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Open Poetry #49
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Diary of an Old Man . . . I
| Open Poetry #49 |
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Diary of an Old Man . . . I |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana 
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Yes, it is a bit long. I have a lurch within my heart. My last birthday I turned old. Birthdays and I have never been on good speaking terms. I've not liked nor disliked them. They were merely just another day which I could very easily have done without all the hubbub that usually goes along with such days. I’m a widower, and have been for five years. My wife never understood my aversion to birthday parties, and as many times as I ask her not to do anything special on that day she never listened. As I pen these words; what shall I call this, a diary I suppose? Yes, a diary it will be. In poetical form. A diary. I don't think guys tend to keep diaries as much as women do. What was I saying? Oh, yes, about birthdays. As the years progressed and each year and decade was safely put behind me I found myself not looking at the number my next birthday would be. Some people began to fret when they turn forty with women I think the age for the fretting is thirty but, as I said, birthdays never bothered me. Neither did the other number's which signified my birthday; fifty, sixty, seventy . . . we need to pause here. The year I turned seventy was like someone had taken hold of me quite roughly, shoved a mirror in front of my face and made me look. I knew I didn't look much different than I had the day before, but I felt different. Suddenly seventy had meaning. People start dying when they are seventy. Oh I know people die when they are forty also. Yes, they do, but seventy is a year which courts death much more avidly than any other number which had preceded it. So! For the last almost five years my aches and pains, which, up until that dreaded birthday, I took for granted as getting old. Ahhh . . . But now I had actually arrived at old age and these same aches and pains took on new meanings. Now they were warnings instead of just something to tell the doctor about. Each new pain meant decay was consuming my body and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it. Except worry. No one wants to die. Except those who are in so much pain that dying would be, and is, a relief. I'm not there yet, so I worry about death and how it will come to me. I also wonder about the hereafter, as most of us do I suppose. In my case, however, I tend to wonder, or worry more about what state of readiness my mental self will be in when the death's scythe cuts me down. Being ready mentally is much more desirous to me than just sitting here and waiting without ever understanding there might be a better way to think. At almost seventy-five I’ve decided to try to do something about my mental situation. ©February 12, 2014 / Jerry Pat Bolton ~*~ If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around. ~*~ [This message has been edited by JerryPat2 (05-12-2014 07:19 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2014 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved | |||
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
They say to take care of your body with exercise and the right fresh foods to keep strong and healthy. Nothing less costly than walking. If I did not have a yard to garden in, I'd walk more. If a garden, plant those nice vegetables you need to keep you young. Take off the glasses when looking in the mirror so you do not see the wrinkles. I told my son I did that and one day he had his glasses on (he hates to wear them, said they are just for reading,) But then he said he finally saw my wrinkles, until then he had not noticed them. LOL Age is really a state of mind. Every one these days,young or old complain of aches and pains why be different. I just never tell. LOL best to you,Jo. P.S. worrying about it only causes you to age faster. |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
I get plenty of walking, and actually I try to eat sensibly, although yesterday I had a huge pizza. I agree that age is a state of mind, especially if you are pretty much able to live as you were before you got "old." That's pretty much where I am these days. Thank you, Jo!. ~*~ If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around. ~*~ |
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Lori Grosser Rhoden Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202Fair to middlin' of nowhere |
Well, when it is your time to go it is your time to go. I think you are lucky not to have been shot by a jealous husband decades ago or murdered in some back alley some where. The time you have now is gravy. Considering you still have your wits about you, you are in good shape. Lori  |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
I agree with everything you said, Lori. Everything. I am a fortunate man. ~*~ In wine there is truth. ~*~ |
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