A gift of old age = the appreciation of a good pee

[susandennis]

Not long ago someone much younger grilled me about how I could possibly be happy being sold old (59) and didn't I honestly and truly miss and long to be 20 or 30 or 40 again?  I did a very crappy job of convincing this person that the answer is decidedly, resoundingly, absolutely, no fucking way.

This morning I heard an interview with an Italian tenor.  He was trying to explain how resting himself and his voice for five months had been such a gift.  He explained that once he had a kidney infection and for the 10 days it took the antibiotics to work, it was really painful to pee.  Ever since then, when he pees he smiles with the satisfaction that everything is working.  He says without that infection, he would have not known the joy of peeing.  (I'm paraphrasing.)

Until I hit my 50's, I was searching constantly.  I was fearful and stressed and not there yet.  When I hit 50, a switch went off and I realized I was there now and if I were not careful, it - whatever was keeping me searching and fearful and stressed - was going to win and I would lose. 

I started to look at and think about and appreciate peeing and everything else.  If it was good, I kept it and reveled in it.  If it was bad, I fixed it or amputated it.  My first 50 years were fine.  I look back on them now with a lot more appreciation then when I was actually there.  The last 9 have been extra fine.  And if this is all there is, then I have gotten more than I deserved and I am grateful. 

But, if there is more, I'm going to make sure I am grateful for every painless pee.

Comments

[phornax.livejournal.com]

Priceless! Thanks for writing this.

[pisceandreamer.livejournal.com]

Getting older never bothered my Mom one bit. She was already a fairly laid back gal, but every year she was that much more comfortable in her own skin and her life and everything else.

I hope I can be the same way - right now, I still tend to get frustrated at my age and the fact that in some areas of life, it's over and done.

[roadskoller.livejournal.com]

When I got seriously crippled by arthritis and over work in my late 40's, I realized that I'd been breezing along, happy as a lark this whole time.
But I'll say that the time after that has made me wiser and more patient.
That's a gift.

[jsher.livejournal.com]

I spend 12 hours a week peeing, and the only time it hurts is when I stick the needles in. (dialysis) :)

[susandennis]

Oh yes, I should have added that I am greatful to be able to pee without the help of a needle! I hope you, soon, get be to grateful for that, too!

[jsher.livejournal.com]

There are advantages. I don't get up in the middle of the night anymore, plus, I don't have to stop for a bathroom break on long trips! However, it will be nice to not have to spend 12 hours a week going for a pee.