In two days, my wonderful honey and I will board a ship to cruise the Columbia River Gorge in the Northwest U.S. It’s a celebration, a vacation, a trip to acknowledge our 50 years of wedded bliss.
I recently lunched with a group of friends at a centrally located restaurant. As soon as I sat down, I realized the conversation was about annoying health aches and pains, so I added my share – not in the interest of one up-womanship – but honest sharing. (do the math on that previously stated 50th anniversary)
But then I stopped, because I realized we sounded like every movie cliche of old ladies. Gripes about aching knees, arthritic fingers, hip joints creaking, and getting up repeatedly to pee, disrupting a good night’s sleep. The multiple health issues that manifest in old age, are not the way to conduct joyful camaraderie and connection. It’s just a rote admission of being run down, seeming like an admission of old age’s defeat.
The government thinks I’m old enough to receive Medicare, and I’m not going to disabuse them of that reality
However, my truth is that I’m actually 27 – the age at which I experienced love at first sight with my husband-to-be.
I just refuse to sit around and commiserate about my health issues, though I fully empathize with the issues of others. I have the means and medication to manage my “one in a million” autoimmune disorder that vexed me for several years. And, I don’t have dementia… at least I don’t believe I do. (wink-wink)
Here are some new topic segues if your peers attempt to drop off a negative conversational cliff:
- “Read any good books lately?” is a longtime favorite
- now that summer is here and blockbusters rule, “Seen any good movies lately?” works well
- “What new exercise program have you begun?”
What topics would you offer?
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