Tired

I used to be able to go all day at work, go home from work, and keep on going and going and going. At one time, some of my acquaintances called me "the Energizer Bunny." 

As the years have progressed, I have noticeably slowed down. Sometimes, now, when I get home from work, I have no energy for anything else.  On those days, I mostly sit and vegetate (read, knit, watch TV.)  I do keep a semi-active calendar, and when I have after work activities, I am able to attend to them.  Some of that is because I conserve myself at work, some of that is because I "psyche" myself to be ready for the activity.

Sometimes, though, no matter how much I want to keep going, I am tuckered out...

Tonight, I am tuckered out.  But, I can understand why.  I look at what I did at work this week, and how many hours I put in.  I look at the after work activities in which I have engaged.  Even so, I am sitting here, at the computer, trying to be productive.

Birdwatching

A coworker told me I should get into a more active sport than birdwatching, which is too sedentary.  He is older than me, and a runner.  Mmmm. His concept of birdwatching is interesting.  We spent two hours walking around the City of Lubbock Cemetery and did not sit down once.  Granted, birdwatching involved stop and start walking, and you are not covering distance, but you are on your feet. Not cardiac exercise, but good to do, anyway.

Skinned knees

When I was a kid, I fell frequently, skinning my knees. Having skinned knees was just common for me.

Recently, I have fallen not once, but twice, and skinned my knees.  The most recent episode occurred when a young woman was nearby, and she most graciously stopped to be sure I was okay, and to help me up.

I am not sure why I am falling to skin my knees these days.  My knees hurt.  I am embarrassed. And, it concerns me that I am suffering from some other neurological problem.

My knees

As I was getting ready for work this morning, my cats wanted in the garage.  This is sometimes a problem, because I literally have to herd cats if I am ready to leave, before they are ready to go into the house. But I let them into the garage, anyway...

Sake has gotten better, and as long as I tell her more than once it is getting to be time to go back in, she usually goes in when I tell her it is time.

Haiku is not so good.  She is usually in a place where I can grab her, and just put her in the house.  Not so this morning.  She was under the middle of the Vue...I tried several times to "sweep" her out from under the Vue with a broom. She was not very cooperative, until finally, she came out from under the vehicle...and I put her in the house.

This process involved me getting on my knees several times this morning.  I did not notice it until I started to walk from the Vue through the parking lot to work, but knees were weak, and I felt a little disoriented... It took me until well after treatment team to start feeling strong again...My administrative assistant told me to go home after treatment team, and I just said I have too much to do...  She commented "You are a strong woman."  I do not see myself that way, but when I look around at how I measure up to others, I see that I am...

Which makes me concerned about my knees.  I did not like that weak feeling.  It was really strange, like kneeling on the cement had taken the starch out of my knees...Well, tonight they are fine.

Old is Not Done With

Old is not done with... It is my understanding that some of the Oriental countries:  China, Japan, Korea, really respect their elders and include them in honorable positions of society.

Unfortunately, that is not exactly the same in the American culture, where old tends to be equated with antiquated, outdated, and useless...

Over the years, we are beginning to understand that old means experience and knowledge that we can not replace.

I am watching the movie "The Space Cowboys"  An outdated set of would be astronauts who want to prove their worth to do a space mission. They are determined to "cut the mustard" and qualify for the opportunity to do a space mission..

What bravado, gumption, and courage to do what needs to be done...

This is a good movie, and it helps us to understand that old is not bad....

I applaud Clint Eastwood who has done so many wonderfully relevant and sociologically important movies:  Gran Torino, Flags of Our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima, but how many more are you not aware of: http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/clint-eastwood/1028651/filmography .

I am grateful to be able to watch this move...  I am grateful to be able to enjoy the irony and improbability of this movie..