PTP - March 19th 2015

A Chapter by dw817

This little bit is going to be about aging and what to do when you are no longer working. While I don't consider myself that old yet, it does seem like the friends I know and can trust are indeed up i

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March 19th, 2015

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Happy Thursday.

This little bit is going to be about aging and what to do when you are no longer working. While I don't consider myself that old yet, it does seem like the friends I know and can trust are indeed up in years.

Carlos, for instance, my Godfather, just turned 81 a few days ago.

He wanted to stop to a MAPSCO store and see what they had. I joshed that I DOUBT their business is doing any good what with the digital age and SAT navigators for autos to replace all that.

Nonetheless we went inside and I was surprised to see - maps, printed, on high-grade plastic - that are apparently still being used today ! And they had other things beside. One of which was called a Magnabrite lens. It is defined as a light gathering magnifier.

This is really an amazing thing. It is a cut lens that when placed over text enlarges it by 4 times so you can read small print ! Well when Carlos saw it he said how much liked it and what he could use it for.

And it's not very often when you find someone who knows exactly what they want. And his Birthday was in a few days so I got it for him. A little over $20 but I think it was worth it - finding a present for somebody that they really want.

Came with a little storage box, a felt bag to carry it in, and instructions for usage.

What happened recently however. Him, me, Dottie, Emma my sister, and Kay her husband were all supposed to get together 2-days ago. However, Emma called me to say her and Kay were sick and throwing up.

Carlos called to say that he too was sick and throwing up, and even Dottie called to say she's been sick a few days and didn't know if we could cancel.

WOW. And me ? I feel just fine ! And the day before I had a can of sardines for dinner and coconut ice-cream to top that. Rose says I have an iron kiln for a stomach, and maybe she's right. It's been over 15-years since I had to throw up. Usually I keep everything down.

The other senior I wanted to mention was Chris's Dad, David, yep, same name as me.

Now he really does have problems of his own. He says he can't smell very much, can't taste anything, and is REALLY underweight. Chris wanted me to stay with him for a few hours, to get his nutritional plan in order as he can't eat anything solid, to do a bit of housework, and to basically spend time with him.

Which we did. Chris went to Wal-Mart to pick up some groceries for him and he helped me organize his bedroom and - about that point he wanted to lie down, so that's fine.

Rose, my G/F, I know she was twice my age when we first met and is now at 63 - so I can consider her a senior citizen if I like. But she's been taking good care of herself. She watches carbohydrate intake more than anything else and has slimmed down from 146 to 123 because of it.

She still works in her garden and cuts the grass up front with a manual mower - wow ! I wouldn't want to do that. So yes, she has muscles and is in great shape !

I hope when I get to be a senior will still be able to taste food, to be AWARE of what's happening around me, and maybe even to be a part of if not of assistance to the doctors and nurses when I am in the nursing home.

I've always been a helper. Chris and me last week pulled a bunch of weeds from his yard so he can plant tomatoes. The week before we were pruning the front of his yard. Before then I was sweeping leaves off his deck so he could have a party. Exercise is key. It's not just good for the body but for the mind as well.

And there's my history of over a decade of volunteering at the church food-bank. Not so much to greet the arrivals as I don't consider myself a people person. No, to select the food, pack the bags, unpack the arrival boxes, and keep things organized always for rapid distribution.

It seems that was so long ago. I retired young - I'm aware of this, and still sometimes I wake up with the belief I am getting ready to go to work. And usually 5-10 minutes in the shower I realize, nope !

A lot of people think that retiring is the greatest thing in the world. Well, yes, it could be, but only if you have a plan. What do =YOU= want to do when you retire ? If it's just sit on your hands to keep them warm, well, that's not much of an idea.

Me ? I believe the best form of retirement you can have is where you end one work to begin another. And when your hobby is actually work, I think that is the very best substitute you can find.

We all have things we find we don't have time to work on because we are working - yet when you finish working, consider the free time you have to spend it - to work on what you really want to. That to me is a PERFECT retirement.

And I've done just that. When I was working, I had little to no time to work on my books. Today ? I can dedicate every day to working on and refining my chapters. To get it just the way I want, exactly as I want.

Please never consider retirement as just doing nothing. That's up to you ! Don't just do nothing. Do SOMETHING ! Something that will make a mark in this world, for the greatest good, not just for you and your family, but others - people you don't even know. Ripples in society.

If there is to be a religion on this planet, I fully believe it is do the greatest good we can in our limited lifetime and years, for everyone. Before we are called up from the soil into the sky again ...