Another Installment on the Process of Aging

I have a lot to say and bet I won’t come near getting it said. I finished reading

The Man in the Wooden Hat by Jane Gardham. It is the sequel to Old Filth. I selected Old Filth for my book club selection this year after it was recommended to me by my ‘neighbor’ in Santa Fe. After reading it, even though I really liked it, I switched to another because one of our members is a recent widow and I felt it could be disturbing for her. So, now that I have read the sequel, I want to talk to a lot of people about it. I am not going to debrief the book here; I could never do it….but the combined books did a wide sweep over 80 years of two lives and absolutely captured the essence of aging. Key words for the two books–Raj Orphans, Hong Kong, Aging, Barristers, Adventure, Travel, Marriage, and Relationships. I am reminded of , “Every dog has his day, Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end,” and several other pithy sayings. I suspect there was just something about the books that made it all resonate for me…someone else might read them and go, “Well, they are so-so.”

Today Mom’s attorney came here and did an actual house call. I am sure that will set Mom back a pretty penny. At any rate, I think Mom’s will will be finally put to rest. It was hard to sit there and discuss her life’s earnings. I want the thinking to be over. Certainly Mom at 89 should have finished this all up a long time ago. Yes, she had a will but not to her liking. I think we have it all straight now.

Tonight I went to the McNay Art Institute for a Texas Watercolor talk and to see their exhibit. I enjoyed it immensely, it was short, easy to understand, and I really liked most of the paintings. This is a first. Two visits to the museum gift shop and I only bought a $1.00 postcard. I really was impressed with The Cocktail Party sculpture/tableau–made of cheese doodles. Hmmm. It was interesting. It was surreal.

Tomorrow morning I want to be on my way back North so to miss Mom’s housekeeper who means well, but kind of drives me nuts. Also Len and I are going to Central Market Cooking School’s Beefeaters Feast for a late Valentine Outing.

Here is an item that may haunt me. I have been selected to serve a two year term/sentence on the International Association of Continuing Education and Training’s Board for Standard Development. Ed V. asked me for 150 words or less about my role and responsibilities that could be posted on the MCEC web site. I confessed that I didn’t know, but Mary is pleased as punch. I think she hopes it will increase our likelihood to be re-approved this next year. Maybe it will fire up some of my neurons. Maybe.

Oh please God, don’t let the world get crazier. Please don’t let the drug lords destroy Mexico. Please save San Miguel. Please don’t let the US fall like the Roman Empire. Please let mercy reign. Please forgive me for everything mentioned in the Book of Common Prayer’s Confession of Sin: “We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we from time to time most grievously have committed, by thought, word, and deed , against, they divine Majesty, provoking most justly they wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our misdoing against us, the burden of them is intolerable. Gads, those are some somber words. I think it would be an interesting book about the authors of these words. The human condition, huh?

Out and About, That’s Just the Way I See it!