TIME GETS BETTER WITH AGE

TIME GETS BETTER WITH AGE
Read it through to the end, it gets better as you go!



I've learned that I like my teacher because she cries when we sings "Silent Night".
Age 5
I've learned that our dog doesn't want to eat my broccoli either.
Age 7
I've learned that when I wave to people in the country, they stop what they are doing and wave back.
Age 9
I've learned that just when I get my room the way I like it, Mom makes me clean it up again.
Age 12
I've learned that if you want to cheer yourself up, you should try cheering someone else up.
Age 14
I've learned that although it's hard to admit it, I'm secretly glad my parents are strict with me.
Age 15
I've learned that silent company is often more healing than words of advice.
Age 24
I've learned that brushing my child's hair is one of life's great pleasures.
Age 26
I've learned that wherever I go, the world's worst drivers have followed me there.
Age 29
I've learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it.
Age 30
I've learned that there are people who love you dearly but just don't know how to show it.
Age 42
I've learned that you can make some one's day by simply sending them a little note.
Age 44
I've learned that the greater a person's sense of guilt, the greater his or her need to cast blame on others.
Age 46
I've learned that children and grandparents are natural allies.
Age 47
I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
Age 48
I've learned that singing "Amazing Grace" can lift my spirits for hours.
Age 49
I've learned that motel mattresses are better on the side away from the phone.
Age 50
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
Age 51
I've learned that keeping a vegetable garden is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills.
Age 52
I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die.
Age 53
I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life.
Age 58
I've learned that if you want to do something positive for your children, work to improve your marriage.
Age 61
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
Age 62
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catchers mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.
Age 64
I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your work, meeting new people, and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.
Age 65
I've learned that whenever I decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decision.
Age 66
I've learned that everyone can use a prayer.
Age 72
I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
Age 82
I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch-holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
Age 90
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
Age 92
I've learned that you should pass this one on to someone you care about. Sometimes they just need a little something to make them smile.

Mom visit - update, and Julie comes home

Mom is not feeling too great today. She said she had a difficult night sleeping, and kept waking up with her cough. She breakfasted with me, she took a shower, we talked about me and Pam, and she's now getting on her stationary bicycle to try to "clear her breathing".





She asked me if I was ok with letting go of my apartment? Letting go of the freedom to 'get away' to my place if I wanted to. I said I was afraid of the move-in, but was ok with it. Pam too is afraid, and we've discussed that with each other. Pam says she's not as good at starting up those intimate-feelings conversations. But once I start them and make 'safety' primary, she is quite good at going there with me. That is one of the most important things to me in a relationship now, and it's so good to have that with her.







Julie is back in Miami this morning, and will be back home towards late afternoon. She's had a really nice time, and I hope she got a chance for a *most* well deserved bit of relaxation.






She asked me to wash the dogs if I got the chance. But I'm just not enough of a dog-person to do that yet :). Patches has been great this time around. And Bessie, poor thing, is a sweetie. Each morning when she went outside for her morning consitition, I would follow it with a good brushing out of her undercoat - Wow that's a lot of hair!!!! I think she really liked it, and she seemed to be happier when I'd come and go. I also swept most of the floor at Julies place this morning and washed up the dishes to try to make it so she didn't come home to a complete mess of work. If she wants to wash Bessie (and this morning, I agree that she definitely needs it), I'd be happy to help her do it. But with Bessie in the condition she is in now and Julie not present, I don't think I want to do it myself. Julie knows how much to push Bessie, what her wimpers mean, and how much she can take. I don't.

Teddy Stern

I also got a chance to talk with mom's friend, Teddy Stern, today. That was so nice. She (and Sigy) have been such a vivid and warm part of our family life. It is always wonderful to get a chance to chat with her.

Mom is making her famous Liptauer bread-spread for my trip back up to Raleigh Monday. Don't know if it will last until then :).

Merenge!

Browsing around YouTube this morning on my mother's computer. Looking at various Latin-dance lessons. Came across some Merenge stuff for which the basic-step looks dirt simple! Thought of Pam while watching it, and thinking how much we're both looking forward to getting some lessons down and doing some fun dancing together once were done with all the medical junk.

It's just a simple left-right step, over and over again. No pauses, no extra repeat stepping. It's like the shuffling dance I saw once at a Haitian wedding I went to years ago. At that time, I didn't understand and couldn't quite get it. But now I think that must have been some form of Merenge.

With the stuff I've learned from all the Mambo classes I've taken, some of the added fun-stuff - turns, swings, shifts in directions - looks pretty easy to add in.

I emailed a YouTube video to Pam that I thought was pretty good in it's lesson-combo: basic step, simple direction-changes, simple turns, etc. I think she'll get a kick out of it!

Visit while Julie goes on Vacation

Mom and I went to the doctor (scheduled appt) on Tuesday to have a check up on the leg injury she got from the dog. It was doing well. We did not go swimming that day due to all the doctor and chasing-around activity of the day. Wednesday, was a good day for her, and in the late afternoon we went swimming. Thursday, Mom was feeling poorly, and had developed a persistent cough. It does not seem infection related, and is maybe more of a talking-too-much kind of thing? Something is irritating her chest, so she coughs. Also she was feeling tired and run down all day, so we did not make it into the pool at all. Goulash for dinner!!!

Today (Friday) she's still got the cough, but it seem much much less. We're planning on the swim later and hopefully it will work out. If not, I'll try to get her to at least come down with me to the poolside. Perhaps being there will motivate her to get in .

Patches has been incredibly well behaved, I'm super impressed with him!