Happy Birthday to Me!

This has been a momentous year for me. I celebrated milestone accomplishments in my writing and publications. I added another year of being cancer-free, raising the number to 21. Thank You, Jesus. Parky and I enjoyed a dream vacation in Iceland, which included some adventurous activities. We lost our beloved Irish Setter, who brought much joy and laughter. I attended my first National Alliance on Mental Illness Convention, and we underwent a major upgrade to our house.

On a more personal level, I saw a steady decline in my health, watching it unravel like a crocheted sweater having the yarn pulled out one row at a time. There was the frozen shoulder that started with some soreness and progressed to the point I could not brush my hair. I still can’t hold my arm high enough to put on deodorant. Then, there was the gradual onset of pain in my knee, culminating in an explosion of pain. It was identified as arthritis that now shifts from one knee to the other. The doctor said I over-exercised! (That made me feel a little better.)

My cardiologist suggested a heart monitor that revealed underlying arrhythmias contributing to shortness of breath. A heart ablation on Valentine’s Day corrected for atrial fibrillation, but he was unable to address all of the issues related to the supraventricular tachycardia (fast heart rate over 100 beats a minute).

If you were to ask me when I became “old,” I would say 2024 at age 64.

Happy Medicare-Eligible Birthday

My birthday this year marks a significant event. This is the year I became Medicare-eligible. (I admit it was a slight jolt when I turned 50 and was recognized by AARP as a senior citizen.) My birthday is this Sunday, November 3. This is the day all of my years of paycheck deductions for Medicare will pay off. I will finally reap the rewards.

In case you don’t know it, let me tell you, friends, becoming Medicare-eligible is no picnic. I have been bombarded with all kinds of paraphernalia, phone calls, and mailers wanting me to sign up for their plan. Of course, all of them are the best! Thanks to a well-informed friend who is a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) adviser, I learned that I needed to start addressing issues a few months before my birthday. Who knew? Federal requirements mandate that decisions must be made to avoid lifelong penalties. It is up to the individual to educate themselves properly and determine what is best for their future needs. Who has time for that? Nobody! But you better make the time or reap the consequences.

I can’t say that I made all the right choices, but hey, they are made. I have my Medicare card and Medicare Advantage Plan card in hand. I am ready to go.

Aging and What the Bible Says

As I think about aging, my mind naturally turns to my 94-year-old mother. She is thirty years wiser than me. As I struggle going up and down the stairs one at a time in my house, it better puts into perspective how she manages life with thirty additional years on her body. Although Mother depends on her walker, she can still stand on her feet and move around. She has aged with grace. Add to that a splash of humor.

The Bible refers to the elderly numerous times. We read in Job how “wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.” Elihu, a hearer of Job and his three friends, accused Job of sinning. His words in Scripture reinforced the idea that age brings maturity, judgment, and wisdom. Elihu held his tongue until chapter 32, wanting to respect his debating elders.

We learn that Elihu and Job’s three friends didn’t exactly display the wisdom they were credited with, although they made some valid points. God was angry with Job’s friends and wanted to destroy them, but Job pleaded on their behalf and spared their lives.

Earlier in the Old Testament, Leviticus tells us how the Lord spoke to Moses. The Lord told Moses to inform the Israelite community about the laws of holiness. “You are to rise in the presence of the elderly and honor the old. Fear your God; I am Yahweh” (Lev 19:32). As Americans, we do not generally observe this practice, but I am grateful other cultures do.

I remember when I was on a mission trip in India, and my 81-year-old mother was with me. Suddenly, we heard a small boy scream and saw him run to his mother. Perplexed, we had no idea what just happened. We later learned he had never seen a white woman in white clothing with white hair. He thought she was a ghost! The next day Mother offered her hand as a gesture of goodwill, and he reluctantly shook it.

Throughout the trip, we noticed how Mother’s presence paved an open path. It was because she was honored and respected as an elder.

Bring on the birthdays!