Thoughts on Growing Older. A Note From Jan.

A few thoughts on growing older.

Went to the dentist today for an overdue check-up.  Cancelled several times during the months Jud lived and fought.  Didn’t want to miss any moments with him.  Looking back, I still missed too many.

Dentist said that my teeth were in great shape. Nice, at my age, to learn that anything’s in “great shape.” Thanked him for the encouragement.  Made me want to smile and not eat for awhile. 

Luke struggled getting to sleep the other night after telling me, “We’re going to do the ropes course tomorrow at LaVida camp.”  I, attempting to allay his anxiety, said, ”I remember when Lily was anxious about doing that.”  Luke laughed, “No, Momo, I can’t sleep because I’m excited!”  It’s been awhile since I couldn’t fall asleep because I anticipated something exciting coming ‘round the bend of morning. Time to talk to the One who handles the impossibles. 

It’s good to be around young folks.  Jud and I spent most of our lives with college age women and men. Now, I thrive with grands and their friends.  Last week one of them said, “Momo, hurry, come outside and look at the sunset.”  I, tired and in the middle of cleaning up the kitchen, said, ”I’ve seen sunsets before… .” Now I know I’m old!  As soon as I heard those words come out of my mouth, I thought, “Get it in gear and get outside!  You haven’t seen THIS sunset.”  I’m finding that the challenge to get up and out and on with living comes several times a day.  So many opportunities to choose to combat aging and ennui with wonder and gratitude rather than “been there, done that.”

Tears come unexpectedly these days, so I’ve taken to doing something Mom Carlberg used to do when she was older and wearing clothes without pockets.  She’d tuck a handkerchief (a foreign word to some) or kleenex into her waistband.  Works for me.  Worked well for me until church when Maggie needed a kleenex.  I went to retrieve one from the packet in my purse and stopped mid-air when she WHISPERED, “I don’t want a kleenex from there.  I want one from your underwear. They’re always warm.”  Time to change churches.

Life. Wonder-full life. “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.  Praise the lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…He satisfies my desires with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103: 1-5) Better than a face lift. A faith lift.