Seven Decades and Three...

My brother, Darell and I about 1943 or 1945.

Somehow I thought at this age, I would be "an old woman!"  But, it is not quite so.  While the years I've been here keep mounting, the soul within me remains ageless.

I am only just now beginning to realize the same frustrations I scoffed at in my dear, sweet mother.  I remember it drove her crazy that she just couldn't seem to do the simple tasks she had been able to do for so many years.

I remember when I was in my thirties, I could whisk through my house in a morning, have two loads of laundry done, the whole house dusted and vacuumed, toys picked up, floors mopped, bathrooms cleaned and preparations already underway for a wonderful home cooked meal.

Now, it takes me three days to do the laundry for two people, a week to vacuum the whole house, three days to dust, two days to clean two bathrooms, a month to mop floors, another month to pick up after a hubby and myself, and a year to plan one meal.

I can no longer jump out of bed first thing in the morning, shower, shine and get ready for the day.  It takes me an hour to work out the kinks and another hour to open my eyes.  By noon I might be pleasant enough to carry on a conversation without biting some one's head off.

Ah, this is an exaggeration, but I truly don't move as quickly as I used to and my compulsive cleanliness has gone by the way side.

Enjoying a beautiful garden, Lakewood, WA.

But, I enjoy a good book more than I used to.  I treasure quiet moments and good, uplifting music.  I pay more attention to my five senses more and don't take them for granted.  I love the beauty of a sunset or perfectly formed flowers; I love to hear the waves crashing against the shore at high tide; I love the smell of fresh baked cookies or night-blooming jasmine blowing in the breeze; I love the feel of a baby's soft skin against my weathering and aging cheek; and I love the taste of chocolate, still!  I savor every precious moment and my only regret is that I didn't do just that in my younger years.

I'm only now beginning to realize the meaning behind the phrase, "Love, like youth is wasted on the young."

This is me, today, at age 73.

Back to my first statement about my seven decades ~ yes, the old chassi is aging, but my soul is ageless!