By: Kenneth E. Boone, Sr.
“Getting off the dime” is a Native American saying that means to stop stalling and start moving. Other sayings with similar meaning are “fish or cut bait”, and the G-Rated version of the classic, “poop or get off the pot”. All apply to me. Now, if I can pick one of them as my mantra, then just maybe I can get stuff done. I got my second dose of the Shingles vaccine a few days ago, and it left my arm a little sore, but that's not the main side effect. The shot left me feeling a little loopy. So, I apologize in advance if what I say makes no sense. After nearly three years of inactivity, I'm finally back to blogging again. I created a page on my “Much More to Say” website under the tab “DMMG Blog”, with the first two posts already published. Unlike my previous blog, which consisted of a bunch of essays disguised as blog posts, I wanted to expand my communications horizons. After all, the parent company of all of this is called the Descant Music & Media Group. It took fighting a recurrence of procrastination to get the page set up. It took more than a few drafts to create the artwork and write up the simple text. That's because I was determined to make this blog better than my last one. I also made the conscious decision not to try to promote the blog on social media. That's because I somehow violated the community standards on Facebook. I didn't write or say anything offensive. I made no disparaging racist or sexist comments. In fact, if I were to say something critical about anyone, I woudn't use their names. Nevertheless, Facebook blocked me from posting any links to my blog, or my website. That really pissed me off, since I have many aquaintences who constantly get into some pretty nasty squabbles on both Facebook and Twitter. And at most their “punishment” was a 30-day suspension. Maybe I should have taken a more controversial route, because that seemed to work. My banishment from Facebook did have a silver lining. After figuratively curling up in the corner feeling rejected and abandoned, I set out to create a brand-new podcast. In my humble opinion, “Much More to Say” is the best thing I've ever created. Five seasons and over 80 episodes supports that opinion. As I mentioned before, when I resumed recording episodes of the new show, I had to take my time and use moderation. But once I established a working routine, the need to do more began to consume me. It started with me bugging my buddy Pete to record his story. It took him three years to complete his first episode, but it was worth the wait. I need to check in with him to find out whether his show will be picked up by Sirius/XM, or will he allow me to edit it down to about three episodes. I'll call him this week to learn what he decided to do. My son, Kenny, tells me that a number of his friends suggest that he start his own podcast. I agree. He's always been a very skilled debater. The idea is still in the early planning stages, and I'm not going to push him, one way or another. It's a huge commitment or time and resources and he needs to be prepared to put in the work. And if he decides to move forward, I'll be right there. The more I waited for Pete, and Kenny, and a few other friends to decide if they wanted to jump in the world of podcasting, the more I thought expanding my own horizons. So, I decided to create another podcast, “The Music That Moved Me”. So not to put any undue pressure on myself, I plan to post new episodes monthly, beginning the first Friday in September. That will leave me plenty of time to take on projects by anyone who comes calling. However, experience tells me that there's a good chance that the phone is not going to ring, which is not a bad thing. So, I made up my mind to write another blog. I wasn't sure if I can come up with enough content, even if my plan was to post monthly. I just don't want to come down with another case of writer's block. I also don't want to spread myself too thin. I've been writing weekly scripts for my show. I've also been posting those scripts as Show Notes to assist the hearing impaired. I honestly don't know if I can add writing blog posts to my list of tasks. This time around, I don't want to use perfectionism as an excuse to procrastinate. So, I need to work smart. Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry West, also known as “The Logo” once said, “You can't get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.” Although I consider myself a better than decent writer, I've always had a problem when it comes to turning in my work. After writing hundreds of papers to good reviews, I still doubt that my work is able to stand up to scrutiny. I beat myself up if I make a typo. Do I suffer from fear of failure, or is it fear of success? That makes no sense. I'm not here trying to be as a journalist, a novelist, or even an essayist. I'm not promoting my work. Writing is something I like to do for me. I don't have a large audience, so if others enjoy what I present, that's great. If they don't, no worries. This is supposed to be fun. Parting Shots So, after careful debate with myself, I decided to get off the dime. As I said earlier, the blog page has been created. The artwork looks appropriate. And the strategy is clear. I'll post news & notes, essays, podcast transcripts, and YouTube videos of the music that moved me. And I'll do all of it efficiently. I'll work smart. I've put up some good content in my first two posts. And once I get in the flow of things, I should be cranking out much more good stuff. That's if I can get just out of my way. What I need to do is just jump in and say what I have to say, post it, then move on. I've done that for all of my podcasts, and blogging is supposed to be much easier. If you'd like to check out the blog, just go to muchmore2say.weebly.com and click on the DMMG BLOG tab at the top of the page. I think it'll be worth your while. Today's Quote “Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an unfinished task.” William James – American Philosopher, Historian, and Psychologist
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By: Kenneth E. Boone, Sr.
