Seniors and Good Friends

“Good friends are like quilts – they age with you, yet never lose their warmth.”

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world, too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read, or play on the computer, until 4 am, or sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50s, 60s and 70s, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will.

I will walk the beach, in a swimsuit that is stretched over a bulging body and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glance from the jet set. They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And, eventually, I remember the important things.

Sure, over the years, my heart has been broken. How can your heat not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody’s beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength, and understanding, and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile, and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you et older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don’t question myself anymore. I’ve even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day if I feel like it.

May your friendships never come apart especially when the friendship is straight from the heart! Give your good friends a hug.

—CC—

As many of you know, my wife fell and broke her hip last month. My friend Tom Adams shared the following which I shared with my wife. She did not find it as humorous as I did . . .

TO: All Personnel SUBJECT: Absenteeism It has become necessary for us to review some of our policies due to frequent absenteeism of our production employees. The following changes are in effect as of today: Sickness: NO EXCUSE . . . We will no longer accept your Doctor’s Statement of proof as we believe that if you are able to go to the Doctor, you are able to come to work.

Death: (OTHER THAN YOUR OWN) This is no excuse. There is nothing you can do for them and we are sure that someone also with a lesser position can attend to the arrangements. However, if the funeral can be held in the late afternoon, we will be glad to let you off one hour early provided that your share of the work is ahead enough to keep the job going in your absence.

Leave of Absence: (FOR AN OPERATION). We are no longer allowing this practice. We wish to discourage any thoughts that you may need an operation as we believe as long as you are an employee here, you will need all of whatever you have and you should not consider having anything removed. We hired you as you are and to have anything removed would certainly make you less than we bargained for.

Death: (YOUR OWN). This will be accepted as an excuse, but we would like a two-week notice. We feel it is your duty to teach someone else your job.

Also, entirely too much time is being spent in the restroom. In the future, we will follow the practice of going in alphabetically order. For instance, those whose names begin with “A” will go from 8:00 to 8:15, “B” will l go from 8:15 to 8:30, and so on. If you are unable to go at your time, it will be necessary to wait until the next day when your turn comes again.

—CC—

Hopefully the above will encourage my wife to return to work quickly.