Last 12 months, I
turned 75 and joined the “aged” demographic. I believed the subsequent turning
level can be after I turned 80. But here I
am, only a few weeks after celebrating my 76th birthday. My life has extra adjustments: a deal with well being, no journey, being homebound,
household visits, and new writing instructions.
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Attention on Health
When I
turned 65, I celebrated being a “sexygenarian” (being attractive within the 60s), in
the center of all our thrilling travels. At 70, I started to really feel older as digestive
issues flared up. We modified to slower journey.
But now,
well being issues have turn out to be tougher. Bill’s well being points have grown
from cardiovascular to neurological. My hypothyroidism has been cured, however GERD
nonetheless haunts me. Worse, my blood strain and levels of cholesterol have risen.
After the
Blue Zones captured the world’s creativeness in Netflix’s “Live to 100”
documentary, I turned a scholar of longevity. Because we’re extra plant-based, I’ve dropped 12 kilos, and Bill, six. We additionally attempt to transfer and stroll lots. Hopefully, we’re on the highway to raised well being.
Practically
No Travel
After we returned
from winter in Mexico, a San Diego celebration, a go to to Colorado in April,
and a visit to Honolulu for the marriage of Bill’s first grandson in May, we have now
not traveled once more. In August, we canceled our Sixteenth-anniversary journey to Leavenworth,
Washington.
Bill didn’t
be part of me on a 10-day journey to Manila to obtain an award and a two-day go to to my
first great-grandbaby in Santa Monica. Regrettably, our touring days are over. We will not be the wanderers we
as soon as have been.
Being
Homebound
We offered our
automotive final December earlier than we left for Cancun. We now journey across the valley on
Uber rides, primarily for physician visits. Everything is delivered through Prime, by the
grocery, and the pharmacy.
Our resort
life has turn out to be busy. Every Thursday, I play Scrabble at a neighbor’s residence, host a poker session at residence on one Tuesday a month, and have Filipino pals come to the
home for mahjong one Sunday a month.
There are Photography Club and Painting Group conferences, line dancing courses, and Karaoke classes. Finding new, wholesome, and flavorful recipes is a continuing delight. Now that my dwarf Meyer has given me 110 lemons this 12 months, new vegetation can be added to my backyard in
the spring.
Outreach initiatives have turn out to be simpler to observe via on. Last month, our Fil-Am Gala
mission efficiently raised funds for deserving UP college students after assembly through Zoom all year long.
A brand new trigger has additionally engaged my consideration. I’ve turn out to be a participant in an NIH-funded examine managed by the Mayo Clinic and
Banner Alzheimer’s Institute. It’s for the early prognosis and prevention
of Alzheimer’s illness.
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Family Visits
My
son-in-law visited in May to assist with the home enhancements we wanted, and my
eldest daughter got here down from San Francisco final month to assist with my
birthday events and Christmas decor.
My two
daughters’ households in North America will come to have a good time with us in a pair
of weeks, from Christmas Day to New Year’s Day. I’m renting one other home to
accommodate everybody.
Come and go to
us. It has turn out to be the norm. Even if internet hosting is a bit worrying, I really like doing it! I’ll cherish each go to.
New
Writing Directions
With all
these adjustments, I hardly write about journey anymore. Recently, my posts have
been about management and administration, impressed by the award I obtained final
August. Health and longevity, retirement and renewal, and occasional reminiscences of our travels are different favourite matters.
My journey
weblog can not host these writings. My subsequent publish will focus on my plans for
a brand new platform. In the meantime, new guide initiatives have emerged. My MediterrAsian Kitchen: Cooking for Both Taste and Health is within the works and the concept for a fourth guide about caregiving
has taken form.
Life may be in
the quick lane, even after 75, even with out journey. There are so many unrealized
concepts. It looks like we’re working out of time.