every age.  Hey, folks, I rap. I plan to write more raps and get YouTube figured out.  I am working on an Ed.D. in counseling. 

Have a reason to laugh.

Laugh at our memory.

Laugh at our eyesight.

Laugh at our teeth. 

But above all, be spontaneous, creative and have fun.

* Click on the bottom of this blog (after the July 16 post) for Follow Me on Pinterest. 

Another Year Older

Ernie Ford used to sing a song called "16 Tons""

Another year older but deeper in debt. . .

Saint Peter don't you call me. . .

Yesterday was my  birthday. I am another year older.

Another year older but not deeper in debt. Last year we changed our mortgage to every two weeks and shortened the length of the loan. At this time next year I hope we will be less in debt.

My birthday gift from hubby is a walking treadmill. His personal shopper got it for less money at Play It Again Sports.

Not everyone does this on her birthday. Get Botox? No. Yesterday morning I had my consultation on my eyebrows and next Monday the deed (tattooing my eyebrows) will happen. For three weeks after that I will not be allowed to sweat while the forehead heals. So after Monday I cannot sweat on that treadmill and work in the yard. How can I not sweat when I have a middle-of-July yard sale coming!!! There are sweat headbands, however, and I do have those and know where they are.

Yesterday we also went to dinner with Sally and Jake at Grillsmith in Brandon. Eliza, the manager, took a picture of hubby  that I am posting on the Plant City Lady and Friends LIKE page on Facebook. We loved our service and the food there. Sally and I both had a delicious salmon salad and my husband had "Pork Chop Marsala", recommended by our waiter. I embarrassed my husband when I did two raps for Eliza. He put his red napkin over his face.

We caregiver wives stick together. Earlier this month Sally had pointed out the card section at Family Christian Bookstore and hubby bought me a DaySpring card I received yesterday with Proverbs 11:10. Now this card was in a small bag that I didn't peak at, but I knew where it was. I put the bag out yesterday morning. Hubby signed it. It said,

For My Wife

Your birthday is a time to reflect

on the amazing woman God

made you to be.

Your caring heart, ready smile,

and love for those around you

make sharing life with you

a blessing.

With each year, I discover

a little more of who you are

and who you're becoming,

and that's a lifelong adventure

I'm thankful for.

I love you,

Sweetheart,

and thank the Lord for the

precious gift you are in my life.

Sigh! Life is such a precious gift. I love my husband even more than when I married him in 2000. We didn't know what these senior years would bring (his dementia, our car crash, my biopsy next month), but each and every day I see the LORD's sustaining hand.