New Phase in Life

Driftwood by frances robson

Good evening and come on in for a visit.  I know I haven't posted in a long time but I am going through a contemplative time in my life and been doing a lot of cogitating, as my English teacher used to say.  So today, I am going to share some thoughts and what the new phase of my blog will be.

I began this blog to connect with my nieces and nephews who live in Texas, Michigan, and soon one will be living in Belgium and we seldom see each other.  My brother, our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren do not live close either so my blog was one way of communicating family news and history.  If we could get together more often we could share family tales and connect with our past but because we cannot I have tried to tell them via the blog. 

That was my first phase and then I began to add commentaries about the world around me and added a little humor which I enjoyed writing.  This however soon ran it's course and finding comedy became more difficult and I began to struggle with what to say.

The third phase was putting my recipes and those from family and friends and I think I gave you some pretty good ideas.  I hope you have tried many of them and for the family I will be compiling them into a notebook for you.  Because I am not cooking as much as I used to this became more difficult also but I will give you new ones as I try new ones and perfect some old ones.

Now, what comes next?  I am entering a new phase in my life and it will be quite interesting I believe.  In August I will be 70 years old - sounds quite old doesn't it and some days I feel everyone of those years.  Other days, I look in the mirror and wonder who that old lady is staring back at me but I have to face the truth - I will be 70.

Does this frighten me, no, but it does cause me to pause and think for I know that I will not live as long in the future as I have in the past.  There may be many years, for longevity runs in my family, but they may not and that is OK for I know that my eternity is in heaven and I have many friends and family waiting there.  So how do I spend these years?

I know I do not want to be obligated to write a blog posting each day with a good recipe or a tale of family history for that gets boring and I am ADD and bore easily.  So I want to share the good parts of my life right now such as some of the beautiful pictures I am taking, new places we hope to visit, how to approach and enjoy our latter years and some of my needlework I enjoy so much.

The postings will not come every day for I have decided to only do what I really want to, not be afraid to say "no" to those I don't enjoy and above all treasure my days with my husband.  You see he has Parkinson's disease and is doing really well but I know the time is coming when he will not do as well and I want to share all we can with each other as long as we can. 

Old age is freeing for you feel free to say "no" to those things you really don't want to do and you can dress like you want, say what you like, act silly, dance in the rain, wade through the water at the beach and kick the water high, or just stay in bed and read a good book. I think I am going to enjoy it!!

Now, Becky - our daughter - don't get all teary eyed for I am not being morbid but just facing facts and plan to be wild and crazy as long as I can be.  When you act wild and crazy at my age you can plead insanity or dementia and just go with it. 

I am so glad many of you have been faithful readers of my blog and I hope you will go through these next years with me as I enter this wonderful new part of my life.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Growing Older

Good morning, ya'll or rather good evening. It is after 12:00 and this reminds me of a visit to a senior citizen home a couple of years ago. We were going to visit my mother-in-love (Roy's mom), and as we walked into the lobby there were several of the ladies sitting there. Now since I am a friendly soul, I said, "Good morning, ya'll. How are ya'll doing?" One of the ladies very pointedly looked at her watch and said in a stern voice, "It is 12:05 and is now afternoon." Without blinking, I said "Thank you for telling me for since I retired I don't wear a watch and really don't care what time it is, bless your heart." She looked a little confused and then gave a look that would kill. I just smiled sweetly and told her to have a good day and left.

Sometimes I find older people can be a tad peculiar, don't you know? I guess she didn't have anything to do but keep up with the time, how sad. My friend, "Miss Sally" Bennett, would just have a hissy fit when her friends would talk about how bored they were and had nothing to do. As we discussed this one Sunday after she had heard her Sunday School complain, we both agreed that we didn't have time to do all we wanted to and there were just not enough hours in the day.

Now you need to know that "Miss Sally" was about 90 when we had this discussion and lived to 94 and never stopped being busy. She never missed a service at the church, she ran our history room, was active in the Adel Arts Council, which she helped begin, wrote poetry, and made sure our church was run properly. She also played bridge, read a lot and made sure all the "old folks" in town were taken care of.

