I GROW OLD, I GROW OLD, I SHALL WEAR MY TROUSERS ROLLED

 

   "I GROW OLD, I GROW OLD, I SHALL WEAR MY TROUSERS ROLLED. DO I DARE TO EAT A

PEACH.? I HAVE HEARD THE MERMAIDS SINGING, EACH TO EACH. I DO NOT THINK THEY 

WILL SING TO ME."  AH, T.S.ELIOT, HE KNEW A THING OR TWO. I REMEMBER 

TEACHING THIS POEM TO MY JUNIOR KIDS AT MONUMENT MT. HIGH SCHOOL IN 1968. 

WHAT IN THE WORLD DID THEY MAKE OF THIS, I WONDER? IT WAS AND CONTINUES TO 

BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE POEMS, ALONG WITH  MANY IN "LEAVES OF GRASS" AND 

"SONGS OF INNOCENCE" BY BLAKE.

 

   THIS GETTING OLD STUFF IS A BITCH. I DO PONDER MY MOM'S EARLY DEATH

AT AGE 55 AND THINK HOW SHE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO REACH MY GRAND AGE OF 78.

BUT SOMEHOW THAT DOES NOT CONSOLE ME FOR WOBBLY BALANCE, STRANGE FEET 

AND KNEES, TREMBLY HANDS, THINNING HAIR, WET MD, AND MEMORY ISSUES. ON THE 

OTHER HAND, I CAN STILL:

--COOK RAVISHING MEALS

 

--BE INTIMATE WITH MY HONEY

--WALK 30 MIN. ON THE FRONT DECK

--WATCH BIRDS AND DELIGHT IN THEIR CALLS (MERLIN ID ANYONE?)

--MAKE MUFFINS AND HAVE FRIENDS UP FOR COFFEE AND BAKED GOODS

--SNUGGLE WITH MY DOG

--WRITE BLOG POSTS

--GIVE OCCASIONAL SERMONS AT THE UCC

--GO TO TWO CHURCHES AND FEEL GOD'S PRESENCE

--KNIT REIKI SCARVES

--KEEP IN TOUCH WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY VIA EMAIL & FACE-TIME

 

--GARDEN A LOT EVEN IF I HAVE TO LIE DOWN AFTERWARDS

--ENJOY DRESSING UP AND GOING TO ALINA'S RESTAU8RANT

--PRACTICE MY FRENCH BY LISTENING TO E. MACRON ON INSTAGRAM

--SENDING LOVE OUT INTO OUR BRUISED AND WOUNDED WORLD

--BE PART OF OUR PRAYER PARTNERS AT THE UCC TO LIFT FOLKS IN PRAYER

--VISIT WITH MY BELOVED ADULT CHILDREN & MY BROTHERS

   AND IF I AM A BIT WOBBLY, SO WHAT! JUST GIVE UP WINE. PRACTICE STRENGTHENING 

EXERCISES AND DO YOGA. THE MAIN THING IS--DON''T GIVE UP, NOT EVER, NOT 

NOHOW. GOD IS STILL HERE, HOLDING ME IN HER HANDS, BECKONING TO ME FOR THE

LAST JOURNEY INTO THE NEXT WORLD, WHATEVER IT HOLDS. AND JUST SO YA KNOW,

ONCE WHEN PRAYING GOD TOLD ME, "DEATH IS NOT A DOOR, IT IS A THRESHOLD."