Sad musing on getting old

[vito]

Without a doubt, aging has been on my mind a lot lately. I turn 80 in less than 2 weeks, and while in one way I am looking forward to it, since all of my grown kids will be here to celebrate the event, including my two oldest sons who will fly in from Seattle and Boston respectively, for the most part I am struggling with the reality that this is likely my last "milestone" birthday. My Mom made it to just under 104 before she died, but realistically I know that making it to 90 is probably a long shot. But my sad musing is really another aspect of this whole aging thing.

Over the last few years my "social" circle has really shrunk down to my wife and the rest of my family. Several old friends have passed, or moved away. Two old Army buddies are in the process of dying right now. While my wife has developed a local circle of good friends, I have not. Prior to retiring from my job, my friends were folks I worked with, mostly much younger than myself and in the years of retirement those friends have mostly moved on. So on a day to day basis, its mostly just me and my wife. Financially we are okay with our modest lifestyle, but that is primarily due to my military pension. If I should die before my wife does, her income will drop to a fraction of what we now get, and this is something that I worry about. But losing my wife before I pass is something I can barely contemplate. So much of my life revolves around her and what we do together that I know I will be terribly lost should I have to go on by myself.

So I'll finish my sad musing and try to get on with my life. She's going off for the day with friends to visit several quilting shops. I'll take the dogs for a long walk and then get ready to pick up my two youngest grandsons after school and keep them for the afternoon until my son comes by to pick them up. I know that I am better off in so many ways than so many other folks, including many far younger than myself, but some days my aging and what it means for the future really gets me down.

 

[rugerguy]

.......please , don't be sad ,consider it a blessing, I do......

 

[Shotgungibbs]

Vito, while not there physically, you have many friends right here on this wonderful forum! I salute your milestone birthday, and pray that you have many more milestone birthdays! Heck, every birthday is a blessing, a milestone itself. We are given another "milestone" every morning when we wake up. Any morning you can get out of bed is the start of a great day!

 

[Johnnu2]

Wishing you a very Happy 80th, and another 80 even happier my friend.

J.

 

[vito]

I greatly appreciate the positive comments. I'll be ok. Getting out wih the dogs momentarily.

 

[contender]

As noted,, you do have many friends here on the Forum. But I also know it's not quite the same as being able to physically visit friends & socialize.

Getting old is a simple fact of life,,,, and as we all slowly approach each & every day, or especially milestones,, we realize that our time to leave this world is much shorter.

But we can always take the time, to reflect back upon our lives & remember all the good things. To appreciate how long we've been here. Our experiences, our joys, especially the little things that maybe only mean something to us.

So,, enjoy the upcoming 80th Birthday,, and know that many of us here will be wishing you a very good Birthday celebration. Especially with the family! Besides,,,,, you may have a lot longer to be here than you know.

Happy (early) Birthday my friend!

 

[Bob Wright]

I just turned 85 last November, and was widowed last June. First of all, get out of a "me" mindset and get involved. Maintain a concistant lifestyle, that is, rise up early mornings, and if you are a Christian, have your daily Bible reading and devotions, then have breakfast, dress, clean off the table wash dishes and clean your house as required. Consider yardwork or some type of hobbycraft. And get involved in your church. And, has been pointed out, keep contact with this forum. The friends on Rugerforum.com have been a tremendous help to me.

Do I miss my wife? You bet your boots I do! But I have a DVD of photos made over the years. And, yes, I talk to her as I view the photos.

And we have a men's prayer breakfast at my church once a month, plus Senior Saints meet monthly for lunch and games and devotions.

Keep up with a budget and don't allow debt to accumulate. Make a cash budget and stick to it.

Aslong as you have a wife, cherish her. Too soon you are parted. Say the things you want to say while you can.

In short, Live! Life is for the living.

Bob Wright

 

[BearBiologist]

Seventy-three next week. Remember what George Burns said: "Getting old isn't so bad when you consider the alternative".

I've reconciled with my daughter and looked up a niece and two nephews (and a SIL). I'm a Freemason and, while it isn't a religion, it has allowed me to be comfortable with my Creator.

 

[hpman66]

Martha Stewart - 81:

 

[dannyd]

Every time I see that cover I have the urge to sing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot".

 

[powwowell]

Happy Birthday from someone who turned 77, less than a week ago. I understand the "Sad musing on getting old".

Let's go shooting and think less of our losses!

 

[Johnny-Baseball]

I turn 75 later this year. Not old compared to many of the above posters, but still. On my mother's side of the family I am the only male (in at least 4 generations) to live past age 54, so in that sense I feel privileged. My dad lived to age 93, and died of liver cancer. He lived by himself ever since mom died (almost 30 years earlier) and was mentally sharp until the very end.