“Everything old is new again.” This famous quote from the 18th Century Irish author and satirist Jonathan Swift, has had many lives – from appearing in everything from popular songs to political essays. In this modern world, never is it more relevant than when looking at the trend to reuse, revamp, recycle and revive. How many times have you, when given the opportunity to go back in time for a redo, said no thanks. “Been there, done that” is a phrase I typically use. This year, I've been given the chance to pick up where I've left off with a number of things. Today, I'm not talking about past profound situations, such as relationships of any kind that left you feeling resentful. This will be a lighthearted chat about things you used to do that just made you feel good. The question is simple... if you could do those things again, would you? From February 25, 2019 to June 22, 2020, I wrote a little blog as a companion to my podcast, “From Grievance to Gratitude”. I posted one essay per week until my heart almost gave out... literally. If you recall, I was hospitalized in September 2019 with Congestive Heart Failure. From then until January 2020, I was unable to do much of anything except survive and recover. That meant no blog posts, and even worse, no new podcast episodes. Through prayer, excellent medical care, and motivation, I came through the ordeal in better shape than I was prior to the crisis. But I did have to start doing things in moderation. So, the first activity I resumed was recording new podcast episodes. Next on my list was getting back to the blog, which I failed to do. As motivation, I posted a quote on the blog's home page by Pablo Picasso, which read... “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” Reading that quote always gnawed at me, because I felt I was not sharing one of my gifts, which happens to be the act of sharing. After I retired my podcast, “From Grievance to Gratitude” and started my current one, “Much More to Say”, I tried to resume writing my blog. But I was stuck and wasn't able to write anything other than the script for the next episode. It seemed like I had a severe case of writer's block. I have this bad habit of spreading myself too thin. There are several reasons why I do that. I've touched on some of them in past episodes, so I won't bore you with them again. At least for now. I also have a habit of sometimes being a know-it-all. I admit that although I'm capable of working very hard, I am often guilty of not working very smart. And when that happens, I tend to favor quantity of quality, with efficiency suffering in the long run. I realize that my workflow was idiotic, to put it mildly. I would create and type an episode script. Then I would record, render, and publish the episode. After doing all of that, I would post a link to the episode on my social media platforms. If any creativity remained, then and only then would I try to write a companion blog post. It seems that I was creating too much work for myself. As I said, that's idiotic. And because I could be a know-it-all, I was hesitant to try a different way. As I said, my medical diagnosis in 2019 was Congestive Heart Failure. In 2023, I can look back and realized that my brain was congested as well. It wasn't in failure yet, but it was in need of retooling. One of the tools in my kit is the ability to write. I'm not saying that I'm as prolific as a journalist, a novelist, or even an essayist. But when the mood is right, I love to put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, and share my thoughts with others. Another tool I developed recently was the ability to get out of my own way. Understanding that I don't know everything, allowed me to be open to taking advice, especially free advice. That brings me to one of my role models, a podcasting guru I'll call Crystal P. Although she does what she does for money (a lot of money BTW), her freebies have great value. Through her show, blog posts, and YouTube videos, I've learned how to repurpose my thoughts to yield an efficient crop of content. The results is the launch of a new podcast and, you guessed it, another blog! After learning from Crystal that I can use the blog format for more than just periodic musings, I plan to get as much bang for the buck as possible. For the hearing-impaired, some of the posts will be transcripts from the episodes of my new podcast. I started that practice on my show, “Much More to Say”, which was warmly received. I will also accept essays from aspiring authors, journalists, and essayists, fitting our format, who want a place to get their work “out there”. I will also post some of my own articles and