Thursday

aging gracefully ~

So what is "aging gracefully"?   I looked up the meaning of graceful ~

graceful adjective,
1. characterized by beauty of movement, style, form or execution
2. suggesting taste, ease and wealth

After reading what Webster had to say on the subject ... I don't think I'm aging gracefully.

My beauty is no longer that of a young woman.  My hair is graying and it doesn't hang long and flowing as it did in days gone by.  Movement for me is somewhat hindered too.  My fibro makes it downright difficult to get going some days... like today.  Instead of movement with smooth graceful execution I walk like a drunkard with a stagger of excruciation.

Looking at the second meaning ~ suggesting taste ... well I have that ... but I don't think it's the kind of taste old Webster was referring to either.  I have the wardrobe of a bum ~ seriously.  I live in the sticks and there really isn't a need of dressing up in my neck of the woods.  Sometimes it's almost embarrassing what I put on and consider okay to wear for the day.  I remember when my friend moved "up north" from Chicago and she went through a cultural shock at what we wear around here.  Yes, blue jeans and a flannel shirt are acceptable ... and if you're wearing a dress to the grocery store - don't be surprised if someone wants to know who's funeral or wedding you're attending.  Oh.. it's not as bad as it used to be ... people are dressing better ... but it's still a culture shock here ... the majority of us dress like bums and I'll be the first to admit it.

Back to the second meaning ... suggesting ease and wealth ~ well I guess I have ease.  I easily accept things for what they are or what they aren't ????  I find as I'm aging gracefully ... did I just say that?  Well... I'm finding that as I'm aging gracefully I really don't sweat the small stuff anymore.  I'm less bothered by what other people say and do.  I can let a lot roll off my back.

AND how do you measure wealth?  If it's the finanacially wealthy, money in the bank and up the yahoos ~ well I think I can kiss that goodbye, it hasn't happened for me yet and I don't foresee it happening any day soon; but if it's the wealth of knowlege you gain from living and growing up and graduating from the school of hard knocks ... HELLO!!! I am rich!

 ahhhh... I don't know where I'm going with this post.  I'm in such a discombobulated mood it isn't funny ... Lord help me!

Does aging gracefully also mean losing one's mind?

Until next time ...
So it goes in my neck of the woods.
~mel

10 comments:

  1. ha ha! enjoyed this full-on honesty! :)

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  2. Cute entry! I always said if I lived at the coast I would wear nothing but tee-shirts and jeans and have my hair cut like a boy.

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  3. Mel, sorry you had a rough day but you weren't alone. Too bad we couldn't have spent it together just the two of us sipping tea and sharing our innermost secrets. I hope you feel better tomorrow.
    'love & hugs from afar' too far!!!

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  4. Aging gracefully is an oxymoron! There's nothing graceful about it.

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  5. This was a very good post!! I enjoyed it very much! Nothing discombobulated about it!

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  6. Can so relate, especially with wearing dresses in my tiny town in the Ozarks. It is so true that if it is not Sunday, someone either died or got married:))
    Arkansas Patti

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  7. Welcome to reality~~~life is full of it!
    You always manage to make me laugh. Put the coffee on. If I get a chance after my Dr. Appt., I'll stop out and we can moan together.
    Smile~
    BlessYa

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  8. You are good m'lady. I am always amazed how 'other folks' (along with some fashion folk?) control the actions of good folk.And riches? I'm fortunate to have seen your riches. A family of love walls of history, and talent and then there are shelves aplenty.
    Things we will never forget, seeing your place in the North Woods.
    Nobody ages gracefully, we go fighting tooth and nail just to stay alive. Just some, do it better than others.

    Now your mom? When she ever decides to age, that girl will really do it gracefully!!!!!!
    Love you Mel, Wish I could hug you and old Slim now. Good entry.
    Sherry & Jack

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  9. Mel, yes, you are aging gracefully and it shows! You have real wealth in your family with Slim and those loving grand-loves -- and you are graceful in your contentment with life. So many folks whom I know don't have that.

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