Tagged For This One!
David tagged me for this: Name 6 to 8 ways you’ve changed or stayed the same over the last half of your life.
Well, I'm 53 so that takes me back to age 26 1/2. These are in NO ORDER! Just typed as they flew into my mind!
Ways I've changed:
1. I've come to know, love and appreciate my husband more. Every day I see something in him that shows he is truly a selfless man who cares for me deeply.
2. I've developed my musical ability by learning to play guitar for teaching, joining 2 community choirs, writing and recording 2 songs.
3. I've come to love cats and have had 6 of them.
4. I am no longer able to do many physical activities due to health concerns but have accepted that and do what I can. (I used to ski and walk a lot.)
5. I've come to learn through experience that some people are not who they profess to be; they are not going to be friends forever and they may hurt my feelings. I have concluded that these quirky people are the common denominator and that overall, I've had very good relationships with most people. There are just going to be some weird ones along the way. I've learned to be a bit wary and not quite so trusting, yet my first response is to believe in them.
6. I developed into a pretty good teacher and have my career behind me now. Kids remember and come up to me years later in my town and tell me that I was their favourite teacher or that they loved music because of me. They also ask me if I still have cats!
7. I see numerous doctors now for all my health issues. I see that the reality is that my life will be shorter than most people's so I live more in the moment.
8. I have come to believe that I've had a bit of a sheltered life. I haven't had to deal with much hardship. No divorces. No deaths. (Both my husband's and my parents are still alive and all in their upper 80's) No huge money or career problems. Apart from my health problems, I have been quite blessed.
Ways I've stayed the same:
1. Still love working with kids.
2. Still have trouble managing my diabetes and I've never lost my craving for all the the food that I can't have.
3. Still love spending time in the outdoors canoeing and swimming in the summer at the log cabins.
4. Still love listening to all kinds of music except opera and country! Still love going to a musical or concert!
5. Still love older houses and antiques.
6. Still love spending time with neat people and keep in good touch with my many friends.
7. My style of dress is the same; long skirts/dresses, boots, and funky clunky jewellery!
8. I am still quite lively and animated, and have the same sense of humour! I have the same smile and big blue eyes! I maintain my positive attitude more or less.
9. I'm still married to the same great guy and have been for 26 1/2 years!
10. I'm still not an avid reader.
11. I am still not a risk-taker and don't take on many new things.
I could probably think of all kinds of things for both! Share some of yours if you want! I'm not tagging anyone.
posted by Mother of Invention at 1:51 PM
26 Comments:
Wow - this is really a thorough analysis. You obviously gave it some thought. Terrific post. Before, getting to my comments, I think I see the problem with your link to my blog. You used "http://www2.blogger.com/dsquared22.com/blog/"
It should be "http://dsquared22.com/blog/". That should fix the problem.
Ways You've Changed:
1. You should get big brownie points for this one! :-)
3. We diverge here. I've never warmed up to cats as I have to dogs.
4. Most of us as we get older have more limitations. I can't ski anymore or play tennis like I used to. Ive even had some knee issues lately stopping my biking. I'm still fighting to get back to some of these, but it may not happen.
6. Through other posts, you sound like a fantastic teacher.
7,8. Maybe 8 compensates for 7 ??
Ways You've Stayed the Same
2. I'm lactose intolerant and still crave things like yogurt.
4. I'm in 100% agreement here.
8,9. Would love to meet you both sometime. Glad your eyes never changed :-)
Thanks for your post.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
It seems to me that you are squeezing everything you can out of the present moment. I think your positive mental attitude and lifestyle and obviously good genes (since your parents are still living) may help you beat the odds imposed by your disease. I am a firm believer in the power of positive thinking and the ability to laugh as ways to prolong our lives.
Your thorough descriptions affirm my desire to meet you in person. I'm really going to work on making this happen!
Sunday, February 25, 2007
David: I could easily become a dog person too! You're right, #8 does make up for #7, and then some.
