My World With Words

When I was young, one of my favorite songs was the Beatles’ bouncy hit “When I’m Sixty- Four.” That age sounded ancient to me, but like most people who’ve arrived there (I’ll be 64 in two weeks), it’s not so old.

In fact, it’s almost scary how young it is–will my limited resources last until I die? How long will I live? I’ve inherited a fair amount of longevity–both my parents are 87, and in good health. In fact, my dad is very healthy. His dad lived to be almost 100, and I fully expect he’ll survive into his 90s.

In addition to the financial side of things, there’s the possibility of dementia or other diseases that will affect my quality of life. I don’t really want to be a burden to others. But when I think of that, my mom is requiring a lot of effort on my part, and while she has memory loss, she doesn’t have what I think of us dementia. She’s a burden I can bear. I don’t want to lose her.

Same with my dad. He’s not requiring anything from me right now, but he could in the future. The thing there is, these are my parents. I don’t have any children. Who would I be a burden on?

Today’s bloganuary prompt asks what are my thoughts on the concept of living a very long life. I really don’t know. Like I said, I don’t want to be a burden. But at what point do you determine someone is a burden? Frankly, we don’t have a whole lot of control over those things. Is it a bad thing to age and have health problems?

Well, I’m only 64. I could die tomorrow, or I could live another 30 years. Either way, I’m going to have to leave this in God’s hands, because I don’t have the answers.

Image Credits: Header (Older Lady)  ©  俊后生–stock.adobe.com; Calendar Flipping  © Pixel-Shot–stock.adobe.com

I wish I didn’t drink so much Diet Coke. I’m trying to switch more to water, but I have a problem there. I’m not confident in the water from my tap and there’s no canned water in my area. Where I used to live, there was some flavored canned water, and it was really good.

In case you’re wondering, here’s why I want the cans: plastic bottles are difficult to recycle, and many that go to recycling centers aren’t even actually recycled. They end up in landfills. There are those trying hard to change that, but plastic is really difficult to recycle. I heard it on NPR, so I believe it.

I know I can get a water purifier, and I probably should do so. I have a friend who’s done that and like me, her kitchen is small and she wasn’t sure where she’d put the purifier. But she found the space, and if I really want to, I probably could, too.

I’m not proud of my eating habits, either. I need to have a more balanced diet. I don’t cook much, even though I’m perfectly capable of doing so. I don’t like making food that’s going to last me a week. I don’t really like leftovers, anyway, but I’ll eat them rather than throw the food away.

The good news is I don’t bake much anymore. I love homemade baked goods, and I’m capable of making some devilishly good cookies. I’m also capable of eating them one after the other until I can eat no more.

At work, I’m known for my sweet tooth. It’s a little embarrassing, because some of my co-workers bring in candy and I gobble it down like there’s no tomorrow. Okay, that’s an exaggeration, although I do get blamed for eating a lot of it. A lot more than I actually eat.

I recently had my annual physical, and much to my surprise, my lab work showed I was very healthy. I told my doctor that it surprised me because I have such a sweet tooth and I’m not sure I eat a very balanced diet, and he talked to me a little about it. After we talked, I realized that I do eat a healthier diet than I thought. However, changes could be made.

So I do my grocery shopping today. Time to buy lots of fruits and vegetables. Let’s see if I really do it.

Image Credits: Grocery Shopping © Piman Khrutmuang–stock.adobe.com; Tap Water © alexanderuhrin–stock.adobe.com; Cookies © Steve Cukrov–stock.adobe.com.

Today’s Bloganuary prompt: “If you had a freeway billboard, what would it say?”

If I had a freeway billboard, I think I’d have to donate it to a responsible charity, possibly an animal shelter. I’d want them to encourage people to give so they could add more space for all the stray dogs and cats that are out there, especially the cats. Where I live, animal control won’t even take in stray or abandoned cats, and finding a shelter for them is incredibly difficult.

Which brings me to this: neuter or spay your pets. I have a colleague who refuses to neuter her dog because, she says, he doesn’t have any way of getting out and besides, there aren’t very many dogs in her area. Which sounds like a lot of hooey to me. There’s always an excuse to be irresponsible.

There’s another woman I work with who didn’t spay her cat and the cat kept having kittens. They loved the kittens, but had a terrible time finding homes for them. She (my co-worker) didn’t get her cat spayed because she didn’t think she could afford it, and I understand the situation she was in. She’s a single mom with four kids and a low-paying job. Finally, however, she decided enough is enough. She found the money.

Yes, if I had a freeway billboard, I’d donate it to someone who could really use it. Someone who could do some good with it. Someone who could save some cats and kittens, dogs and puppies.

Image Credits: Billboard © Rawf8–stock.adobe.com; Kittens © Crystal–stock.adobe.com

I don’t wish for a past that never was. I don’t believe times were simpler 50 or 100 years ago. But I do get nostalgic for some of the great movies of the 1930s and 40s. What can I say? I’m a classic movie buff. And it was, after all, the Golden Age of Films. What’s coming out today may be good, but it misses a spark from that era.

However, I do recognize some of the problems from that time. The studio system took advantage of actors and actresses, and it took some brave people to fight it. Censorship reigned (although I must say, I feel smarter watching a film with innuendo rather than blatancy).

Does the pleasure I get from these films mean I live in the past? I do use classic movies to escape at times. Since I’m typically alone on Christmas Day, I spend that time watching my favorite holiday films, with stars such as James Stewart, Cary Grant, and Barbara Stanwyck. (That’s Cary Grant and Loretta Young in The Bishops Wife in the header photo.)

I even have another blog dedicated to films of that era, Classic for a Reason. Please visit it sometime if you enjoy classic films as much as I do! I confess I haven’t posted anything new in quite some time for some reasons I won’t go into here, but there’s plenty to read in my old posts.

However, I just heard about a movie coming to Netflix that intrigues me. I don’t totally live in the past when it comes to good entertainment. And that’s the way I live my life–with a fondness for the good times of the past and an eye to the greatness that lies ahead.

Image Credit: Popcorn © ricka_kinamoto–stock.adobe.com

When I was six, I wanted nothing more than a Bible for Christmas. I didn’t come from a particularly religious family, but somehow I had that desire in me. I got one, and I still have it. I also got an Easy-Bake Oven, which, quite frankly, I got more use out of in the following year. I don’t have it any more.

At the age of sixteen, my heart’s desire was my own car. I knew that was the impossible dream. My parents couldn’t afford to buy me even the least expensive auto available, and my sister and brother were right behind me. Getting all three of us cars was, as Santa would say, a ho ho ho thought. So I borrowed my mom’s car until I graduated from high school, when I got a job and a car payment of my own.

Fast forward to the Christmas I was thirty-six. That year, I craved some love and attention from my distant boyfriend. I didn’t get it, and we broke up New Year’s weekend. But that taught me something. The greatest gift a friend or family can give me is being there for me.

Almost thirteen years ago, I hit a crisis in my life. I was scared, confused, a bit in denial, and in definite need of support. I got it from my brother. It meant the world to me, and taught me, once again, the importance of family and friends in good times and bad. Especially bad.

My birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks, and I don’t expect any gifts. I know I’ll get some cards, and I treasure those. I also believe it’s highly likely my Scrabble buddies will celebrate with ice cream, possibly (hopefully) Baskin Robbins Jamoca Almond Fudge. Yum. They’ll remember me, and they care for me. That’s their greatest gift, and it’s enough.

Image Credits: New Car © Monstar Studio–stock.adobe.com; Header (gift) © snorkulencija–stock.adobe.com