Old?
- July 28, 2011
- Category: Daily Diary
- (14) Comments
Do you ever feel old? Yes, some people would call me old but I don’t feel old. But I’m at that age where I’m starting to be targeted for products designed for the elderly. My mailbox is full of ads for adult diapers, hearing aids, walking devices. I don’t feel old. (Okay, so I repeat myself now and then but who doesn’t.)
I decide to take a hike in the woods and think about life. No dogs today; the mosquitoes are out in force, the deer flies are biting and dogs are best left home. I have my camera but my pictures just never do justice to the woods. My best attempt comes up short but here it is. Hard to believe but in a few short weeks, the green will give way to gold. Time marches on. Another year, another birthday looming. No, I’m not that old. But I am. Okay, I admit it. I’m in my crone years. But I can still hike with the best of them.
I find a log and sit for a while to do some thinking but the deer flies start to bite. I read in a New Age type of book that if I pretend I am one with the bugs, they will accept me as one of their own and not bite me. I pretend, they still bite. I decide to get moving.
Mountain Man has been hard at work spending days at his job and evenings working on his new firewood station. Now, he’s even older than I but I can tell you for a fact most teenagers couldn’t keep up with him. It’s exhausting just watching him.
When he’s not home, I climb up there and I can see for miles. I never, ever get tired of this view. I start to get off the platform, realize I can’t get my body onto the ladder. Oh, no. I got up here. How am I going to get down? It’s steeper than it looks in this picture but it’s hours until Mountain Man returns. I take a deep breath and decide to jump. My bottom is padded after all and Mountain Man has left mounds of dirt. Here I go. I say a prayer, woosh, I’m down on the ground again. Thank you Lord!
I head over to visit the birds. The Sebastopols are growing every day. I can’t say enough good things about them. They are amazing geese who do everything together. Where there is one, there are all four.
No longer are my babies tiny chicks. My Polish chicken now has bad hair days every day. I know the feeling.
Have you ever seen an Appenzeller Spitzhauben? These chickens are so tiny yet they do not tolerate being confined. They are meant to free range and prefer to fly high and roost in trees. I understand. I can’t stand being confined either. Staying inside makes me crazed. I lose perspective. I don’t see me in a nursing home spending my days playing cards and eating pureed peas. Not me, I’m not old yet.
Donkeys on the other hand prefer company. They are always together. Kind of like the geese. Friends forever.
I head over to see Midnight, the Tennessee Walking Horse. My friend and I have been working on getting him to gait. We know he knows how but we aren’t cuing him the right way. We discover the secret. Tap, tap with the heels, then stick my legs straight out in front and off he goes.
It’s amazing, a blast, like riding on a floating cloud. No posting, no jarring. It’s amazing (I know, I know I repeat myself). I am lost in delight. It’s awesome. The perfect gait for an aging Mountain Woman. My Hoveround horse. I am filled with joy. What a blast!
I shall leave you with a little of Mark Twain:
Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.
I’ll be 60 in September and I don’t feel old either. I can hike with the best of them too.
I love your view. Not your weather, but I love your view.
All your babies are so precious.
Have a terrific day.
Date: July 28, 2011
great pics! love that little chicken! I was raised with walking horses. one of them was named Blue Gal.. we would swim in the river together… what a life! you go girl,, only as old as feel!
Date: July 28, 2011
I have to agree if you don’t mind age don’t matter.!Big time Hug!!!
Date: July 28, 2011
I cannot hike with the best of them. For a walk of more than about a block, I need my rolling walker, with the seat, in case my left leg gives out on me. That way, I can sit, rather than falling to the ground. I feel old, sadly, because of the terrible pain in my knees and shoulders…but, believe me, if someone would give me a plane ticket to Japan or Hong Kong, I’d pack and rush out the door!
I love your pictures! And your spirit!