essays, as time permits. Item #3b on my list of New Year's Resolutions for 2023 is my hope to create YouTube videos. That hasn't happened yet and, to be honest with you, probably won't happen at all. But I will post videos showcasing performances by some of the subjects of my new Music History podcast coming in September 2023. Item #6 on my Resolutions' list is to do it for free, or at the very least, on the cheap. This is a labor of love and not for profit, although I won't turn down the chance to make an honest buck. There's a debate whether money follows a great idea, or a great idea follows money. I'd like to prove that former is the most accurate. Item #7 on my list of New Year's Resolutions for 2023 is to not borrow trouble. I take that to mean I will try my best to fight my urges to create more work for myself than necessary. I've reached over 80 episodes of this podcast by following four simple steps, which are:
Parting Shots In 2020, the experts said that blogs were passe, and surplanted by social media posts. That pronouncement made it easier to stop doing something I really love. Now, with a little tweaking, blogs have come roaring back, I want to be part of the revival. Even if I've been there and done that, there's no crime in doing it again. I have some pretty good content in my first blog that would make for decent podcast episodes. There may be some relevant stuff I can use in future episodes of this podcast. Also, I'll post a link to my upcoming Music History blog once I work out all the kinks. I hope you'll like it. Today's Quote “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, even you.” Anne Lamott – American Author and Political Activist
By: Kenneth E. Boone, Sr.
“If you want something you never had, you have to do something you've never done.” I don't know who authored that anonymous quote, but that someone is the inspiration for the companion episode you're about to hear. Greetings friends. Hope you're having a great week. One inexpensive corner table, plus three pieces of gear, and the downstairs music room studio will finally be completed. Style and function will meet to hopefully spur on inspiration and creativity. In a previous episode, I boldly stated that my days posing as a musician were over. And I meant it. I also stated in past episodes that Item #2 on my list of New Year's Resolutions for 2023 was to “make my house more playable”. So, why would I take the time to update my space only to let it sit there and collect dust again? It started with me hanging an array of framed photos and artwork on the walls of the music room. Without much forethought, I started with a framed collage of photos depicting the interiors and exteriors of the churches that Celia and I got our musical starts. Back then, the last thing we thought about was getting paid to perform. Back then, we did it to bring joy to the congregation, with a little bit of harmless ego-stroking thrown in for good measure. I also framed and hung up photos taken at past paying gigs we had throughout North and South Carolina. While I fondly recall being warmly received and paid pretty well, I don't miss hustling to book the gigs, as well wear and tear on our cars, as well as our bodies getting to the venues and back home. Entrepreneur and motivational speaker, Jim Rohn once said, “if you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse”. Celia and I haven't played publicly in several years. In our defense, we did face a number of health challenges. As you may recall, Celia had to have both of her hips replaced. Then I was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. Those are serious medical issues that needed to be addressed. Years later, Celia's mobility has greatly improved because of her new hips. My heart function has returned to normal, thanks to Dr. V, prayers, and a complete lifestyle overhaul. Add the COVID pandemic to the mix and we had legitimate reasons for our hiatus. It took me creating a limited-run podcast titled “Freelancer Survival Stories” to reach the conclusion that our reasons for not playing actually morphed into lame excuses. In my first episode, my brother Mike told us about the virtual shows he streamed on Facebook Live. He even found a way to monetize the events. Celia and I were able to attend worship services online, and the ability to give an offering simply by clicking the “Donate” button. Even our friends in 12-Step Recovery were not to be denied a means to gather. Zoom meetings became the norm, with some AA groups still meeting that way. With all of those examples staring me in the face, why was the gear in our music room still collecting dust? We have access to