Getting Older Sucks...

Gold cherry

By purplehaze

Wed, 17 Apr 2024
  • 744 reads
7 comments
 

…but it’s better than the alternative.  This morning’s snail mail was an advert, with vouchers, for Tena lady pants and an advert from the Conservative Party candidate.  I’m not sure which one made me want to empty my bladder more.

Last night I read that someone I knew had died on Monday.  I didn’t know her well, but enough to know she was kind, funny and patient.  I met her twenty years ago when she was a focaliser in Cullerne Garden at Findhorn.  Several years ago, on a day visit to Findhorn, I asked to speak to her and apologised for losing my temper at a bonfire on one of the garden weeks.  I felt I had shocked and disappointed her.  She said, “Okay, time to let that go now, you’ve carried it long enough”. 

I feel sad that she has died.  Sadder that I didn’t know her better.  Last time I saw her was covid times.  We had to wear masks inside, but the garden centre had re-opened.  I was buying bird seed; she was having coffee with a friend.  I walked past her masked face thinking, ‘How do I know those eyes?’  I didn’t twig who it was until I was leaving and saw them sitting outside, mask-free.  I didn’t go over to say hello, I didn’t even wave.  I thought it would have been weird.  I should have been weird.

What can we do with our sadness, our regrets but get on the mat, and push down through the heels.

Today I am grateful to be here ranting about Tena lady adverts, how do these people even know where I live?  And to light a candle for Durten. A life well lived, true to her own heart.  Which was full, and large enough to hold us weirdos. 

Certificate U
Non-fiction
Journal

Comments

Submitted by airyfairy on

A lovely reminder to be weird while you have the chance.

The online ads get me. I don't know how the algorithms work, but I think they must get confused with writers because we look so much stuff up for research (I mean, it starts off as research and then you're just down a rabbit hole because whatever you've found REALLY needs looking into more) and then there's ads on Facebook for all sorts.

Getting old is a privilege. So many people don't get the opportunity. So I tell myself when some part of my anatomy is giving me gip.

Thanks for a lovely read.

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I really enjoyed this, too. Forever now pee and Liz Truss are linked in my mind :0) However, the way you describe your friend is brilliant, too, and your uncertainty of how to be, can relate to that so well. I would love to go to Findhorn one day!

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

This resonated with me. There are some people who inhabit the periphery but you value them, each in a unique way without necessarily expressing it and then they are gone. I like the idea of lighting a candle or planting something for her, since you were connected through gardening.

 

Submitted by onemorething on

I loved this gentle reminder to be our weird selves for as long as we can, touching, funny, human. Thank you for sharing it. It's our Pick of the Day. Do share it too. (The painting is Munch's and is in the public domain. I hope it's ok, I couldn't bring myself to add a Tena lady or Tory themed image.) 

 

Submitted by purplehaze on

Wow, thank you ABC Tales, and I love the painting.

Purplehaze

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

A brilliant, interesting, reflective and funny piece - very big congratulations for the golden cherries - and I'd say if that doesn't inspire you to keep on with your daily writing, nothing will!

 

Submitted by celticman on

weirdly enough...I enjoyed this.