MAMA-ISMS

I have repeated my mother's favorite three rules to all of my family. Now I would like to share them with you.

Rule #1-Take care of yourself for your old age.
Rule #2-Try not to stress your mind.
Rule #3-Do what's right for your own peace of mind.

Now for more of her witty expressions that I still recall:

"On someone else you see a fly, on yourself you don't see an elephant."

"Small children, small problems; bigger children, bigger problems."

"Good food is the best medicine.Better in your stomach than into the doctor's pocket."

"The choices you make, determine the ride you take."

"If you are bad and someone else is bad, who will be left to be good?"

"When a fool goes to market, the shopkeepers are happy.."

"An enemy can't do to you, what you can do to yourself."

"If you are too lazy to cook, you will go hungry, and if you are too lazy to clean your house, it will be messy."

"If someone gives you something, take it. If someone takes it away,scream!"

"Everything is good to have, except trouble."

"I brought up my children, you bring up yours!"

"Oh God! Don't lift me up too high, and drop me down, too low."

"A mother is a fool forever"

"God is laughing at the plans you are making."

This final one is my very favorite: "What was, was. What is, is. What will be, we must wait and see."

Family Love

My father was a quiet man with a quick dry wit. I think that I was his favorite child. "I wish I had twelve more like you" as he applauded me for my elocution recitations. No doubt about it, I loved my mother and father. Now I have an overwhelming love for my family.

My Poetry

You are in my mind like the waking sun
You are in my thoughts when day is done
You are in my soul all day through
That is my unconditional love for you.

Money and riches are not mine to give
But you have my love as long as I live
You are forever in my heart
Wherever you are, we are never apart.

Life Happens

So many books, magazine articles, and television programs glorify the aging process.  Don't believe any of it!  It's all just wishful thinking.

Robert Browning's poem

"Grow old along with me.
The best is yet to be.
The last of life, for which the first was made.
Our times are in His hands."

Oh yeah! Ask all the grieving, sad, and lonely widows and widowers if this is the best time of their lives.Daily life becomes a struggle when their dearly beloved partners are only past memories.

Yes, we all know that death is inevitable and inescapable.  John Lennon's music "Life is happening while we are making other plans," is so true.

My poetry:

Up and downs
Smiles and frowns
Life goes on

Bliss and sorrow
Today and tomorrow
Life goes on

Sun and rain
Health and pain
Life goes on

Young and old
Hot and cold
Life goes on

Good and bad
Happy and sad
Life goes on

Laugh and cry
Live and die
Life goes on

Lessons My Mother Taught Me

When anyone used to ask me "Fay, how old are you?" I used to answer "my age and telephone number are both unlisted." However, now that I am in my nineties, I do not hesitate because I am proud of my age.
I am also constantly asked, "What is your secret for longevity?" I must admit that I am the spirit of my mother. She took very good care of herself. She woke up early every morning to soak in her Jean Nate bath. I also love to luxuriate every morning in my bubble bath. She sat in front of her vanity with its three-way mirrors creaming her face with Ponds Cold Cream.  I moisturize my skin with an assortment of generic creams. She fussed with her hair and her nails and I also fuss with my nails by dipping them in equal parts of lime juice and olive oil and wearing hand gloves every night. I am a "do-it-yourself" lady as I cut and color my own hair and although I used to have body massages, I now do my own self massages after my morning stretches.

It's Not Easy Being Old

This is my conclusion and summation after many years of interviewing elderly men and women, everywhere and anywhere that they would take the time and give me their honest opinions.
Some were on canes, walkers, and in wheelchairs with or without their caregivers and their health aides.  This is my poetry.

It's not easy being old.
It's outrageous and contagious.
So much pain and so much fright.
Gone is gladness, so much sadness.
Restless, sleepless every night.

Body shrinking, looking smaller.
Stretching doesn't make me taller.
Knees are weakening, gait is slow.
Pushed in a wheelchair wherever I go.

Diarrhea, constipation.
Medications, palpitations.
Oh yes indeed! Truth be told.
It's not easy being old.

So now, perhaps you can readily understand that there are many more negative responses than positive statements depending on their present lifestyle and their state of health.