CREATING COLLAGES...A VERY SATISFYING HOBBY

 

I've always been a avid crafter...of a large variety of crafts...from sewing, spinning, weaving to painting and many other crafts that I see on Facebook. If I see it and like it...chances are, I can make it.  I have a talent for recreating most any craft that I see...usually with no pattern or direction.  I just have a knack for studying the craft, dissecting it in my mind...and then create either a drawing or a prototype before making the final item. I have created some original items...but I'm much better at seeing the finished item and then breaking it down and recreating.  My finished craft item is generally similar to the one that I saw, but with my own personal artistic touches.  

Currently my craft of choice is creating paper/picture collage, many people create digital collages and that is fine.  I personally like the long process of finding pictures that I really like, detail trimming around the picture and then experimenting with positioning of all of the images. I do tend to create very busy, layered, intertwined collages. This method takes quite a bit of time.  After selecting all of the pictures that I think I want included in the college, I temporarily place them on the canvas, eliminating some, keeping some. Then the harder, more intense process begins, knowing where to glue down and where to leave open to then mesh other pictures under, over or intertwined.   

 I am also starting to gather quite a pile of my fabric scrapes and parts and pieces of past projects to begin creating a fabric collage. I've seen fabric collages made by other artists and they are always interesting and unique.  I can't wait to give it a try.

Anyone can collage.  You can use magazines, old books, greeting cards, really anything.  Because I have a really great printer, I tend to look for pictures on the internet that I like, print them off and use them in a collage. Before I began collaging, I used to create Junk Journals for several years.  They are all currently sitting in a big wooden box.  They could sit there for eternity or, they could be disassembled and used in my collages.  So, I thought I could take some of the parts and pieces out of those journals...to repurpose for the 2nd time. The junk journals were generally created out of used materials...bags, ripped paper, damaged books, bits of lace, fabric, buttons...really anything that appealed to me.  

Most all of my Junk Journals are based on a nature theme. I used a lot of tea staining to make the journal papers look older.  I also distress the edges of all with dark stain.  I like to make them look like they had been up in an attic in an old dusty chest for many years.   So, I do take apart my Junk Journals to use bits, parts and pieces for my collages.  After all, the fun part was creating...not just storing and keeping forever.  

I have made a variety of collages.   I tend to create based on my color mood which is usually more along a natural color line.  I also love anything Fairie Realm - whimsical - somewhere one would like to escape into...so, lots of woodland, magical type collages...but they really can be anything. Something kicks off a theme in my mind - usually a particular picture. And then, I develop around that special picture.  It can be a theme of characters or colors or mood.  It can be funny, serious or anything that you want to put together in one group of pictures.  

So, basically there isn't much more to say about collages...except show you a few that I have made... 

  

  

Start collaging...it's a great winter or anytime, hobby. So fun to create your own picture out of beautiful artwork...

HOLIDAYS...A TIME FOR JOY AND SADNESS

I find myself both looking forward to Holidays and also dreading them.  When my children were little, I really loved everything about them...the shopping, the decorating and the excitement that it brought to our family.  All of the family get-togethers and dinners were such a treat, to see everyone and also to eat so many traditional, favorite dishes. 

My family is Italian, so there would of course be a big pan of homemade lasagna (my grandparents are from Italy) My Grandma Addoloratta makes her own pasta, rolls out a big sheet of dough, and cuts it into either ravioli or lasagna.  And of course, makes her own spaghetti sauce (she calls it gravy).  She would layer it all up with lots of fresh ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese and shredded Romano cheese that was cut from a big piece that was kept in the basement refrigerator. My grandmother often made something I called smashed olives.  She would buy a large carton of green olives from the Italian Deli.  She would put the olives in between two towels and actually hit and smash them with a hammer. Then she would take all of the olive pieces and marinate them in olive oil, spices and onion slices There was also always a big platter of baked chicken, meatballs and sausage.  My mom, who isn't Italian always added several bowls of steamed vegetables and a big green salad.  My grandmother would make her traditional sweet, light rosettes, covered with honey and powdered sugar for dessert. My mom would always bring a big platter of homemade Christmas cookies.  I always looked forward to and counted on it always being the same...tradition.  

I am so fortunate to have had those wonderful Holiday celebrations.  I have wonderful memories of those times.  Fortunately, my two children also got to experience those Holidays with my Italian family. 

The big silver metal tree with ornaments and lights would be lite in the living room upstairs and there would be a small tree in the basement where we would have our family get togethers.  The presents would be under the little tree downstairs and as I child I couldn't wait to open them.  My children got to enjoy the same tradition.  My aunt lived with my grandmother, and she would make out the gift cards with either a check or money enclosed. My aunt and my mom would always buy my grandma new robes, night gowns or daytime dresses.  She would open the boxes, admire the new clothing and then store them away because it was all too pretty to wear.  She still had useful, older clothing that was good enough to still wear.  That was her generation...had to use something until it was worn out...completely...

Christmases were fun when my kids were younger and also into high school.... but when they moved out and went their own ways...Holidays became kind of sad for me.  We would get together, but they also had another family too...so Holiday times had to be split up.  As we got older, we were less likely to do any long-distance driving...especially in the winter (we've had to turn back because of whiteout snowstorms in the Midwest) ...So, our Holidays were more sending gifts through the mail, cards, telephone calls....and, now they are emails and texts...

I think that this story is probably true of a lot of families these days.  People move about much more than they did when we were young.  So, often times nearby friends and neighbors would become the 'new family' to celebrate the Holidays.  Often times they were similar in age and their families might also live on the other side of the world or too far to travel to...because of age and financial restrictions. 

