A Funeral I know this is not a title that is going to draw you in, but if you’ll allow me to explain, I will. Last weekend, I said goodbye to a woman I’ve known for decades. She was a kind soul who smiled through years of chronic illness. Having dealt with my own health struggles recently,… Read More »
The Hope of Spring Winter is a dark, brutal season, particularly for those of us gently navigating our later years. In the northern climes, snow and ice do more than just chill the air; they form the gloomy, frozen backdrop of life. They isolate us, turning a simple trip to the mailbox or corner store into a heart-wrenching… Read More »
Small Things Looking back on my life, which I often do at my age, I am frustrated that it took me so long to realize it’s not the things most of us spend most of our lives chasing; it’s the small things. A hug from a grandfather and the smell of his Old Spice, after hitting a little… Read More »
Strangers on the Train In the dimly lit windows of the passing train, I can see the faces of strangers peering out into the night. They are all heading toward different destinations, destinations not so different, really, than my own. Though they and the train are moving quickly through the night, and I stand motionless on a worn… Read More »
Thoughts Now, about six months into the semi-ambulatory stage of my old age, I have rediscovered a favorite old pastime of my younger days: reading. It provides another escape, besides sleeping, from the inescapable torments of aging. Sleeping is easier during the day when the pain pills are in full vigor, and the buzzing of life is all… Read More »
A Little Chat About Dropping Off There are a lot of things about getting old that are difficult. Most of us old folks realized we were old when we woke up one morning and looked in the mirror and said, “Oh, My Gosh! Is that really me?” A friend who dropped off (unexpectedly) a few years ago… Read More »