Thank you, WAH.....it's not about me, but rather the elderly who are often ignored. You have a very good heart....thanks for coming by.

Wish I lived in the neighborhood but instead I'll give my mom a call. Thanks for the reminder.

Lovely. One of life's cruelties yes, but in the process we often hone our compassion and empathy.

You make a great case for the "other" invisible people. Someone forgot to teach all of us younger folks:
Our elders have feeling too!

I watch/observe my mother throughout the day. Your words ring true. Beautiful sentiments. Rated.

gees, not much to look forward to, is it?

I often stop to talk to people. The problem is where I live, either the weather or the forms of housing make that very difficult. Thank you for showing how easy it really is to connect and make a difference.

Sweet. The body does remind us of "... how youth once felt" so true.

Rated

Lovely post, lovely message.

rated

Very pretty post corgi. Makes me so grateful for my mother and father, who built a separate living area onto their house and welcomed in my grandmother. She's 97 now, and they're still caring for her. Last week, when the news kept talking about Michelle Obama meeting the queen, my grandmother became convinced that the queen was coming over for tea. And my mother just sighed and smiled and made the biscuits.

Thanks for this thoughtful piece. I've had older relatives that I've done things with, and it was rewarding to slow to their pace. Now that I'm slow, I'm grateful to those who slow down to be with me.

do you ever read a post that you love but which it's hard to find the appropriate clever comment for? this is one of 'em for me, so i'll leave it at; this is beautifully written and moving renee, and rated for it.

a very believable internal dialogue it could be any of us

That is the one good part of not having kids. My parents get much more of my attention than they probably want :) I can it payback for how much attention they gave me as a teenager when I didn't want it.

Written with much compassion. Beautiful.

It's what I fear: growing old and wasting away from the outside in but instead I'll probably rage and rant until the last moment! Rated for reminding us of those we might be forgetting.

Oh, you have a tender heart. I always wave to and smile at old women. It's just kind of insurance for the future which is not that far away. Old men, too, but you gotta watch out for those rascals.

Mamoore, then my post was worth it.....thank you.

So, true Trishhelen...experience is the best teacher and suffering makes one more empathetic to the trials of others.

Gary, I agree....I think sometimes we fear our own vulnerabilities and if we can just pretend that they don't exist, we can fool ourselves into believing we won't face the inevitable.

Cartouche, your mother is highly favored to have you.

Cap'n.....there is much to look forward to as you age, but it could be that much richer if we reached out to them more. ;-D

I just want to give somebody a hug ...
beautifully described and pulling at my heart ~

Simply a beautiful sentiment.
Rated for one lovely human being.

my heart aches for those old and lonely who have tales to tell ... my 96-year-old grandma still lives in the house she raised her children in but she can't move anymore, so crippled with arthritis. But her mind is sharp and Irish Catholic families so large; she gets visitors and so many phone calls. Her aides don't speak English but they;re people to eat with. She's one of the lucky few ... we should all adopt an older person....

Beautifully written, and very thought-provoking.

May or may not have provoked my eyes into welling up, too...

Just so lovely, very peaceful and beautiful story.

I think my heart just tore around the edges...what a powerful piece, corgi. And thank you for that reminder.

I wish I lived nearby. We could listen to some music and talk and talk.

Go ahead, make me weep. I'm going to do as Mamoore suggested: going to call my "surrogate" mom (not in the modern sense of the word - just my dear departed mom's best friend). Hope she's gardening and wondering what I'm up to. What a nice surprise she'll get, thanks to your touching post.

My Mother would say ... (I heard her here?)
You seem to become invisible as You age.
`
Old? Not feeble
a folk get a Taxi
to Dark corridor.
`
`Take me to Wall Mart
so I can hear another
voice:`a Smily Face?
`
`okay, I'll take a sticker
oho, and grin @ plastic
then, go home to love.
`and
Rock in a chair
plant flowers
blessed post.
~
`I hug fence post?

This post really 'hit' a tender Place. Mom would have loved to sit.
Again. Onecorgilover.

Bless You. Thanks.
Mom loved flowers.
O, loved cup of tea.
`
Remember the advertisement?
I'd walk a mile for a Camel cig.?
She'd rock in a chair and Smile.
~
No way ~ Camomille apaisante pour
s'offrir des moments de tranquillite.
I'm sayin' Ya brought me to a Place.
A Place of Memory. Sadness/Joys.

non-duality. I am appreciative too.
I give You a VAMC 2- wheel walker?
I have one. I lend or give. Free to Ya!
We can wheel 'rounds in the woods.
`
Ya wrote:`It was sensitive. Perceptive.
Awareness. Concision. It's piercing too.
I know the correct syllables ~ no matter.
~
You wrote what is pure and simple ~ true.
~
I wept yesterday? I heard something beautiful.
My son:`Let's create a world we wish to live in.
I'll no matures. I am a big mushy idiot crybaby.