Yeah, I just never could get into Opera and can only take a little Country twangin'!
Thanks so much. This was a good self-reflection thing for me to do.
Barbara: I think I actually laugh more than think positive sometimes, but I guess each one of those increases the other.
Thanks! I'd like to meet you two also and who knows, it may actually happen!
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Great post! What a fun meme. Of the changed list, I found #5 to be something especially true. It's too bad. I think I've heard that if you have 5 real friends in your life, you are very lucky. My first response is to believe in them too.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
This is an interesting meme. It really makes me think. And you've done a great job of it too. I may steal your idea and do it too.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
I heard a man on NPR's new dimensions once talking about chronic illness and he said "If you want to live a long life, get a chronic illness and learn to take care of yourself." In other words sometimes those of us who are sensitive and deal with compromised health end up healthier than others because we can't full around. We have to take care of ourselves, eat right and all or we feel it instantly.
I feel sad for the kids that you had to leave your profession because you were so good at it. We all know how important inspiring and engaging teachers can be and we need more to balance out the ones that aren't so much.
Monday, February 26, 2007
MoI - What a wonderful meme - I can see you - your warmth, humor, zest for life, your positive attitude and big blue eyes - always show up in your comments at my blog.......where would I be without you offering a rope down my deep dark well??? Ok, so I'm a dog person and yes, very quirky - but I've got a kind generous heart despite it all......You are blessed, indeed - But I am more blessed to have met you through this strange space we call cyberspace..........
love and kisses
rdgkitty
Monday, February 26, 2007
MOI - you are so cool! Wish we could sit and talk teacher strategies sometime. Better yet, wish I could be in a class of yours! I'm off to write my own response to David's tag. You're an inspirattion.
Monday, February 26, 2007
What a nice way to take stock of the more recent 1/2 of your life.
Monday, February 26, 2007
I can assure you that you are better off not being a Risk taker and Rule breaker...
Monday, February 26, 2007
Hello - From what I know of you so far I am in no way surprised that you keep in touch with friends - you seem lovely.
Anyway - I have to go to sleep now as I've been teaching all day and that final compliment has pushed my nasty-nice balance right out! (made a real effort today to find nice things to say to ALL of my pupils... think I did ok).
Thanks for your comments - I'd appreciate help like yours x
Monday, February 26, 2007
Brooksba:Yes, it IS too bad there are some people who are like that but the lesson I think it taught me was to appreciate the people I DO have in my life all the more.
Meno:Thanks so much. I thought it was really good for me to do and once I started, it just flowed.
Colleen:Yes, I am more aware of my body and health than most people my age are and I do think you and I may appreciate what we CAN still do much more than we used to...we don't take anything for granted anymore and everything is a bonus!
Thanks for that wonderful compliment about my teaching! I do really miss it but I so enjoy going in to help 1 morning a week.
RDG:Thank you so very much! You are a sweetheart! And I bet you'd find I have some quirks you don't have! Anyway, quirks are interesting.
I am writing these from a friend's house so I'm late getting to others'but I did go on yours and write a long comment on the poetry debate and then lost it! Your poetry is a challemge for me to try and figure out all your levels!I'm coming home Wed. so will try then.
Pauline: That would be very cool to share ideas and teaching styles! I can tell you are a fabulous teacher!
This meme was neat to do. It was a kind of tracking sheet for your life. I'll be over to read yours but i might be late as I'm actually away now.
Diana: Thanks..it actually turned out to be easy and I'm glad I did it.
Steve: Voice of experience eh Steve? You would have thought I was a wimp and I still am ..well, maybe just a tad shy and reticent.
Topchamp: Thanks! I have been blessed with many friends, it's true. I think you are lucky to be able to work with young people as well as the Brownies. You have so much to offer.
Monday, February 26, 2007
That's great that you still love working w/ kids...
I hope I can say the same in the years to come... I hope I still want to have my own kids when that time comes! Somedays I come home after school and swear I'll never become a parent! (Tell me I'll get over that, please!!!)
