Truth be told, I'm early into my 6th decade, so not exactly an elder, but I'm approaching that status. God willing I arrive there, as my MIL would say, and she's 100% correct. Some of us don't make it out of childhood. Some of us get past the century mark. Life expectancy has no rhyme or reason. Some day, we'll all turn to dust. The most precious of relationships becomes the air of memory, the ache in the heart, the shiny heads-up penny. A collection of still images that will forever reside in our brains as long as we are respirating and sentient.
I've got alot of hereditary mind-stealing challenges to overcome before my dotage. In about 25 years, if I take after my mother, my sharp, curious, and restless mind will turn into something else. That scares me. If I take after my dad, he's still doing pretty well, considering all his physical challenges. He's strong, like bull. But, just in case it happens to me, how do I want to spend this next quarter of a century? How do I want to make these years count? How do I want to spend the quality time contained in the next ~9100 days?
How do I come to peace with what has overtaken my beloved mother and father? How have these challenges affected their lives, made it more difficult, but also more rewarding? What is my role as first daughter/oldest child?
It gets me to thinking how I want to plan my last party. The music I want to play. What words I would like to say to sum it all up. The wisdom I've acquired along the way. What's mattered the most to me. The triumphs over many struggles. How do I want to ride off into the sunset?
Posts
