The Changes of Aging and Assorted Thoughts

I guess what started me down this venue was today, while at the Clovis (NM State) Motor Vehicle Division, I was walking out after finishing my business and happened upon an elderly lady. She spoke to me and I couldn't understand her. She must have turned her hearing aids up because she was more intelligible the second time. She said something about, 'is this where you renew handicapped stickers'. I told her I would ask someone at the desk and come back and tell her. I did that and then I walked in with her and she said, 'there are no seats'. I indicated one close by and everyone on that row moved to make an available seat for her. She was holding on to things as she made her way to the seat. It was a shock to me to see someone that appeared very elderly.

Then I got to thinking about it. She was once 20 years old, 40 years old and at my age, 60 years old. While I am still energetic, I see some abilities that have faded in my self. While I try not to think about Greg and I ever getting elderly, seeing that lady today made me think. And the fairly automatic result is a thought, "Seize the Day!". Do it now. Don't wait. Don't put it off. And probably most importantly, prepare financially. As long as one is a young 'elder', prepare.

Because I have never had children, it has been hard for me to keep track of time. I continue to have alot of energy (thank God for genetics + diet) but small abilities gradually go by the wayside. When I was a kid, I used to mow the lawn - not a problem. I tried to mow our lawn some time ago and I thought I was going to faint. I say that I'm going to fight age all the way ~ with exercise and diet; but I never get on the stationary bike and I have a weakness for sugar (which I'm sure has done my body no good biochemically at all).

I used to live at 9,000 feet at 40 years of age with my husband, Greg (in Colorado). I cannot go beyond 7,000 feet without taking an herb to keep me from getting altitude illness. I discovered on a trip to Colorado wherein we stayed at 9,000 ft (Woodland Park, CO) that I had an ongoing headache. Denying to myself that my discomfort was all that bad; we went on to Cripple Creek and Victor (10,000 ft +). I had a very hard time. I thought about going to a doctor up there and getting oxygen. However, I didn't. When we came back down to Divide, CO, I was sick at my stomach. Once we got to around 8,000 feet; I began to feel comfortable again. Why do we not believe ourselves or should I say why didn't I believe that I was having altitude illness!

Now that I take a herbal remedy (ginko biloba), I do just fine with heights. Ginkgo Biloba helps one's body absorb much more oxygen. So I take one or two tablets before we go and one each day I'm in elevation well over 9,000 ft and I'm fine. I found this remedy by researching travel websites.

Looking at pictures of happy older ladies for this blog, I queried google with 'old lady'. I was shocked to see the pictures of the women that Google considered old ladies; perhaps that is another indication of sliding into third base. I saw a number of "older ladies" wherein they appeared sad. That also got me thinking about why the majority of the older ladies appeared sad; and how I could make sure that the causes of that sadness would not be a permanent part of our lives as we become senior citizens in years to come.

Thoughtful preparation is the byword to follow.