Month: June 2025

When I started this blog a few years ago, my intent was not to focus on the rapid passing of my youth. The plan was to write about all kinds of random stuff.  You know…this, that, and the other. However, there’s an old adage that says, “Write what you know.” I suppose that’s why the lion’s share of my posts end up leaning into my advancing age. As much as I’d like to pretend it isn’t so, my age is advancing. In essence, I truly am writing what I know.

When it comes to aging, one of the many aspects I’ve noticed over the years is the intermittent – and sometimes cruel – reminder of the passage of time. For instance, I recently watched Jaws (one of my all-time favorite movies) on its 50th anniversary. While I thoroughly enjoyed diving into it for the umpteenth time (pun intended), the fact that it was released half a century ago was like a slap in the face. How is it even possible?

On a different front, I noticed a lone auburn hair mocking me from the shower floor the other day. It made me sad. There are very few of those sprinkled throughout my gray hair, and every one I lose feels like a personal affront. 

Another example of the insults that have been hurled at me over the last decade is the loss of hand strength. It’s to the point where I can barely pull Velcro apart, let alone open a new jar of pickles.

But I think the most glaring indication of aging is how much I’ve slowed down physically. Anyone who knows me knows I’ve never been overly energetic, but now it’s like lethargy on steroids. (That may be an oxymoron…I don’t know.) Don’t worry, though. My overall health is fine. I simply enjoy spending an inordinate amount of time on my keister…particularly playing games on my iPad.

I recently downloaded Vita Mahjong – a game app that’s supposedly good for senior brains. Nothing says “old” like embracing activities for the feebleminded. I must admit I’m loving it, though. Perhaps a little too much. It’s been keeping me even more glued to my recliner than usual, and that’s not good for people like me. I’m not getting any younger, and I can’t afford to let my body slip into total atrophy.

Fortunately, this mahjong game has ads, and as annoying as they are, I’m taking advantage of them. In an effort to feel less like a slug while playing the game, I’ve started getting up and walking around the room during each ad. I figure even a pitiful exercise like that surely gives me a few activity props. It also limits the mind-numbing time I spend playing the game. After several rounds of getting up, walking around, and sitting back down when an ad pops up, I start to feel like an elderly jack-in-the-box. That tends to take some of the fun out of the experience, so I venture on to different…sometimes more physical…interests. 

I won’t bore you with the plethora of other hurtful examples of life as an old lady. That would be like holding you hostage. And I wouldn’t care much for it, either. It would just continue to draw my attention away from what really matters. Instead of dwelling on the not-so-great stuff, my mental energy can be better spent acknowledging everything that’s good. Family, friends, and faith top the long, long list of things I have to celebrate in this life. 

I may have my share of little grievances, but when it comes to blessings, mine are *TNTC.