I’m Proud to be Wearing Out

Six word photo story: “December Freestyle”

Be proud of your aging limbs

Yesterday morning, Thursday, I ate breakfast with my group of retired college professors. We chomped, chatted, and chuckled.

Later in the day, Rebecca and I attended a lecture by another emeritus professor. She talked about living in the Soviet Union when it collapsed in 1991. What a gift, to hear insights about her long-ago experience.

Today, I will go to my college’s Christmas party and hang out with other perennials. If you are wondering about the perennial label, I’ve written about it here.

I’m 73 and retired in 2018.

I recall sitting in another restaurant years ago, watching another retired cohort chomping, chatting, and chuckling. I was with my 85 year old mother, half-listening to one of her stories.

And asking myself whether I would join my retirement cohort for breakfast every Thursday morning.

When I quit, four years ago, I didn’t go to the Thursday breakfast or the once a month emeritus lectures. And at college gatherings, I gravitated to those still teaching.

I was stuck.

But not only that.

One day, while looking in the bathroom mirror as I lathered up for a shave, I realized I had started to leave my nighttime t-shirt on during this morning ritual.

I was hiding my aging upper torso from myself.

Stuck and hiding.

I was mourning two losses: my professional life and my imagined, youthful body.

The foregrounded tree in the photo modeled.

It is what it has become. Nothing hidden.

No pretense.

Nature takes its course. We live and we die.

Like the tree, I’m part of the natural world. Not special. Not an exception.

Today, I’m a proud emeriti breakfaster and lecture attendee. And I look forward to seeing all my perennial buddies at today’s party.

Thank goodness it starts at 3 PM.

And in about three hours, I will go to a kettlebell workout and stick-out like the tree in the photo.

Older amidst younger.

The large mirror in the front of the room will display my aging limbs.

That I observe with curiosity, acceptance, and pride.