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 
Dance on, indeed!
I turned 60 in January, and this one has bothered me more than any other. Suzie is an inspiration!
I loved Suzy’s entrance with the bag of dirt! Switched the mood right over. I think aging is like that- sometimes you feel it keenly, other times you feel defiant. thanks for sharing your inspiring friend.
Oh, Margaret – this post and certainly this elfchen hit me right where I am. Dance on -yes! I do not necessarily fear aging, or what lies ahead, or, even the time of going…I just want to savor every single day as deeply as I can. God bless Suzie on her Easter birthday tomorrow!
“Suzie gave us hope in this aging thing.” – I am part of the “we” after reading this. My mom is an inspiration to me. She’ll be 80 next year and she is super active, walks for hours, goes to lectures, enjoys theatre, reads a lot, and has a lively social life.
Dance on. What a wonderful phrase of hope on this topic – to keep dancing, no matter the age, no matter the music. Your blog today brings truth and fear and hope all wrapped up in one. This is the hope of Easter – – of life that dances on, whether we are here or there. I’m feeling all the ailments, too. Aging doesn’t play.
Dance on! What a perfect last line. I’m “only” 52 but attending a funeral for a friend this afternoon. I can feel the age thing creeping up & I don’t like it. I’m trying to stay healthy & strong & to use people like Suzy as role models!
Find your role models. I want to be like Esther–the grandma of two students I had years ago who still travels alone from Australia to visit her daughter in her 90’s, went skydiving for her 90th birthday, and is the most positive person I have ever met. I don’t want to age gracefully, I want to age with strength and purpose…and live every minute!
I love that Suzy was lifting bag of soil. My body is not being kind to me right now and I am struggling with it. I am not embracing age like I had hoped. Working on it though! 72 is coming up in June. Yikes!
Oh my, Margaret, your story hit home-the aging, that one older person much older who becomes a role model. I love your last line, ‘Dance on.’ I’m dancing…
“Dance on” is the perfect final line! This slice hits all the notes and reminds me that part of aging like Suzy lies in the choices I’m making today. My aunt, who is well into her 80s, has in recent years, taken her family to Italy, ridden a camel in Jordan and gone indoor skydiving. She’s definitely living her best life!