The Life and Times of an Old Gent

My wife will be buried 15 years ago tomorrow. She was sick a long time with various illnesses, but mostly diabetes which eventually took over her body and her internal organs, thus caused her body to slowly shut down. She took her meds as prescribed without fail, but, to be honest here, she just didn't take care of herself the way a diabetic should. Enough said about that. I know others who do the same thing. I hate it, but they will suffer the consequences in the long run. Dealing with her death and the loss thereafter has been a cycle of many feelings, actions, and emotions. I've cried until I had no more tears or breath left. I have raged at the top of my lungs at her and, I hate to admit it, God. But has that done any good? Oh hell no. It has just made me feel good for a few minutes, then the BIG letdown comes and I know I have hurt no one but myself.  So after I pulled my head out of my proverbial ass and got my crap together I decided that I could mourn gracefully and tha...

 I have to face it, I am old. Some say that 77 is the new 55, but I dispute that theory. I know what it was like at age 55, and this ain't it, kid! Contentment is crucial to my existence today.  I live alone. My life partner passed away many years ago (15) and the years since have been a series of ups and downs for me. Adjusting to living alone was the big hurdle. Learning how the checkbook was kept was another and just managing to get everything within and without the house was a daunting thing facing me every day. I was only 62 and still working. I was gone a lot. When I was home, I had lots of things to do to keep me occupied. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, bill-paying, mowing the lawn etc., etc. kept me busy. Then came retirement. I had lots of time to get all the mundane stuff done. I began developing my few hobbies a bit more. I began to read more. I learned how to crochet. I took a class and learned, and the constant repetition of the hook and yarn was calming and certainl...