Sayings I love…

Accept both compliments and criticism. It takes both sun and rain for a flower to grow.
-Unknown

Don’t wait for things to get better. Life will always be complicated. Learn to be happy right now, otherwise you’ll run out of time.
-Unknown

Be stubborn about your goals and flexible about your methods.
-Unknown

Life is short. Smile while you still have teeth.”

Unknown

You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy ice cream. And that’s kind of the same thing.”

Unknown

He who has a why to live can bear almost anything – Friedrich Nietzsche

Your strongest muscle and worst enemy is your mind. Train it well.

Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today. – Will Rogers

Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving; we get stronger and more resilient. – Steve Maraboli

Regret is more powerful than gratitude…the reason why the dead get more flowers than the living…Unknown

Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end, the faster it goes.” – Anonymous

There’s a big difference between empty fatigue and gratifying exhaustion. Life is too short not to focus more on what matters most.

His cooking

Is hard to watch…

Almost 3 hours

And only a half full bowl

Of potato salad.::

At least a dozen potatoes

When we have 4 more

Over…

So he cooked

More…

15 forks

8 spoons and a counter

Full of pots and pans…

Have to sit in another room

As he gets sick of me underfoot

Trying to keep it cleaned…

Remind me…

Next time he invites

Others over for a cookout

His dishes need to be

Prepared the night before…

Duck taped closed for

Precaution…

Pushed robo cleaner’s on

Button…as a lot of his prep

Has landed on the floor

And we no longer have a dog…

The robo sweeper is worth

The price…no walk, clean up

Or barking.. priceless.,.

He’s a great cook

But as a caterer I would

Never let him in my house..

Although I know

A lot of my friends

Would…

Who….the Fall Guy

Moved it???

Seems to be the constant

Question as we are aging…

Yesterday, Amazon delivered his belt

I put it on the bannister so it wouldn’t

Get lost with all his other stuff

He leaves through out…

He came home, asked if his

Package came Yes was my answer…

I told him I put it on the banister…

Later that evening he asked the same

Question, my answer

Was the same….

No he said it isn’t there…

That’s not where you

Put it… as he retrieved

It from the kitchen counter…

Did I put it on the counter???

Not likely

Be he doesn’t like to

Realize he forgets

What he does…so

Aging I guess is making

Me his fall guy…

Wish I understood

The Mood changes…

Wish I understood

Why I would ever want

To go anywhere when I’m treated

So bad…

Now somehow the bad mood

Is my fault and hating

Tom Selick like I care…

Need to stay focused

On not getting myself

In trouble with being upset

And raising my blood pressure…

Aging is taking a toll

On both of us….

He just doesn’t realize it…

Trip ends on a sad note…

Got wrong amount of corn…

Get tired of getting blamed for

All his short comings…

Came over to give him $6…

And he told me to get 6

More ears…

Got another bag

And got six

But somehow he didn’t

Get 12 in his bag…

So instead of a dozen

And a half he only got

8 or 10 in his bag

He said there 14 total…

My bag had 6

How many did he get…

Blame and complaining

Is getting worse…

I paid $9.00

Something we were doing together

H says I barged in…

So much for growing old together…

Story Spinner

He’s always been a salesman

But the story he spun today…I’m

not

Buying…

He noted that the grass is

Doing good since he’s

Letting it grow longer…

When he was working

He cut it short because

He didn’t know when

He’d get to it again since

He traveled so much and

He wanted it neat…

Nice try and we both laughed

Because back then he wasn’t

Aware he could raise or

Lower the mower…

It was probably Rich

Telling and showing him

How to raise the mower

So as not to burn out

The grass in our hot Julys..:

Miss Rich and think of

Him often…RIP

Bruises

2 leg abrasions

Described by nurse..:

