I started posting weekly blogs on my birthday a year ago. Since I’m the leading edge of the Baby Boom, and am now a year older, aging seemed a good topic for today.
But first, a video of my absolute-favourite song about getting old. When I first heard it, I couldn’t imagine being 64. When I got there, I made sure to listen to this song on my birthday. Today, I’m happy to share it with you. And if you want the lyrics to belt it out with them…
When I get older, losing my hair,
Many years from now,
Will you still be sending me a Valentine,
Birthday greetings, bottle of wine?
If I’d been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door,
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I’m sixty-four?
You’ll be older too,
And if you say the word,
I could stay with you.
I could be handy, mending a fuse
When your lights have gone.
You can knit a sweater by the fireside,
Sunday mornings go for a ride,
Doing the garden, digging the weeds,
Who could ask for more?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I’m sixty-four?
Every summer we can rent a cottage,
In the Isle of Wight, if it’s not too dear.
We shall scrimp and save.
Grandchildren on your knee,
Vera, Chuck and Dave.
Send me a postcard, drop me a line
Stating point of view.
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, wasting away.
Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore.
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I’m sixty-four?
I don’t have anything profound to say about getting older. However, I recently heard resilience expert Ken Druck interviewed about aging. His upcoming book is Courageous Aging, and he described the task of aging as summoning the courage to face into the losses and changes that are a natural and normal part of life. He talked about the seasons of our life. Strengthening our sense of validation. I could relate.
In a recent blog, he said,
To live our best lives, we must put our houses in order, and I’m not talking about wills, trusts or living to 105. I’m referring to coming of age emotionally, spiritually and in our closest relationships. This means facing and overcoming, rather than avoiding, fears about getting older, compassionately greeting our older selves, carving out action plans for our best possible future and making peace with life itself. When we do these things, we are ready to look beyond ourselves to see how we can leave the world a better, safer place for our children, grandkids and future generations.
Amen to that!
I love these sentiments and this song. Thank you Laurana. You just made growing older a bit more appealing to me. ❤️
Back when 64 seemed really unbelievably old! Ah, memories…