Aging My Way
I spilled a whole cup of hot, cream-laced coffee the other morning, and I may have awoken my neighbors when I shouted Sh-ie-tt! I spell it that way because my grandmother, of whom I have fond memories, once told me that you can say such a word and remain a lady if you use more than one syllable.
And that’s exactly how I say it, as anyone who has seen me upset to that point can testify. Meanwhile, I had the unenvious task of cleaning up my small kitchen. Coffee had splashed on and under the microwave, into the tiny crevices of my stove, onto my freshly washed dishes on the drying rack, into an opened drawer, and onto my pajamas and the walls.
While I’ve always been a klutz, spilling things is something I seem to do more of lately. It could be because I’m 85 and not as steady as I once was. The coffee incident probably happened because I had two other things, my glasses and a pen in the same hand as I used to pick up the coffee. The other hand held my journal as I was going to settle down with the drink and write.
Anyway, the incident got me to thinking what else I can’t do these days. Putting on pants without holding onto something or sitting was the first thing that came to mind. Next came lifting anything that weighs over five pounds or bending over repeatedly, on the advice of my cardiologist.
On the other hand, I’m supposed to carry my phone with me everywhere – just in case.
I’m amazed that I’m still enjoying life. And I am. It’s just that I’m in the season for slowing down. And what’s wrong with that, I ask? So, no way am I going to cry over spilled coffee.
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, staff writer for the Story Circle Network Journal, 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 
You have such a great outlook, Pat. You are an inspiration! I love to read your posts. Hugs. Teresa
I managed to knock my coffee over my friend, in a cafe! Luckily it was not too hot as I was half way through drinking it. But it caused an emergency reaction among staff – very embarrassing!
I have not laughed this hard in a long time… and yes I have heard you that…..
Liquid Strawberry gelatin covered my refrigerator door from top to bottom and all over the floor. This happened in my early 50s. I was attempting to put the glass dish of liquid into the refrigerator to harden into Jello. I bumped the dish against the door and it slipped out of my hand. The glass container broke spraying sticky liquid on the floor and all over the outside of the refrigerator. I worked for 45 min. trying to get the mess cleaned up. It cooled off and stuck to everything. I continued to remove it over the next week off and on. I do not eat Jello since that day. I believe Jello not good for my insides after my labor intensive cleanup. I know that I’m eating it in many other foods. Spilling things seems to happen more often after 75 or so, but it could be that we have more time to think about what we just spilled. When we’re younger, we’re moving on to the next thing without dwelling on hmmm forgot to put the water in Mr. Coffee, turned it on and off quickly. Filled up the water to three cups and then turned it on. Whoops. Forgot to put the coffee basket in with the coffee grinds. Hmm That was just last week.