82 Years Old

82 Years Old

I started this blog to document for my family what it was like for a man to go through his seventies (and eighties, if lucky).  I turned 82 a few weeks ago and I'm still here.

While I have more aches and pains, my stamina is lower, and my memory is not as sharp as it was a few years ago, I'm lucky that I have a wonderful marriage and am basically in good health, have a positive attitude, and appreciate each day.

I enjoy following Aloma's instructions in planting and caring for our many flowers, trees, and shrubs.  My flying club is closed because of COVID-19 so I fly a new, small drone at home and take a lot of photos with it.  I’ve only played a couple of rounds of golf since my accident two-plus years ago, but I haven't given up on the idea of playing again.  I read a lot and still write, but my final book of the Turkey Grove series is progressing very slowly.

Aloma wants a stone wall around the tree in our backyard so I started it a couple of days ago.  I knew there was a major root to come out, so I began work with my shovel, full-size ax with a double blade, and a small hatchet.  Not only did the root turn out to be twice the size that I thought, but there were also four more even bigger.  I swung the big ax for four hours.  I didn't make a clean cut because I couldn't hit the same spot twice in a row so it took twice as long as it should.  I thought I would be a cripple the next day, but I felt fine except for pain in both shoulders, left elbow, hamstrings, big toe, thighs, hamstrings, and knuckle on the right hand.  I still have two roots to go, and then I'll start positioning the stones.

Bragging to Aloma, I said, "My dad couldn't have done that at 82 years old." 

Aloma gave my ego a boost by saying, "Your dad couldn't have done that at 50 years old."

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com