THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

Tag Archives: Aging


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Soggy Sunday

No sun today so the patio umbrellas will stay closed and outdoor dining won’t be on the menu. I put mine down and brought in the patio cushions and hammock before daybreak. No outdoor fun today. Unless you like dancing in the rain.

A shot outside the Phoenix Restaurant a few years ago. Photo by Mike Hartley

Physical Changes –

First, I’m not in bad shape. I do a lot of things people my age gave up long ago. I probably have an extra 10 lbs. I could lose, my strength could be better, and my aerobic capacity could certainly improve.

The changes coming fast and furious with age are going to take some thinking and adjusting to. Well, a little more than thinking at this point. Doctors are recommending changes. From simple ones to avoid walking in bare feet to avoid aggravating the arthritis. To the daily back exercises to try to reduce discomfort and pain. Along with a referral to see the orthopedic guys again.

Getting on with life while dealing with aches and pains before this was a piece of cake. Recovery times were short. Not much hurt in the first place and if it did you just powered through it.

As usual I got a strong start this year with exercise and maintained it for a few months longer than past. When I break those exercise habits though it’s tough to get started again. But started again I am, regardless of past setbacks. So, I said hello to the treadmill again this morning and I’m about to get my afternoon time in.

In talking to older people, I’m discovering it’s not physical alone. The mental part of dealing with pain, limited mobility, things you enjoyed are no longer possible. Simple things you take for granted all your life like eyesight and hearing become serious issues that affect every aspect of life.

For instance, I normally need glasses to find the pair of glasses I need to wear to read. My better half and best friend have serious hearing issues. I can see the frustration in them many days. I can see the depression in a friend’s voice whose eyesight needs serious work.

The energy needed to deal with the world and regular issues isn’t always there. And when the energy is there the supply that used to be endless soon runs dry. I feel it doing the simple yardwork I used to do all in one day I sometimes spread out for fear of too much pain from pushing it.

There is a good chance I’ve underestimated what it takes. One of my mom’s favorite phrases when she was in her late years was “It takes courage to get older.” And I’m seeing that now in my older friends. And unfortunately, in some of my younger ones.

One of my best friends is moving and while the distance is drivable it’s going to change things because we all have problems driving at night now with the lights. And while the short distance is no issue now that hour ride will be. Good thing he is retiring soon, we can do day vigils.

My back has been a long-standing issue and is getting worse but having dealt with it for so long I’ve adapted already. The thing that freaked me out this last year is my hands. I was always a blazing typist from my work. But I think arthritis is creeping into my hands and the nerve issues in my neck are affecting my arms and hands. My typing speed and accuracy have been affected which is disrupting my flow. I could always type as fast as my thoughts before. Now my timing is off.

I’m going to have to start adapting better and find ways to still do things I enjoy regardless of limitations.

My logic is the more I do for myself now the easier it may be in the future.

You Go Grandpa. Photo by Mike Hartley


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Swimming Along

I didn’t answer the daily writing prompt till almost 11am this morning. Usually, I knock that out well before 6am. I was up early this morning at 12:30am but failed to do it before I went back to bed for a few hours at 6am.

Now I’m feeling better and I’m back in the swim. I’m getting my weight back under control. I got a little sloppy with sweets the last few weeks.

This is going to be a good year. A good start and hopefully a strong spring season ahead. I’m feeling a little more inspired today hopefully I can maintain that and make it a productive Friday.

Motion. Photo by Mike Hartley

There is a song by The Who called Who Are You. I find asking that of myself often. I think I’ve discovered it’s a journey of constantly finding out more about yourself. Just when I think I know myself pretty well, I’m amazed at finding something new. One might think by this age discoveries would be far and few between.

On the contrary, you’re tested more as you age into your senior years. You find courage and mental coping abilities you never suspected you would need. Challenges still are there every day plus some you didn’t count on.

I’m trying to embrace this stage of life. Mentally, I still feel very young. The grandkids seem to think so because they like playing with me. I’m trying to stay more active than I’ve been in years. I escape depressions faster. I’m still learning each day and figuring out what is important.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • Even in retirement I wear a suit for half the year. A sweat suit that is.
  • Hegseth is really overcompensating for something.
  • Sometimes I miss standing in a crowd of tens of thousands of people at a rock concert singing along to one of my favorite bands. But watching live performances on YouTube is a lot more comfortable now. Not that I don’t get out of the chair and play a little air guitar.
  • Another day and Trump is still a blight upon this country and the world.
  • There is wealth in happiness.


