PROOFS OF AGING
I have written about the signs and symptoms of Aging, the Challenge of Aging, Graceful Aging and many other interesting Aging topics. Now, I was experiencing another Aging aspect – the Proofs of Aging.
For years I somehow tried to conceal my age by lying, behaving, dressing,
talking and acting younger than my age. I went to the point of wearing a toupee. What was now happening was something more interesting as I was beginning to discover the genuine proofs of Aging.
This was the first time I wasn’t able to attend the first day of the ‘Misa de Gallo’. Not because it was too cold or too early or any other alibis but simply because I was coughing like a hungry dog. The kind of coughing that always turned of seatmates especially during dawn masses.
With the introduction last year of “Simbang Gabi sa Gabi” at 8:00 p.m. I was able to complete the nine day masses. This year I was simply indispose due to scandalous coughing episodes. So scandalous were the attacks that I needed to walk to the comfort room, every time it happened, to void.
The Parish Priest must have noticed my conspicuous absence that he texted me inquiring if I was sick. I replied that I was ok except for the messy coughing that I didn’t want any other churchgoers to be turned off. So, for the first time since I reached the age of reason I failed to attend the “Simbang Gabi".
Aside from the scandalous coughing experience I sometimes could feel a kind of giddiness every now and then. The giddiness made me feel unbalanced as if I was going to fall anytime. It could be dangerous and risky for me while walking around. My giddiness could easily be solved by using a walking stick but again I still want to pretend I was very healthy and strong in spite of the obvious proof of aging. Other proofs were easily manifested such as the mess at mealtime and frequent lapses of memory. I could still handle the lapses as I could still regularly function at the netcafe. More difficult to manage is the constant falling of my denture even when not eating because my gums have receded so much they can no longer hold my dentures.
Everyday other proofs keep on popping-up as when I met someone so familiar but I just couldn’t decipher who he was or inadvertently thought that someone was somebody else. Lose of bladder control was also getting more frequent. It could sometimes be embarrassing and I wondered how many more years, how far and how long these proofs of aging would show. But what was important I thought was that I was ready to face the consequences having faith that God was guiding me. And I won’t mind if I would finally need to use a walking stick or a personal supporter to help me do my chores. There must be a way to face Eternity.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
WHAT TO WRITE
`WHAT TO WRITE
It has been my habit to wake up early as it has also been almost my habit to write about experiences, observations or just about anything. Writing is a very interesting hobby although it is not always easy to find a good topic to write about.
Today I arrived a little too early to my favorite net cafe to find out that aside from it all the other units in the area are still closed. I even suspected that it must be a holiday that I was not aware of.
The Drug Store across the street was already actively serving costumers who must have been there earlier to buy the needed medicines for a suffering patient. But at the Galeria were I was waiting for my favorite Net Café the first to open was the Western Union reminding me how people will soon need money to serve them the whole day.
I was expecting the Saddle Ranch eatery to open so I could order my brewed coffee while waiting but the Ukay-Ukay keeper came ahead. I imagined that many people also come early to buy old clothing. The Herbal store has been closed for quite a time showing that people are not yet sold to herbal medications.
Soon another net ‘addict’ like me came followed by the Waiter of the Saddle Ranch. I immediately ordered coffee and tried to offer the other ‘addict’ but he just said thank you as he rejected my offer. He sat near me so we talk about the prevailing hobby of most people, generally the younger ones, this days.
‘Internetting' as a habit could also be disastrous. Young ones are hooked to it to the point of sacrificing their daily allowances so they could go to the Netcafe where they indulge in different games. But to adults or elder ones the computer could be very useful. They need not go to the library to do paper research on many topics; they could easily contact their family members and other relatives who are stationed abroad, and many, many more but unfortunately many senior citizens are not yet computer literate and are not capable of using the computers effectively.
In my case I see to it that after breakfast I go to the Netcafe to connect to my children who are in other countries. That way parenting continues and I am always aware of their whereabouts. This is also my chance to freely do counseling. Meeting so many people of different ages in many parts of the world widens my area of communication.
There are many young ones who find a father in me that they request if they could call me “tatay”. I am of course flattered and I always try to let them feel that with me in the net they are assured of parental advice.
I am amused whenever people I don’t personally know request that I help them with their plans from what course or what job to take to how to go on with their wedding plans. I consider all these experiences very rejuvenating and mentally stimulating. Most of all many of them can confide to me their secret emotions thus being able to ventilate and express fully their otherwise suppressed feelings.
I am encouraging many senior citizens to try to learn the basics of the computer to while away their time while keeping their youthfulness if not usefulness. They say this is an invention of the devil although the devil need not be invented. It has always been with us and it is up to us to find ways to avoid them even in the net.
It has been my habit to wake up early as it has also been almost my habit to write about experiences, observations or just about anything. Writing is a very interesting hobby although it is not always easy to find a good topic to write about.
Today I arrived a little too early to my favorite net cafe to find out that aside from it all the other units in the area are still closed. I even suspected that it must be a holiday that I was not aware of.
The Drug Store across the street was already actively serving costumers who must have been there earlier to buy the needed medicines for a suffering patient. But at the Galeria were I was waiting for my favorite Net Café the first to open was the Western Union reminding me how people will soon need money to serve them the whole day.
I was expecting the Saddle Ranch eatery to open so I could order my brewed coffee while waiting but the Ukay-Ukay keeper came ahead. I imagined that many people also come early to buy old clothing. The Herbal store has been closed for quite a time showing that people are not yet sold to herbal medications.
Soon another net ‘addict’ like me came followed by the Waiter of the Saddle Ranch. I immediately ordered coffee and tried to offer the other ‘addict’ but he just said thank you as he rejected my offer. He sat near me so we talk about the prevailing hobby of most people, generally the younger ones, this days.
‘Internetting' as a habit could also be disastrous. Young ones are hooked to it to the point of sacrificing their daily allowances so they could go to the Netcafe where they indulge in different games. But to adults or elder ones the computer could be very useful. They need not go to the library to do paper research on many topics; they could easily contact their family members and other relatives who are stationed abroad, and many, many more but unfortunately many senior citizens are not yet computer literate and are not capable of using the computers effectively.
In my case I see to it that after breakfast I go to the Netcafe to connect to my children who are in other countries. That way parenting continues and I am always aware of their whereabouts. This is also my chance to freely do counseling. Meeting so many people of different ages in many parts of the world widens my area of communication.
There are many young ones who find a father in me that they request if they could call me “tatay”. I am of course flattered and I always try to let them feel that with me in the net they are assured of parental advice.
I am amused whenever people I don’t personally know request that I help them with their plans from what course or what job to take to how to go on with their wedding plans. I consider all these experiences very rejuvenating and mentally stimulating. Most of all many of them can confide to me their secret emotions thus being able to ventilate and express fully their otherwise suppressed feelings.
I am encouraging many senior citizens to try to learn the basics of the computer to while away their time while keeping their youthfulness if not usefulness. They say this is an invention of the devil although the devil need not be invented. It has always been with us and it is up to us to find ways to avoid them even in the net.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
