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Category Archives: Aging
Mélange
What a month it’s been! Beautiful days, some lazy indulgences, some quirky sights to be seen. Due to the outrageously fine weather, I’ve spent some significant (and perhaps a bit wasteful) lengths of time just hanging out on The Urban … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Birds, Cooking, Daeja's Garden, Food, Friends, Gardening, nature, Photography, Seasons, senior musings, Spring, The Urban Porch ™, Uncategorized, Views From he Urban Porch ™
Tagged blue, doing nothing, grandparents, May, purple, retirement, spring flowers, the most beautiful May, wild food
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Moving Right Along
Time seems to be whipping by at a pretty good clip. It feels as though we are all in some sped up animation. During a conversation with a friend years ago, we expounded on the theory that time goes faster … Continue reading
Uncivilized
Because it has been so weather-glorious, I’ve waffled back and forth about whether to do the happy thing and share a bit more about blue skies, nature discoveries and snippets from The Urban Porch ™ ……or instead launch into a … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Are you kidding me?, Perspective, Rant, senior musings, Spring, The Urban Porch ™, Uncategorized, Vent, Weird
Tagged angry americans, back in my day, born into an uncivilized world, collapse of society, disrespectful people, lack of courtesy, rude people, something's gotta change, what is wrong with people?
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Where I Stand
There are a variety of flags displayed on the front of homes in this area. A few blocks away there is even a street unofficially nicknamed “The Street of Flags,” where just about every house has (or used to have) … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Perspective, The Urban Porch, Uncategorized
Tagged art flags, flags, house banners, making a statement, neighborhood decor, urban porch
2 Comments
Separate Rooms
Lately I have been stumbling upon a number of articles relating to couples who have decided to sleep in separate beds and separate rooms. This morning I even read one about couples who keep separate houses – his, hers and … Continue reading
My Children Don’t Read My Blog
My children don’t read my blog. Once upon a time, perhaps about a decade ago, one of them would occasionally weigh in with a funny comment, but overall it is apparent they have little interest. I’m pretty sure they rarely, … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, kids, Perspective, Regrets, Uncategorized, Winter
Tagged aging, boomers, leaving memories behind, Memories, missed opportunities, parent/child, winter of our lives
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Emerging From Eeyore
Well, I’ve been down in the abyss for the past week. I find it consistently amazing that when you (and I guess it means “me”, unless it’s also you) don’t feel physically well, it colors just about every single thing. … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Coping, Perspective, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Winter
Tagged depression, feeling better, illness and depression, urban porch, urban wildlife
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That Old *Beep-Bop* Lady
Down a path in the woods, slipping through an opening in a fence, we would sneak onto the remotely situated 13th hole of a nearby golf course in the early evening, after the golfers had all gone home. Kicking off … Continue reading
Linden
This is a rather longish post concerning the frustration of municipal red tape and the loss of a friend, of sorts. It is one of those “shaking my head” type posts. It is also about quality of life, trying to … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Are you kidding me?, grief, Perspective, Rant, Regrets, Spring, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged arbor, city ordinances, Linden tree, losing a tree
4 Comments
Expiration Date
Hey! I never redeemed these….. I wonder if they are still any good? ~*~
Posted in Aging, Humor, kids, Uncategorized
Tagged children, coupons, expired gifts, found treasures, little presents, mementos, precious, wistful mom
1 Comment
Ashes
Left holding the bag again Or box, as it so happens A container of dust That is not really him * Okay it’s true the person is gone Their spirit and essence Does not reside in this unworthy cube of … Continue reading
Rage
Okay, it was clearly my fault. Today started out poorly, following a week without one solid night’s sleep. Perhaps it was because I stayed up too late watching a forgettable movie with loathsome characters and a predictable outcome, but last … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Coping, grief, Perspective, Rant, Shopping, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged aging, angry people, anxiety, death, depression, insomnia, it's my fault, losing a friend, loss, parking lot altercations, road rage, senior demographics
1 Comment
Butterfly Sheets
On the day I was changing the bed linens, I came across a set of butterfly pattern sheets that had migrated to the back of the shelf in the closet. The pillow cases were long gone and the elastic on … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Coping, Friends, grief, Perspective, Regrets, Uncategorized
Tagged babies, be here now, birth, death, Friends, grief, holding on, letting go, life, Memories, mom
2 Comments
Found and Lost
During the gawky, dark, painfully insecure pre and early-adolescent summers of my youth, I attended what was advertised as an “inter-faith, inter-racial” summer camp out in what was once the wilds of Connecticut, before it became greatly suburbanized. From what … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Autumn, Friends, grief, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged Childhood, i remember you, missed opportunities, old friends, summer camp, the past comes back
2 Comments
Amp-Bump
Out of the blue, my usually uncommunicative brother sent my sisters and I this text: “Do you guys remember amp bump???” Amp bump? I could almost feel my brain physically shifting into a time warp. Amp bump. Oh my God, … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged 1960's childhood, Childhood, doll house, imaginative play, Memories, sibling memories
