Growing Old Gracefully

Of all myths this has to be the greatest. Some people are better than others at this, I guess, but most honest people will tell you that growing old sucks. If you manage to be graceful about it hats off to you but I intend to fight it every step of the way.

The other day, for example, I made the mistake of standing up and threw out my back. I exercise 5 days a week so I did not really expect my lower back to go out for no particular reason. I usually have to wrench it somehow but this time the simple act of getting off the couch caused the problem.

Now this is not the first time this has happened so I knew what to do. Take drugs and rest for a couple of days. That was easy yesterday as I did not have a long list of chores and by the end of the day I did feel considerably better. I slept well and woke up feeling that life was indeed worth living.

Today, however, was a different story. My husband was coming home from Toronto and I needed to shop. My husband is funny about wanting to eat every day. So a run to Walmart was non optional.

Even though I had lots of help getting the groceries into and out of the car I was exhausted when I got home but the fridge and pantry was indeed full and I sat down to rest quietly.

My husband, being the diligent type, went right to the office from the airport and sent his luggage home with his daughter. I debated about whether or not to leave the laundry for our maid tomorrow but being the obsessive neat freak that I am I set about it forthwith.

I was delighted that I did open his suitcase as he had bought us some absolutely fabulous Egyptian cotton sheets in a beautiful shade of gold with ivory trim. He had also bought a dress and jacket from our daughter’s favorite store, H & M, and she also was thrilled. She was so surprised that he had bought these clothes for her and I told her that he used to buy almost all of my clothes for me and had excellent taste in women’s clothes.

But I digress. The laundry is done and I am resting quietly on the couch. My back is still sore but I am sure it will be better tomorrow. We will just have to wait and see what new and exciting ailment is lurking around the corner ready to knock the wind out of us.

It is very hard to slow down and not do the things that we are used to doing. We do tend to push ourselves but I remember my dear father saying how important it was to keep moving and that is exactly what I intend to do.

Growing old is inevitable but accepting it without a hearty fight, for me, is not optional.