Judith Whitehead is back guest-blogging on this Inspirational Monday and the 10Th anniversary of '911.' I find it appropriate and fitting the celebration of her fathers 92 years on this planet, through all the ups and downs we still go on. Just as our country has grown all of us have grown and Judy's father seems to have grown older and wiser too. God Bless America and G-d bless Bert Meyers (Judy's dad) on his 92 birthday. It may be September 12Th, however an extra day of remembrance never hurt anyone.
Judy Whitehead and family celebrate her fathers life and wisdom at the Olive Garden or somewhere similar...
Lachayim, (To Life!)
Many of us “ youngsters” think of age as a relative thing. It is easy to say that phrase if you are in your 40’s, 50’s, 60’s or even 70’s but when you reach your 80’s or 90’s it is only a phrase that takes on new meaning. We can only control our attitude and “ take on life” to a certain extent; after a point, our brains begin to take over. It seems that no matter how much fish oil, fresh air, exercise and positive attitudes we enjoy, the brain takes control of our destiny.
I have slowly witnessed the aging process of my own dad over the last few years. There seems to be a big difference between the 80’s to the 90’s. The last 10 years have taken a toll on a most positive, virile, healthy man. One thing has stayed consistent with my 92 year old father, he never, ever complains.
In his own quiet way, he has taken a back seat to what I am sure he realizes is the aging process.
My dad who at one time would swap stories with anyone with a pulse and now become a quiet bystander who has chosen to sit and watch the world go by without hardly a word spoken. Day by day, I witness my dad slowly slipping away into a new personality, someone who has become complacent about his own life. A sadness has taken him over and daily confusion clutters his mind of even the simple tasks that we youngsters all take for granted. If each day just rolls into the next, how do we even know what day it is.
We go through the motions of daily life only to repeat the same things the next day. I think there is some comfort in repetitive tasks but are we destined to live “Ground Hog Day” as in Bill Murray's famous movie years ago. What it seems to come all down to is that destiny has a mind of its’ own . We can lead healthy lives, be proactive in our own health and well being but our genes seem to play a major role in our futures.
The message here is to live the best life you know how that brings you the utmost happiness for we can’t predict what our futures will hold out for us. Will we be running marathons until we reach 90? Will we be traveling and enjoying our families well into our 90’s? Its’ in Gods Hands after a certain point.
So this week, we will gather around my 92 year old dad, remind him he has reached another milestone, sing to him and congratulate him and tell him he looks wonderful and he will smile back in silence. I don’t know what he is thinking but I still make an effort to talk about the old days that may bring comfort to him, and remind him that he was a vital human being back in the day. I can only pray that as he shuffles along measuring each step so as not to fall, that he is pain free and still happy to be with us.
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