10 Comments
Blessings Amid the Depression
Breakfast this morning consisted of a handful of foraged chanterelle mushrooms sautéed in butter and garlic, then scrambled into two fresh eggs from a neighbor’s chickens and sprinkled with ground Himalayan pink salt and fresh peppercorn. The mushroom eggs were … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Coping, grief, Hearing Impaired, Perspective, Rant, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged appreciation, blessings, depressed, depression, dysthymia, feeling blue, gratefulness, loss, moods, people judging depression
4 Comments
Of Summer
Standing outside watering a thirsty garden watching prisms arc through the spray under a late afternoon sun I am reduced to a child reliving the joy of running under the rainbow in the sprinkler on a hot summer day Sweet … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, summer, Uncategorized
Tagged Childhood, growing old, looking back, magic, Memories, nature, Summer, summer time
4 Comments
My Little Black Book is Blue
Not that long ago it seems, before cell phone contact lists and computer address databases, there was The Address Book. Even though that information is stored on both my phone and in a computer file, stashed in a top drawer … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Friends, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged address book, Change, impermanence, Memories, time
4 Comments
Machine Age
You would think I had grown up in the days of my grandmother or possibly my great-grandmother if you saw the kind of appliances I had in my house, right up into the 1990’s. As a twenty-something and even a … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Cooking, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged antiques, clutter, gadgets, hippie, kitchen tools, machines, old appliances, too much stuff
4 Comments
New Morning
The calendar on my iPhone was serving me well until it appeared I was showing up for appointments on the wrong date and missing scheduled engagements. This happened because in the process of scrolling to turn on the reminder alarms … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Holidays
Tagged aging, baby boomer, calendar, forgetful, new beginning, New Year, phone calendar, wall calendar
1 Comment
A Mermaid Farewell, or The Last (Hip) Hurrah
While deleting over a hundred spam hits, it really drove home how lax I have been about posting anything. Distraction has been the issue. A lot of new things have popped up in my life that have grabbed my focus … Continue reading
I’m Not That Old
Today was the first time I have been in a movie theater to see a feature film in longer than I can remember. With the exception of attending foreign films with subtitles, I have pretty much given up on going … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Coping, Deafness, Hearing Impaired, Uncategorized, Wow!
Tagged captioning glasses, hard of hearing, I'm not old, mid-life, movie captioning, Regal Cinemas, theater captioning
6 Comments
All Manner of Comfortable Things
“I’m built for comfort, I ain’t built for speed”. This line from a song keeps going through my head. I think it was Howlin’ Wolf . Didn’t Canned Heat do a version of it also? (I can’t find it if … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Holidays, Humor, Uncategorized, Winter
Tagged Chillow, comfort, comfortable gifts, holiday gifts, hot flashes, midlife, over 50, over fifty, privilege
2 Comments
E
My right ear rings all the time. One day, about twenty years ago, it just started buzzing and it has never shut off since. As the hearing loss has progressed in that ear, the noise has seemed to get louder … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Coping, Deafness, Hearing Impaired, Uncategorized
Tagged hearing loss, ringing in ears, tinnitus
5 Comments
What Do You Do All Day?
Since I have been officially out of the workforce, people who are working full-time or who I have not seen in a while will inevitably turn to me and say “So…….now that you are not working, what do you do … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Are you kidding me?, Bucket List, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged not working, out of the work force, retirement
4 Comments
Hiding Behind a Tree
As if my heart could not get any fuller, my first-born grandchild started his very first day of pre-school this morning. Wasn’t it but yesterday when I had to leave my first child in daycare? There was no choice…I had … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, kids, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged children, first day of pre-school, grand parenting
1 Comment
Crossing a Line
No stranger to comfortable shoes, one peek in my closet will reveal a significant selection of Birkenstocks, Danskos, Naots, Merrills and Clarks. I have spent good money on good shoes because I can’t stand it if my feet hurt. I … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Perspective, Shopping, Uncategorized
Tagged boomers, comfortable shoes, growing older, over fifty, Shoe-a-holics, Shoes, shopping with elderly
8 Comments
The Art of Napping
Why can’t I nap? Taking a nap is probably a very healthy thing to do. There is actually a study out there stating that people who nap may have a lower incidence of coronary disease. Sounds like a lovely way … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Deafness, Hearing Impaired, Uncategorized, Weather
Tagged a woman's space, baby boomer, boomers, cozy room, napping, naps, resting, siesta, sleep
2 Comments
A Change of Status
I am unemployed. Or “retired”, as some people have congratulated me on, although that word doesn’t seem to quite fit. I feel like I am actually a “retirement imposter” in a sense, because this “retirement” was mostly unplanned, not affordable, … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Hearing Impaired, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged baby boomer, boomers, disability, growing older, identity crisis, now what?, retirement, the autumn years, unemployed, who am i now?
