why is it that my children were shocked
when i told them that i was born ‘before ranch’ (b.r.)?
shock and awe that i was alive when
cap’n crunch, doritos, $100,00 bars, pop tarts, ding dongs, cool whip, count chocula, and more
came to be
back in the day when food fell into the
quick, easy, greasy, crunchy, sweet, and fun category
and lived to tell.
—
“my mouth doesn’t want to be quiet.”
-greta, age 4
according to turkmenistanian math
i am in the ‘inspirational’ cycle of my life
heading toward ‘wise’
so i had better get on it!
if i was in the wise cycle
i would have
read all the way to the bottom
to see these cycles
only apply to turkmenistanians
so the pressure is off
now i can comfortably return
to my blissfully unaware/immature cycle.
—
“there is a savor of life and immortality in substantial fare. like balloons, we are nothing till filled.”
– herman melville
my birthday number is a moving target.
i love how the kinder announce they are ‘and a half!’
the moment they have a birthday.
they quite naturally understand this concept.
today, i am 64.
and a half!
happy i’m still around and sweatin’ with the rest of the michigan oldies – one more special day to celebrate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 20, 2021 Governor Whitmer proclaims August 21 as Older Michigander Day LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), is celebrating the state’s more than 2.4 million adults aged 60 years and older by proclaiming Aug. 21 as Older Michigander Day.
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“the great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.”
-Madeleine L’Engle
when in london many years ago
i happened upon these two in a park
struck by the natural warmth between them
i took this picture without their knowing
hoping i could somehow capture
the closeness
the easy comfort
between them
in that moment in time
it was simply impossible to do so
but every time i look at this
it makes me feel that warmth again
just for a moment.
—
“there is a certain phase in the life of the aged
when the warmth of the heart seems to increase in direct proportion with the years.”
-john phillips marquand
not me, but someone in my age range with a similar level of enthusiasm
—
on my maiden voyage
into the world of
the senior grocery shopping hour
60 and up’s
i was
looking raggedy
with the
pallor of someone
who’s done hard time served in quarantine
i was met at the door
by a customer helper
who wiped down cart handles
as we each took one
in an orderly way
i was happily headed in
when a worker at the self-checkout
shot me a disdainful dirty look
i chalked it up to her being forced to be here under duress
i shopped
carefully
moving among the others
mindful of age
and
people with less obvious challenges
trying to be happy and friendly
as i was getting ready to leave
a fellow shopper approached me
saying,
“they really should check i.d. and you know what i mean!!”
it finally hit me
that both negative reactions
came in response to them doubting if i was really a senior
i had to laugh and take it as a compliment
thought back to my younger days
when i falsely tried to convince people i was ‘of age’
by using my oldest sister’s license as fake i.d.
funny how things change and stay the same.
—
“none are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.”
-henry david thoreau
—
image credit: animal planet
A pencil drawing by a 16 year old Irish girl has won a National Art Competition. Shania McDonagh is tipped as a future top artist. The man she drew is a Fisherman and Seaweed Harvester named Coleman Coyne. There’s a story in every line.
“His name is Coleman Coyne, and he’s from Connemara in County Galway. He passed away earlier this year. The portrait is done using graphite pencil, and it took around 100 hours of drawing to complete the portrait.” – Shania McDonagh
—
“youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art.”
-stanislaw jerzy lec
—
credits: soul alchemy, word porn
grandies m and f
recently took part
in a super mario kart gaming competition
at our local library.
they were moved on and matched
based on wins.
above, is a picture of f (wearing blue)
in the finals
holding his own
along with his competitors.
one of these guys is not like the others.
—
“move fast. speed is one of your main advantages over large competitors.”
-sam altman
the old one
takes his time
relaxes and fishes
the young ones row fast
all in a crew
the middle one
yells
from a motor boat
tells them how and what to do.
—
“old age is ready to undertake tasks
that youth shirked because they would take too long.”
-w. somerset maugham
I have my glasses on.... 