In the book ART OF AGING by Nuland, he states that the people we love and love us defines who we are. I was thinking about about this morning at 5:30 when John mistakenly got up too early. Gentlely, I told him he had an another hour to sleep and he turned off lights and when back to bed. Later, as I was driving John to the Y, I was also reminded by a passage of the book, that we make accommodations as we age. I am defined in many ways by John and probably need him more than he needs me.
His responds to my suggestions are usually taken with respect or humor or the new third way, quickly forgotten! His adjustment of letting me drive him gradually over a couple weeks went from I can drive myself, "you know Loretta I'm should be driving my truck and you wouldn't have to do this" to "it is so nice of you to take me to the Y, are you sure you want to?".
As long as we have enthusiasm for something we have a reason to live. I have seen this in all my family and friends that have been around me. Some of them it was the routine of getting up to go to Mass each day and visiting with friends, some it was the care of someone else and some it was a particular hobby or interest of gave them a purpose in life.
A good old age is fulled with happiness. Regardless, of the limitations that surround these years, most polls show that people in their senior years are said to be very content and happy. It is our society that is so focused on youth, ambition and acquiring things that they have failed to notice the sweetness that is presence in senior years.
John turned 77 this month. His vocabulary is shrinking, his need for strict routine is more apparent each week yet his life fulled with little tasks that make his life very content. His presences fulls my life and Daisy's.
My interests of gardening, art and writing will be part of my life as long as my bones can move and my mind can function but these days have a special sweetness.
Showing posts with label aging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aging. Show all posts
Friday, July 16, 2010
Sunday, September 13, 2009
being ageless
I drove a little over 400 miles yesterday to meet her.
Maxine has a young sounding voice, white soft curling hair, clear eyes and a somewhat stooped body. The conversation floats quickly, the questions answered with gentleness and patience, always as if it was the first time she heard it asked of her.
She offered to send me the 16 plants but I wanted to see her and how she grows them. I wanted to experience how a woman lives agelessly.
Maxine's country property has been home for over forty years and it has become probably, the location of her last great passion of plant propagation. After a life of traveling the world for plants, teaching at the university level and raising a family she is devoting her curiosity to finding the best variety of the Haskap berry to grow in the United States.
The Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido, a northern island of Japan has always valued the berry for medicinal use. Dr. Maxine Thompson accidentally tasted one on a trip and that was the beginning of the long journey to carrying back seeds and the beginning of a new life project.
After walking her property and seeing how her test plots are laid out we sat at the kitchen table drinking haskap juice. She told me how researchers analysis plants and what records they keep. How long it would take to decide which plants get pulled out and which plants would make her proud. She smiled and told me a number that she thinks is a good one. She gave me one of those.
My 16 plants are numbers. After reading, THE PERFECT FRUIT, I know the history of Burbank and other plant propagators. I know that plants are only numbers until they produce something amazing. I know, that some how, these people have the ability to shake off disappointment quickly and let curiosity overcome them, anew.
Maybe it is that curiosity that makes Maxine ageless.
Maxine has a young sounding voice, white soft curling hair, clear eyes and a somewhat stooped body. The conversation floats quickly, the questions answered with gentleness and patience, always as if it was the first time she heard it asked of her.
She offered to send me the 16 plants but I wanted to see her and how she grows them. I wanted to experience how a woman lives agelessly.
Maxine's country property has been home for over forty years and it has become probably, the location of her last great passion of plant propagation. After a life of traveling the world for plants, teaching at the university level and raising a family she is devoting her curiosity to finding the best variety of the Haskap berry to grow in the United States.
The Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido, a northern island of Japan has always valued the berry for medicinal use. Dr. Maxine Thompson accidentally tasted one on a trip and that was the beginning of the long journey to carrying back seeds and the beginning of a new life project.
After walking her property and seeing how her test plots are laid out we sat at the kitchen table drinking haskap juice. She told me how researchers analysis plants and what records they keep. How long it would take to decide which plants get pulled out and which plants would make her proud. She smiled and told me a number that she thinks is a good one. She gave me one of those.
My 16 plants are numbers. After reading, THE PERFECT FRUIT, I know the history of Burbank and other plant propagators. I know that plants are only numbers until they produce something amazing. I know, that some how, these people have the ability to shake off disappointment quickly and let curiosity overcome them, anew.
Maybe it is that curiosity that makes Maxine ageless.
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