I listened as my son was pondering diversity, etc.,

`Wow, who said that? It's in the seed catalogue?
"A Place that people would love to live in!" wow.
Michael James responded: `Ya say that, right?
Ya say that in different ways all day long." sigh.
`
I'm reflective. I am gonna meditate on a peanut!
Maybe from grey sky? Drop a chocolate souffle!
Yahoo. I forward? I'd cuddle with you? smacks!

You are welcome, Emma. You're in Vancouver right? I noticed that in the area we stayed in most of the apartments are lovely glass paned high rises.....it is difficult to communicate in that type of setting. Thanks for stopping by.

Trudge.....I can relate to pains in the body right now....I can only imagine how difficult it will get later on....ugh.

Thank you, Brie....I appreciate you gracing my blog with your presence today.

Annette, your grandmother is so blessed to have your parents. I'm glad your mom didn't dispute her.....;-D

Sirenita, you make a good point.....we don't realize how taxing our swiftness can be on an older soul. It's a pleasant surprise to see that we take note of things we've missed along the way when we slow down.

Oh, Jeff...thanks for coming by darling heart.....you are always so supportive!

That is so true, Kathy....definite food for thought!

Julie.....I'm willing to bet that you get back so much more than you'd ever dreamed by being there for them, huh?

I thought I had commented on this before... never too late huh?

I called my favorite aunt last night and found out my uncle had broken a hip recently... I hope to go see them soon... this gave me a little push.

Lovely. I can't say more without sounding trite.

Lifehalflived...thank you for coming by....I truly appreciate your kind words.

PM, I hear you.....I have a feeling that you will be a force to be reckoned with until the very end!

Oh, Penrose.....I had to bust out laughing....you are so right about those older rascals...lol

Oh, Ann and KOB.....you two are true treasures.....thanks!

my parents are the 2 nicest people I know, Renee. Wish I'd known earlier how rare and lucky that made me. :) Bet your daughter thinks the same.

What a lovely post, sweet, tender, adorable really. You have our company here, Renee. Rated

Lovely. :)

Late to the party, but this is beautiful! ... Reminiscent of John Prine's Hello In There. If you haven't heard it, you should!

I have been so busy.....I plan to respond to everyone's lovely comments....but once again....it's not about me! lol

I'm going to copy this and send it to my mother. I still have a few years to get to the rocker, but I can assure you that I do think about getting old. I also know that getting old is not for sissies. This doesn't sink in as a youngster, when you feel bullet proof and full of P&V.
I see what neighbors and friends and relatives have gone through and I am amazed that they still smile everyday.
We are new friends, so I know little about you, yet I never would have guess you as one of the elderly. Hugs to you, Corgigirl! M

What a lovely, compassionate essay! Beautiful! Oh, the biggest fear of growing old is to be alone. One can bear the withers of aging, the pain and loss, but to go through it alone, that is the worst imagining for me. Thanks for this wonderful rememberance.

Beautiful.

Sadly beautiful...

Cindy, that is actually a great idea.....I believe there is an organization out there where you can adopt a grandparent. I never knew mine, so this would be a great volunteer opportunity for anyone who wanted to spend time with the elderly.

George, that's ok...your secret is safe with me. ;-D

FE and Ash, thank you so much for coming by to read my little story. I'm glad that you both got something out of it.

Duane....you are sweet. This story wasn't about me. ;-D

Awww....DCV....you're going to make me cry! Please call her and I hope that you guys have a wonderful 'visit'!

Arthur, you are ever the gentleman poet. I am glad that I brought you to a place of memory....of your dear mother. I am touched.

BG, I'm sorry to hear about your uncle, but glad that you made the call!!

Julie, the great thing is that you found out before it was too late. I still have some regrets that I can't resolve because both of my parents have passed. Treasure these moments....they are much too short.

Marcela & Screaming mama.....it's so good to see you guys here! Thanks for your warm words!

Jess.....I've never heard it, but that will be quickly remedied. Thanks!

Mike, please feel free to share it with your mom.

I agree Cathy.....that would be the cruelest cut.....to age alone.

P & P and Teendoc, thanks guys for lending your support.

This is a nice reminder not to forget the elderly, thanks Renee

damn, that's sad.

I think the same thing, though. Not to mention I'm over half-way there. But I'll see someone really, Really old - in their 90's. I'll say to the girls, sotto: "Look at that lady. She used to be five years old. Picture her as five years old, running and skipping down the boardwalk."

They get these funny looks, pause, shrug, and run and skip away from me.

You are very welcome, Ariana! Glad you stopped by!


That's actually a very good point, Connie. I think that we sometimes look at older people as living past their expiration date. They are not seen as attractive, interesting or god forbid still sexual. They really are just like anyone else....just the housing has changed.

The young do tend to forget their debts...

You're writing about my mother.

And one day (I hope!) about me.