Was hanging out (old folks hang out, too) with mostly other oldsters at a meeting down in Florida. There are so many different ways to be Playing in the Last Quarter. I was there with Marsha ... the dog was with our youngest Spawn and family up in Philadelphia, and the house and cat were being catered to by a neighbor just about our age.
Others at the meeting were living other models.
One, long divorced and living alone ... not certain if she adopted us or we adopted her. I went to her talk ... she to mine .... Living the single, professional, I'm-pushing-70 life in a big city. Another just lost his wife of 40 some-odd years. All were puzzling the complexities of a less cooperative body, a mind that processes more slowly, retirement and the looks of the 25-60 crowd ... "Lemme get that door for you" ... or ... "Get outa my way Old Bald Man in the Slow Lane." Jugglers ... at least those with whom we hung out.
I don't know how it looks to the youngins, but I found a Dignity of Everyday Life in many of the 60-85 folk, there .... an embracing of where we/they were/are ... sometimes even a chuckle ... often some beneficent envy for the younger with their toned bodies (I know, I know ... there are the Young Untoned, too) and Big Sky futures.
My compensation? My major decisions have been made ... I cherish them ....
People don't like my decisions .... "Ah, well" .... or, if they really irk me, a heartfelt wish that they spend eternity indulging solo-horizontal erotic aerobics .... (the lenth of that cuss often quiets them down)
Gotta get back to what it's like for those who cannot juggle glee with sadness. Will do so. Promise.
After I recover from two plane rides.
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