3 Comments
Major Artistic Deficit Disorder
Having grown up the child of artists, it naturally followed that those we interacted with and bonded with would lean towards the creative. And so, throughout this life, I have found myself surrounded by an abundance of talented friends. I … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Friends, Perspective, Regrets, Uncategorized
Tagged Am I an Artist?, art as a living, artist life, artistic friends, artists, creativity, lack of focus, talent
14 Comments
Discombobulation
OK, maybe the Feeling of Displacement has something to do with it and maybe it’s not that either. I think most of us have done a couple of space-out things like getting dressed in the low light of morning and … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Humor, Uncategorized
Tagged black and brown shoes, getting dressed in the dark, mismatched shoes, stress
10 Comments
The Teal Gown
My oldest daughter, the Conventional Daughter, planned a Conventional Wedding. It was not an outrageously extravagant wedding by some wedding standards, but it did included a wedding gown from a bridal salon, bridesmaids in matching sateen dresses, a caterer, candles … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Humor, Uncategorized
Tagged be true to yourself, Coney Island, costume, Mermaid Parade, Mother of the Bride dress, Wedding
11 Comments
Bozo
The three things that struck me right away about Williamsburg, Brooklyn: 1) almost everyone on the street seems to be in their twenties to early forties 2) there is an incredibly high proportion of pet dogs of every size and … Continue reading
I Kissed Rick Danko
I didn’t plan on attending Levon Helm’s wake today. Yes, I had been a fan of The Band for many years, but I dislike crowds and am seriously averse to fan/fame worship. And yet, on some level I was still … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Friends, Perspective, Regrets, Uncategorized
Tagged fame, fans, idol worship, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, The Band, Wakes, Woodstock
9 Comments
The P.I.A.
I could get into the details, but the short version is that a shoulder that has been sore for months suddenly exploded into nauseating pain radiating from my shoulder to my elbow. Anything that is “radiating” on the body doesn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged calcium deposits, hospital survival, hospitals, House, question authority, shoulder pain
6 Comments
Same Time Next Year
For about the last seventeen years or so, my family and I have been invited to a New Year’s Day brunch at the home of a wonderful couple. They tend to invite a core of their same friends year after … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Hearing Impaired, Uncategorized, Winter
Tagged aging, annual brunch, annual party, capuchin monkey, connections, friendships, Kindness, new year's day
5 Comments
Crumbling Under the Weight of Technology
They say you can never go back. After having this new Droid Charge for a few days, I ended up sitting there with it, close to tears. I am having a rough time managing my new Smart Phone. I feel too dumb for a Smart Phone. … Continue reading
The Hippie Haj
I have a really bad attitude when it comes to the commercialization of those things which represent “my” generation, which is that of The Boomer. Most specifically, I gag at all this glorifying of the “Woodstock era” – the life and times … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Friends, Perspective, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged Bethel Woods, Hippie Museum, Hippies, The 60's, The 70's, Woodstock, Woodstock concert
3 Comments
No Rose-colored Glasses For Me
Two years ago I noticed things were starting to look a little fuzzy, especially in one eye. When speaking to someone sitting in front of a window or back-lit in silhouette, I could not see their face for the white … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged Cataract Operation, Cataract Surgery, Cataracts, Eye Surgery, Eyes, Seeing Pink
3 Comments
Skinny Girl
I was always the skinny girl. Not the long, lithe, willowy model skinny girl, but the gawkishly thin, angular, hollow-eyed skinny girl. A skinny girl in school who looked like an X-ray…….with knobby knees, tiny bones, all feet and nose and elbows and spine. The … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Diet, Perspective, Uncategorized, Weight
4 Comments
Medusa Scary
It is with a great, disheartening sigh that I have just seen a number of recent photos of myself. After such rude and irrefutable proof, there followed the panicked realization that I have let my hair go for waaaaay too long without a hair cut … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Uncategorized
Tagged big hair, Changes, curly hair, frizzy hair, Hair, uncontrollable hair, wild hair
2 Comments
Speechless
I ventured out to the mall the other night in search of a purse with lots of compartments and zippers so you can find all your stuff easily. Of course, I got side-tracked and ended up on a fruitless quest for some of those … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Humor, Shopping, Uncategorized
Tagged aging, dressing room mirror, wrinkles
4 Comments
daeja's view 