I ran today, the longest distance I have ever run. I saw so much, let my mind inhale the fresh country air (which means cow and turkey poop! HA!) I live proximal to many old order Mennonites. Look them up, because all I know is hearsay - they believe technology is hell bound, though some of them have amazing farm machinery (not sure if they are the no-car guys.) Blast! I spilled the beans; they do not drive cars. Those that do drive (another sect of the denomination) will only drive 'black bumper' cars i.e. no chrome. So this Mennonite girl I love drives a BMW!
Anyway, old order Mennonites get around on bicycles and horse drawn buggies. I saw today, an old old lady riding a full size tricycle in her yard. I figured/fancied that she is now too old to get far on the road, but because she has ridden all her life she will not let her age stop her. I smiled.
Many times it seems that aging takes away our ability to do the things we love most in life. Runners with bad knees, cyclists losing their sense of balance, quilters with arthritis, bibliophiles with diminished sight (oh and hearing too, in case they decide to get books on tape!) And thinkers getting Alzheimer's or something. Iris was a good, but sad movie on that note, a brilliant witty teacher (and I think author) slowly losing her brain...literally.
I want to be like the old old old order Mennonite lady, to find a way to continue doing the things I love as long as I can. We all desire to stop on our own terms. Life will not allow it, that's just how Life is. I hope I can live in my head and constantly try to run away from it, only to miss it on the rare occasions I succeed. I hope I continue to be physically active in my autumn, still read good books, listen to music, watch movies and love the people I am in the 'room' with.
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