Lucky Enough

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The older I get, the more I realize how much genetics play a role in the aging process. My mother seems to have set the bar pretty high when it comes to staying young as she ages. I see people now who are ten years younger than she is, and they seem old!

My mom will be 87 this summer. It’s hard to imagine she’s creeping up on the big 9-0 milestone and still hasn’t really shown signs of being “old.” She drives all over creation visiting my siblings in other states, does all her own yard work, mowing, gardening, even shoveling snow in the winter. She takes no medications, has no weekly doctor appointments, she's too busy going on her daily three-mile walks.

Meanwhile, there are people her age who can no longer live independently or many that don't even make it to their 80's.  I can only hope I inherited the lions share of her genetics.

I remember when I first moved into my house forty years ago. One of my neighbors was in her forties, and I thought she was old… and honestly, she acted old. Maybe aging has less to do with the number itself and more to do with how we function. Sedentary people seem to accept the limitations that aging brings, while others simply refuse to let those limitations define them.

The only thing my mom admits to these days is that she doesn’t like driving at night. But honestly, neither do I, so I’m not even convinced that’s an “old lady” thing.

Last summer, for her birthday, I brought her to my beach club for dinner and a live concert on the beach. She stayed out dancing in the sand until 11 p.m. I can only hope I’m spending my 86th birthday the same way someday.

My mom has been lucky enough to raise four kids, lucky enough to watch countless grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up, and lucky enough to live comfortably while traveling the world. She’s trekked through Peru, kayaked in the Everglades, biked across Holland, and ridden camels in Egypt. She still plays bridge bi-weekly with her crew and still keeps a calendar packed with social engagements.

I’d say all in all, that's lucky enough!  I might even call that living well. Cheers to aging well, and embracing everything this beautiful world has to offer....at every age!

“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?” ~ Satchel Paige