Monday, February 26, 2007
I've accepted my changes pretty well, except for the bodily ones. Oh, the creakiness!
Loved your list, and your honesty!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Yeah, where does lactose intolerance come from?
MOi, my goodness, I am sorry about your health, and I recall seeing some of the things you have mentioned about that.
But: Pretty magical exercise, nice to meet you.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Abigail: Yes, I'm sure it's different with your own kids! Teaching is hard...no doubt about that and you need patients!
Mona: Yeah, it's nit the greatest geting older...I'd like to be moving in the other direction!
Gr: Thanks. I'd rather have better health but what can you do?
Don't know about lactose intolerance..that's ONE thing I DON'T have!!!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Do you really think you will live a markedly shorter life than most? Not exactly the optimistic person I pegged you for. Having an ability to live more in the moment is a good trait.
Hmmm ... surprised you are not much of a reader. I guess I just assume most teachers are.
MOI breaking down the stereotypes.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
I'm usually a snob about memes, but I read yours because you are just so damn likeable. Sorry to learn you have health issues, but having such a great husband is the best medicine.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Richard: Well, that's the realistic part of me coming out. I know you understand stats so you will understand all the probability
numbers that insurance companies give about people like me. I have many strikes against me (heart, hard to control diabetes,neuropathy)so I find that thinking conservatively helps my outlook actually become more positive and cheery since I really consider everything I do now as a bonus.
Yeah, the non-reader thing is very unusual. I can't quite figure out why except that I seem to run out of time putting everything else I absolutely must do, first. I have limited energy and feel like if I can sit and read, then I should be up doing things that should or have to be done. Most people do these things quickly and I just take a long time with limited hand dexterity. If you saw how long it takes me to type even, you'd be surprised.
Paul: Wow! Thanks for the compliment. (My 2 older sisters would disagree about this when I was a young kid!! They thought I was a brat who was only sometimes cute!)
Yes, I am lucky to have a husband who is very understanding and accepting about medical problems, partly because he's a chiropractor, and partly because that's just his personality.
This was a good reflective meme for me to do. I think a lot about my life.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Our attitudes and priorities change so much from our 20's to 50's. Age truly does bring wisdom in so many ways.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
comment-eating monster just got me again! :-(
...and I wrote such a lot of nice things about you too!
I'll sum it up, as I have to go - I'm really glad you are who you are, whether because of early-formed ideas/ big blue eyes/ trusting nature/ cheerful personality or whether it's because of the physical difficulties you've had in the latter part of your life/ the move towards musicality (especially your songs!)/ your career changes/ love of cats... or whatever - I'm just glad to be having the chance to know you, and hope that, one day, we can share pea and ham soup (followed by pancakes I'll make...even if you can only take a bite! :-) ). It would be a great pleasure!!
On my writing month tomorrow, so I'll visit when I can (when I can't write another word of the novel :-) )!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Coll: How true and that surely is a good thing! Wish I had had more wisdom in my youth but I guess that's the reason for the tough lessons.
Annelisa: I've done the same thing but then this wise babe, Annelisa , said she copied long comments before publishing just in case she lost them!! Ahhh! And I forgot with RDG and couldn't get in the same headspace to re-write!!
Anyway, I get the gist of your wonderful comment and I thanks you immensely!
And just in case, I won't be throwing out that recipe for pea soup and look forward to your pancakes some day!
Good luck with your novel!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Great post, love the meme! You made me think, again! :-)
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Rapunzel: And that's a good thing isn't it?!!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
You always brighten up my day.
Friday, March 02, 2007
:-D No way could you get rid of that recipe - my mouth waters every time I think of it. My dad used to make it when we were little (there was a bowl of some sort of soup before virtually every meal - even breakfast, if we wanted it! :-) ) and I'm missing it!
The comment eating thing? Would you believe I did actually save it before I pushed the button, but when I went to 'paste' - it just wasn't there (totally gobbled! :-S )
Saturday, March 03, 2007
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