Facebook Live and a Zoom account. Although we don't have a video camera, we have cellphones that work just fine. With the resilience of humans on full display, I came to the realization that my legitimate reasons for non-participation became lame excuses. I even began to think of myself as a quitter, just like in the good old days. It wasn't true then and it's not true now. I just needed to focus on a solution. Author and all-around smart guy Mark Twain once said, “if you want love and abundance in your life, give it away”. I must admit, Celia and I had a lot of fun getting on stage and playing at all of those churches throughout the Carolinas. The audiences seemed to enjoy us as well. Especially when Celia sang, then told her story of peace and healing. I knew she was a great musician. What I didn't know was just how big a star she was around these parts. Looking at those pictures I hung on the walls of my music space took me back to those good times. I remember all of the venues. I remember most of the people in the congregations. What I have a hard time remembering was how much we got paid for each of those appointments. The churches I played at in my youth rarely, if ever, paid their musicians. In fact, that lack of compensation was always a point of contention, that led to hard feelings and sometimes even defections. Paying musicians was actually frowned upon. Who knows why? Paying musicians was more commonplace in Celia's neck of the woods. The only real consideration for the talent was whether to ask for a flat fee or have the church take up a love offering. We usually chose the latter as payment. By voting with their wallets, that was how the crowd showed their appreciation. We were never going to get rich by playing at those churches, but their financial blessing went a long way to helping us make ends meet. We'd earn enough to cover the cost of travel, along with room and board, if we had to stay overnight. And since churches in the South seemed to have pot luck dinners every week, we always got our fill of some amazing food. While getting paid is aways good, my fondest memories came from the gigs we did for free. The big payoff we got was the appreciation of the audience. Every time we'd play a jazzed-up classic hymn, they would sing along, usually in 4-part harmony! And it never failed that someone would come up to us and thank us for playing their favorite song they hadn't heard in decades. You just can't put a price on that! Parting Shots American author and motivational speaker Leo Buscaglia once said, “your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God”. Now that my music room is nearing completion, I'm going to take a moment to reflect on how I got to where I'm at now. God has blessed me with a lot of gifts. By sharing them, I can begin to give them back to Him! Of course, that is after I get that inexpensive corner table and three pieces of gear! Today's Quote “If you own something you cannot give away, then you don't own it, it owns you.” Albert Schweitzer – Nobel Prize Winning Polymath
By: Kenneth E. Boone, Sr.
If you're lucky to live long enough, you'll eventually run across people who just don't like you. And the reason for their dislike sometimes is not rational, but that's humans for you. Let's find out why. My son Kenny describes the behavior of these people as “gatekeeping”. In this context, it's as if the person, also known as a hater, feels they will be negatively impacted by any perceived success the hated may achieve. Even if their spot at the top of the roost is not in jeopardy, they are scared, nonetheless. More often than not, the hater in question suffers from the “Great Imposter Syndrome”. Hatred is an extremely strong feeling of dislike for someone or something. Visceral feelings are feelings that you feel very deeply and find it difficult to control or ignore, and that are not the result of thought, or logic. Combining those two feelings, you have the makings of a visceral foe. As I said earlier, you may know them by the term “haters”. And the person, place, or thing who is the recipient of this animosity is known as the “hated”. Unfortunatley, too many of us have spent too much time taking on the roles of both hater and hated. And I am counting myself among the guilty parties. In fact, I'm still picking out seemingly random people to hit with a heavy dose of scorn. Fortunately, I now reserve my ire for professional athletes who are totally immune to my wrath. Today, I'm not here to talk about bullies. That's because there's a special place in hell for people who get off by “punching down” on weaker individuals. For them, you pray for the day when they get their