[Oe List ...] June birthday witness

[Del Morrill]

Thanks for the witness, Clare. A good reminder that much of how we handle our aging is in our minds.  When confronted with a challenge, is the first thing I think about is how old I am? Or do I start out with the 35 year old mind hidden there somewhere, TRY IT out and THEN decide if I’m too old to do it.

 

Always the best,

Del

"Getting older is not a problem to be solved, it's a life to be lived."

 

 

 

From: OE <oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net> On Behalf Of Clare Whitney via OE
Sent: Saturday, July 7, 2018 7:49 AM
To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
Cc: cla9ken8 at ecentral.com
Subject: [Oe List ...] June birthday witness

 

I missed my day on Earthrise, (June 19) but am rejuvenated by the current testimonies on the subject of aging.   As a survivor of one new hip and two new knees, I am always stopped at TSA, no matter what country I am in.  They also offer me canes, arms, wheelchairs, etc, under the assumption that I can’t possibly stand in the little booth for 10 seconds.  There are times when I agree with them, but mostly I am just bemused.

We went to Europe this spring to visit our oldest granddaughter in Brussels, interning through her university at the EU.  Met up with her mother and we had a great time.  Then the best part was joining Paul and Christine Schrijnen in a visit to the people who were instrumental in our 100 town meetings in Flanders in 1979.  We had not seen them for 40 years and had such a wonderful time with them, and were treated like royalty.  We then went to Glasgow, where we had lived from 1975-1977, and visited movement colleagues in Edinburgh with the same wonderful experience.  We traveled to Bristol to see my niece and her family, another terrific experience.  

We went to Vermont in June to see Peter’s younger daughter graduate from high school as well as visits in Maine and Boston.  And I am 79 and Ken 81!    

Travelling now has its downsides which are hard to take, but visits with grandchildren are worth the effort.  My takeaway is that it is my body that has grown old, but my mind and will are still ready to get out of the chair and GO.  I would not have it any other way.  People leap up when I get on the trams, taxis stop quickly, and I’m refreshed and ready to move forward again.  Having learned to live an intentional life has stood me in good stead, as I am able to live my life (with a little help sometimes) as well as ever!    Praise the Lord.

Clare Whitney

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