Senior Citizen Solaces

Part of my daily experience is to observe the myriad senior citizens in my proximity. As a senior citizen myself, I know exactly what to look for. Specifically, I track any rapid degeneration, physical or mental, of the many regulars that I can readily identify. The picture, my friends, is not pretty. There is no glamor in old age. There are no "Golden Years."

With that said, moms was moving pretty slowly during my visit to Hawai'i Kai today. The injury sustained when moms fell down, and the trash can that moms was lugging fell on her knee, is taking a while to heal. Moms was fortunate that nothing serious happened. Yet, moms had a difficult time climbing into the cab of the ol' Nissan® Frontier truck. If the injury was permanent, I would need to immediately acquire a vehicle with a much lower floorboard.

The elder of the senior citizen crowd seem to have difficulty accepting that most formerly normal activities pose a real hazard. Yet, none of us in the younger age groups can reason with them. And, how could we? I can't blame the elder ones for their stubbornness. No one wants to be an invalid. No one wants to be "put out to pasture."

Typical Young Hottie

For the time being, I am going through my own "old codger" experiences. Heck, in a few short years, I am going to see drastic changes in body and mind. Nothing will stop those changes. I can't help but equate all of my present activities as a "zero-sum game." Take, for example, all the years that I spent working out at the gym. In a few years, I won't be able to prevent muscle sag and flab build-up. By working out, I prolonged the inevitable for a short while, but the inevitable will eventually come.

The "old codger" physique makes many twists and turn along the way to total decrepitude. I now suspect that I have developed an increased sensitivity to caffeine. Or, my body cannot efficiently excrete it during the day. That could be why I am suffering from chronic insomnia. Even a sweet dessert in the evening can cause a sleepless night. I know that a few pieces of chocolate candy will do it. Even a cup of decaffeinated coffee. So, I must now contemplate the mummification of my favorite morning activity ... coffee at the fast food joint in town. Soon, I will be ready to be "put out to pasture." Sheesh!