Try not to cry when you listen. This is such a touching song that we can all relate to. The Old Folks, By Laurika Rauch.
Do it all now while you can. It never gets any easier. We should not waste a moment of our lives. Projects and Adventures that were so effortless at one time almost seem like (gasp) "work" later on. Somehow comfort becomes more important than it used to. But... it's still a great life.
Ah Bert.... still one of my favourite songs... and heart rending. I was just discussing my aged mother with Tat. Finding family all over again has some interesting side effects.
ReplyDeleteTint - I love that song. Kinda hard to listen to without sniffling. It always reminds me that we should not waste a moment of our lives for soon we too will be staring at the clock. Finding family and being close is one thing that makes it all worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteI look at the obituaries, and see the faces of those who have passed away, and think of how someday my picture is going to be there. It doesn't seem "right" to see a whole life summarized into a column.
ReplyDeleteI hope to age well, to still be optimistic, busy, ready to learn, excited to try things, and to have had meaning and purpose in my life. I want to keep doing things up until I pass away. I'll be the little old lady with my white hair in a braid, dressed in a tshirt and skirt, feeding my chickens, making mouse rugs, and listening to Chrisitan rock music with my grandkids.
I'm thankful my family enjoys doing so many things together, because I feel that will keep us close as the kids start raising their own families.
I've found that reaching out to elderly folks brightens their day so much, and mine, too. There was a man I met four years ago, when we played some music at senior apartments; he was 92 years old then. He needed a ride to the kick-off dinner at Grinstone Lake Bible Camp, he was one of the first origianl campers back in 1932. So I offered to take him to the dinner, and a friendship arose. We saw each other at church, and visited now and then. Three years later he was in a nursing home in the cities, closer to his son. He lived to be 96. Russell was such a wonderful man, and through him I have gotten to know his life-long friend, Curtis, another elderly man who cares for his ailing wife at home. So now Curtis and I chat each week at church, I learn stories from the past, and he learns about our life in the woods. If you look around you, so many older folks don't have much company, and often they come and go at church without anyone really talking with them. My son asks me why I always get attached to "old men", and I don't have an answer, it just happens. Someday I'll be the old lady that may be very appreciative of the friendship of someone younger.
What goes around can come around, eh? :)
Thanks for a very thoughtful post.
I have never heard that song before... or the singer.
ReplyDeleteDear Bert, I had never heard of either this singer, or this song, but I am sitting here with tears streaming down my face. Must go visit mother soon, almost 93 and as well cared for as she can be, but still. In spite of the deep-bone sadness, I envy that fictional couple their "1 heart for 2". Thank you for sharing and making us think. Hug, :).
ReplyDeletewe r fool around all the time, aren't we?
ReplyDeleteDamn, that's depressing as hell. Thanks for the buzz-kill...
ReplyDeleteunfortunately so many older folks have no family to keep them young....laughter keeps one young ,the old folks that I know that laugh ,,,remain young until the end....loneliness can be devastating...once a life filled with love and laughter and living ,now endless hours of solitude ..waiting ...my grandmother at 87 said that she wished she could just go to sleep and not wake up, she had lived a full life ..yet she lived to 107.....20 more years of waiting ......although her family was there for her....jeez thanks for the somber message this morning....have a great day! and hug an old person and by golly make them Laugh.....I always do ...
ReplyDeleteChickie - when it's over, nobody will have enjoyed your life more than you did. Yes, a few paragraphs to summarize your whole life.. a small box of your ashes...No wonder people want to believe life after death. If one is lucky enough to have family, it makes the later years much more pleasant.
ReplyDelete.....I became aware of this when I would take my German Shepherd Diesel to nursing homes... those people were SO alone... very sad.
.....Chickens - When we visited my Mom-in-law in the nursing home, with Alzheimer's, she didn't remember much, but she did remember the Chickens (Bert and hens).
Iriani - I guess it's not the kind of song that becomes "popular. I wish everyone in the world could listen to that song.
ienvan - I react the same way to that song. It makes me sad to think of the elderly, forgotten and alone.
petunia*2 - We should not forget the elderly, they helped form the world we live in.
BamBam - Yes it is depressing, but so is that time of ones life... so sad. It's easier if one has family.
equine - You're right... loneliness is the beginning of the end. So sad that so many older people are forgotten... put aside and ignored. Let's make them smile again.
