LOAD LIGHTENING
Saturday Sept. 12, 2015
Getting older – like vacations we hope never ends, dreading last legs of journey home, because its end is near, and certain.
Some rely on life philosophy, some on faith. When least expected, rooves comes crashing down. Moving slow – aging is, for many, like watching paint dry. Agonizingly slow – never really drying. So many of us exercise, eat intelligently, take good care of ourselves (some actually do what they say). Much disconnect between the saying and the doing.
Wasting energy thinking about it won’t lengthen my life, so I’ll stay focused on my reasons for wanting such a long life. My reasons are not to grow wrinkly twinkly frail and ancient with failing parts, replacement parts and parts that only work part-time.
The how of survival (and thriving) varies dramatically, between first and third worlds; lucky we, our struggles so few, our risks low, our safety and health so assured – compared to people fleeing for their lives. Like we have no worries at all. Life is long. Life is short. Most of us don’t directly choose – and most don’t walk around with fingers crossed. Running for our lives – or racing toward some cliff we’ll leap from …
Aging in place, like running in place – lots of movement, but you don’t go anywhere.
People are load bearing walls. Designed for it. No idea how much weight we can carry.
Or how long.
I want uncertain – and long – don’t want to keep pharmacists busy, I want to keep printing presses busy.
I don’t want to keep doctors busy, I want to create things.
I don’t want to burden anyone, I want to lighten someone’s load.
Mark Kolke
P.S. : seemed like a great Friday night idea after a great day on the golf course. Dinner and a movie. Redford. Nolte. Thomson. A Walk In The Woods. I liked the premise. I enjoyed Nolte. I enjoyed Thomson. I don’t know if the real Bill Bryson had so little to say (or was it Redford’s portrayal?), or maybe it was sitting in an uncomfortable theater seat watching former icons showing their age, their flagging skills, their physical limitations.
written / published from Calgary, AB
morning walk: 10C/50F, breezy and clear – Gusta romping, me too, ankle much better – a single jet stream painting a line in the sky heading southwest got me thinking Maui …
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