Getting Old Sucks!
Posted by Dr. Judy at 3:00 am
© 2010 Dr. Judy Krings
Getting old sucks! I don’t care how you spin it. Opportunities? You bet! Canes, walkers, wheelchairs, commodes, and geri chairs. Home health care, assisted living, nursing homes, rehab and hospitals. OT, PT, respiratory and activity therapy.
Then there are all the games. Like the “Meal Games”: “Guess What This Meat Is” or “Is This Really Meat?!” Yep, you better get ducks lined up and strengths on alert before the “Oh, my God, I’m old!” realization perches in your tree of life.
Where is that funny bone?
What is so funny? Negativity associated with humor, sometimes, called “black humor” helped Mom in her recent trials. We joked how she was the prize winner for how many health care facilities she visited in the shortest amount of time. You haven’t lived till you’ve sung “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window” and “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” 5 times sitting on the potty waiting for nature to take its course.
What is positive? The smiling caretakers who lay on kindness, better than a warm blanket. Seeing Mom laugh when I tease and make jokes. Knowing friends send their love. Watching her never give up. OK, so I “had” to say a few cuss words for her when the pain was rough. She’s too nice to make a fuss, but knowing I caused her face to crack up with naughty fun was priceless.
What is the learning? Savor the bad as well as the good. Mom is alive and her courage trumps everything else. That, and my husband’s never-ending support while holding down the fort during my absence.
What can you do before you get too old?
Plan with wisdom! You know those rooms where some people stock 6 months of supplies in case of an emergency? Well, old age creeps up on you like a tornado… Unless you beat him/her to it.
Superglue strengths for your old-age roller coaster ride.
We’re all going on that thrill ride someday.
But I am a chicken, will you take that front seat?
What’s that you’re doing? Strapping on a parachute? Smarty pants you!
