Ok, so yesterday, I found out (AGAIN!) that I'm old and old fashioned. My daughter and I were discussing prom and I suggested a limousine. She looked at me as if I had suggested that they walk to Senior Prom in potato sacks.
"Who does that, Mom???? WHO DOES THAT????" Now, instead of me simply retracting it and abandoning the subject, I took the Old Fashioned Mom route--"Well, when I went to prom, folks rented limos and went to dinner, prom and then the after-parties." Hmmph. I forget her exact response, but I do know that the word "stagecoach" was mentioned.
So, again dear readers, since you are very diverse in age I'll ask. Are limos for prom really "played out"? And more importantly, when did I get old and old fashioned? It had to have been recently. Like last week, or maybe last month. Were any of you there when it happened? Was there a flash of lightning or did my new-fashion simply slink away one day?
Your comments--priceless!!
This morning, I heard that medical science has so advanced that babies born today are expected to have life expectancy of at least 100 years. Wow!While this is great news, it also came with several downsides. Social Security will go bust--as it can't pay all of the folks expected to collect. Also, few folks will be able to save enough throughout their lives to care for themselves after retirement. That retirement age is expected to be moved up, with most folks working into their 80s. I guess, just like with everything else, that good news like this is only good until the reality sinks in. On the other hand, I believe that true glory comes in the afterlife. And if that is so, living to 100 just doesn't sound that appealing...Your comments--priceless!!
I post daily. So that you don't miss any of my randomness, you might want to subscribe by email.
I come to my readers, yet again, for enlightenment. Yesterday, during a very casual conversation, it was revealed to me that many middle aged folks are getting married for the sole purpose of sex. I didn't believe it then and I most certainly don't believe it now. I even said, "Anybody over the age of 50 that is getting married based SOLELY on sex is dumb." And I got clobbered. Is it true? Do I need to clean the lens of my rose colored glasses? Is this really happening?
Now before you all give me the definition of the word "Cougar" and tell me about the new show on television, that is NOT what I'm talking about. I'm NOT speaking on older folks who date younger folks. That is NOT what I want help with. I am talking about marrying someone for NO OTHER reason than sex. NOT love, NOT commitment, NOT financial security, NOT anything except SEX.
If this is true, I will be majorly disappointed in my peers. Perhaps I give them more credit than they deserve. I just find it strange that teens are having sex without marriage and their parents are getting married FOR sex. Is there something that I'm missing here?
Your comments--priceless!!
I post daily. So that you don't miss any of my randomness, you might want to subscribe by email.
Do you guys remember the Blondie comic strip? Blondie's husband Dagwood would make huge sandwiches to eat between meals. They were much bigger than any human could consume. He would cram nearly everything in the kitchen between 2 slices of bread and top it with an olive on a toothpick.
These past few days have reminded me a lot of a Dagwood sandwich, with me as the middle and my family as the bread. Let me explain. On one hand, I have my parents--they are both post retirement seniors, though neither is hardly idle. On the other hand, I have the youngsters of the family--carefree and careless. I seem to always be caught in between.
Last night, we were out on the town--Miami. My daughters (22, and nearly 18) had decided to get henna tattoos. Henna tattoos are temporary and last for about 3 weeks. The girls have been talking about them for a couple of years. So, when we passed the kiosk, they stopped and browsed all of the designs. They both found ones that they liked. I didn't give it passing thoughts. I figured that it could be worse, they could be contemplating permanent tattoos. So, I wasn't surprised when they excused themselves from dinner as soon as they were done and headed back to get the henna. Everyone else lingered at the table--talking, laughing, having dessert. When we were ready, we headed outside to the kiosk.
My dad took his seat on a bench, scowling. The girls were getting the tattoos. The rest of the family wandered about the area. My dad couldn't understand why they would get that "junk (henna)." He wanted me to forbid it. I spent a lot of time explaining that this is the kind of thing that young folks do and I didn't have a problem with it. In between expressing his disapproval, he did his fair share of people watching. I pointed out young folks with colored hair, rings in their tongues and eyebrows, and designs cut into their hair.
The tattoos came out cute! The oldest ended up getting 2. I should have gotten 1 too. Dad would have croaked.
