Thursday, June 07, 2007
Active Retirement
When Molly and Tony brought me the fancy two-wheeled cart to replace the old red wheelbarrow, I thought it would have a well deserved retirement, maybe sit in a special spot and serve as a container for flowers. Then, as I prepared to paint the house and discovered I had left my paint roller tray at Jay and Tammy's, I lined the wheelbarrow with plastic attached with duct tape and discovered it was far better than the store-bought version. After a long day of strowing paint, the plastic was rolled up and thrown into the dumpster, quick and easy clean-up.
Some days I feel like the rock-dented wheelbarrow, past my prime and ready to give up. My three-score-and-ten has been varied and interesting, and the beckoning rocking chair hardly ever rests my bones for long. Another project, a new adventure, a needy neighbor seem to be the impetus necessary to get me out of bed every morning. Maybe I would earn more respect if I would act my age, but that possibility is unlikely in the near future.
Today, with the help of the old wheelbarrow, I painted a bathroom bright pink and decorated the walls with colorful pictures of outhouses collected from outdated calendars that I just couldn't throw away. Next I plan to use chicken feed sacks to make a poke bonnet like Mama always wore in the cotton patch, and maybe an apron, to display on my wall of memories from the farm. That is, whenever there is time between basketball practice for the Senior Olympics, hauling rocks and keeping my half acre in good shape. It's really Molly and Tony's half acre, but they told me to treat it as though it were mine, and I surprise them now and then by being obedient. Thus far, old age is a constant adventure.
Cora Gail Trent
www.cgtrent.com
cgtrent@att.net
Some days I feel like the rock-dented wheelbarrow, past my prime and ready to give up. My three-score-and-ten has been varied and interesting, and the beckoning rocking chair hardly ever rests my bones for long. Another project, a new adventure, a needy neighbor seem to be the impetus necessary to get me out of bed every morning. Maybe I would earn more respect if I would act my age, but that possibility is unlikely in the near future.
Today, with the help of the old wheelbarrow, I painted a bathroom bright pink and decorated the walls with colorful pictures of outhouses collected from outdated calendars that I just couldn't throw away. Next I plan to use chicken feed sacks to make a poke bonnet like Mama always wore in the cotton patch, and maybe an apron, to display on my wall of memories from the farm. That is, whenever there is time between basketball practice for the Senior Olympics, hauling rocks and keeping my half acre in good shape. It's really Molly and Tony's half acre, but they told me to treat it as though it were mine, and I surprise them now and then by being obedient. Thus far, old age is a constant adventure.
Cora Gail Trent
www.cgtrent.com
cgtrent@att.net
