Gommy used to think that Labor Day weekend was a celebration of my birth. My mother did go into labor on Labor Day many, many moons ago. So, each year when I was a youngster, I thought it was pretty cool that everyone took the day off to celebrate my birthday. Goms has since learned this wasn't the case.....but it was delightful to think of it that way for a time anyway.
This birthday will be a BIG number for Goms. Gommy used to think this number was reserved for old ladies. OOPS.....here it is....looming.....chasing......catching up with Goms. But it isn't as scary as it seemed when I was looking ahead at the Big Number while I was still in my 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's and the beginning of my 60's. It is just a number and thankfully.....I hear that 60 is the new 40....WHEW! Glad all those baby-boomers changed the image and the number for really getting old. And it has seemed that lately, the older folks in this country seem to be in better shape that the teens and younger generation. It goes to show that taking care of yourself, exercising and eating properly really does 'Do A Body Good.' Gommy has heard that old age is always 15 years older than we are at any given year ourselves! I like that idea. That way, we never get old, do we? lol
This would be the year that Gommy could start collecting at the first age of eligibility for Social Security.....if only that would be enough to survive the needs of a person in today's market. I guess I could make it on the amount allotted to me if I liked cat food and lived under an overpass or a viaduct. But, I better wait until I get to the age of FULL coverage. But the only thing is......it is impossible to get to that age...because they keep raising it!!!! Gotcha' And then there is always the looming warning that it isn't going to last until we reach the age to start receiving it. NO FAIR....I paid in a WHOLE lotta years and it would be really sneaky to stop it before I had a chance to get any back. GEESH!
Gommy has been so blessed in my life, that getting older really seems more like a gift than a punishment. Having a family, a job, good friends and great health sure makes getting older a whole lot easier to bear. This isn't to say that Goms hasn't had my fair share of sadness, loss, failures, disappointments and unexpected situations to face. Gommy can definitely say I have been adequately and thoroughly vetted in all of the circumstances of life that are not welcomed.
How we face the challenges in life and how we react to them, dictates how the rest of your life will be. We can either become bitter and blame everyone and everything else for our crosses to bear......or we can put our big girl panties on and deal!
Another good thing that comes with aging is that we begin to know ourselves better and we actually start liking ourselves....FINALLY. It takes quite a while to get to the place where we realize we don't care what other people think about our beliefs, lifestyles, how we dress, etc. It is very freeing and makes us wonder why in the heck we cared so much to begin with. Guess it is just the evolution of aging and the rites of passages that we all go through.
So, Gommy will look forward to celebrating another year on this wonderful journey of life. Memories are so precious and the ability to be still making memories with family and their family is the gift we keep giving ourselves. Hopefully, the ole' brain will keep working and Grandpa Mike and I will continue to be able to take of ourselves. The only good thing I can say about losing your memory is that you can hide your own Easter Eggs......lol
Keep making those wonderful memories peeps. They will warm the cockles of your heart when you get older (that is what my grandma from Ireland used to say). Take care of yourselves and eat healthy so you can stay away from doctors. They will kill you if you let em'. Just read those contraindications on the prescriptions you take. Some of them say.....' if you lose your sight or hearing' or if you or a loved one has died from taking XYZ prescription...call'. In the first place, if you have died....Goms doesn't think you'll be calling ANYONE.... and if you still take the pill after being warned that you may go blind or deaf....then you need a psychiatrist not a doctor. So stay well so you can keep away from the doctors office. You can do it...Gommy is pulling for ya' Hugs & Mush- Gommy
