Now and when

It was an eventful week as I had the first major dental procedure in over forty years. Over those years I always had two dental check-ups a year and cleanings but I didn’t have fillings or any other work. I have had a sensitive area of my teeth for some time which is normal as gums recede with age. Finally the sensitivity became aching and required expert attention.

It took some time for the dentist to discover cracks in a molar which had been filled over 50 years ago. I was glad not to have that huge mouth contraption holding my jaws open as was the case all those years ago. Apparently dentists have them to use to this day but not that day.

Age often draws attention to our senses. Cataract surgery repaired my eyes. Spice combinations added to food, awaken worn out taste buds. My teeth, an important part of oral health, are next obviously while my husband swears my hearing needs help too. That may be selective on occasion! Such are the joys of old age!

I remember a recent shopping trip and a couple we saw in the last supermarket we visited. We were at the check-out where my husband always empties the cart while I begin packing the groceries which he completes as I pay. I didn’t see the couple at the next check-out initially, busy with the regular routine as we were. I smiled at her then at him, as he maneuvered the wheelchair and his purchases. He was focussed on the task at hand.

She was fragile, wearing a mask over the years time had etched on her face. He spoke to her kindly, asking if she was alright as he laid the groceries on the conveyor belt. As he pushed the wheelchair ahead of him, one could see his hands were full.

Was it a stroke, cancer or any of a myriad of conditions which can disable us as we age? I imagined her in better times, when she was vibrant and busy, days not long enough to accomplish everything she planned. Her partner at her side, they may have raised a family together and would have worked hard to provide for them. All was in the past as he packed up the groceries and put the bags over the handles of the wheelchair and in a pouch on the back. He maneuvered all as he pushed the chair away from the check-out. 

While I live in the reality of an aging body, every day I am capable of participating in life is a gift. Despite the sensory issues and whatever else lies ahead, I will enjoy what is as long as possible!

Straight ahead

Suntan lotion…check.

Hat…check.

Beach chairs…check.

Water…check.

We headed to Belmont Park on the western shore of Malpeque Bay on Prince Edward Island. It was a gorgeous, blistering hot-under-the-direct-sun day with an island breeze which made the heat bearable. However, the breeze was too much for umbrellas, our preferred way out of the direct sun.

It is a small park and is rarely crowded, an excellent place for a picnic, just above the beach on the lawn or among the trees. We’ve picnicked in both locations sometimes with our daughter and grandchildren. This time, we were alone.

We walked along the beach, found some interesting shorebirds and took photos to share another time. Today is about the view, straight ahead.

It was easy to be distracted by the activity behind us on the green or the other beach enthusiasts nearby. We settled in and chatted as we usually do, a level of comfort between us which is unique in our lives. I focused on the scene ahead, the gull, the red sand and the shades of blue.

The tide was rising and an hour made a huge difference on the flat beach. Over that time, the scene before us changed. The gull floated and the grass swayed with the gentle action of the waves.

It is quite a change though all the elements are there still. It reminds me of aging as it is for us now anyway. Who knows what storms are on the horizon? 

Most importantly, enjoy here and now!

Second thoughts

Recently I wrote about the day my husband and I spent at the hospital with a friend. That day made me think about a number of issues and some of your responses to the post, A glimpse, added to those. 

When we were at the hospital, it was obvious seniors were the vast majority of users of the facilities. As we age, our bodies wear and our use of medical services increases obviously. Sitting there, I wondered what health issues will bring my husband and I into the services. We have been fortunate thus far in staying away from the medical system except for maintenance services. How much longer can that continue?

While we may have support of family and friends as we face health challenges, ultimately we face these challenges alone, including the end of our lives. The experiences of life prepare us to handle these challenges. While death is solitary, the love of those who have touched our lives which may include God, carries us through to the end and beyond if that is our belief.

Linda at https://abovetheclouds619.blogspot.com/ in response to the post wrote how a health issue in her family, when she was raising four young children, left her with a $12,000 debt after insurance. This is unimaginable to me. I take our income tax supported medicare system for granted. We do not rely on insurance to cover our major medical costs, they are covered by funding from the government. While I complain about waiting times to see specialists, a government funded Medicare system is a gift many don’t enjoy in other countries. That’s not to say our system couldn’t be improved, but we usually don’t go bankrupt or into debt for medical procedures.

My husband and I have medical and dental insurance so our regular health costs, such as prescriptions or treatments, such as physiotherapy, are minimal. For example, our prescriptions costs $3.10. Our monthly premiums are reasonable and continued into retirement. However, we know people who cannot afford their prescriptions which affects their health for certain. We need a pharmacare program in this country.

I live my life with gratitude which makes me a happy person for the most part. However, the experience of the hospital for a day made me realize, in a tangible way, that any day my husband and I are out on the trails or enjoying our picnics, there are many people going through health issues in the various hospitals around the island. Consequently, reasons for gratitude have multiplied and reinforced my drive to stay healthy as long as I can. At the same time, it has made me realistic in knowing that aging is a process of deterioration and decline. I hope to face it with courage and strength.

There are many wonderful health professionals in this country who give us the best of their ability and while not perfect, our hospitals are good facilities which are well maintained.

Even on the worst day of one person’s life, another person may be having one of their best. Life is a cycle and we have our turn with all aspects of it. We hope to have more good than bad but having the strength to deal with whatever comes makes the journey an interesting challenge.

Thank you everyone for your comments.

Discovery

One of my favourite Christmas experiences is to sit by the fire reading, 

 

or to sit peacefully in the evening, with the Christmas tree lights, the fire and a few candles lighting the room. 

The evening is a great time for reflection, to consider the past year and whether to make changes for the year ahead. In the last year, it surprised me to discover things about myself I did not realize. It is as if my conscious mind caught a glimpse of the self my spirit always knew.

My husband and I spent time this year exploring places new to us on our island home of Prince Edward. After the tourists left, the trails, beaches, and heritage roads were empty. We didn't meet another person during our explorations, as if we were alone on the planet on these occasions.

 

At such times, the stillness of nature will envelope you if you permit it. Allow it to enter and you become one with the breath of the earth, the rhythm of the living world. 

 

The cycle of life from new to old unfolds all around you. A river or stream babbles so as to report its delight in its condition and by its motion reaffirms the cycle.

We have walked busy streets in various cities around the world, such as New York, London, Sydney, and Paris. We enjoyed the hustle and bustle on the streets, the opportunities to explore and experience new things. We may do it again.

However, I have learned that for me, nothing compares to the feeling which comes with time in nature, walking a trail or beach and sharing a beverage, often a thermos of tea, with a loved one. The tea is almost a sacrament, a symbol of the serenity which bathes the body and inspires the soul. The air is fresh, and the sounds of the water, the birds, the wind in the trees all soothe the mind and body. 

 

Self discovery is an important part of aging. Better late than never.