just desserts. All you hope for is to have a ringside seat to witness their justice. Today's rant is about those folks who others swear are “nice guys” who just may be misunderstood. But you know that they have it out for you for some unknown or unimportant reason. They won't physically assault you, or take your lunch money, or even cruelly tease you. But you know something is off about them, even is you can't put your finger on it. Nearly 60 years ago, my late mother had a visceral foe. At the time, her marriage to my father was disintegrating, leaving her an emotional wreck. It was also then that she found a new church family that offered a haven of love and acceptance for her and her two young sons. She formed life-long friendships with a number of the members of the choir she joined that was made up of other new believers. It was there that she met her future husband, my stepfather. There was one member who might have found my mother's sunny disposition somewhat irritating. Even as a child, I could tell by the little comments she made that were relayed to me. There was never any open hostility, and never the threat of open warfare. But visceral resentment was obvious, even to my mother. Fortunately, she was quite the natural political animal. So, for the last 40 years of her life, my mother acted like there wasn't an issue and treated the person like a dear friend. How do you treat someone who hates, or at the very least, dislikes you? Being kind and courteous to everyone is a good general attitude to have and it's essential when you're dealing with someone who hates you. Treating everyone with respect and dignity is the most civil thing you can do so go forth and be kind. In the mid 1970s, my brother got accepted into a prestigious music conservatory in Rochester, NY. The school was demanding and highly competitive. But just like my mother, Mike formed life-long friendships with several of his classmates, especially the other bassists, who should have been his rivals. As prestigious as the degree he got was, when he returned to New York City, all it qualified him for a spot at the back of the line. The egos and attitudes were just a part of the initiation process. Most of the other musicians warmed up to him, with the exception of one world-famous bassist. This guy, who has played with just about every A-List performer, make a boat load of cash in the process, seemed to have a problem acknowledging my brother's existence. Again, there was no open hostility, but the constant subtle snubs. What irked me most about his behavior toward my brother was the fact that he had a reputation of being a friendly and gracious kind of superstar. In fact, that's the opinion everyone had of him. So why did he have a problem with Mike? For all of brother's flaws, arrogance wasn't one of them. He always extends the hand of friendship. He's always flattering of other musicians. And he definitely doesn't consider himself a threat to the superstar. As my brother's self-appointed protector, I always hoped for the day when I could find this guy, punch him out, tie him up, and pump him full of truth serum. Maybe then I could get to the bottom of his issues. There's a quote by an unknown author: “A person hates you for one of three reasons:
When he was in high school, my son, Kenny, had a visceral foe of his very own. Their field of battle wasn't in the choir stand, or the band stand, but on the baseball diamond. In the early 2000s, Kenny and I relocated to Rochester, NY for a fresh start. I didn't ask a lot of him. I just wanted him to get along with his classmates and give baseball one more try. Thank goodness he didn't let me down. He too formed a number of life-long friendships, especially with the other athletes. Everyone was warm and welcoming to him, except the resident hot jock. Like my brother's hater, this guy was friendly, gracious, and respectful to everyone he met. Kenny was the only one he ever gave the cold shoulder to. The kid was deemed the chosen one from the time he was 7 years old, so his behavior made no sense. There was no overt aggression, or smear campaigns. But the animosity was obvious. Being an overprotective single parent, I wanted to wring the boy's neck, because it pissed me off that a kid who was given with every chance to succeed would take the time to hate on a kid who was barely hanging on. I'm glad that Kenny inherited my mother's political instincts, although he rarely chose the tactful route. But in this instance, he acted like there wasn't an issue. Kenny had an interesting approach to dealing with the kid. He ignored him. 3 ways to ignore someone who hates you without hurting them.