It's sort of interesting, how many people don't see themselves in this song. It's likely a good thing. We quickly become what we envision, and why hold visions that are not exciting and full of opportunity, fun, and especially holding some joy! Of course, to it's extreme, we might come to know that people who don't see themselves in this song, perhaps don't make it to the stage of life at all. One thing that makes the song remarkable is the companionship that's expressed within. It's something that makes the idea tolerable, with a fraction of strength; and some of the tears that erupt are for the appreciation of this. Without the companionship, our tears for this song would be more about our guilt, I'm thinking. More about our sense of opportunity to stop loneliness for others'. Interesting thought, that death of those leaving ahead of us is a tad bit more tolerable if we find out the person wasn't alone. Maybe we each have our own answer to the "meaning of man", but it has to be about companionship.
ReplyDeleteLover - I first became aware (more aware) when my 90 yr old Father was in a nursing home. My Dad loved my dog Diesel so we always took him to visit and it not only made my Dad happy, it also made many other residents happy and they waited for Diesel to visit. For most, it was the only company they had for months at a time. They are so alone. It was sad to see. That's why I started taking Diesel for nursing home visits here in St Paul. Now Diesel is gone too, but he had a very happy life and he made many others happy too.
ReplyDeleteFor those who are interested, the singer is Laurika Rauch of South Africa. The original song is in French and sung by Jaques Bel. You can see info here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBkcqgaxzFc
ReplyDeleteTint - AH, thanks you... I knew she was from S africa but... ? In the blog I added for people to look at your comment for more information.
ReplyDeleteAw Bert... Diesel did bring much happiness, but so do you : ) Diesel, I believe, is happy now too. It is we who remain who are sad.
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ReplyDeleteTint - Someday I plan to write a blog about my hero - Diesel dog, when I can do it without crying. So many people loved that dog...he was amazing.
*hugs Bert*
ReplyDeletePP#6 Picture Perfect #6 - Loud, waterfall
ReplyDeleteI wasn't expecting this. Thank you Bert. It's a bittersweet reminder. You are one thoughtful chicken.
ReplyDeleteTint - Aw thanks Tint.
ReplyDeleteSwag - Yes it is bittersweet...When I took Diesel Dog to nursing homes... there were just to many "silver clocks" and they were very loud... kinda sad.
We just gotta keep active and laughing until the end. No one has to be lonely. There is still so much to learn in life. I have been inspired by the old ones who keep on going until the very end. My grandma lived to be 101 and she was chipper up till the week she died. I hope to follow that example. We bring nothing into this World and we can take nothing out but we can leave a heritage of good example to those we touch. And this is not all there is in my belief. The hereafter is the crowning glory to a life of faith. It's a sad song but life is about choices. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI know this is an old post, but I am just getting to know your site and landed here.
ReplyDeleteI work in a kind of retirement home for veterans, along with two floors for nursing care veterans and/or their spouses. We have a wonderful activities department that has something for nearly everyone, from trips in the Hills to card games, to WII games. We have our own pool room with four tables, libraries, picnics (indoors in the winter, of course), and on and on.
It's very difficult for the residents to give up their homes and move in here, unless they are homeless to begin with. But when they take part in the activities, plus do their own thing, they are much happier. They can take a furlough and go to Hawaii if they want to! After almost 10 years of observing this, it's obvious that this kind of person appears to be happier, much healthier, and has made lots of new friends campus-wide.
The old silver clock is still ticking for them, as it is for all of us, but for the residents mentioned here, I don't think it ticks quite as loudly as it does for some.
I plan on going right from my first childhood into my second. Just finished painting the house purple and put on a green metal roof. I fart in bed and do what I want if it within the budget. You can't take it with you, right? Might as well have fun while we're here, since we only get to go around once.
Barb -
ReplyDeleteschnickel -
Most people don't realize that so many older people just exist from day to day alone and could really use some interaction with other people. Some are SO lonely, it's really sad. Yes it's good that many have company in senior and nursing homes, but still many are there still alone.
We're going to celebrate my Mothers 92nd in a few weeks (3/09). She is so alert, wise, an up to date on just everything, nothing gets by her, sharper than many other younger US citizens. She lives in senior complex / community of about 600 people and it is luxury living. She has such a full social schedule I have to make appointments a week in advance just to see her. Always busy... and having fun. She doesn't have a silver clock (satellite atomic digital).
Not a buzz kill ... just a chicken's view on life. Thanks Ace, I loved this.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bert, now I know where I am in life...................
ReplyDeleteThanks. Time waits for no one, and how soon yesterday is gone.
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