Love your elders ...

The beach was calling my name all week, and I am supposed to be on the road with a couple of my friends to celebrate one of their birthdays.  Instead, I'm here, trying to catch some rays off the small space heater tucked neatly by my feet, waiting for my mother to call me.  

Today is day 13 of the happy quest, but I'm not digging today's suggestion.  Not that it's lame or anything to "think about one's health."  I'm grateful for every healthy day I have and realize that it is in my best interest to do my part in warding off any wayward infirmity.  However, I usually take the opposite approach to wellness than is often prescribed in the media.  Instead of going with the masses (whom I think are often wrong), I side with the rogues who subscribe to natural vaccinating by exposing myself to public restrooms, dirt, dust, and whatever other cootie that I can wallow in, so as to build up my natural immunity.  As for that germ killing soap, gimme a break.  While you may question the rogue in me, I have to say, that I appear much healthier than does my most vigilant "anti cootie" co-worker.  That chick won't touch the ice scoop in our community ice maker, because someone else may have cootified it before she got there.  She won't pour soda out of a can until she has wiped the top off with a wet paper towel (even if it looks free of debris).  And, she is always using hand sanitizer and trying to put another hole in the Ozone with her daily sprays of Lysol.   None of these vigilant actions seem to have done her much good, because she has been sick for about two weeks.  I'm not saying that I never get a sinus problem or a cold, but I can tell you that I don't run to the doctor for a Z-pack or whatever many of the people around me call that mix of potions which they demand from their doctors.  From what I can tell, those antibiotics don't serve them as well as my home remedies serve me.  My super hot showers, mint toothpaste, hot chocolate and hot bowls of soup work wonders for me in about half the time others seem to take getting over most of their ailments.  A friend of mine has been coughing for nearly 3 months, and none of the meds the doctors have prescribed for her, have cured whatever her problem is.  I may have to take over her treatment.  Our first stop will be Romper Room.  There should be enough cooties in there to kill off whatever cootie she presently has.

All silliness aside, I was not able to join my friends on their journey to the beach today, because my uncle, who learned back in October that he was suffering from stage four cancer, passed away yesterday.  He, being my mother's oldest brother (she is the youngest of five) chose not to pursue any radical attempts to save him.  He was in his early 80s, and said he was ready to go.  So, although we are very sad to have lost another elder in our family, we appreciate the fact that he did not suffer immense pain during the last months of his life.  We are sad over his loss, but we also celebrate his life as we make plans to make our way to say our final goodbye.

This brings me to what most grieves me ... elders who go under appreciated or unappreciated.  I love our  elders and want them to be celebrated and appreciated for all the contributions they have made and continue to make in our lives.  The elders in my life, are rich in experience and young at heart.  They have been there  to rejoice with me during the good times, and to help me see hope through my woes.  They've been there, and they know.  They know so much that they don't even know that they know.  And, even if they don't know, they will be with you in the unknowing, and that's all that really matters.

I love that you elders have loved me, and I want you to know that I never took you for granted.  I always appreciated you.


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