In the last few months I have felt myself slipping a bit - both physically and mentally. I exercise at a gym every morning at 5 am so I'm in decent physical shape. But my shoulders ache when I wake up in the mornings, and my post-L3-4-5-fused back gives me a bit of discomfort. But my main concern is my mental condition. Mentally I'm not as sharp as I used to be, and I tend to forget things (primarily names) that once I had no problem recalling. It's not so much frustrating as it is an unpleasant warning of what will come. I just try to exercise my mind daily to slow down the decline.

I told my son last weekend that I'm not as excited about driving the 200 miles from our home to his home (near Fort Hood, or whatever name that military installation now is). I'll still do it but will have to drive more slowly (and cautiously). That will be a challenge when driving from DFW to Temple, where the posted 75 mph speed limit is treated as a suggestion by most drivers, and 85 mph doesn't trigger the gendarmes - not even the local ones. Now I'll be one of "those old drivers."

 

[Hvymax]

I suppose the thing to do is get yourself comfortable with the fact that nobody is getting out alive. Live you Life and Make your Peace with the World. Live and Love while you can because Day Ain't Over Yet!!!

 

[Topfueler1]

Happy 80th Vito! Thank you for your service to our country. Just keep on living life to the fullest and stay active. You sound like you have your ducks in a row. I'm 65 and I'm going to keep going on. Remember one thing we lived when it was really good. The USA is still the best and I'm not giving up. A winner never quits and a quitter never wins!

 

[powder smoke]

Only thing worse than getting is not getting old!

 

[Fox Mike]

I am one of the VERY OLD guys on this forum. At 86 I have outlived most of my friends. On 12 September a gathering of a group of us "old pilots and crew chiefs" will be getting together once again for our yearly get-together. Most of the "young buck" guys are now drawing retirement and have been for some time. Other than this gathering i see none of my old acquaintances. Things happen as we age. Acceptance is the key.

 

[Joezilla]

Without a doubt, aging has been on my mind a lot lately. I turn 80 in less than 2 weeks, and while in one way I am looking forward to it, since all of my grown kids will be here to celebrate the event, including my two oldest sons who will fly in from Seattle and Boston respectively, for the most part I am struggling with the reality that this is likely my last "milestone" birthday. My Mom made it to just under 104 before she died, but realistically I know that making it to 90 is probably a long shot. But my sad musing is really another aspect of this whole aging thing.

Over the last few years my "social" circle has really shrunk down to my wife and the rest of my family. Several old friends have passed, or moved away. Two old Army buddies are in the process of dying right now. While my wife has developed a local circle of good friends, I have not. Prior to retiring from my job, my friends were folks I worked with, mostly much younger than myself and in the years of retirement those friends have mostly moved on. So on a day to day basis, its mostly just me and my wife. Financially we are okay with our modest lifestyle, but that is primarily due to my military pension. If I should die before my wife does, her income will drop to a fraction of what we now get, and this is something that I worry about. But losing my wife before I pass is something I can barely contemplate. So much of my life revolves around her and what we do together that I know I will be terribly lost should I have to go on by myself.

So I'll finish my sad musing and try to get on with my life. She's going off for the day with friends to visit several quilting shops. I'll take the dogs for a long walk and then get ready to pick up my two youngest grandsons after school and keep them for the afternoon until my son comes by to pick them up. I know that I am better off in so many ways than so many other folks, including many far younger than myself, but some days my aging and what it means for the future really gets me down.

I definitely hear you. I am just 69, but have had more medical issues in the past 2 years than in the previous 67. I can no longer do what I used to be able to do. It really sucks getting old, but it is better than the alternative.

Joe

 

[wxl1]

Happy 80th!

I turned 80 in March, married 55 years and appreciate each new day.

 

[john guedry]

Happy birthday from someone not far behind you. Be 80 July 26.

 

[Pathfinder36]

Seventy-three next week. Remember what George Burns said: "Getting old isn't so bad when you consider the alternative".

I've reconciled with my daughter and looked up a niece and two nephews (and a SIL). I'm a Freemason and, while it isn't a religion, it has allowed me to be comfortable with my Creator.

Hey Bear --
Best wishes, but to quote another person (whose name I have clearly forgotten) said The worst is yet to come! I've never been a believer but in a month or so I'm looking at age 88. My wife of 60 years, next month, will be 83 in August and has terminal liver disease. She has never had a cigarette or an alcoholic drink in her long life. She is not unlike my mother who passed 12 or 13 years ago at age 103, who never drank, smoked or even drove a car. As a kid I never remembered her being sick, even with so much as a head cold.
Today is one of my better days as my wife is eating, talking, watching TV and walking in the house (with a walker). One of the first things I learned when this started 2 years ago is that I don't like my cooking! Experience has taught me to be selective at Wal-Mart for frozen food.