Date: July 28, 2011
Absolutely right! You go, girl! Twenty years ago when I did the Labor Day bridge walk of 5 miles over the span of the Mackinac Bridge it was the pace that the “elderly” ladies set that kept me at it.
I’m glad you had a “happy landing” off the construction project. I don’t do ladders since my knee replacement.
Date: July 28, 2011
How odd we were thinking on the same subject today. I was thinking that I am now old, but I don’t feel old. I still work hard, as hard as I ever worked, true it does take me longer to get things done, but that is because I find other things just as intereting. Deadlines are not interesting anymore.
I don’t feel old. I think that is what counts.
Besides you are still a LOT younger than me.
Linda
Ann Bassett
Date: July 28, 2011
I’m always ready to hike down any old lovely trail like that. That second chicken looks like a 50s fashionista with a pillbox hat.
Date: July 28, 2011
This post and your previous post “It’s Hot But…” are two of my favorites. I love the humor! Thank You!
Date: July 28, 2011
Love your humor! Love your country, pictures, animals and life! Really like your unique birds. I’m not old either, though I quallify for most of those “senior discounts” but not quite all of them. I don’t feel old in my head, but my body….it isn’t listening! In fact, it is too often shouting at me and trying to make me take it easier, slower, on less adventurous paths in life. I can’t do long walks in the woods any more, so I like the photos of when you do. Have enough trouble getting up from a chair I’d be hard pressed to climb up that platform. Jumping down would put me in bed for a week! I’m not old! Really I’m not! So, how come my body won’t giddy-up like that Tennessee Walker I’d love to be riding with you? Well, you go on and keep pricuting and writing, and I’ll travel along in my mind and pretend I’m right there doin’ all that I’d like to be doing if only God would answer my prayers. Thanks for writing, Mountain Woman. Gardner
Date: July 28, 2011
Age is just a number. Some of my favorite people are in their 80′s and I don’t think of them as old! But I liked your humor and the way you wove it through this post!
Date: July 29, 2011
This post cracked me up! I love the pictures and your commentary. That’s funny you were stuck on the firewood station–kind of like a cat who climbs up high but is afraid to come down! Your chickens have sure grown, love the hairstyles! I really never knew there were so many different varieties of chickens until I read about them here. Too bad you have so many mosquitoes! They can really ruin a good outside walk for me. You were smart to leave your dogs inside. That is funny how you pretended to be a bug–I’m not surprised that didn’t work! LOL! You really had me chuckling all through this post.
That is one of my favorite quotes; didn’t realize it was from Mark Twain.
Date: July 29, 2011
Another marvelous post.
Some people like to keep all their ducks in a row, you have your goslings all in a row … wonderful photo. !
I laughed at the photo of your Polish chicken, I know just how she feels.
Old ? Age is like love; just a state of mind. As long as you don’t feel old, you’re not old. I will turn 66 at year’s end and as long as I don’t look in a mirror I feel at least half my age. One of my very best and dearest friends is 87 and goes non-stop. She runs rings around me and just recently wanted to teach me how to sculpt in clay … she was (and still is) a sculptress. Oh and her husband just turned 90 and still plays 18 holes of golf twice a week.
Date: July 29, 2011
Here’s one of my favorite quotes: You don’t stop playing because you get old. You get old because you stop playing.
Glad you’re playing.
Date: July 30, 2011
Some days I feel older than others. I still feel young, but every so often, I catch a glimpse of my newly flabby arms or neck and I see it creeping slowly–age clinging to my body in ways I don’t like very much. Sigh.
There is also the health thing–so many weird “age” things creeping into my life as well. The old eyes don’t see as well and now I need glasses–although not full-time just yet. I broke my foot this year and have no idea how. I get stiff sleeping and have aches and pains that just appear for no reason. And I have perfectly good parts that worked yesterday and they don’t work today! Sheesh. And I’m only 48! Can’t wait for 50 or 60–egads.
You are beautiful on that horse!
Date: August 07, 2011