Getting old

I know that I am getting older. I know that is a good thing when you consider the alternative.

I know that I am getting more "needy" and I hate being alone now more than I ever have.

After my first marriage of 21 years fell apart, I enjoyed being alone for 17 years. I liked myself and I could be alone with out being lonely. There is a difference, you know? I think that I am becoming more "needy" because I have so many things that are "going wrong" with me. Most of them are not worth talking about, but here are a few things that will tell you that maybe you are getting a bit older yourself!

I know that when everything that is hurting on my body I am just old! What doesn't hurt, is worn out completely or never did work well. The gleam in my eye now is the sun hitting my glasses, and Mardi Gras this year just couldn't be over soon enough.

If I'm not in bed by eight, I can't get up in the morning. I just lay there and wonder how I'm gonna get up. I get winded playing checkers. My children are beginning to look "middle aged" and I have begun to outlive my enthusiasm. I know a lot now, but no body is asking me anything. It makes me wonder why I ever worried about being wise in my old age, hell no body cares.

I find myself looking up the "Today in History" part of the newspaper as I want to know what happened 25 years ago. I can understand that.

Last week I sat in one of those rocking recliner chairs and I couldn't get it going. I don't like birthdays any longer and the AARP is wondering why I don't join. I won't join anything that has old people in it. I hate old people! They smell funny and drool a lot. I don't want to be around old people of any age. I want to live my life, but my body won't let me. Everything that is supposed to be open is closed and everything that is supposed to be closed is open, some of them leak!

I am going to do my best to grow old slow, but I need lessons. I shaved my head a month ago, because I'd rather be a "character" than just bald. However, I can't shave my body because it feels funny in my PJ's. I'm going to do my best to do what I can about not complaining about it, but there is just so much that I can not say about it all. I have to tell someone. What would I do without this column?

Just thought you'd like to know...