Be persistent with your attitude to make them believe that it's your normal behavior. In my life, one guy stood out as someone I would consider a visceral foe of mine. I've known him for nearly 60 years. I'm close to his family, including his cousins, aunts, as well as his siblings. For almost six decades, I would watch him laugh and joke with everyone in the room, only to respond with curt, one-word answers whenever I spoke to him. I found his attitude toward me frustrating, because I never slighted him. The only thing I could think of was a certain physical characteristic that's always been a hot-button issue for members of my ethic group. The guy never threatened. He wasn't a violent person. And he never bad-mouthed me to others. But I could feel the visceral resentment he had toward me. It didn't make sense because his family appeared to be much more normal than mine. I'll admit, he was living rent-free in my head. In fact, I decided that if he was to dislike me for no reason, I was going to hate him for no reason. That made me feel better until I found other people, places, and things to hate on. Had I utilized my own considerable political instincts, or my common sense, I could have avoided that unnecessary headache entirely. That's because I didn't have any issues with him and we were never going to be friends. What to do when someone hates you for no reason
If that strategy is not a part of your DNA, you can try another tried and true approach. That's right, kill them with kindness. Parting Shots As I said, I'm not here to talk about bullies, even if it would make for a pretty good episode. I've had my share of them as a kid and noticed one thing in particular. It's if they don't change their abusive ways, many of them don't last too long. The visceral foes are much harder to spot, and by extension, much harder to expose. I've just given you examples of these people as well as listed ways to effectively deal with them. However, the one thing I wouldn't recommend is to carry a resentment toward them. That's because doing so is like taking a cyanide pill hoping that it poisons the other person. That never works. If it's possible, try to be nice to them. If you can't do that, or they won't give you the time of day, simply ignore them. They aren't worth your time and energy. Today's Quote “Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.” Coretta Scott King – American Civil Rights Icon
By: Kenneth E. Boone, Sr.
The following list of items are taken from the back cover blurb of Karen O'Connor's book, “Gettin' Old Ain't for Wimps”: Have you noticed that...
When a person of a certain vintage forgets something, or loses something, scary thoughts run through their minds. The first thought is that maybe I'm losing my marbles. I know, because of a couple of things that happened to me recently. The first instance occurred at the fitness center after Celia and I finished a brisk workout session. After my usual half hour on the stationary bike, I moved over to the Nautilus machines. Because the rowing machine was occupied, I went to the Abdominal machine, set the proper weight, and began to work up a sweat. After the session, and since it was a Friday afternoon, we hopped in the car and headed to the nearest Harris Teeter supermarket. After we picked up everything on our grocery list and paid for our stuff. We then headed to the parking lot to begin the drive home, taking the scenic route, of course. It was only then I realized that I didn't have my cellphone. I told Celia about my loss as I ran back into the store to retrace my steps. Up one aisle and then the next to no avail. I even went to the Customer Service desk, but they told me that no one brought them a lost phone. Now I'm in full panic mode. I must have looked ridiculous as I patted myself down, looked between the seats, in the trunk, and even under the car for that lost phone. Celia remained calmed. She suggested that I go back to the fitness center and check by the Nautilus Adominal machine. And if it wasn't there, we'd just go online and order another one. So, hoping for the best but expecting the worst, we returned to the fitness center. And would you know that I found the phone, placed in the bottle holder of the Nautilus Adominal machine. It seems that the phone fell out of my pocket, and because it hit the carpeted floor, I didn't hear it fall. Often, I find myself running around my house looking for things I've misplaced. I worry that I not only lost that particular item, but my mind as well. And then I would eventually find the item right where it was supposed to be. But this was the first time that I “lost” something in the outside world. For me, the concept of getting old always appealed to me. In my opinion, gray hair and the need to wear reading glasses look distinguished. They also imply the wisdom that accompanies those physical changes. The only downside I could see to aging was the occasional bouts of forgetfulness (also known as CRS). The dropped cellphone wasn't an isolated incident. A week later, history repeated itself. This time I “lost” my car keys at Food Lion, another local supermarket. And this time it was scarier because I don't happen to have a spare key for that car. So there I wa, in the parking lot, patting myself down