I’ll be 72 in a few weeks. I wrote the following article on my 69th birthday. I thought it would be interesting to look back 3 years and see the effects of the Parkinsonian aging process.
In 2020 I wrote, “I’m 69 years old today. I graduated from high school in 1969. The 69 Camaro is my favorite car. Sixty-nine has always been my favorite number. In previous articles, I’ve talked about the importance of keeping your inner child alive. It used to be the mere mention of the number 69 that woke up my inner child. Now, at 69, I’m not sure why that number was so magical. My inner child died from CRS and/or the reality of aging. Either way it sucks. (Nice play on words).”
At 72, the magic number, 69, makes me smile, and thinking about the 69 Camaro makes me a little sad (my wife drives me around in my used handicapped equipped van.)
As you know, I’m not happy with the aging process. As it turns out, 69 was a good year. Biking was short lived but still possible. At 72, it’s impossible. For the 50thyear in a row, I started to eat better. That lasted a week, then I reverted to my old fat-ladened diet. Well, I got back on the wagon and I’m starting to eat better again. I’m down 6 pounds from my all-time high of massive! I’ve found a job that works for me. I’m in charge of napping and do so 5 times a day. I still don’t have the credentials I need as a medical editor for the Sex magazine I talked about earlier.
North Carolina is hot! Thank God Covid-19 is no longer driving me crazy. I still want to sit in a restaurant and have a nice meal but getting the wheelchair/walker is hard on Renee. I want to go swimming but the lift chair at our pool is broken. I want to go fishing but getting onto the pier is going to be tough. The reality is I’m stuck indoors most of the time.
Writing about this is like puking: you feel better after the foul stuff comes out. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe 72 will be a better year. Only time will tell. It’s 9 am and I have the rest of today to find something to do. Actually, once you are retired, every day becomes the same. One more piece of advice, don’t retire. Stay active as long as you can.
Hopefully, a vaccine will be available by January and then we will be able to do more. We’ll see! Until then, I’ll just have to come up with something to do each day and so will you. Renee, this is my 69 year!
Here’s your song for the day and a joke.
Whatever you look like, marry a man your own age. As your beauty fades, so will his eyesight. Phyllis Diller
I hear you, but I also know that doing the right things you don’t want to do is the only way forward. One step at a time, then maybe two steps. And, if you’re taking antidepressants, Take them!!! If I skip mine more than one day, uugghhh.
Love you.
Stewart, I wonder if we can find joy in suffering? It seems inevitable our body/mind will never be what it was when we were younger, but interiorly adversity has taught me humility, patience, appreciation for the care/love of others, gratitude for the things I can still do. Illness does force me to prioritize what is most important in life and accepting what we can’t change. I sure wish though, I could awaken and celebrate life with that inner child who, like most kids, enjoy whatever the day brings. P.S. What I most enjoy about your writing is your honesty and your terrific sense of humor, both of which feed the soul.
thanks for your thoughts
Sorry it’s so tough for you. I hesitate to say my first year of retirement has been great. I even lost some weight, although a way to go. Wishing you the most happiness possible.
My daughter is having our first grandson (child) today.
God speed Stu
Mazel tov, glad things are good for you. Keep on losing weight!