Wednesday 21 July 2010

..growing old gracefully..



...growing old gracefully is too common a cliche..like that '50 the new 30' thing..meaningless..a new age terminology that confuses rather then enlightens..and I do not even know what it means..this growing old gracefully thing..or how to..

..but you have to have the gift of, or blessed with, longevity before you can grow old, whether gracefully or otherwise..I like to think of it as an acceptance of aging..that slowly you are losing your faculties, and slowly but surely heading towards senility..an acceptance of your fading health..for health has a direct bearing  towards this growing old gracefully thing..

..ultimately, it is about choices..decisions made not whilst your are old, but those choices that you made before being old..myriad of little, insignificant choices that you made much earlier, seemingly  irrelevant then but getting a more prominent view now in your latter years..for, indeed, thou shalt reap what thou hath sown..

..things like those documents that you signed..(I ended being a bankrupt for the past 25 years..but back then it was nothing)..the food you take..the drinks you drank..and, most importantly, the friends that you keep.. and,of course, the persons you marry..

..it is a question of being able to do the things you like to do..but in a limited way..

..so, I supposed I may have become a bit recalcitrant, but in an odd way, I must be growing old gracefully..

10 comments:

Pak Zawi said...

How old is old? I guess being a grandfather at whatever age is old enough to be considered as old. At this age grandfathers will be addressed as Tok at least by their grandchildren. With all the mentality still intact and barring any illness, getting older will be a breeze though growing old graciously is definitely something nobody knows how to do, at least not me.

Unknown said...

..well, Pak Zawi, apart from the discomfort and inconvenience of munching with your gums, aches here and there, now and then, flatulence due to indigestions,I am as graceful as that swan in a lake..:)
..best of wishes to you, sir..:)

Zendra-Maria said...

how not to be growing old gracefully pakmat, when you are sipping it slowly.. feeling the grass under your feet... rain dripping down your cheeks...

Unknown said...

..touche, madam zen, touche..as you are yourself an epitome of grace..on that lil Cotton Island..envy you sometimes..cheers

Anonymous said...

Pok Mat, why worry about getting old when you still have time to do some good; why not go and help pok cik at his almanar school, with your excellent english and sense of humour and all those experiences, the kids will be in stitches.

Tommy Yewfigure said...

Pak Mat, I fully agree with anon 14:12 but then again u would not have enuff materials to keep those under 18s in stitches....hahaha.

.touche,old coot, touche.. u had upset our lovely sweet Madam Zen lah, women DON'T grow old as graciously as us men lah, cheh don't u already know that...kakaka.

Cheers,
Tommy

P/S - A couple of old timers were discussing their sexual situation. "You know Tom," said one, "I understand that drinking Alicafe will put lead in your pencil. Why don't we try a can?"

"I don't know about u," replied Tom,"but I don't have that many women to write to."...........kakaka.

Unknown said...

Dear anon 14:12..I do not know about this sense of humour thing..my children said my humour does not make any sense..and definitely I would like to experience once again all those experiences of a not too distant past through sharing..:)..and lets hope it will not end up with them in stitches..but, alas, I cannot offer AlManar my services..even at 65 I am still seeing children through school and college, (an impediment to growing old gracefully, I think) cos some decades ago I chose polygamy..and am now reaping the fruits of my labour..for with my meager pension, I have to work in retirement to supplement whatever lil money I have..but thank you, I appreciate your thought and compliment..cheers

Unknown said...

Hi, Tommy...no, I rather not have those under-18s in stitches..I do not want to spend time..and at my age, I do not know whether I still have the material..hehheh..:)

..no, they dont..but Madame Zen is always gracious..:)

p/s..
..I thought he said,'Let's try a can of Alicafe..and put some wind into your sails..' and his friend said, 'I don't know about you, but my mast wouldn't rise..how am I to open up my sails?"....ka ka ka..

ozz said...

Dear PakMat,

I have a question,
"How do manage you stay UP UP UP in a DOWN DOWN DOWN world?" he..he...

Unknown said...

..how do you mean I can stay up up up?..I'll be lucky if I can get it up at all..:)