I remember when…
In the morning I quickly combed my hair, put on some lip-gloss, and was ready to face a new day.
A pair of hip huggers with fringe on the bottom of my bells bottoms and a colorful peasant blouse was my favorite outfit.
A good meal was a cheeseburger with French fries and a can of TAB.
A good book was Our Bodies, Our Selves, Jonathan Livingston Segal, and Love Story.
A pleasant way to spend the day was bike riding across two towns to ride along a bike path at my favorite park.
An annual checkup from my doctor consisted of a BP of 110/70, a weight of 125 lbs., and a declaration of “I’ll see you next year.”
A fun time at the movies was a bucket of buttered popcorn, a box of Sno-Caps, and a can of TAB (shared between friends, of course!)
Today…
I use a lot of gel in my hair, apply foundation to my face, use mascara and eyeliner on my eyes, and at night apply anti-aging creams under my eyes and over my entire face (all made from natural products) – all to be ready to face the world.
I wear a good pair of slimming jeans with a long untucked blouse and a pair of flats as my outfit of choice.
A good lunch is a veggie burger with baked sweet potato fries and a bottle of filtered water.
I think a good book is (among many, many, many others) Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, The Wisdom of Menopause, The Kite Runner, and The Life of Pi.
A pleasant way to spend a day is by taking a walk around our local (historical) botanical gardens.
My annual checkup consists of checking my BP, heart rate, respiration rate, cholesterol, sodium level, weight, height, dermatological/neurological/head/neck exam, questions about my last colonoscopy screening and any current exercise routines, discussion about a healthy diet and whether I am up-to-date on my yearly checkups with my neurologist/gynecologist/dentist/ophthalmologist/urologist and a faith healer (just kidding – I wanted to see if you were paying attention!). I am also asked to list the medications I am currently taking.
A fun time at the movies is packing a bottle of spring water and filling a Ziploc bag with almonds and organic raisins in my oversized pocketbook.
Between “I remember when” and “Today” my life sure has changed, as it does for all of us. For me, the key is enjoying the memories of my past while accepting, living, and enjoying my present. I love the phrase Carpe Diem (Seize the Day). I try to keep that phrase close on those days when I discover a new facial wrinkle, have trouble walking with my numb legs, need to take naps because I experience overwhelming fatigue, or feel bad when I can’t do some of the things I used to do. I do what I can within my new abilities to seize each day as best as I can. Each day is different; some days I don’t succeed at being as positive as I am on other days. I do the best I can, and that is enough for me.
I have to remember there are perks to being older and somewhat wiser: I don’t have to worry about what other people think of me and my life choices (I am working really hard on that one) and I can continue creating and re-creating who I am and what I want to be when I “grow up” (I hope I never totally grow up – life needs to be fun, too!).
Life can be tough – that is the honest truth. But I will keep fighting the good fight despite whatever troubles may come my way. After all, what choice do we have?
What are your good memories and how is life for you today? Feel free to share your own "I remember when" and "Today" stories!!
“Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.” ~ Albert Camus
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Thank you P2P4U. I am glad you found my blog and hope you continue to check in.
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Thanks again and have a great day!
Cathy