Being Old
Feb.2nd.2o26
Many have written about getting old. Few to my knowledge have had the gall or honesty to write about finally realizing that they have gotten to that stage of life of being old. I feel that at the age of 89 and slowly but determinedly forging ahead to reach that pinnacle of 90 years old, not many can or even want to write about it. I do, as writing seems to be the last of my God given talents, I am happy that I can display my writing with a sense of pride. Even with this talent I am still in need of my wife and spellcheck to keep my prose somewhat readable. Yes, more than just one talent has been so generously given me by my maker. I must thank my heritage of hard working ordinary British ancestors. My two grandmothers in different ways showed me the ways of life that would give me a work ethic that with little more than that, gave me opportunities beyond my highest dreams. My Great grandmother lived to be 106 years old. My two grandfathers, each as different as day from night gave me the desire to learn and the other, a passion. If not to a point of almost being out of control, a passion for life and success. One with a calmness of a Lamb, the other with a lust for life and all that the human soul desires, even beyond that of the commandments of our God. My father and mother were as their ancestors, as different as black is too white. Both good people and they both had a profound influence on my life and personality. My mother was self-absorbed in life situations that she would have better put aside and my father was the calming influence that kept our lives as children at a reasonable temperature. If I were to be honest, my personality is as many would describe as a “Jekyll & Hyde” I have through no action on my part taken on my ancestors’ persona. This is not an excuse but just an observation. I am not proud of my quick temper nor am I proud of being so critical of my grandsons and their lack of interest in life and all that has been provided for their comfort. Perhaps it is because God has given me a slight edge in many aspects of life that I feel everyone should have. My attitude is because I am more curious than most. Probably that could be translated as being a nosy person. That is a negative and not a positive aspect of my personality.
Enough about my ramblings and on to the issues that we face when we become old and not as much use in this world as we would like to be. A dear friend recently stated that it must be hard for someone like my wife and I to get old and not have the active life we once had. Boy! Did he hit the nail directly on the head. Yes, Joan and I have had a more than an average life of activity that most of our friends could only speculate. We have travelled the world, had a number of businesses’, beautiful homes and experiences. After a set back at 27 years old that almost put us into bankruptcy, our fortunes changed financially and we were rarely at the bankruptcy doors again.
Health problems have brought us to our knees at God’s throne more times than we would like to remember. Raising two fine boys with a serious handicap posed many unexpected problems but with our faith in God, we survived where many other couples could not. Old age together, that is a blessing that many of our friends have not experienced. To be alone for either of us would be cruel after being as one for almost 70 years. This is the one thing we do fear. Death on the other hand would be a blessing.
Watching a documentary recently exposed a number of reasons for a long and happy life into the 90’s and beyond. When analyzing the elderly in this TV special, four things stood out as being the reason for longevity. Number one was a simple natural food DIET. # 2 was a quiet and tranquil life style with friends and especially living with family rather than senior homes. #3 regular exercise by just keeping mobile. #4 keeping in touch with others maintaining a social life. - Communities that had no facilities for the elderly such as old age homes and the like had a far happier centenary population reaching well into their late 90’s and beyond. Living to the age of 90 and beyond is a wonderful thing if you can claim relatively good health. As North Americans, this is becoming harder and harder to achieve. We need to return to the earth and natural foods and still it is almost impossible to achieve the level of food quality needed for natural human consumption. Our Health authorities in many cases are not our friends. Big Pharma has taken over good health programs and turned them into (for profit) institutions. Many good natural remedies have been replaced by chemical substitutes that are far more profitable and less effective.
No individual senior is the same but many of the problems for us are the same and that is where we can focus for an attempt at achieving a better and more fulfilling life. There are natural products and remedies that are available but you must be able to research many to find a fit for your personal health problems. I have tried Nicotine patches for pain of arthritis. Nicotine, contrary to what you are told is not addictive. A new product that has given me a new lease on life without arthritis pain and is helpful for Neuropathy as well is a natural liquid derived from the pulp and paper industry called DMSO. Mixed with other natural ingredients, like Lavender has helped many with Neuropathy pain, it can do wonders for your personal pain free comfort. DMSO is a 99.9% pure solvent that carries healing benefits throughout your body. To be used on the skin, not internally. Amazon is a good source for this non-medical remedy.
I am by no means a physician, just an old fart that has been through a lot of doctors and faced the scary reality of death no less than three times. Remember, you can be your own physician and no one knows your body as well as you do. Good health comes with the responsibility on you. Read your body and be aware of changes. Do not hesitate to leave the doctor’s office with the knowledge that he or she has given you. Do not be afraid to ask for an explanation if you are not certain as to your condition. Doctors talk a different language and think you understand when many times you do not. There are fine doctors and there are terrible ones. We are seeing so-called MD's practicing in Canada with fake degrees from remote 3rd. world countries. Because of our deplorable lack of doctors, some are able to slip through the cracks and do a great deal of harm to our citizens. As in all things pertaining to seniors, be especially aware of not becoming a victim.
Since my stomach had to be attached directly to my throat after my cancerous esophagus was removed, and after losing most of my teeth. I lost over 100 pounds. This loss of muscle and fat caused me to become very weak and unbalanced. Falling was becoming a problem as each time brought me closer to some serious breaks. I am on my way back but it will be a long struggle to gain muscle but not too much weight. I am trying to get along without the use of a walker. The cane works for me as I do have another bad trait. I am a stubborn old man with a will to live my way. I try not to spend much time in the buff in front of a full-length mirror, The skin at 90 does not have the will to shrink no matter how much Preparation H, I slather on. Not a good look.
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Paul D. Scott www.rantingsandraves.com