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Pausing

I’ve always been observant of older people. My parents taught me that from a very young age. Hold the door for them, don’t run in front of them, be patient, help them carry things, respect your elders, you know common courtesy stuff. But now that I might be one, I’m looking at them, us, me differently.

What catches my eye now is people coping with disabilities, both physical and mental. Before it was always a sense of compassion. Now, in addition to that, it’s wondering what I might have to deal with and how I might overcome them.

Mentally I started to notice a slight difference in my last year of work. I was having to look through my notes at times for stuff that used to be root memory. I set a high bar for myself so nobody else even noticed but I did, and I didn’t like the feeling of slipping.

I’ve been very lucky so far. I have friends that have hip and knee replacements. So far, I’m operating with all my original parts minus a few to cancer. I get around fairly well, all the limbs working and the mind is still clear most days.

But I know changes are coming. I’m already adapting in a lot of ways. My eyesight has probably been the worst decline. I wear glasses full time now. Luckily my other senses are in tip-top shape.

My strength and stamina aren’t what they were. Cold and heat affect me more. I must think about what I can, but shouldn’t do now which is a new element. My better half is good at identifying these things.

From here on out I’ll be dealing with adjustments. Stuff I used to take for granted. Like running around the yard playing water games with my granddaughter till my right knee gave out on me again.

Grandchildren will keep me feeling young and old at the same time for hopefully years to come.


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Hey Self

Write a letter to your 100-year-old self. – This is kind of an interesting task from the daily writing prompt.

Hey Mike,

Wow I just can’t believe you made it to 100. Some people didn’t give you much a chance to make it out of your 20s. You dealt with multiple cancers and surgeries in your 50s and still lived a very long life.

If I had known we were going to live to 100, I wouldn’t have felt so rushed to accomplish a lot right after retiring. I would have kicked back a little more and been more relaxed.

What a blessing to live a very long life. Our grandchildren are all grown adults now and we probably have great grandchildren. I bet you can’t do the same things I’m doing now, with the current great grandchildren.

I’m so hoping that my better half is still by my side and if I’ve made it to 100, I’m pretty sure she is. That would put us past our 75th anniversary. I was hoping to live to our 50th, so I far exceeded that goal.

Sitting here thinking about living to 100, there also must be a profound sense of sadness because many friends have probably passed. Maybe most of them. The history shared and laughed about and loved, is now a solitary memory.

I hope I’m still fun. That our sense of humor hasn’t been lost. That we still have hope for the world. That we did the right things along the way at difficult times.

Boy if you’re still snapping pictures and at the easel or writing still, I’m very proud of you. I hope you’re being pleasant and kind to those around you. Remember you said you learned by taking care of our parents what not to do to be a burden to your children.

I’m oh so curious to see how we came out of the present time we are in now.

I so hope that even at 100 I find things to love. Be it simple things like the smell of spring, or the sound of water flowing over rocks. Or complex things like still trying to keep up with technology. And of course, the most important thing, time with family.

I recall a line from my mom and other seniors as they grew older that I heard in my 60s. “Growing old takes courage” so you must be one tough individual.

I wonder if Smucker’s Jellies are still celebrating seniors turning 100 like they used to do on TV. Good old Willard Scott.

Well, I must end by saying congratulations and I got an idea. Get someone to help you out to the basketball court. Hit the short rims because your arms probably aren’t strong enough to shoot regulation. Take a few shots, remember the days of your youth and joy at running and playing game after game after game. Then sitting on the court in the dark with the guys drinking beers and laughing the night away.

Pond along Rt 99 near Waverly. Photo by Mike Hartley

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Going back and looking forward

It felt good to take a walk outside today. And it reminded me to put my knee brace on if headed out. I can do the treadmill without it but uneven ground is a killer right now.

I was doing some purging of old photo directories and almost trashed this shot. But something made me stop for a second. It made me think about being that old and standing side by side with my better half admiring a view we have many times before together. I so want to grow old together with her.

I so want to have that view and many more. Who knows, maybe you will find us out on a jet-ski or in the lounge chair at the pool bar. But I’d be pleased with holding her hand for hours just glad to have had this time together.

A view for the ages. Photo by Mike Hartley

So, this photo and couple have given me something to look forward to. I’m guessing they got about 20 years on me, so my goal is to be at this spot in 2045 and blog about feeling like the luckiest people alive.