At the same height

On both legs

Seems very specific to me…

Describe as a circular cut

On one leg and a

Triangular cut on the other

Come from something specific

That she was hit against

With enough force to

Tear the skin…

The two items have to

Be close together on

Some surface at shin

Height to cut her legs

Simultaneously…

These injuries should

Not be tolerated

An investigation of the

Why, how and where

They occurred…needs

To be unearth so they

Can be padded to not

Occur again..,

Today is our 7th day of Chess…

It’s hard to believe we been married

This long and have never played

Chess…

My previous post on our game

Was letting him win to

Keep him interested…

After 7 games we are now

4 to 3 with me in the lead

So of course he’s ready to

Play again …

He gets distracted easily

So turning the game in

My favor is finding new

Things to distract him…

Which is easier said then done

As he becomes more focused…

I’m enjoying the challenge

As we are both new to the game…

At this age in our life it’s good

To find new things to do

Together that keep us engaged

And enjoying life…

Aging with Jane…

Air quality on Red alert

For the past couple days

Due to Canadian wild fires…

Bit hard to breathe

And the foggyness

Looks like my regular

Eyesight with my

Cataracts in full bloom…

Being a lifelong learner

Aging is educating on

A daily basis and I’m sure

By the end I will have

A PHD

In aging

And old age…

So far 75, white hair

Cataracts,

Are my credentials

For this final career…

Of Aging with Jane…

Experience

75 years of life

Has provided

Experiences beyond

My wildest dreams…

Irish, Catholic theology

Till death do you part

And much folklore…

Parents and grandparents

And my own 56 years vows…

Education, work and ownership

Work environments…

Birthing 3 children

And raising a sibling…

Travel, home ownership

Political views and

Voting since I was 21…

Belief in a greater creator

A democratic way of governing…

Not interested in those not

Believing in Freedom for all…

Knowing our living on

Earth will determine our

Road in eternity…

Believing in Jesus

As the only way to live

And love…

Knowing how to detour around

Occasions of sin…

Free thinking

And following the best

Road to the end

Of my life…

Karma

Happens in such

Unexpected ways…

A package of ribs

Left out of the freezer

As he was searching

For another type of

Meat…

Soon forgotten

Not found or remembered

For a few days…

Luckily on sale for

$3.00

So no big loss…

But in my mind

Karma

For getting scolded

When wanting to

Give to kids

For their cookout…

Yep…

Karma….

An odd day today

Wind is blowing

Day is getting hot

But nothing special

Propels me to be active

Creative or moving…

Would like to walk

But the fear of falling

Keeps me on my rump…

Hung my new chime

But they don’t chime loudly

Which I’m sure my neighbors

Appreciate…

Could clean my patio

And trim the ivy growing

Over the edges of the stone

But

I’m sure that can wait

Another day…

Retirement has added

To my procrastination…

No where to go

No where to be

Nothing pressing

No deadlines

No kids to shuttle

No meals on my agenda

As my retired groom

Handles that day to day chore

he has food on his mind…

Hourly…

Me…not so much

Unless it’s sweet, chocolate

Or ice cream…

Just a bit of a lazy day

In my bit of heaven…

Leaves

Have personalities

From color to shapes to

Numbers on a stem…

Today as they swing in

Cadence with the wind

They remind me to

Move, dance and sing…

But their rhythm

Has me mesmerized

In my chair

Interpreting their

Movements into thoughts

And ideas they might

Be intending to imbed

In my mind…

Their communication

Becomes evident as

You see them touch

Each other and tangle

With more vigor as the

Breeze blows and heaves

And throws the stems…

Almost like the waves

Of the ocean…

What do I

Like to do?

The older I get

I forget…

Was there anything special

If there was

The memory is gone…

Golf..

If the company

Isn’t fun then the

Game is a drag…

When it’s fun

The score climbs…

I know

I’ve played several times…

Quit when a lady

Player felt the need

To instruct

As she felt superior

And an expert in a game

Meant for fun..,.

Why many feel the need

To intrude on a golf

Game that was meant as

A date for two became

A threesome

And should have been called

Out from the start…

Causing a golf date

Never more…

Time away

Makes re-entry rough…

Unloading the car into

The cleaned house…

Upset that roots

Of tree were hit

When I mowed…

All toilet seats up….

Up early prowling

Around like a mouse

Get used to own ways

When alone…

Indianapolis 500 on

And he can’t believe

I’m not watching…

He went to hardware store

And missed the start

As we are in a different time

Zone…

So why would I have it on

Or know the start time

The age has arrived…

I read the obituaries

Before the headlines…

Knowing on any given day

A relative, classmate or

Acquaintance name will appear …

Moving away from home

After college makes recognizing

Many a search through

The whole write up…

Looking for birthdates, husbands

Names, parents, hometowns

Since I probably wouldn’t

Recognize a current picture…

Makes me think what picture

Should be used in my obituary…

Bucket lists

We both have bucket lists

But not the same bucket…

I want no long lines

No fast food

Just beautiful vistas

From a front porch

With exquisite food served

Daily…

On a cruise ship

Or the front porch

Of a bed a breakfast….

