Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
Such a tremendous post and so accurate. I, at 75, even now am far more able than so many that are my age. I see it all around me in the senior apartments where I live. I see it when I go to the VA for my medical follow-up and procedures. I see people with no legs (either war related or diabetes) and wonder, if I feel this sorry for myself the way I am, how the hell are those people still functioning. I marvel at their strength and determination.I'm referencing an earlier post of yours now, but when I turned 60 last July, my 91 year old dad (at the time), said that he couldn't credit that he had a 60 yo child. Because it's all about him.
Age catches up to all of us, and I do just wonder at how unprepared some are. There's my dad at now 92 (so he's got a good few years on you) complaining about his knees. All of his five siblings had knee replacement surgery in their 70s or 80s, and he's just now having complaints, and he doesn't appreciate the difference. Took him to an osteo the other day, and his Xrays showed that he should have had knee replacement 10 years ago! Doc gave him a cortisone shot, which he was expecting and hoping for, but also expected to be a miracle cure to restore his cartilage--it doesn't work like that. He just wants some kind of medical miracle to restore him to the robust heath he enjoyed in his 70s and 80s...it's just not going to happen, and I'm now going to have to spend the rest of his days managing his "unreasonable expectations".
I notice the slight change in my darling husband, now that he's 61--he did just come through lung cancer surgery with a fantastic outcome, but age does take its toll. I wish I could get rid of the excess weight that I've put on over the past several years, I feel like the normal "lady in her 50s" changes were compounded by the loss of my only sibling to 9/11 cancer--we had always talked about supporting our parents together in their old age, and then suddenly he got sick, died at the age of 50, and then I had to deal with the parents as an only child (thank goodness for my husband's help). I'm probably some degree of depressed, and I've certainly put on a lot of weight that contributes to my unhappiness. So I've gotta get myself moving.
I am constantly reminded of how lucky I am to be where I am at this point. I didn't drink except for a few younger years, but I smoked like a chimney for close to 40 years and have been overweight most of my life. Have been diagnosed with prostate cancer 8 years ago. Not much change since then. I should be dead by now, but every morning I get up and stand on my feet, inhale easily and except for some aches and pains I am good to go for the day. I am planning a trip to Dollywood with my daughter and her family in May. I'll need some mechanical mobility device, but otherwise I can still walk a sufficient distance and will be able to keep up and participate. I don't go to those places to just watch others have a good time.
In short, I am very lucky and I know it. My dad passed when he was 74 of a massive heart attack. I do make many references to my age and the results of that aging, but that is because I have nothing else happening and it sometimes makes me feel better to discuss it in some way. I know that my daughters love me, but I also know that they are fighting against my age and vulnerability and I can see them cringe everytime I mention how old I am getting and feeling.
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