again. This time, I pulled off the self-frisking in a more controlled and casual manner. But the panic was all too real. Why is this happening to me again? Is my slide into memory accelerating? So, there I was, in the parking lot, patting myself down again. This time, I pulled off the self-frisking in a more controlled and casual manner. But the panic was all too real. Why is this happening to me again? Is my slide into memory loss accelerating? Just when I was about to charge back into the store to retrace my steps, I saw Alice, our favorite cashier heading to her car to take her break. When I told her what happened, she smiled and told me to relax. Obviously, I wasn't playing it as cool and calm as I thought I was. She joked that she forgets, loses, or misplaces something everyday and twice on Sundays. She then told me to check by her register, because she recalled that I was fumblingthrough my pockets looking for my customer loyalty card. Not being one to dismiss free advice, I made a beeline to her register, looked down, and there it was. The only keys to my car smiling up at me! As I scooped them up, I thought that it was strange that I didnt hear them hit the ground. Unlike the fitness center, the store's floor was tiled, and not carpeted. When I got home, I started remembering all the things I forgot, lost, or misplaced over the past few months. In a matters of minutes, the list grew embarrassingly long. While I don't have a photgraphic memory, it is like a steel trap. What would I do if somehow I lost it? Before I went too far down the rabbit hole of self-pity, it occurred to me that I was able to remember the things I forgot. I always remember to take my medications. I always could find my way home, although sometimes I would take a different route. And I never, ever, found my house or car keys in the refrigerator! Speaking of remembering things, I remember the cute little paperback book that Angel gave for my birthday a few years ago. I pulled it off the shelf and started reading it again. What was a book of funny book of anecdotes on the topic of aging, soon became a must-read book of affirmations. Seeing is Believing Returning to Karen O'Connor's book, “Gettin' Old Ain't for Wimps”, I'd like to read you this short anecdote she tells under the topic “Games Seniors Play”: “One day I had a near-panic attack when I couldn't find my glasses,” said Bea. “I only use them for reading, but that day I really did need them.” Bea's friend and neighbor was visiting that day, so they both looked high and low, under and on top of all surfaces, but neither of them could come up with the missing glasses. “I emptied my purse,” said Bea, “checked my pockets, looked again in every conceivable place, but to no avail.” Finally she decided, “Forget it. They'll turn up eventually. We were about to leave the house when I looked in the bathroom mirror, and there they were – perched on top of my head! I didn't realize it till that moment and, funnier still, my neighbor didn't see them either! We laughed until we cried.” I doubt Bea or her neighbor will ever choose one another as a partner in a treasure hunt! As we get older and forget things, we typically worry that we may have some type of neurological impairment of the scary kind. While sometimes that is true, quite often our mind is behaving like the amazing computer it is. You see, the brain is like a hard drive that, gets crammed with data stored over the years. Sometimes, we need to develop a filing system for the mind. Other times, we may have to delete the unnecessary files, or even defrag the brain once in a while. Parting Shots The difference between my stories and the Ms. O'Connor's anecdote is that, unlike Bea's neighbor and friend, the help provided by the people in my accounts was effective. In the case of Alice, she reassured me that what I experienced was pretty common for peole of a person of a certain vintage. After careful consideration, research, and some prayer, I convinced myself that my mind is still relatively sharp. It's my hearing that's seems to be failing me now. Young Ken would have heard his car key hit the floor in Food Lion. And there's a good chance that he would have heard his cellphone hit the carpeted floor of the fitness center. Just to recap, the concept of getting old still appeals to me. I still think that gray hair and the need to wear reading glasses look distinguished. And they go hand in hand with the wisdom gained through life experience. I'm still aware that a downside to aging is the occasional forgetfulness (also known as CRS). And for me, I now must add hearing loss to the list. I guess that means that in addition to glasses for reading and now general vision, I need to shop around for the best deal on hearing aids! Author Karen O'Connor was correct when she titled her book, “Gettin' Old Ain't for Wimps.” That's because it aint! Thank goodness I don't think of myself as a wimp, or I'd be screwed! Today's Quote “As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can't remember the other two.” Sir Norman Wisdom – English Actor and Comedian |
About the HostKenneth E. Boone, Sr. is a writer, podcaster, music lover, sports enthusiast, and retired accountant. Archives
May 2024
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