Categories: Hazel Rosetta Smith,
Has anyone ever told you that getting old is easy? My Granny was the most outspoken person I have ever met. She would not bite her tongue or hold back her opinion, but she never said getting old was easy. I remember watching her movements getting slower and more pronounced as she stepped gingerly as if on eggs, making her way to Birthday 101. Thanks to God, she never suffered a fall, never used a cane, or needed a walker.
She had a steady routine. She would rub her knees and twirl her ankles for circulation at every sitting, yet she never complained. She just did not discuss it. Her back was straight at a mere four feet five, her thick bifocals allowed her to see all that she wanted to see. No hearing aids, she heard what she thought was worthwhile. Those hands that rubbed her knees for warmth and comfort were the same hands that she used to braid her hair into the cornrows she wore all my life. She kept her fingers busy, along with her mind.
Granny was quick to offer a piece of scripture from the family Bible that was always open and close by to resolve an issue or remind us that God’s grace is sufficient.
She never said getting old was easy, but I could see the struggle. She did say, “you’ll understand it by and by.” I often asked Granny when by and by would be and the slow shake of her head from side to side was all to be said about it. I understood I would have to wait until it came to be.
The answer came with truth; expect the unexpected today – by and by has arrived. The truth is our knees, hips and back have carried the load for a long time. The time will come when each joint of our body will have its way, whether to participate or not. Movement is not always at our will.
Some days I am more like my Granny, lowering myself down to a seat intentionally slow and rubbing my knees. We will all have to face the truth; the body is sending messages of the aging process loud and clear.
There is a humorous cartoon that I received that says, I am not lonely because I have four men in my life. I get up with charley horse, and I spend the day with arthritis, I cook dinner with Will Power and go to bed with Ben Gay.
Stay steady but keep moving while you can, drink lots of water as they say and even though getting old is not easy, life is good and there is lots of fun and roads yet to travel.
[Hazel Rosetta Smith is a Journalist, Playwright and Director for Help Somebody Theatrical Ministries. Contact: misshazel@twc.com]