7 days in a well appointed

Tour bus through Ireland

No longer feeling as safe on

Our own…

But thinking…until

His golf scores are constantly

Over 100

And he can no longer

See the flies or hooks

on his fishing line

Our buckets will never

Mesh…and our list

Will never have check

Marks…

My voice

As I watched a video

And hear my words

I realize why I don’t

Like to talk…

My voice is breathy

I sound like my mom

Hearing her voice

In mine is a bit scary..,

I haven’t heard it so clearly before

And now it’s in every syllable…

I have her laugh, as does little my sister

And my girls

But hearing her voice

In my every word

Makes me wonder…

Beautiful today…

Took a ride

Really an errand

And viewed Gods artistic

Hand with the colorful

Spring buds emerging

Around town…

Every color of his rainbow

Is peeking out on limbs of trees

Wings of birds

Flower blooming through

Th gorgeous green grass..

People walking with a skip

In there step…

It’s a beautiful sight

And makes one happy

To witness…

Two cats roam

Our yard…

Where they come from

Who they belong to

I don’t know…

Not everyone enjoys

Seeing a cat chase birds

Grab bunnies

Or just stalk around one’s yard…

They look like they are pets

Well feed and cared for

But worried about the

Coyotes grabbing them

Or getting hit by a car

Is not something I would want

To see happen to any animal…

Please keep your kittys’

At home…

Sad and happiness

Drift in and out

Of our precious days

As our life keeps aging

And days swiftly

Pass us by…

Responsibility takes us

Away from each other

During the most

Limited time of our life…

I wish we could go back

To our earlier days

When our home was one room

a bathroom

No room for anyone

But We…

As we became us

And melded

Into our own way…

I pray

God clears my

Mind, soul and conscience

From things that get stuck

In my soul…

Judgements, dislikes and

Hold every pain…

That keeps me from finding

Peace in the daily visions

Of your creation…

Confession is good for the soul

But voicing my defects

Is a hard thing to do…

The process is freeing

Show me the way…

Drama

The name of the game

With all going on in the world

And the news repeating it

Hourly…

Living daily in peace

Is my goal…

A tooth problem,

A muffler problem

At this age is so minor

When we could

Already be six feet under…

Why can’t we just be at peace

And joyful that we’re here,

Well and have what we need…

Thanks be to God

Backyards…

Backyards run together

Some divided by fences

Keeping some out

And still…others in…

They contain episodes

Of life neighbors keep

From the front…

Like dogs, gardens and tools

Windchimes, wheelbarrows

And bikes…

There are bird houses, bird feeders

Birdbaths, statues, grills and lights…

Grass seems to cover all though

Weeds peek through at times…

Swings sets squeak in the wind

And patios or porches also

Dot the terrain…

Dogs run and bark behind

The fences but can be seen

And enjoyed…

Kids don’t seem as active anymore

As digital games have taken

Over catch, hopscotch

And jumping rope…

No longer do the nets stretch

Across the yards as most

Of our backyard kids are grown

With backyards

Of their own…

Reading keeps my mind

In a better place

And not in a race

Of unwanted thoughts…

Although the things I read

Only educate me on the

Ugliness of humanity…

Murder mysteries are

The genre I always devour

Usually able to complete in

One sitting…

While engaged

I’m seldom sad

Or wonder why…

But when the mystery

Is solved my minds looks

For a more terrifying

Text to occupy my

Worrying mind…

Feet and hands

Feet ground us

Carry us around this earth

Yet my hands seem to be

Aging at a faster rate…

Maybe my feet get

More exercise than my hands

But comparing them today

My hands look way older

Than my feet…

My hands have age spots

Bulging blue veins

Crepy and wrinkled…

My feet still look like the

Teenage feet that used to

Carry me Around in my

Bikini at the beach.:.