I remember one year when she was getting our church ready for our homecoming she called us one afternoon. She wanted us to sit at the registration table in the front of the church to register all the people who had come "home." I told her I would be glad to but would have to ask Roy. When I asked him he said of course he would for who would dare say "No" to "Miss Sally." Now my husband is a large man but this little lady could rule him in a heart-beat.

In the last year of her life, she came to the pastor with a letter of invitation to the guest preacher for homecoming. Now mind you this was here choice, she had written the letter and she placed it in front of Ben and told him to sign it. Did he? You bet, for you just didn't say no to "Miss Sally."

She was my hero and my role model. Being a retired teacher gave us a special bond and we both loved the Lord and our church and we both didn't especially like old people who complain. We would just shake our heads and say bless their hearts and smile at each other. She was a lovely lady and I miss her.

Getting older is not always fun but it is interesting. Because I have a head of snow-white hair and have had for a number of years, I have been treated like an old person for a long time. Used to bother me but now I just enjoy the doors being opened, having the youngsters say "Yes ma'am" and "No ma'am"and letting them think I am full of wisdom. If they only knew!

Old age is certainly not for sissies, as a book I read explains. You have several visitors who begin to hang around a lot like Arthur Itis, Bur Sitis, Aching Hip, Joint Pain and other unwelcome friends. They are not only unpleasant but are also painful. Thank goodness for Mr. Tylenol, Mr. Ben Gay, Ms. Sports Cream and Mr. and Mrs. Pain Pills. Without their help in handling these friends, we would be in a bad way.

There are couple of other downers such as thinning hair, reduced energy and slowing gait but there are some pluses. The hair may be thinning on top but is is growing in the nose, on the chin, upper lip and in the ears. Your energy may be waning a bit but your production goes up as you slow down you get a lot more done. As far as the slowing gait, you get to smell the roses and appreciate what you see.

What really gets my goat are those who take old age as an excuse to be unpleasant. They drive too slowly, expect to be served first, talk loudly because they won't wear their hearing aids, forget to brush their teeth and take a bath. You know who they are. These are the ones we run the other way from and just say, "Bless their hearts" a lot. I know some can't help it but claiming old age as a reason to be ornery is not fair. The rest of us are pretty nice people.

Well, I have rambled on and on today - maybe I am getting old. If you get bored just jump off the "Net Porch and come back to see me sometimes. I am about to bake a batch of oatmeal cookies and I'll save some for you.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach
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Old People

Good evening. How ya'll doing today? Another day I had to miss church due to my foot surgery but I hope this will be over soon. Tonight I plan to go to worship for 2 of my "boys" are being ordained as deacons. You know you are getting older when men of 30 plus years are your "boys." I am so proud of them and know our church will be blessed by their ministry.

Getting older has some real advantages. I don't have to ask for my senior citizen's discount any more for when you have white hair and wrinkles you automatically get them. Now I don't try to fight this aging process but I do believe in doing all you can to make the process as attractive as possible. I refuse to look or act "old." I also have doors opened for me, even though I am perfectly capable of opening my own doors and some people think you are wise due to your age.

Now as you well know, wisdom doesn't automatically come with age for some of the most stupid people I know are old. It should come to us with experience and years but somehow some people just missed out. Listen to some of their conversations and they talk like they know everything and why and the wherefores but some of it is just spitting in the wind and they need to learn to wise up or shut up. These are the old folks I run from or just nod politely and say nothing.

How do you do you fight this aging process, you may ask? For one thing I will not have hair, even though it is white and beautiful, curled into a tight football helmet, teased, sprayed and lacquered until a hurricane wouldn't disturb a hair. I wear it short, sexily tousled and youthful. In fact I have an agreement with my hair dresser that if he makes me look old, I don't have to pay and so far I've had to shell out some money every time he cuts it. I think that the tousled, casual look is much better than the hurricane-proof helmet to trick folks into thinking you are younger than you are.

Another trick I use is hanging around young people. Old folks bore me. I need youthful ideas and opinions for they challenge me to use my mind and keep it active. Trying to keep up with a bunch of youngsters will keep your joints moving and your mind racing. Now some of them call me "granny" and some "Miss Cupcake- white hair that looks like frosting" but they treat me like I am not old and that makes me feel young. When a young person comes up to you and gives you a great big hug and tells me what's going on in their life, it just makes my day. It also makes me aware of what our future generation will be like and I think it will be good. The secret is to be truly interested in their daily lives, encourage them and don't "preach." A suggestion is far better than and ultimatum when you see them straying onto the wrong path. I just love being around all their energy and excitement. Very few old people I know have either.

