What's Old is New Again

Old age and me don’t get along too well. Doing laundry makes my back hurt in a way I’m sure God never planned.

Or maybe She did.

Her little way of reminding me of my own mortality. That I’m not indestructible. That, ultimately, She will have the last laugh.

I’m quite certain, by the way, that God is more female than male. Men, as a rule, wouldn’t nurture or care as much. They wouldn’t forgive all things. They would be much more stern and much less accepting.

Maybe that’s just my experience of men. Too many, many men.

But I digress.

Old age is a bitch. It’s a horse I never planned to ride because I never expected to live past the age of thirty. Since I was a child, I always thought I would be dead by that age.

12 years after the deadline for checking out, and I’m still here.

I’m not complaining, except when I am.

I’m 42 years, 1 month and 5 days old.

Never thought I’d live to see it. And now I know why I thought I didn’t want to.

Aches and pains come and go. Some days my back likes me, and some days it hates me with a vengeance. The kind of vengeance we reserve for our worst enemies.

Today, me and my back are at war.

I keep reminding myself, however, that there’s only one cure for old age. Apparently, I’m not ready for that, yet.

My creaky life still fascinates and intrigues me. My hunger to know everything that is knowable still dictates the actions that comprise my life. I’m still learning and not ready to go into that “great goodnight”.

I’ll fight the creakiness and crankiness and just down-right abominations that come with getting old. My hair may be grey, but my soul isn’t. It’s well beyond grey.

It’s come out on the other side where some things just don’t matter any more.

That takes time. Multiple incarnations and many hours of pain and happiness, each allotted as God sees fit.

Little Miss has just gone out for the evening. She may be back soon, but she’s always a good indicator of when it’s time for me to call it a day.

And so I shall.

Good night and God speed. May the Lord hold you and keep you, and shower you with happiness and joy that defies all reason. May your life be blessed and full and overflow on those around you. May you nestle in God’s bosom when you lie down to sleep tonight. And every night.

I have a bosom waiting. I’m going to go snuggle up next to it.

My advice is that you do the same.

JM