Why such a difference

Could the feet be following the

Age in my mind

And my hands following

The age of my body…

Or hasn’t aging reached my

Feet yet…

What’s cooking…

My retired groom is in the kitchen

Where else…

It’s he’s favorite place…

Today it’s pizza

What else

It’s his favorite food…

But he’s also boiling eggs

For egg salad which I’m

Sure he’ll devour before the

Pizza dough has risen…

Me…I have left overs from

My dinner last night…

I like fast food

Ready when I want it

And no mess to clean…

So again today

Eating separately

With no dishes to clean

For this retired grooms bride…

Taxes are due…

In a few short days…

I used to worry about

How much and how to pay

When mortgage and tuition

Payments were also due…

Today I think about them

But will procrastinate

Til tomorrow and keep

My dollars making interest

For another day…

A well planned Retirement

Thanks to my hubby

Takes away the worry

Everyday…

Grey day.,.

These are the days

That make me sad before

Spring arrives…

The sky is grey

Grass is brown

And the road ways are

Covered in debris

That make me grateful

For Lady Bird Johnson’s

Initiative of keeping America

Beautiful…

But the winds spreading the

Litter dropped by uncaring

Citizens have come to light

As the dark clouds

Add to the gloomy skies…

Always thankful for the

Glorious spring days that are

Around the corner

With sun to nourish my

Little green sprouts breaking

Though the earth preparing

For the glorious and colorful blooms…

Re-entry…

Is a thing…

Two weeks alone

Then back together again…

Takes some adjustment…

Where you park the car

In the driveway…

The seat up again

For two weeks you

Haven’t fallen in…

Sharing the tuna casserole

Made for one…

Things in the fridge

Are moved around…

Aromas coming from the kitchen

When I don’t cook…

Adjustments to our solo days

Having changed both our ways…

First Day of Spring 2023…

Another Spring

Is on its way

And my faith jump

Out at me today…

I’m sitting in my sunroom

Robins are

Building…

Watching as they fly around

Busy with urgency

To fill their nest…

As God has willed it

For all these years

We take for granted

As…just another day…

Revelation of His Creation

Continuing…

Giving me tremors

As my

Faith

Quakes

Today…

I’m an American

I was born here

As a women in the

Land of the free…

Home of the brave

There’s more things to see here

Why would I want to go there…

Places where our grandparents

Packed up and left

To find a better life here…

They worked hard

To have the life they gave us…

Why go back..,

Today is not a good day

The sun is shining

But life is on hold

And has been for

Too long…

Things to do

Before he goes

Clothes ready

Buy him more comfy socks

Super glue his glasses

Bag with tissue his gifts

Pack his computer and DVD player

With the movies and songs

To play for his mom…

Cheryl’s cookies

PJs and blouse for mom

Gift for brother

All the food he’s planning on cooking

Getting outfits packed

Glasses, insurance cards

Money and all he wants..,

Then peace and quiet

Will begin for me..:

To do as I please…

Come and go, sleep

Eat when and what I want…

Binge watch all my shows…

“Everybody needs some time away”…

Is the song playing in my brain…

Same page…

Wish we could get on the same page

Once in awhile…

Lately we haven’t even been in the

Same book…

I have EarPods in

Listening to a pod cast

While you watch basketball

Or talk to your mom

Not wanting to interrupt

Or disturb you…

But you constantly talk to me

During commercials…

Again my books don’t have commercials

Nor do I need to tell you how many chapters

Are in my book as

You feel the need to give me the statistics

On the players in the game..:

Now your listening to operatic

Music at top volume without even

Asking if I mind..:

So off to another room I go..:

Since my dads

Death

I’ve felt alone

He was the only one

I could air my soul too…

No judgement

We would discuss it

Just would ask why I

Felt that way…

But I never felt my

Way/idea was completely out

Of the question…

I talk to him often

Nightly but without

That squeeze of his hand

On mine the loneliness

Continues…

Disposal lifespan

Today I realize my garbage

Disposal is over 20 years old…

Before this one I had 3 garbage

Disposals in the same house

For the 25 years before..,

Before I would buy what was on sale

As we had a family, we were young

Tried to be fugal but I have learned

Over the years that you can’t go cheap

With something that runs everyday

At many hours of the day and you

Depend on it to work…

We remodeled our kitchen 20

Years ago and in our budget

Was $$$ for the top of the line

Disposal…

I can’t say we put the top of the line

Of every appliance cause we didn’t…

But I have found over the years that

The corners you cut that seem

Unimportant get replaced every

3 to 5 years…

Like the trusty sump pump..,

Out of sight and usually only

One in the family is aware of its

Importance…

On a rainy night I can’t sleep

Unless I can hear my pump

Going off at a regular cadence…

I try to replace mine every 3 years

Because ONE failure spells disaster

And a lot of $$$ in cleanup…

This retired bride tries to

Keep everything working…

The sun

Is peaking through

This very cloudy day

Roofing nails are heard

Being pounded in next door…

The air is chilly

A cold front with ice

And snow is on the way

And our third curly haired

Grandson turned 18 today…

The sun rises and sets

And our life goes on

As our family celebrates

These milestones…

My heart aches for the babies

I rocked who have now

Turned to men

Letting me kiss and hug them

As they run in to say high

And I cry each time we have to wave bye…

But this is the way of the world

God has given

Lending us our children to raise

And send out into the world

To make their way, their mark

On the road they travel

To heaven…

I pray He watches over all of them…

The brain…

Is slowly deleting

Some of our memories…

I see it daily in him

And feel it in me…

It’s upsetting to tell him

Something and two minutes

Later I have to repeat…

He said thanks for reminding me

But it’s worrisome…

The kids say this has always

Been him

But I’ve known him

So much longer

And it’s making me sad

And even more observant…

The cost of gas…

Won’t hinder my traveling

At my age in life…

God will come and get me

When it’s time

But til then my travels

Come out of my wallet…

I remember filling up

Our family convertible in ‘64

At $.25 cents a gallon…

I just filled up and said charge it

My dad always paid the bill…

Over the years Running out

Of gas was a monthly thing

As I hated using my coins

When I could buy something else…

So trying to get every drop out

Of the tank left me walking home

On many occasions…

Then in ‘’74 remember waiting in

Line for an hour or more as gas

Was limited…hubby watched

The kids and I waited for gas…

Today as gas prices have escalated

I find too many complain

As they sip on grande lattes

At Starbucks…do they ever calculate

The price per gallon…

Growing old…

Not just aging but

Getting closer to the end

Plays with your mind…

Dreams rewind times in

Your life both good and

Awful…

Giving you a recollection

Of what you did and what

You might have done

Differently…

There is no redo of life

There is doing, and owning

Whether you’re proud of the actions

Or not…

Reliving your life in your mind

Is an award for life well done

Or penance for the screw ups…

I pray God is like my father

Patient and forgiving…

Last night’s dream

Was a humdinger…

Paint was thrown

All over the outside

Of the house

But it was like someone

Was painting a Monet

It was beautiful…

Said the husband…

As he explained….

Forgot to put the key

Back under the mat..

She must be upset

The Miata wasn’t

In the garage…

The neighbors were scratching

Their heads with his

Explanation of the vandalism…

She leaves little things

Around the house…

Who bought the Miata

Probably a young woman

As she always said it was

A chick’s car…

Better not eat

The fudge stripe cookies

She occasionally leaves

On the pillow…

Or I’ll be with her

Sooner than expected…

She doesn’t live here anymore

But she doesn’t know…

Aging gives us

Different views of things going on

In the world..,

Mostly we are on the same page

But things come up that I

Have no interest in and he

Is not interested in things that

Grab my attention…

I love to read murder & romance

He reads things on the internet

But seldom a book…

He loves to share his views,

I don’t…

Talking is done too much these

Days with little action…

2 years of Covid has cause

A lot of opinions, fears

And changes in the world…

I find history is not being made

As much as it’s being repeated…

The have’s have it…

The have nots need it

And the world suffers!!!