Dressing old is also a dead giveaway. Now I don't mean you have to let your boobs and butt show but you don't have to wear granny clothes. I like to wear bright colors and I don't shop in the "mature" section of a department store. Jeans, t-shirts, and sketchers are my style. It's getting harder to find jeans which fit, but thank goodness for stretch denim. The Capri pants are great to cover up the fat knees and show off the trim calves and ankles. Now I don't wear shorts - due to the fat knees, or sleeveless- due to the batwings under the upper arms, but I do like the short sleeve shirts and bright colors. I have to wear the bright colors for with my white hair anything else makes me look dead and ready to be laid out. So ladies and gents, don't dress like you granddaddy and grandmother but liven up, look your best and strut your stuff.

Now our stuff my be drooping a little but thank goodness for spanx and other good support garments. I realize that as we get older and gravity pulls a little harder, most of what we have begins to head south but a good support garment can lift it up and hold it in at least while we have them on. I see no reason not to support our assets as long as we can.

Now I do realize that at this stage I will not be picked up by the camera men at a college football game for they only show the young, full-boobed with low cut or strapless dresses. You know they have camera persons whose only job is to scan the crowd for the young, pretty, bought-boobs, girls so we can all see and want some too or the boys with no shirts on and painted to look like idiots. The "normal" people just won't be on national TV so we have to just get over it. After all who would watch if they only showed the average Joes and Janes or "old" people? This makes up the majority of the crowd so that is why they have the one camera seeking and searching for the pretty and well endowed and the half- naked fans. Now I don't want to be that age again but wouldn't mind having some of the "assets."

So my advice to all you "older folks" is to hang around with young people, don't dress like your grandparents and enjoy what time we have left. I don't intend to get "old" and become boring and have a constant "organ recital" for all to hear. As a radio personality says, Wake up America, and live life to the fullest and look like your enjoying it. Better yet, enjoy it.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach
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Saturday's Musings on Old Age

Good morning. Hope this finds all of you doing well or tolable as a dear friend used to say. I think that means so-so and I hope ya'll are doing better than just tolable. Today is my dear friend and husband's birthday. Just know we are both senior citizens at this point and we will go from there. We are not old as dirt yet, but getting there and it is not all bad.


We are finding that age sometimes has some perks such as senior citizen discounts, you get respect from most people (those who were raised up by good Southern mamas), and some people treat you extra special for you are old and need help. Now we are in great health, but I never say "no" to help for I may need it someday. Who am I to deny them the blessing of doing a good deed for an old person.

Age is also a great excuse when you screw up. Most people think that old people can't think straight, are half deaf, infirm and almost dead. Well let me tell you. These 2 old folks still have most of our faculties, are not infirm, hear pretty well and are a long way from being dead. Due to us Baby Boomers entering our senior years and looking and acting younger, this age thing has to b e reevaluated. I refuse to be called granny by my grandchildren and will not be referred to as that old lady. It is convenient to plead old age sometimes though for they look at you with pity and look over the stupid mistakes. Now I don't make too many mistakes but every now and then I slip up and old age is as good an excuse as any and sounds better than most.

Another time I use this old age thing is when I want to express an opinion which may not be popular today. For example, I think female, women, ladies, and girls should cover up their boobs and butts. This showing your cleavage has gone beyond good taste and they are just about hanging out. In fact, a friend of mine was standing in Walmart and a large lady(?) was coming his way and when she shrugged her shoulder one large boob just fell right out of the tank top. She never stopped talking or walking but just picked it up and placed it back in her shirt. He about had a hissy fit and could not believe what he saw. The cashier said that happened often. Now this has gotten to the ridiculous.

