Eighty, Period Turning eighty is like entering a bumpy road. Everything is seemingly a bonus, yet, everything is uncertain too. Any road for a senior citizen is bumpy that is why there is a need for a walking stick. The road maybe straight but one is walking on uneven surface. Your vision maybe accurate but everything else around is blurry and cloudy. The hearing begins to fail as it is difficult to decipher what is being said even if you smile and pretend you hear it clearly. The mind maybe getting sharper and the wisdom is greatly heightened but what is the use knowing all the answers when no one cares to ask you any question anymore. Octogenarians need less entertainment and is tired of current events. They find it more interesting to hear more about achievements of their children and grandchildren. Prelude to Second Childhood. It is fun to live, yes, but one must be ready to welcome Alzheimer, Parkinson and of course Hypertension and Heart Ailments plus a lot of killer diseases. Drinking a minimum of seven cups of unsweetened brewed coffee prevents most of the “octo” ailments but even without any ailment you know you are getting closer to the end of your travel. You might as well enjoy the rest of what remains.

THE LANGUAGE OF ‘SENIORSHIP’ As time goes by, life continues and likewise the Aging process cannot be left behind. Everything changes so fast as even the Language of ‘Seniorship’ finds new meanings. A senior citizen may claim he is dizzy when actually he is only seeing blurred due to cataract formation. He may complain of wrong messages sent to him when in fact, he is getting more deaf every day. A Senior Citizen may complain of losing items including those he just hidden somewhere. He gets mad not sure whether he is going up or going down while in the middle of a long stairs. Senior Citizens are indeed funny. There are those who won’t use their Senior cards as their status are discovered by all. They claim they are not afraid to die but get nervous just hearing about people of their ages dying left and right. Most Seniors are happy and proud about the many pills that they are taking every day but claim they are not sick and are only taking maintenance medicines for prevention of any attack. You will never realize what makes Seniors interesting unless and until you reach that amazing age of greatness and wisdom. A Senior citizen thinks he knows all the answers to all the question but he is sad when no one dares to ask him any question. Senior citizens don’t forget interesting past experiences but fails to remember even a bit of the recent ones. Most seniors don’t believe in Second Childhood although most of them act worse than one.

Peaceful Town There is no argument about it. Typhoon Mario brought havoc in almost every corner of Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces, but in one little town in the upland Cavite God was lenient. He kept the almost piece of Paradise almost undisturbed. There were no flooded areas, no landslides, no brownouts. No fears, no hurries… The strongest Typhoon happened in this town in 1926 when the roofing of the Church was blown out. Alfonso is almost in level with Tagaytay where the climate is very seldom uncomfortable. This must be the reason why resorts are fast sprouting left and right almost as fast as building of comfortable and beautiful rest houses in this area turning the whole paradise-like place into a haven for retirees. Considering the troubles happening left and right almost everywhere, Alfonso remains relatively the most Peaceful Town since it was awarded as Cavite’s Most Peaceful Town in 1952.

NEW SENIOR TRICK This happened three days ago. I just finished my last gulp of brewed coffee and was about to read the newspaper when I found the page blurring but I wasn’t at all dizzy. The whole surrounding was twirling as If I had too much wine the night before though I was a totally good boy last night. I wasn’t feeling anorexic or unstable but this was the first time I felt this way. It could have been easier and wiser to go back to bed and just rest but it could also bring about fatal consequences. I realized I was just being acquainted to a new symptom probably associated to aging. I tried my forever helpful acupressure by pressing strongly to a point three inches behind the wrist of both arms, alternately, while looking straight to the farthest point, to no avail. Having memorized every part of our house ever since, I inched myself towards my bedroom in the midst of a foggy ‘quirling’ path with the intention of lying flat on bed but on second thought and for fear of early lying flat forever, I slowly took my bamboo walking stick and proceeded to my favorite Netcafe, ever careful not to fall accidentally and be hit by a rushing vehicle. I was able to finish my routine uneventfully. Nature must be rehearsing me for just another senior trick. This must be a prelude to Alzheimer’s coming. Of course he is welcome to pay a visit for as long as he do not stay

"BAGYITO"

BAGYITO “Bagyito”Luis came like a naughty little boy that cheerfully played around. At home it introduced endless rhythmic raindrops that gave me an interesting experience of little eternity. The good feeling was challenged by another strong force that dared to make a mess on the bed if unattended. The calling of a full bladder is not a joke. I was forced to jump out of bed in surrender to relieve myself quickly. I went back to bed to continue listening to the cadence of the raindrops. This time my mind shifted to places where the “Bagyito” was not only playing naughtily but already destructively. Nature has been unkind many times. Luis turned erratic and is no longer a “bagyito” but an angry typhoon cutting classes in many areas of the country. I don’t find it interesting anymore to listen to its rhythmic raindrops, the sample of little eternity.

OF ROOTS AND GROWTH Things in this world are interrelated. Like Life and Love as well as death. Like Root and Growth which could easily be interpreted with the help of the three Ss, the SEED, the SOWER and the SOIL. In truth we are all SOWERS of sort (planters of lessons, ideas, inspirations, etc.) We choose the best SEED to plant while at the same time we hope for a good harvest. That is, after first finding the best SOIL (the environment, the school, the company, the neighbors). There is interrelation too between roots and growth. It is very important first to be a good SOWER to plant the SEED to a well cultivated SOIL for the ROOTS to anchor strongly to be able to hold a good GROWTH, after all a good and beneficial growth is all we aim to achieve while we all try our best to pass all the trials and errors that we encounter on our journey through life.

RUBY-LEATHER ANNIVERSARY It is our 43rd year of Marital bliss. We have travelled a long rocky road together. A Marital Inventory is in order. It all started as a Whirlwind Wedding quickly followed by one child after another until we successfully contributed five healthy and intelligent offspring to the world. Our business minded eldest son is now happily married and gainfully employed in Sydney, Australia with his Architect wife and four very heal thy and active children. The second, a daughter, is married to a good politician. They now have two healthy, scholarly smart and pretty daughters whose growth are closely monitored by their mother while doing business of her on the side. The middle daughter, a Psychologist based in Toronto, Canada with her hunk, no non-sense Banker husband together with their three daughters and a son who are all in good health and are very active at home and in the school The Third daughter, married to an international school Director is happily staying in the Philippines. She gave up her job to be with her disciplined daughter and son, plus an expected another one soon. Our youngest son is still a bachelor gratefully enjoying his wild freedom and very interesting present status. My wife and I are both very proud of all our children. They are all college graduates, thoughtful and law-abiding. We are grateful that they are our children, our best contribution to the world. What started as a Whirlwind Wedding popularly predicted to last only for a few months is kindly gifted by God with a whirlwind of blessings. That is why every day we thank, praise adore and glorify God for the countless blessings He is continuously showering us . Last night, our youngest daughter’s family treated us to an impromptu dinner. jett e. avinante, m.d. (1-13-13)