Aging My Way
My granddaughter Shanna and her wife Dawn are cleaning my gutters. I came in from watching them because I felt useless – and because I got antsy about their safety climbing up and down the ladder.
But I knew it would be annoying to tell them to be careful, because at their age I was the one climbing the ladders and putting myself in even more precarious positions. It’s what you do before you reach your eighth decade. And I found people who told me to be careful, or especially “You shouldn’t do that,” quite irritating.
Meanwhile, there are a lot more things than cleaning my gutters that I can no longer do, or have to do differently, than when I was younger.
I use my rollator to bring in groceries and take out trash because carrying anything more than a few pounds hurts my back. I also use the rollator to walk my canine companion Scamp. I use a pair of pliers to open water and soda bottles because my hands aren’t up to the task any more. Household chores are accomplished a small bit at a time here and there during the day with occasional help to lift something heavy or move a piece of furniture.
Some years back, I took up birding when my white-water rafting and tennis activities seemed a bit too much for my years. And over time, I eased down my 20-mile hikes to five-mile hikes — until my knees said no more. My birding these days is mostly done from a shady place to sit to watch and listen.
The thing is, I’ve found ways and things to replace what the years have taken away from me. I make use of my time to read and write more, and to piddle with my watercolors. I also take online classes and try to learn something new every day, even if it’s just the meaning of a new word – today it was polymathy, which means having encyclopedic knowledge.
The plus side of aging is that the years have also taken away all the angst, insecurities and unnecessary drama of my younger days. Most days I feel as if I’m living my best days.
It’s good to be an old broad, especially when you have loved ones like Shanna and Dawn to clean your gutters.
Pat Bean is a retired award-winning journalist who lives in Tucson with her canine companion, Scamp. She is an avid reader, an enthusiastic birder, the author of Travels with Maggie available on Amazon (Free on Kindle Unlimited), is always searching for life’s silver lining, and these days aging her way – and that’s usually not gracefully.
Pat Bean's blog 
oh so true…. oh and i have the original painting of this tree
I knew that — but D.C. didn’t. Thanks for commenting Cindi. I love it when you do.
I’ll bet you are blessed mostly because of your attitude and perspective.
Thanks Dawn for the kind words. And, yes, I do think positive attitudes and perspectives are blessings, and I am thankful I have them.
Well, I finished your book “Travels With Maggie” Friday night. I’m always a bit conflicted when I start a new book, not knowing if it will ever be finished or if I won’t be able to put it down. In this case I put off reading the last four or so chapters because I didn’t want it to ever end. I’m not a birder, but I’m married to one, so your intrigue with birds and all things birding are familiar to me. I shared excerpts with John as I was reading about your sightings, but It was especially fun for us to be reminded of places we too had traveled that we had not spoken of for decades. Walking the Freedom Trail in Boston and touring Acadia NP are examples. I too had read “The Lobster Chronicles” which led us to Isle au Haut, Maine via the mail boat and the lighthouse where we had hoped to spend the night. It was already booked however so we were persuaded to take a room in the home of a woman recently widowed and seeking to increase her income by taking in guests. It turned out that she was the wife of the Lobster Union Boss written about in the book. Small world and an example of ” Our happiest moments as tourist always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else” Lawrence Block, page 240. So’ thank you for sharing your adventures with another directionally challenged female supporter of women, and journalists. I now look forward to receiving your blog and do hope our paths cross at some point so that I might add your signature to the book. Sincerely, Carol Bellmon P.S. I still have my framed Grondahl on the wall downstairs. Those were the days!
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Hi Carol.
Thanks for your kind words about my book. I am hoping to be in Ogden in August or September. I will certainly give you a call and would love to sign my book for you. My Grondal, a picture of me as a bird on top of Angel’s Landing that I got for my retirement, hangs in my kitchen. Hugs to you and John.
Inspiring ❤
Hi Pat – This is Lindy from the meeting yesterday. I loved this post. It is exactly what I am going through, finding ways to still do things that were easier a few years ago. I also love your water colour, and after reading Carol’s post, I will get your book!
Thanks Lindy. I hope you enjoy my book.