I'm going through some similar things with my 88 year old mother. I think it's different when we're the age we are dealing with our parents end of Independence etc. When we were younger and our grandparents passed away we still had our parents handling the business end of all that. We were sad of course but our actual role and identity maybe? didn't change. Now in our '50s the responsibility about our parents aging falls to us and we become the parent.
It does make me think more about my own end of life and what that will mean to my daughter. When we made the decision to put my mom in a nursing home, my brother and I cleaned out her house and sold it and there was so much stuff,so.much. stuff. And I kept thinking I do not want to have my daughter have to do that for me. It was overwhelming on top of the already emotional part of admitting that Mom couldn't live on her own anymore.
My wife of going on 49 years and I are in our mid-70s and have good health, though we do take a small assortment of prescriptions, we do watch what we eat and do exercise regularly, though I am nursing a groin sprain. What we worry about is the cost of health care … I worked for a big company and have good retirement health benefits but it’s the belief that in this country, medical care has gotten out of reach for so many and since the COVID pandemic, the conspiracy theorists have made it unpopular to trust the medical community … that’s really scary!
Terrell--thank you so much for this post...and the GLORIOUS Zinn quote...I shared another quote with someone else this week, and it seems fitting to also share it here. In "I Cheerfully Refuse"-- Leif Enger's dystopian tale of a near-future America (which is so believable, it SHOULD send me into a cave to hide) there's hope within the pages too. Here's the line that has stuck with me more than anything else: "As enemies go, despair has every ounce of my respect." Which is precisely why we can't give into it....why we need to "live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.” Happy 4th...and thanks. Diana
I’ve been searching for a word of how I have felt in the last week, and I think just “shaken” is it. Onward…
I ran the Bluegrass 10,000 this morning, and it was off the charts hot and humid. At the 7:30 a.m. start, the temp was 78 degrees with no wind. I was sweating standing still waiting for the start. I finished, but it became more of a walk run. I had fun…but I can’t control the weather… Happy 4th.
Did my 5K on 6/29 … walked it … groin sprain prevents even jogging right now. FL weather is brutal … reflects meme on weather here in the Sunshine state … FUMID ****ing humid, (could resist posting that!)
It is truly challenging to be hopeful for our country with all that is going on. Your comment about it being time to be one of the grownups resonates with me. Four years ago this week my mother passed away after battling colon cancer, I never had a father in my life. When my mom passed, the thought that I am no longer someone’s kid really struck a cord. It was time to be a grownup. Thanks Terrell for the thoughtful column you put together with some running motivation tossed in. Happy Fourth of July!
Such a beautiful, thoughtful reflection, Terrell. It’s always a pleasure to read your words.
Later today, I’ll get out for a run in my local forest preserve—now that I’m recovered from an injury and illness that happened in quick succession. Feeling very grateful for my ability to run freely today!
The following is made up … I like the u-pick farm a few miles from my house … so enjoyable to run there when the strawberries are not in season … never get tired of this place … you might say I could run through these “strawberry fields forever”!
Full confession … I’m a moderate. Must say to anyone who has an ax to grind about this country, or what’s going on here, stop for a moment and remember that it is one of the countries where you can gripe to your heart’s content about what’s going on without fear of getting tossed in jail. Celebrate that on the Fourth of July and every other day of the year, too.
July 4th is here
Those who forget history
Tend to repeat it....
My sobering Haiku for an otherwise celebratory Holiday. Enjoy everyone ‼️
I'm going through some similar things with my 88 year old mother. I think it's different when we're the age we are dealing with our parents end of Independence etc. When we were younger and our grandparents passed away we still had our parents handling the business end of all that. We were sad of course but our actual role and identity maybe? didn't change. Now in our '50s the responsibility about our parents aging falls to us and we become the parent.
It does make me think more about my own end of life and what that will mean to my daughter. When we made the decision to put my mom in a nursing home, my brother and I cleaned out her house and sold it and there was so much stuff,so.much. stuff. And I kept thinking I do not want to have my daughter have to do that for me. It was overwhelming on top of the already emotional part of admitting that Mom couldn't live on her own anymore.
My wife of going on 49 years and I are in our mid-70s and have good health, though we do take a small assortment of prescriptions, we do watch what we eat and do exercise regularly, though I am nursing a groin sprain. What we worry about is the cost of health care … I worked for a big company and have good retirement health benefits but it’s the belief that in this country, medical care has gotten out of reach for so many and since the COVID pandemic, the conspiracy theorists have made it unpopular to trust the medical community … that’s really scary!
While I enjoy reading everything in your column, this reflective post struck a chord. Thank you. Happy 4th everyone. here’s to a more peaceful world.
Terrell--thank you so much for this post...and the GLORIOUS Zinn quote...I shared another quote with someone else this week, and it seems fitting to also share it here. In "I Cheerfully Refuse"-- Leif Enger's dystopian tale of a near-future America (which is so believable, it SHOULD send me into a cave to hide) there's hope within the pages too. Here's the line that has stuck with me more than anything else: "As enemies go, despair has every ounce of my respect." Which is precisely why we can't give into it....why we need to "live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.” Happy 4th...and thanks. Diana
Exactly! Love this, Diana!
I’ve been searching for a word of how I have felt in the last week, and I think just “shaken” is it. Onward…
I ran the Bluegrass 10,000 this morning, and it was off the charts hot and humid. At the 7:30 a.m. start, the temp was 78 degrees with no wind. I was sweating standing still waiting for the start. I finished, but it became more of a walk run. I had fun…but I can’t control the weather… Happy 4th.
Did my 5K on 6/29 … walked it … groin sprain prevents even jogging right now. FL weather is brutal … reflects meme on weather here in the Sunshine state … FUMID ****ing humid, (could resist posting that!)
Onward and upward. . .as my dad always said. . . roll with the punches!
It is truly challenging to be hopeful for our country with all that is going on. Your comment about it being time to be one of the grownups resonates with me. Four years ago this week my mother passed away after battling colon cancer, I never had a father in my life. When my mom passed, the thought that I am no longer someone’s kid really struck a cord. It was time to be a grownup. Thanks Terrell for the thoughtful column you put together with some running motivation tossed in. Happy Fourth of July!
Such a beautiful, thoughtful reflection, Terrell. It’s always a pleasure to read your words.
Later today, I’ll get out for a run in my local forest preserve—now that I’m recovered from an injury and illness that happened in quick succession. Feeling very grateful for my ability to run freely today!
The following is made up … I like the u-pick farm a few miles from my house … so enjoyable to run there when the strawberries are not in season … never get tired of this place … you might say I could run through these “strawberry fields forever”!
Full confession … I’m a moderate. Must say to anyone who has an ax to grind about this country, or what’s going on here, stop for a moment and remember that it is one of the countries where you can gripe to your heart’s content about what’s going on without fear of getting tossed in jail. Celebrate that on the Fourth of July and every other day of the year, too.
I have to agree with you! Little do they know what freedoms we have. . .