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Barb Gould
Barbara Gould writes articles about aging, short-short filler
paragraphs, poetry and short stories. She self-published a poetry book,
Purchase the book. |
NOVEL OF LIFE
Well into "Senior-hood", I look back at the chapters of my life. Not well
traveled by any sense, but a childhood spent mostly as a loner; teens were
difficult times, then adulthood. These to me are likened to chapters in a
book, some better than others.
It was a different world, and advanced age, as I prefer to call it, was
never considered that I can recollect. Blessed with two sets of grandparents
and a multitude of aunts and uncles I took this completely for granted. Just
like any ordinary family.
Through my chapters as a child I was raised alone till just prior to
becoming a teenager. I had a dog and a bike and kept myself amused with baby
dolls and mud pies as well as building roads for toy vehicles. Shy and
introverted, my parents had the highest hopes for my future.
Teens were a double whammy. Loss of an aunt and uncle brought a cousin, nine
months my senior, into our home. We were in the same grade at school, had
the same hair color and complexions. My father who was himself quite aloof
and fair beyond fair insisted we be dressed exactly alike through high
school. We were no more alike in disposition and personality than a dog and
a cat! More than once, however, my parents were stopped by absolute strangers
on the sidewalks in Seattle and asked one thing or another about "the
twins."
The chapter of "legal age" sent us in different directions. Now was the time
of turning the pages and writing the chapters of our own lives.
Responsibility had been well taught. I remember feeling so un-loved,
"picked-on" for lack of a better term. The authoritative voice commanding, "stand up straight, throw your shoulders back, speak up, don't
mumble" echo yet in the cobwebs of my mind. Now I had to be accountable for
my own decisions, of course mistakes were made. This is the chapter where I
began to teach my own children the same lessons that had been taught to me.
I was grateful for my upbringing and set the standard high.
When my parents slipped into the "advanced age" category the full
realization of where I was heading fell upon me.
My life had pretty much become a "root, hog or die" scenario, I had not
really given a whole lot of thought to my own upcoming "advanced age." One
more thing that I learned from my father was that a person worked hard his
entire life then when retirement rolled along he was too sick to really
enjoy it.
To reiterate: "It is a different world yet today."
I am pages into the chapter of advanced age. Doors open around me all the
time. The final stage of my journey is a real adventure. I used to read the
obituaries and cringe, no more.
I do not feel anywhere near my age most of the time in spite of working hard
all my life. I see it as a chance to do the things that I have always wanted
to do but never had time for. It is so exciting not to have to meet
schedules; to stay at home all day and do whatever I want to do! It is a new
found freedom.
This final chapter is promising to be the best in the book!
@2001gould
Do you have a question, comment or opinion about this
piece? Or you can send me an
email. Night after night Barb Gould is a regular columnist for the Peacock Chronicle.
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