I am so proud of my grandson today. Not because he can run 3 kms without stopping but because of his attitude in doing so. He was up at 7:15 this morning without a single word of complaint and he kept that same attitude all day. While I believe that Roo and I have some influence on him I really need to give his parents some credit here. He is being raised to believe that he can do anything he wants to. He was the youngest kid to do the race and as a result he was decorated. He won the 0-7 age group and needless to say was very proud of himself as well. Much to his surprise Roo was able to keep up with him without too much trouble....but she didn't win her age group!!
My own gifted child was along as well, in his case to do the 10k. For some reason he also possesses that can do attitude.
My own race went reasonably well. I didn't know what I was gonna do but by the 1 km mark I had established a goal of 45 minutes. In the end I finished in 43:52 which while still a long way from my40 minute long term goal, it was 6 minutes faster than I did the exact same race last fall. I'm content with that, since I did run 20 kms yesterday.
So as promised I now take you back to our visit to the seniors home yesterday. I don't know what I expected but whatever it was I don't think I got it. I probably learned some things though. I was particularly reminded of the circle of life idea. When I seen my grandchildren walking past some of the residents almost unaware of them, I realized it was because they were indeed almost nonexistent. We passed one little TV area where there were four old girls parked in front of the tube and not one of them showed any evidence of life. They are at the complete opposite end of the life scale from the kids. Colby asked all kinds of questions but they were exclusively related to the machinery rather than the inhabitants. Kylie was very polite and kind when I asked her to say hello to people but she really had to make an effort. The thing that surprised me the most however was the lack of response from the seniors. Sure enough a few of them had some smiles but not the exuberance I expected. It occurs to me that maybe it's not the right type of facility to take the kids to. Probably something where the residents are more independant would be more appropriate and of value. I'm gonna think about it before I ask them again and will only take them if they convince me they want to. I don't think they'll try too hard.
The whole visit also got me thinking some more about life after 90. Because we went walking around the facility I got to see many of the residents that I hadn't before. Those that are totally and completely dependant on someone else for everything. I mean everything! Those people that if they weren't cared for in this way would be dead within a matter of days. What's the point??? I hope I have a choice not to "live" this way ever! Of course the problem is that once you are that way it's too freaking late to do something about it. I hope my children read this and think to help me "out" when the time comes. Stop feeding me please. Just put me on an ice floe please.
Speaking of my children I must tell you that somehow I survived the first 20 years of my youngest sons life and so I suppose I can do another 20. By then I'll be 73 and won't care anyway. He is actually catching up to me in age anyway. When he was 1, I was 30 times as old as him. When he was 10 I was only 4 times as old, and by the time he's forty I will be less than twice as old. Eventually he has to pass me!! Happy Birthday Adrian and I'm counting on you above all to "take care" of me when I'm old and stupid. Just remember back to when you were 16 and Im sure you'll have no problem putting me on an ice floe!!
“We awaken in others the same attitude of mind we hold toward them."---Elbert Hubbard
"Better to burn out than to fade away"---Neil Young
...and this one as an admission of guilt...simple but beautiful I thought
"There are two types of people - those who come into a room and say, "Well, here I am!" and those who come in and say, "Ah, there you are."---Frederick L. Collins
love
peter
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