Time Moves On...

Recently a young friend gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby girl. Mom and daughter are both doing fine and have the rest of their lives waiting for them.

At her baby shower I reminisced about when I was young, pregnant and very poor. I was in the hands of the government when it came to my health assessments, pre-natal, delivery and post natal care. When I went into labor we had to BORROW a car from a neighbor to get me to the hospital.  

Good times.

When ready to deliver I was put in a room with a “view”. While straddled, splayed and in IMMENSE pain I was told that I would have an audience “if I didn’t mind”. Ummm, say what?? Next thing you know, the nurse opens the blinds and there stood 30 nurses and doctors watching the Big Event.

Seriously, I don’t make this stuff up!

At that time, that era in my life, there were plenty of baby showers to go to, weddings and graduations. My friends and I were all young and were ready to make our mark on the world.

And time moved on…

In the next phase of our lives we were now going to birthday parties for our children, birthday parties for reaching age milestones…30, 40, etc. Getting the big promotion always brought on a celebration and there were divorce parties as well.

And time moved on…

In no time, so it seems to me, our children were graduating, getting married and having babies. Now they have the world at their fingertips with the hopes of making a difference, buying a house, etc.

The parties we now attend are for 50, 60, etc. Grandchildren are the center of our attention as are our aging parents.  We are more likely to attend a funeral or a retirement party than we are a baby shower.

And time moved on…

I reflect upon all of this because recently I was hired to help an elderly parent go through her stuff as she has accumulated a lot over her 85+ years of living. Both her family and she want to organize, de-clutter and ultimately lessen the burden on them having to do it once she is gone.

She was once the owner of a very big house full of furniture and mementos and now she is living in a 3 room apartment. There was quite a bit to go through, EACH with a memory attached.

Lots of stories were shared.

 The love of her life has been gone 8 years now but he is still just as large in her life through her vivid memories. She still has all of her faculties when it comes to memory but circulation, hearing and co-ordination are ebbing all too quickly.  She still worries about clothes that show her “poochie” belly. (DO we EVER stop worrying about this!) And like all of us, she isn’t quite ready to be old.

I was reminded of my Mom and Grandmother. At 98 my Grandmother was still worried over her figure and how she was going to start a new diet plan…right after dinner, coffee and a piece of pie. Oh how I loved that woman! She shared so many stories with us about growing up, marrying her sweetheart and raising a family. Their dreams were exactly like ours…just a different era.

My grandparents had to move from their house to a small addition ridding many years, many rooms of furniture and the like. Fortunately there were plenty of relatives that wanted most and what wasn’t wanted was sold at a good profit. That “found” money went into assisting them with their move.

And time moved on…

My new elderly friend shared with me her health woes yet she doesn’t want to tell her family about her most recent health assessment as she doesn’t “want them to worry”.

Because I didn’t “pinky swear” that I wouldn’t tell anyone, I did. I told her son who hired me. He needs to know. He doesn’t have to do anything, he just needs to know. They are a close family so I have no doubt they will become more involved.

Funny, no matter how old our children are, we don’t want them to worry about us.

As time moves on, don't forget to take a moment to visit with a friend, parent or relative that has gotten long in years. They might not think they are “old”, but I am sure they will appreciate the company to share a story with.