Aging Gracefully?

This morning, when Joe was off to Dr. appts, I decided to get some of the fall cleanup started. It's a nice day and I was looking forward to working out in the yard.  Joe mentioned that we had used the weed whacker last year for some jobs...so I proceeded to getting the weed whacker fixed up and then  get out there and do the job. The first mistake I made was to get the wrong one down off the garage wall. The heavy one. I saw my mistake and put it back and got the smaller battery operated one. We have several tools that require a lithium battery and Joe usually keeps them charged and ready to go. I have some difficulty with this weed whacker...my arthritic hands just don't do what they used to do.....and I have lost strength in my hands. It's not so much losing strength, but hands that hurt... don't work as well. After several trips over to the west side of the house...my green chair, a bucket, bottle of water, telephone, clippers, other stuff and the week whacker I was ready. This particular garden is on a slant and hard to work in. Joe operates the weeder with only one hand. It takes me two...to turn it on and then switch and hold the darn thing at the same time.( I used this with no problem in the woods a few weeks ago, so I knew what I was doing.) It whacked a couple of stalks and then stopped. I walked to the garage and got another battery off the shelf. Did  my special start up procedure and tried again...it cut a few then stopped. Another walk to the garage and brought the thing with me. Tried the  remaining batteries and they wouldn't work. By now, I was tired and frustrated. Here it was 11 am and I hadn't done a thing except fiddle with this thing. I felt like I had worked all morning...with all the walking back and forth and the frustration of not being able to do this job.... I could have cried...in fact if I am to be completely honest...tears did come.

 I hate growing old. I want to be able to do things like I did a few years ago. I love gardening and really want to keep on doing these chores. I will never grow old gracefully, I guess....and whoever said that is describing people who don't challenge themselves and then suffer frustration. I just checked on that quote on the internet and everyone who says that they want to age gracefully is still young....what do they know about it?..I'll take what Clint Eastwood says about it....I think being able to age gracefully is a very important talent. It is too late for me.
Clint Eastwood

I checked what the French think about aging gracefully. Here are some tips from our French friends across the pond..1..Be a sensual love interest.2.Less is best when it comes to makeup. 3.Sex should continue to be important. 4.A closet with a few outfits of quality instead of one with cheaper clothing. 5.Walking a little. 6.What you eat and how much is vital.Their tips sound a little shallow to me. It seems our French sisters don't mention sweating and working out in the garden.I wonder do French women sweat?

Getting older is rife with emotional landmines too. We have fears of losing our independence, the yearly driver's test, a serious illness, the failure of our eyes...the obituaries. Society is obsessed with pointing out the negatives of aging. We read articles and receive emails over and over dealing with these negatives.

It seems to me that we seniors need to adopt a sense of denial. Instead of resorting to tears this morning...I should have just walked away from it and said to myself..."It's too early for fall cleanup, and besides there's that lovely bon bon and a glass of the bubbly in the house with my name on them." I should have run to my well outfitted closet and donned a little frock of quality, applied a little blush and lipstick.. and waited for Joe to come home...I might have to wear a turtleneck....just hoping he doesn't look at my neck.

Balisha

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