Yep! I was part of the Planet of the Aged, but I was not intimidated. In truth, the Planet of the Aged has an atmospheric resilience swirling, twirling and wingdinging around it. Join me and some of my pals as we keep trying to be/stay galvanized!
Every THING in my apartment seems to have a design story, some crossed oceans, others came from down the road. A favorite thingamabob is my ikebana tray that for me has double duties. One purpose— hiding two low wall switches and the other— becoming a Lilliputian floor bookcase housing a collection of favorite design books.
Explanation: Talented resident floral arrangers create welcoming displays at our Reception Desk Entrance and my good friend Dorothy Roll’s gorgeous Ikebana floral arrangements, (the centuries-old Japanese art of arranging flowers) offer stunning greetings. When I saw a lovely antique object it reminded me I had no flower arranging skills, but I did need another bookcase. The heavily carved exterior is the perfect accent for design books, plus I balanced two books to conceal two low light switches. How great is that?
I love pushing boundaries by adapting a vintage Ikebana tray into a new, attractive, useful design element.
It’s time for the Sweet-tooth Sleuth to conduct a new World’s Shortest Mini Survey. She is seeking advice on how to add harmony and wellness to Senior lives.
Please meet some of my friends as they share pastimes, pleasures and interactive experiences. Question:
As a sage senior adding a focus of wellness to life, what helps makes your life more interesting, diverse and healthy? Examples might be: exercise, gardening, art endeavors, games, committees, studies, reading, designing, moving, church, etc.
OG: “Before moving here, my friends and I had similar backgrounds, now I share many new experiences with new friends who then become best friends. Yes, I miss doing the things I did when younger, but I try to keep moving and stay busy. Living in this retirement community I now, enjoy lectures, love the fitness classes and the indoor pool and my new friendships.”
DAC: “After moving to CA in 2017, I began taking ukulele lessons and learning music theory with a private instructor. When COVID reared its ugly head, face-to-face music lessons were no longer an option so we began Zoom lessons. We quickly concluded that ukulele lessons via Zoom were not feasible due to latency. My instructor then suggested I try my hand at making electronic music. Fast forward to 2022… I am currently working on song number 120. To date, I have released 7 songs which have been heard on 6 of 7 of the world’s continents, (the exception being Antarctica). I enjoy composing, mixing & mastering the music, and then I enjoy seeing the statistics on where in the world my music is being played.”
LEM: “In my aged years, I decided to try many new activities. I had always admired the elegance and grace dancers show on the dance floor and hoped I could match their style. So, at 85, I paid for private lessons and within a year I progressed from basic box steps to waltzing, tango, and rumba! I never saw my body glide like the professionals, but those lessons freed my mind and maybe (if my imagination serves me) I might look something like that magical swan gliding along a moonlit pond! Now I prefer to dance solo.”
JCSB: “As a person of deep faith, I feel surrounded by the Blessings of God and my Church. I live in my home and I am not lonely. My husband and I rescued feral kitties and invariably ended up adopting them. The kitties in my life have been wonderful and continue to be loving & comforting. I support the arts and devote time to my community art center.”
MOT: “Meeting incredible people in my later years brought immense joy to my life yet again! I was fortunate to meet a young fellow who channeled my love of the sea into something which inspired my soul, rekindled my inner-child, and brought me back to one of my greatest passions, sailing. After significant struggle with those guardians of senior living, we began our journey back to the water and started up a model boat yacht club. With salt in my veins and a windy tickle in my whiskers, I gleefully sped my scooter to the local pond and reveled in 2 hours of sheer delight as we tacked and gibed our yachts to victorious memories. Be not afraid of the storms ahead, revel that you learn to command your life vessel!”
JBLB: “Many things gave energy to my steps along the road to Life’s satisfaction. i.e. History, Poetry and Current Events discussion groups took my interest, but the pinnacle turned out to be my garden and my 6 year stint on the monthly Feature Magazine staff. I grew a Jack-in-the Box tomato plant that yielded 268 tomatoes! For two months I traipsed up stairs and down, through our residence halls, shoe box in hand dropping off Big Beef tomatoes. Indeed, I was the Tomato Queen that year. The years on the magazine fed my creative side. I wrote Bios and nostalgic (humorous?) pieces and I relished friendships made and the camaraderie of the staff as we discussed and chose articles for publication. Stretching muscle and mind added to my life’s satisfaction in a completely new atmosphere.”
Now you know what my senior friends know, oh-so-well, agedness means business and fine-tuning it requires the right juju and energy. The Sweet-tooth Sleuth and I want to….
thank my peers for their galvanized strategies and solutions!
Sy’s Salient Points:
Diverse explorations keep members of the Planet of the Aged, not only galvanized, but also sane. My friends are forever-evolving as they open channels, roads and travel in creative ways!
Happy Indigenous Holiday And Halloween Blaire