When We Were Young & Glorious

When we were Young and Glorious!

Too little is said these days of the thrill of being able to put one foot in front of the other.

I mean literally, one foot in front of the other WITHOUT any pain. 

Ah! The good old days, when we were young and glorious! 

Remember when…

Remember when we didn’t even think about it. 

We just got up and out, and on to the next thing.

Remember when we could work a 12 hour day, run 4 miles, then play tennis till midnight? 

Remember Sleep?…

And sleep! Remember Sleep!  As in all night long!  

Remember fast forwarding past the ads for heartburn, cataracts and arthritis, smugly thinking, 

“That’ll NEVER happen!” Then waking up one morning you realize you actually have 2 out of 3 of those and maybe a few others tacked on as well.

To be young again…

Have you caught yourself riffling through old photos from your 20’s & 30’s, even 40’s & 50’s thinking…why didn’t I know what I had back then?  Why didn’t I appreciate what I could do, and how I could move?  

My friend, Brenda, has this saying…“The older I get, the better I was.” That quote makes me smile. Brenda is not one to dwell on the negative, not at all.  She has lived and is still living a wonderful, joyful life in spite of enduring one of life’s cruelest turns. 

The older I get, the better I was.

Brenda Jo Elder

I love her attitude of looking back and smiling, not regretting.  She looks back with laughter and fondness for “Young Brenda”.  But I don’t get the feeling that she wishes she were still back there.  I get the feeling that she knows young Brenda was busy building family and career memories, character, and lifelong friendships to cherish.  Older, wiser Brenda now gets to reap the harvest of that glorious, cherished past.

Cherish life!

The 1966 song, “Cherish” by The Association, reminds me of Brenda. It was one of her favorite tunes in junior high and it is perfect for her because she has always known just what to cherish, what to keep, and what to let go of. 

Today’s Brenda, stylishly holds her head up and flashes a big southern smile, in spite of knees that can’t quite keep up with her energy, and keeps moving…one foot in front of the other…day after day, finding joy in the present, and seeking new adventures for the future, including brand new knees. And lucky me, she is still holding some days open for me to visit her way down south in Dixie!  

I can’t wait!  2020 or 2021, who cares? My titanium knees and I will be there!

Let’s Toast!…

Here’s to keeping good perspectives as we age!

Here’s to looking back with fondness and not regret!

Here’s to the Brendas of the world and their infectious smiles, with or without the help of whitening strips!

Moral of the Story…  

If you are this day young and glorious, take note, take time to enjoy it, & for Pete’s sake, take pictures!!!

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You will find a little spoof on the song, Good Morning, Baltimore, below. 

I wouldn’t try to hum along if I were you, and not because I think your hummer is too old and rusty, but because the lyrics don’t quite match the melody and you might get all bewildered. 

Just read the disjointed lines and hopefully have a little laugh on me!  

Good Morning, USA   (with extreme apologies to the song, Good Morning, Baltimore!)

Woke up today. (Oh, thank Heaven!)

Feelin’ the way I always do. 

OH! OW! OWW! 

Hungry for waffles

That I can’t eat.

I hear the IRRegular heart-beat

Over the burn of my feet. 

Slowing me down.

Oh! NO! NO!

Not ready to go yet, 

It’s not my time yet.

Been warned of egg whites and kale!

And bikes to avail!

OW! OW! OW! 

Good Morning, USA!

Every day’s like an Old Folk’s Play.

Every night’s like 40 hours too long.

Every sound’s like a grunt gone wrong!

Good Morning, USA!

Supposed to ‘seize the day’!

‘Dance’, so they say, ‘Come what may’!

‘Cause when I’m dancing in my head, it looks so nice. 

But when I edge to the sink, I start to blink…

This is NOT right!

Is that ME in the mirror? 

NO! NO! NO!

No, that’s not me!

It just can’t be.

Gums are receding, eyes look like they’re bleeding.

What’s left of my hair has gone gray!

Hey, hey, hey!

This is NO FUN!

I want to run!

My heart tells me, “GO!”

My poor feet say, “NO-O-O!”

Who’s kidding who?

I move like I’m stuck in Goo!

Welcome to the 60’s…

Rusty, golden years indeed!

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Dedicated to my parents, Chester and Geraldine Floyd and all those who are truly YOUNG AT HEART!  

With a nod to one of my favorite songs, 

“Young at Heart”… lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and Johnny Richards

Find this song on YouTube and listen to it soon. 

It will put you in the best mood!!!  I promise!

These are the lines that are stuck in my head.  

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“And if you should survive to a hundred and five

Look at all you’ll derive out of bein’ alive.

And here is the best part, you have a head start,

If you are among the very young at heart.”