Let’s break it down: 50 – this is temporary, in a few months I will be 51 and the clock keeps ticking.
Stay Fit: What is that serenity prayer?.....Change the things I can and accept the things I can’t . Well, I guess one of the things I cannot change is the arthritis genes that have made themselves at home in my knees and hands. What are you going to do? My Mom has had both hips replaced. One she had replaced twice, because she wore out the first artificial joint. She has also had both knees done. She is 86 and amazing. Her hands are OK which gives me hope that my pain will not progress. I am not saying all her calamities will visit themselves on me, I just know my knees already show pretty good arthritis on the X-rays. However, even without the Doctor confirmation, my knees hurt and make a very mournful creaking sound. Currently I use a brace most mornings when walking with friends and always when attending a step class at the gym.
Other than that, I am making a concretive effort to change the things I can through regular exersize and reasonable eating habits.
My Active life: I am a daughter, mother, grandmother and wife. Those titles alone should conjure up images of service, work and family play. As a daughter I want to be strong enough to help my Mother when she needs me such as after surgeries or heavier tasks around her home. She is, however, the model of an active life. At 86 she has somewhere to go and something of purpose to do every day. Some of her activities include: the church choir (of course), several church involvements such as Sunday school, the health and welfare committee that visits the shut-ins, retreats, the women’s circle which involves monthly meetings and service projects. Let us not forget ‘prayer breakfast’ every Wednesday morning. Church ladies in a small room at Cindy’s coffee shop that share breakfast, study and prayer together. That is just church. Now we come to the community: she volunteers during elections, volunteers at the juvenile justice court, volunteers at the tattoo removal program (a wonderful program in which doctors volunteer their time to remove tattoos from minors who wish to change their direction) and attends retired teachers association functions. For fun she sing in a community senior chorus and goes to the senior center to play card with the ‘old ladies’. In her spare time at home or while watching TV she knits. Everything from newborn layettes which she donates to hospitals for those who have nothing, to beanies for cancer victims that have lost their hair. Just the other day she was saying she was a little at loose ends this summer because school was out and she wasn’t needed at the nearby elementary school as a volunteer reading tutor. To keep herself going she does exercises in her bed every morning before she gets up. She also loves the water and enjoys water exercises in a local community pool. She is a perfect role model for any woman and I count it a blessing to call her my Mother.
A mother myself I want to be able to help my children as they need it. In as much as they are young in the prime of life, they really do not require my physical assistance. There is one particular circumstance however, when a mother is usually a welcome aid. It has been my privilege to visit my oldest daughter at the time her children were born. Helping a young mother get a bit of rest is the sweetest idea of service in this grandmother’s heart. The first time I went to help was to a small one-bedroom apartment in Alaska. It was winter, dark and snowy outside. As it happened, my daughter had pre and post-delivery health issues. Nothing that hampered her beautiful son from arriving well and healthy, but conditions that slowed her recovery. On one particular day I remember thinking that although this new, precious little boy that required so much of our time and attention was the baby of the house; for me, another baby was the beautiful young woman lying in the bed of that small bedroom. She was my baby. Moreover, my number one job that day was the same job I’d had since the day she was born to me - to help her get on her feet, pass along whatever bits of knowledge I possessed, sooth her anxieties and share her joy. I have had only two such experiences and hope to have many more. I can tell you they take physical fitness. Nights are long when you are getting up to walk or rock a baby to give his mother just a few more uninterrupted hours of sleep. When the second one comes you have a toddler to corral during the day as well as the infant to tend to at night.
Another demand for stamina is our family geography. One child lives across the country, another a few states away, another a few hours away and only one here in town. I want to feel good enough to get in a car or hop on a plane to stay connected. When we are together, I want to keep up with the kids and grandkids. Playing together, being physically active and having the energy be interesting to them are important to me.
I am especially blessed to be a wife. My husband, companion and best friend is my priority. Our relationship comes first. This relationship also requires physical fitness. As we age there is always the possibility our health will fail. The threat/fear of disease grows statistically larger with each year. Nevertheless, anything I can do to improve my health and fitness will allow me to have the quality of activity we desire. As empty nester’s we find ourselves free to go as never before. Money might limit us but I never want my health to be a deterrent.
Last, but absolutely not least, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you know anything about the Mormons you know we are an ‘on the go’ people. Our faith in Christ and the testimonies we possess propel us forward. We are a serving church and all duties performed are through covenant without monetary compensation. Simply put, if anything is taught or spoken or sung or organized or administered, or performed or even prayed, you might be the one doing it. My husband and I are very actively involved at this time and look forward to serving missions in our retirement years. All these goals and dreams for my life require physical fitness.
Look Healthy and Attractive: I enjoy physical activities and like the look that radiates ability. I am not a body builder by any means nor do I lean toward the ‘female jock’ style. I simply would prefer to look tidy – not disheveled, toned - not too squishy (although some squishiness comes with age and I can handle that), curvy – not sloppy, capable – not weak. I do not have big hang ups about getting wrinkles. I am of the opinion that while there are products that can help condition skin as well as practices that can protect it, one cannot alter time. As Dolly Parton said in the movie Steel Magnolias, “Time marches on and pretty soon you realize it is marching across your face.” Given that, I desire to be good to my skin most particularly my face and hands, then let whatever comes come.
As far as attractive goes, along with the arthritis genes I also have curves. Yes, my Mothers DNA line provides wonderful curves. What is that line from the South Pacific song, “Where she’s narrow, she’s narrow as an arrow, and she’s broad where a broad should be broad.” Developing curves early attracted attention from the boys at school. Attention can be exciting but without maturity, excitement can turn to embarrassment. Every woman learns the lessons of her own power of attraction throughout her life. Some lessons are harsh if we cannot seem to catch the eye of hoped for admirers. The opposite is equally unpleasant, that of unsolicited or unkind attention. For whatever reason, I have had more notice from men than I wanted or asked for. Although age is helping curtail such unwelcome overtures.
When I say attractive, I mean comfortable in my clothes, confident in my appearance and desirable to my husband. My personal assessment of my body is that I can look cute if I put my mind to it. Some days I look quite pretty and on an occasion or two, I would say I have even managed beautiful. I am not a natural beauty with thick gorgeous hair and perfect teeth. In short, I try to use my assets to benefit the overall package without drawing unnecessary attention.
So there you have it – Me.
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