The shorts and brief skirts are a little beyond acceptable also. When some of the females stroll by you just want to shout, "Please don't bend over, I don't want to see it." I wonder how they get a stride in some of the shorts or maybe they just put flossing thread to hold them in "pretend" shorts. I know it has to be terribly uncomfortable. Can you even imagine walking around with a string in that particular area of your anatomy and not being able to sit or bend over without flashing the world? Seems a lot ridiculous to me. Put on some clothes!

Mama used to tell me that a little mystery is good for the male/female relationship thing. If you show all the merchandise at one time you take all the mystery out of the chase and they just might not chase you anymore. After all, some of these women and girls showing all their merchandise would look a whole lot better with most of it covered up.

Now at our age we are well aware that we need to cover up most of our aging bodies for gravity has taken hold and is dragging it all down, down, down. We are beginning to sag and wrinkle but still have a few good points. The lower legs and ankles still look pretty good and the shoulders have not aged a lot and ...... Well that is about all I can leave uncovered at this time.

The suck, tuck, augment, add in, take out craze has not hit me yet. I understand my insurance will not pay for this and I guess I will have to put it off until I win the lottery (which I don't play) or strike oil in our back yard. Come to think of it, I haven't seen a single oil well in this part of Georgia so I guess that one is out also. My only other option is to divorce Roy and find a rich old man who is half blind and thinks I still look pretty good. Nope! Think I will keep the one I have and stay wrinkled for I have him trained pretty much like I want.

Weeeel. I started out to wish Roy happy birthday and give you a recipe, but I guess the recipe will have to wait. I chased that rabbit too long to ask you to sit on the 'Net Porch any longer and endure the heat and the gnats.

Ya'll have a good weekend and don't forget to go to Sunday School and Church tomorrow. It will make you a better person and most of us need all the help we can get.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

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Monday's Musings

Come on in and have a coke. Just got back from visitation at church and have to have a coke before I go to bed.

Been thinking today and you know that is dangerous but I visited my dad in an assisted living home and it set my mind to pondering my future years. As you can tell from my picture, I am older, a senior citizen and all those other names they call us. I dislike all of them for it makes you sound like you are on your last leg and it's crumbling. I really prefer, "Dowager Queen Mother" or "The Family Matriarch", which I am but my family doesn't bow or do what I tell them.

Senior citizen or old lady is most offensive to me for I may have snow on the top but the furnace has not been turned off. They also say you are as old as you feel and most days I don't feel my age. It just depends on who is visiting that day. Some of my friends who drop by are "Arthur-itis", "Bur-sitis", "Miss Pain in the Back" or "Miss I just can't move" If these people would just mind their own business and stay away, I would feel much younger.

However (there she goes), it is a fact I am growing older in body and mind and no matter what I do it happens. So after visiting Daddy's new home and being around our older friends I have created a legal document spelling out the rights I give to our children. Here they are:

Rights of the Children of Old Folks

• If is start telling the same story over and over and over and over, you have the right to tell me I have told you again and again and again. Just give me the "time out" signal and I will know to stop. Please don't wait until I get into the story though for I might have trouble stopping.
• If I want to take a laxative every day, you have the right to hide the bottle and tell me I don't need it.
• If I begin each conversation with the "organ recital" - bowels, kidneys, etc., you have the right to use the "time out" signal or hurry away on an urgent errand.
• If I begin each conversation with "I remember when......" you have the right to run to the nearest exit and escape.
• If I begin to drive on the left not the right and run over things, you have to right to take my car keys and the car. Hide them well, for I will be devious and try to find both.
• If I begin to wear the same clothes for weeks on end and do not take a bath, you have the right to shove me in the shower and place clean clothes on my body. Don't forget the deoderant, please.
• If I can't see how to pull my chin hairs and they grow and grow, you have the right to shave them. Please do not use an electric razor for they pull. You might also shave my legs before you need to use a chain saw. They are one of my better features.
• If I can't live alone any more, you have the right to haul me to a nursing home and show me my new home. This is only if we have not moved ourselves into a luxurious facility with a 4 star dining room, maids to take care of us, indoor swimming pool, young personal trainer, and a red golf cart to go with my white hair. We realize this will be spending your inheritence, but you will have the satisfaction of knowing we died happy and you will be poorer.

I think this is about all the rights we can give you but if there are other concerns please come to us and discuss them before the half-timers goes to all-timers and we can say NO.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach