A Bit of Wisdom About Getting Older

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hi Matt, Long time no talk, how's things?

You know, all the platitudes about enjoying life.....they're pretty much all true. I find trite sayings annoying and doubly so when they turn out to be true but in the case of enjoying life I find myself thinking about them more and more.

I honestly hope there is an afterlife. There are a lot of people I want to see. One of whom is my Dad and with the hindsight of being a man now nearly as old as he was when he died, I want to say, "Dad...what the hell was all THAT about?!"

My big deal is I don't want to get truly old - say 75 or older or be nearing death and have many regrets. Regrets suck, they really do. There are a lot of things that strike me as not being "for me"...but I am reconsidering a bunch of them.

[MOMO3.2]

Dan:

I don't spend much time in the "Off Topic" forum, but I am glad I took a look today. Your posts have been very insightful on this thread. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts.

As far as you having a grandchild on the way this January, Oh man, you are going to love it! I have two grandsons now ages 3 (today Happy B-Day Nate!) and 2. Just like you, circumstances and ignorance let some of the great moments pass by without full appreciation of them. With my grandbabies, I know now that EVERY moment counts and that I need to maximize and appreciate them to the fullest so that I have no regrets when my time does come.

Right on Dan! You are going to experience intense love for your new grandchild that will take you by surprise. No one could have prepared me for it.

Sincerely,

Mike

[Hugh R]

In the next couple of weeks, I may well be taking in my 80 y/o mother in law. She used to have a good next egg, but one of my sisters in law has pretty much strip mined her savings to support her life style. The thing that sucks on top of that, is that NONE of my other brothers or sisters in law are upset about it, or inclined to do anything about it. No outrage, of any kind, just a shrug of the shoulders cause this sister in law has done this her whole life. My wife being the exception, who is outraged, and actually wants to do what's best for her Mom.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by MOMO3.2

Dan:

I don't spend much time in the "Off Topic" forum, but I am glad I took a look today. Your posts have been very insightful on this thread. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts..........Sincerely,

Mike

A high compliment Mike, thanks so much for the kind words.

Hugh, Good on you for doing the right thing. I imagine it won't be easy having this older person with you. But if there's a Heaven you will probably get a pass for doing this alone! Sort of kidding with that....maybe not.
Also, for what its worth, Id say don't burn too much energy pursuing this sister-in-law that has, as you put it, "strip mined" the woman's security. She'd better just hope there is no such thing as karma man!

On a brighter not, I'd suggest that maybe you can mine this woman for her valuable memories. I've often wondered if I had time and a willing older person what would it be like to be able to EXTENSIVELY ask about their memories. Sure, about the big things, "The War" etc, but more about the small things. The way life used to be in the America (or other country) of their youth. It could be such a window into the past.