Notes For the First Day of Autumn

Just a few thoughts passing through my head these days .....

Clouds and cooler temperatures today with rain this evening. Summer is apparently over and I'm fine with that. Made it through another one. 

A stellar jay has been visiting daily to peck away at the cake of bird food left on my deck railing. I enjoy the visits. 

You know ..... I know that we all have our own likes, dislikes and preferences, but I struggle with someone having the thought that zero sugar, lime cucumber Gatorade is a desirable drink. I mean, it's ok .... until that cucumber aftertaste kicks in. Someone should lose their job for that idea. Just my humble opinion. I sure am glad that 54 years ago, my 7th grade basketball coach didn't fill the water bottles with that flavor. I possibly would have quit the sport forever over that.

Whoever was physically involved with the early experimentation and perfection of self inserted catheters for men, must have been among the bravest souls in history.

My back deck had quite a few fallen leaves on it today. A sure sign that my favored season is here.

Expressions

Funny how memories can be sparked .... I was watching a video of a teenage dance group and as it ended and the kids walked out of view, the sudden expression seen on one face, reminded me of an old friend from much younger days. They don't even look alike, except for that single second or two and that facial expression. Yet the memories that were brought back, were so incredibly powerful.

..... Continued

I think when you have these little life situations and challenges, they are frightening initially but with each experience, they lose a little of what scares us, and their potency and power over our life is diminished. Not that I suspect it ever totally fades away or that it can be conquered .... at least not yet. But one can possibly make a peace of sorts with it. Wouldn't that be some great form of freedom if that point could be reached.

Changes and Such

Just a few senior citizen issues .....

Lately I've become so incredibly appreciative of every single day that I awake. I suppose that's what the acknowledgement of aging and little health issues combined with a tendency to worry will do for you. 

And while I've always been reflective on life, I've become even more so

At the same time, there's things I used to think of as important, that I no longer place the slightest significance in.

I occasionally worry that my remaining time is short.

If I don't want to go somewhere, I'm not going. I think I've earned that right. 

Are these common experiences for others as they grow older? Am I just a grouchy old geezer?

I walked out of the doctor's office the other day after a procedure, convinced that I was dying. What followed was a hell of a drive home. It took an hour or two before I was able to calm down. It wasn't anything I was told but rather what I wasn't told and my interpretation of a lack of information.

Once you've gone through a scare or two, it's not so easy to feel fully at ease.

But then, on the flip side, you become more appreciative of little moments and experiences.

LOL .... "flip side" .... everything eventually finds its way back to vinyl records for me. 

To be continued possibly.