Random Thoughts of the Evening

  • It had been so long since I had the inclination to put the car window down, I had to fiddle for the buttons today. But boy did that fresh air feel good.
  • I spent some of the day discovering some new music and that is always a good thing.
  • It’s hard to lose track of what day it is when you have a lot of things you do daily.
  • If I keep this pace up and more, it’s going to be a great year.


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Ripping

Sometime inspiration hits. And when it does, I’m smiling and loving life. I feel it is starting to return a bit today. I got out and took some shots yesterday for the first time in 3 days.

The last couple days I’ve been down a bit. Missing people around this time of year is always painful. A family pet is ill and not getting better so that weighs heavily on me and it’s not even my personal pet. But I do love her so much.

This past Thursday I completed my first year of retirement. NO, it went way too fast. I didn’t get all the things I hoped to do done. NO, it can’t be a year already.

It’s really it’s been great and I’ve enjoyed just about every day. I hope I’m given a few more years to have some fun. With that comes accepting some other things though.

Exercise is Essential
Photo by Mike Hartley

I’m starting to feel the rest of my days are going to be filled with highs and lows and not much in between. Either I’m going to be trying to stay very positive, enlightened, working, loving, smiling and laughing if possible. For other days, it will be filled with loss or the gradual effects of aging which will either take mental or physical abilities away from me.

Now I’m planning on that last part and learning to adapt already. I’m taking steps to stay mentally challenged each day. Physically I’m trying to stay limber and flexible with some strength. I need more cardio exercise but I’m in the best shape in decades, so I just have to keep active now.

I thought about that as I was stepping over a guardrail and hiking down to the water to get a shot of a bridge I saw yesterday. It’s something I love to do. It’s something I’m a lot more careful about now. Just like stairs, you won’t catch me fast stepping or leaps or trying to sample what I warmed up in the microwave, on the way to the basement. I’ve had some friends take bad falls on steps and it’s made an impression on me.

The trick is challenging myself but being smart about it.


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Glasses

I purchased a pair of prescription glasses today. Another week or so and I’ll be practicing with a set of progressive lenses. Maybe I’ll be seeing things more clearly now.

Whoops, wrong glasses, well maybe not. Photo by Mike Hartley

My sight was the first of my senses to start changing with age. Luckily the other 4 senses remain sharp and intact. I hope this helps my shooting abilities. I never grew up using autofocus lenses but I’ve had to adapt.

Each day I’m trying to work a little harder in taking care of this body and mind. Something I should have been a little more conscious of throughout life. But I can’t change what’s in the past, just what’s in front of me.

So let me get up and exercise a bit before I read what the daily writing prompt is and then some more rest.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • Walls are just opportunities to hang pictures.
  • Being older, I get tons of medical emails. It’s Mental Health Awareness Month. I am yet to be aware of any so far. But there is some time left in May.
  • If I may borrow a quote from the band The Who – “LONG LIVE ROCK”
  • After months of retirement, I still have trouble sleeping more than 4-5 hours. Good thing I can add a nap during the day if needed, or sleep in shifts.
  • I wonder if anyone saw me working out if they would think that’s a dumbbell picking up a dumbbell.


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Hole Shot

Do you ever have days when you feel like cutting loose? You know, the kind where you would be at a concert with say 50 Thousand other screaming lunatics. All singing, jumping, both arms in the air, hands clapping and playing in unison with each beat of the band and everyone else there.

Oh, that’s right, everyone has a phone in one hand now. Poor kids, won’t know what it’s like without that attachment at a show. As far as I know you can’t clap, play air guitar or drums with one hand. (Def Leppard drummer being the exception).

I’ve noticed it’s harder to cut loose at this age. I’ve been to a few concerts of older bands and the crowd that used to be on their feet during the show is now planted in their seats for the most part. Maybe a song or two at the shows end, but nowhere near the enthusiasm that was there once.

We all get older and it becomes harder to reach into that well of youthful feelings and let loose in public that we did with abandon as youths. But that is what I feel like doing. Just having that honest gut reaction to things.

Cheer. Photo by Mike Hartley

Body

I’ve picked up quite a tan from last week. I love getting some color during the summer. I don’t know why, it just makes me feel good, about the way I look. Maybe a little tone on the face offsets this greying beard a bit more.

I’m trying my best to do what the body allows me to do. I got more exercise last week than I have in a while. Had to dip into the doctors pill bottle one day but otherwise I’m feeling stronger, more toned than I have in a while. Time to keep it going this week.

