I wasn’t going to bring it up. But she did. In our long conversation in the Lowe’s Garden Center, we reminisced the days when our girls were young and going to a “sweet school” that will close its doors this year.
I didn’t want to talk about it. She said, “I’m feeling afraid. I’ve lost three friends in the last week. I just came from another funeral.”
I tried to hold back the tears. “I know,” I said.
She brought up her own ailments, a torn up shoulder, an aching back. I said, “Oh, no. You are younger than me.”
“I’m 62,” she said.
“Me, too.”
The age thing… I wanted to switch the topic quickly, but wasn’t sure how.
Then Suzy walked up and hefted a huge bag of dirt. “Can we help you with that?”
“No. I got it.”
Then Suzy talked about her upcoming birthday. On Easter Sunday, she will be 83.
I want to be hefting bags of dirt and building a fountain and taking care of great grandchildren. Suzie gave us hope in this aging thing.
Aging Elfchen
Age
ticks by
before you realize
a lifetime has flown–
Dance-on!
Reflections on the Teche 