Places have different meanings…

In my life

The Bermuda Triangle

Exists where the fridge, stove

And sink form a triangle

In our kitchens…

Most days my retired husband

Becomes lost in this area

For hours…

Cutting, searching, searing,

From morning til dark until

Something edible appears but

Not appealing to my taste buds…

After hours of toil and tasting and

Tasting and more tasting…

He might give up and place it in a bowl

in the cold corner of our

Triangle for another day of adding

More ingredients or just lingering

Til a green slim appears and the

Other corner becomes useful

To wash it away…

I seldom venture in to inquire

Or taste less I be ask to help

Clean up the mess…

For the past 13 years since my retired

Groom stopped working I have turned

Over this triangle of my life to him…

To love and cherish as I once did

When it was my domain…

Since then pots have been burned,

Dishes have smashed, cutlery have

Turned missing…expensive knives

Have appeared that I never thought

We could afford…

Like me he realizes the mess has to

Be cleaned and the eaters will never

Be around to help as they have disappeared

From this triangle which they only

Relish when the aromas bring them rushing

In for the tasty plates…

But like all who venture into the triangle

Disappear, including his retired bride…

Things I love about grocery shopping…

My husband does it…

It gets him out of the house

Keeps him busy

Gives him something to do…

Brings home stuff out of date

That gets him back to the store

Out of the house to return the product…

He also plans our meals

While shopping and ends up

Cooking because his ingredients

Don’t match my recipes…

Retirement brings on many changes

And this one has been the BEST for

This retired groom’s….retired bride…

If I’m taken first

I hope my little

Posts gives you some happiness

In my absence…

At 75…20 years longer

Than my mother and her

Mother lived on earth

This thought is constantly

On my mind…

I know you’re irreplaceable

And if you feel the same

Then the sadness of my

Absence will strike you heavily.,.

I’m sure the loss of a spouse

Is a heart wrenching jolt

Especially since we’ve been

Together so long…

We won’t notice the first

Few days alone as you

Have traveled so much of

Our lives….first with work

And now in retirement with

Your aging mother…

Never doubt whether you

Made me happy, safe and gave me

All I needed and wanted…

You absolutely did…💕💕💕

My daily thoughts and love

Are and always have been

You…Since that first kiss and

All the kisses and love since then

Daily…

If I’m gone…knowing not where…

I have our faith…what we believe

And I will hold you again…

Know my heart and soul

Will never let go of you

My loving, beautiful, boyfriend ,

Husband, Lover and Friend…

❤️💕❤️💕❤️💕❤️💕❤️💕👩🏻‍🦳

3/4 of a century…

Opens my eyes to many things…

People see your mistakes,

Shortcomings and flaws

But never call out their own…

One must lookout for themselves

As everyone else’s outlook

Is from a different view than

Yours…

One is always closer to the cliff

Than the other and you must

Always be sure of your own

Footing…

Only you walk in your shoes…

I will no longer hear insults,

Complaints or ugliness

My life is now too short

For such nonsense

I will only eat my choice

And when I want…

My cravings and timelines

Run on my crazy clock…

My tastes buds were imbedded

At birth and served me well

Through my life

Otherwise I wouldn’t

Still be overeating…

The Lord is My Shepard

I do not want or need

Anything more…

One of us is changing…

He thinks it’s me

I think it’s He…

Both at 3/4 of a century

With all our faculties

But some aren’t as accurate

As they used to be…

I can’t hear him

He says it’s my hearing

I say he mumbles…

He takes everything out

Not putting it back or

Putting things in strange places…

So we are forever looking for

Everything…

He was to take a drivers exam

Driving and written

But thankfully they waived it…

Or he wouldn’t be driving

He feels…and I second that

Emotion…

Aging is taking a toll

On both of us!!!

Our Bose is fixed…

The new battery on the remote

Replaced.,,

And he’s playing all the music

Of our teens, high school and

College days…

Dancing in our sunroom on

A Saturday morning makes

My day bright…

He dances slow the same

As he did those many years ago…

We get lost in life and music

Brings us back to the time

That got us here and keeps

Us where love stays…

J

The gloom continues

My joy is buried

Somewhere

And I can’t seem to find…

I feel my smile is downturned

And my cheeks are aching

With the weight of the frown

trying to turn it upside

Down

Has been an effort nowhere

To be found…

The state of affairs

The upcoming holiday

And my hubby’s reiterating

His dismal feeling

Keeps pulling the feelings farther

And farther down…

Is it the winter cold

The stormy forecast

Or am I exhausted from

My travels…

Get up… shake it offf

Maybe I need a

Cola this holiday season…