Your comments--priceless!!
Labels:
children,
comics,
Dad,
daughter,
family,
food,
girls,
Miami,
parents,
relationships,
seniors,
youth
Can you imagine scratching off a lottery ticket and finding that you have won a half million dollars? Can you imagine? Of course, you wouldn't believe it, so you would ask the lottery clerk to check it for you, wouldn't you? That's what happened to a poor 69 year old retiree from Wellington, Florida last Wednesday.
The clerk ran it through her machine and confirmed that he was a winner and gave him the address for the local Palm Beach office of the Florida State Lottery Board to cash the ticket. He put it in his pocket for safekeeping.
That's where it all started going wrong. He got lost on his way to the Lottery office. He stopped at a convenience store to get directions. He finally found the office. But when he got there, the ticket was no longer in his pocket. He can't find it. He backtracked, but it was fruitless. It is gone. Did I mention that he didn't sign it, so anyone that finds it can cash it, legally?
Wow, is that not the saddest story ever? He thought his prayers had been answered. You see, he's in danger of losing his home. His wife has been ill for years, and that has drained their savings. They live on Social Security.
You know--as broke as I am, I would like to think that if I found it, I would return the ticket to the old guy. He's hoping the same...
Your comments--priceless!!
As Mother's Day approaches this weekend, I'm reminded that this is the 4th Mother's Day to pass since i lost my precious Granny. Losing her was the most devastating event in my lifetime. While time has certainly taken some of the rawness from it, I am far from healed. My heart is sometimes so full that I have no choice but to cry. Having conversations about her are unpredictable; I simply never know when I will end up in tears.
My Granny was the absolute best. She wasn't an educated woman, but she had more knowledge and wisdom than most. She was the best cook I've ever known. She was funny, caring, and most of all, loved me unconditionally. She also irritated me to no end, on occasion, though I can pride myself on never being disrespectful. Proof of my respect is the fact that all my limbs are still attached to my body.
It's scary to think of the things that I would willingly give to just see her once again--to ask her advice, to share my day, to hear her thoughts. She was gone way sooner than I was ready for her to leave. I am envious when I see women my age, in public, accompanying their grandmothers to the grocery store or the mall, or even to a doctor's office.
So you can imagine my disgust with what I saw yesterday. A woman drove into the parking lot where I sat, parked outside Michael's, got out and went inside. She never looked back at the elderly woman who was in the car with her. The woman got out of the car, though clearly she needed help, and followed the younger woman into the store. "Miss QuickStep" did not even turn to see if "Grandmother" had made it out. She acted as if they weren't even together. "Grandmother" didn't seem fazed; it must be her normal. She had a cane and simply hobbled along, seemingly indifferent to being ignored. The entire scene brought tears to my eyes.
I hope "Miss QuickStep" was waiting just inside the door, having realized that "Grandmother" is precious and may be gone soon. I hope she hugged her and kissed her and apologized. I hope they stopped at Wendy's for a Frosty on the way home. My Granny loved Frostys...
Your comments--priceless!!
What steps are you taking to prepare for a time when you are no longer able to care for yourself? Do you have it all planned out? Or have you never even given it a thought?
My family is living this issue right now-trying to care for a relative that isn't in the best of health(both mentally and physically) while that relative is fighting every decision tooth and nail(again both mentally and physically). It's tough trying to make decisions without legal rights. It's even tougher when you can't get help from doctors, attorneys, and even other family members.
I pray that I never become a burden to my family. I hope that when the time comes, that I'm able, at least financially, to provide for myself. It's hard to see the most senior of our clan, become an obligation to those who are already cash strapped. While I know, without doubt, that my husband and children would make sure I was properly cared for, why would I want to put that kind of stress on them? Why would I not prepare by giving someone power of attorney, activating a living will, if I so desire, and letting my wishes for disposing of my earthly body be known?
Is this morbid--to think about death? Or is this good common sense? You decide...
Your comments--priceless!!
Ok, so yesterday, I found out (AGAIN!) that I'm old and old fashioned. My daughter and I were discussing prom and I suggested a limousine. She looked at me as if I had suggested that they walk to Senior Prom in potato sacks.