Mind

I was making some mistakes in keeping the past in my present and I’ve corrected that. The mind feels good and sharp now. Positive and inspired. Focused and purposeful. Ready to take on the world or read a good book. After a nap.

Well that is the current status. Will worry or depression hit? They do seem to come around far too often.

Opinion

I saw one of those Tesla Cybertrucks on Padonia Road the other day. My first reaction was YUCK. So I went to look up some information about this. I’m not a fan for the following reasons. I don’t like the design/shape, style, lack of color.

It’s HUGE and weighs almost 7 thousand pounds. To me the increased weight of the EV vehicles by thousands of pounds over standard vehicles creates more wear and tear on our highways and more importantly creates more danger for those of us with underweight cars/trucks in accidents.

To support that beast it has 20″ rims with HUGE 35″ tires.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • Breakfast might be the best meal of the day unless you have a BLT for lunch and bacon-wrapped shrimp for dinner. mmm bacon
  • I’m getting excited about the coming Maryland Basketball season already.
  • Mid week parties are great.
  • Sometimes you do your best, but you can’t control the reactions or actions of others.


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Here comes the HEAT

I love the heat, so the predicted sudden increase in temps starting Sunday does me just fine. I will spend as much time in it as I can. It might even be the first time the flip flops come out this year.

But lots of people will be scrambling inside for the AC. Some might even look for inside shade. I have found the place for you below.

From Frederick Maryland. Photo by Mike Hartley

I will have to remember I’m not a youngster when I’m out and about in the heat not to overdo it. That is one of the biggest adjustments of getting older. Retraining your mind to take it slower on many things you used to just jump through, like flights of steps. I don’t break out into a full sprint anymore without stretching a bit. Using your knees to lift or getting help with a real heavy load instead of taking it yourself. That I can’t work hard outside for 8-10 hours without taking a break.

And others like watching out for too much sun on the skin or nasty ticks. Staying off ladders and the roof as much as possible. Being careful with the power tools and on those steep hills out back.

Ah, what the hell, where are my gloves. Out I go to do battle with Mother Nature. Have a good day and I’ll try to check in later if I haven’t hurt myself and hopefully fit in a few minutes with some fun.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • One would think a Supreme Court would have supreme judgment. One might be thinking wrong.
  • It’s good to get a hug each day. More than one is great. When it’s a long one, you hit the trifecta.
  • I’ve been better at carving out productive time this week.
  • I almost gave up on a pastel piece, but it’s starting to take shape.
  • I spent a wonderful evening with one of my best friends, a brother from another mother on his birthday last night.


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Winding down and up again

Well, that was a sustained period of rain. No serious weather this far inland. I have a friend with water in his front yard from the Chesapeake Bay though. I’m just glad it stopped Sunday afternoon even though it was still cloudy.

Someone built a wall. Photo by Mike Hartley

Sundays are a contrast. Winding down from the weekend of fun and relaxing in the morning and afternoon and winding up for work on Sunday night, like a dragster on a cold start taken to the starting line and launching.

This is a strange week. The last of the parents of our family and inlaws has passed. Our sister inlaws father was the remaining member of that generation. Now we are the elder generations in our families. With all of our kids grown and some having started their own families we are the grandparents and maybe someday if we are lucky enough to live a very long life maybe great grandparents.

Seems like yesterday I was leaving high school and now we are less than 2 years away from our graduating class’s 50th anniversary.

Just out of school, trying to decide what to do with my life. And now I’m only months from retirement.

I look up over my computer monitor and see my wife in a photo on our honeymoon. And I sit here over 4+ decades later and think it seems like yesterday that all of life was in front of us.

I looked at the picture of dancing with my daughter when she was maybe 7 and remembered a few weeks ago I was dancing in the basement with her 4-year-old daughter. And the song “Dance the Night Away” comes to mind. Like overnight I’m decades older.

I’m trying to savor each moment of each day. I’m trying to make the best of what I’m capable of and interacting with those special to me. Because time passes fast.

Random Thoughts of the Day

  • A dentist appointment coming up. Doctors appointments coming up. I feel like a convict wanting to escape them.
  • I was disappointed to see more wet weather around today and tomorrow. At least it won’t be continuous.
  • Danger Will Robinson. The tail is about to wag the dog again.
  • The prediction game is underway with what changes at the job there will be.