The saddest part about any Holiday is the memory of having once celebrated with someone who is no longer on this earth.  Anyone who has lost a loved one tries to go through the motion, but their heart is not fully involved...a halfhearted empty feeling...no matter the years.  

The friends and family of mine that have lost a loved one...a child, a partner, parents....choose to believe that their loved one is still communicating with them, staying near to them and joining in by showing them a sign...and that seems to give them great comfort. 

As Tennessee Williams said... "Life is all memory, except for the present moment that goes by so quickly you hardly catch it going",

TIME TO GET READY FOR THE LONG WINTER AHEAD

I think because we live in the beautiful UP Michigan woods, we notice even the slightest change in the weather.  The slightest change in the woods, in the air, in the wildlife. We observe even small changes in all of our plants in our gardens every day while we are out there tending to them.  We notice that there are more birds and wildlife coming through our property to stop and have a snack at our feeding table and/or our seed feeders.  It doesn't appear that any birds are gathering up yet for their long flight to the south.  But the ones that are going to stay for the winter are definitely starting to store seeds, nuts and corn.  

Fall is definitely in the air and we seem to feel it in one way or another.  We notice the subtle change probably more than those dashing from their vehicle into work and those that don't spend much time outdoors.  We are outside every day, rain or shine either tending to our animals or to our gardens. 

It used to make me feel kind of sad when summer was fading and then fall gave way to winter.  And, it always makes me happy when winter began turning to spring and then spring to summer.  But, I've given up feeling one way or the other about seasonal change.  Seasonal change is a time of refreshing and renewing and it is what keeps us all preparing, whether we realize it or not, for change.    

How quickly the seasons come and go.  Some days I find it hard to believe that summer days are quickly fading and that cooler fall like days are popping up more often here and there.  It seems like not too long ago I couldn't wait for winter to begin showing signs of spring and then also spring days warming up into hot summer days.  It is now becoming more fall like every day.  When stepping outside, one can just feel our much-loved warmer seasons quietly slipping away a little bit more each day giving way to a brisk feel in the air.  

The time change shifts the seasonal changes into overdrive...no matter the purpose of the time change, it always seems like it is just darker in the morning and darker earlier in the evening.  Add cooler/colder temperatures to each day...and it feels like it's telling us that the 'resting' time of the year is upon us.  For animals and also for humans.  We still need to go to work, we still need to get things done...but rather than working outside until later in the evening...we call it quits much earlier...to rest and relax.  And, that's not all bad.  

After all of its abundant gifts of colorful beauty, summer does deserve to be able to wind down for a much-deserved long winter's nap.   All of the fading above ground parts of the flowers and seed pods become food for insects and animals to eat and store for the long winter.  Below the surface the roots all cuddle together for a nice nap.  I believe that they are thinking about the next time they will feel the sun warming the soil and they will once again feel like peeking their little heads out.  But for now, time to begin resting and reflecting.     

All of the once fresh green leaves of the trees have started to go through their annual seasonal display of color change.  We witness a beautiful spectrum of colors here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  When the dried leaves settle on the ground, it becomes habitat for insects and mulch for the perennial plants.  

 Our current weather is mostly mild, some sunny days with a cloud covering and a sprinkle here and there.   I am sure that the experienced sages in wildlife have passed down the much-needed information to the younger members about preparing for the cold season ahead.  I wonder how exactly this information is passed down.  Through observation or is it just ingrained for the survival of their species.   

One of my favorite year-round activities is watching birds and squirrels. You get to know your daily visitors and look forward to seeing them each morning. I have situated a table right outside of my full glass kitchen door so that I can watch the daily visits of a familiar variety of birds and squirrels.  I keep my bags of bird feed right inside the door and always fill a container on my way out...I mound the seed mix onto this table and call to my daily visitors.  I am sure that they pretty much know the sound of the door and are waiting somewhere nearby.   We have several other hanging feeders on posts on our fence and deck that attract smaller birds like Chickadees and Nut Hatches.  I think that they feel much more comfortable picking up seeds without the larger birds and squirrels looming about.  So, I fill those everyday also.  

  Each morning as I go out to feed our chickens, I hear a familiar signal from a Blue Jay that knows my routine.  He is signaling me to not forget his peanuts. So, every day, sometimes several times a day, I scoop out corn, black sunflower seeds and, a seed mixture for my friends.   I always top off the seed mixture with a handful of peanuts in their shells.  These are a favorite of the Blue Jays and the squirrels.   After feeding everyone, I go back into the house and stop for a moment to watch the activity on this table before I begin my day.  

The squirrels eat some of the mix and peanuts right on the table and then seem to also take some and disappear for a while.  They creep down to the table from the nearby pine trees, kind of walk around the top of the table for a while and then settle down with a peanut or a piece of the dried fruit.  When the Blue Jays drop down onto the table, if a squirrel is there snacking, the squirrel will jump up onto the fence or up into our nearby pine trees.  They do not go very far away...after all, it will be his turn next once the Blue Jay flies off.  There are several squirrels that don't seem to mind each other's company.  This table generally seems to be 'a table for one', but, when there are two squirrels tolerating each other's presence, I assume they must be nest mates.  When the Blue Jays land on the table, they look left, look right and then grab a peanut and immediately fly away.  Sometimes though they will drop their first choice of a peanut and then choose another...I wonder what was wrong with the first one...did a squirrel touch it?  Not sure how many Blue Jays that we have feeding at our table.  Either there are several of them or one very busy one that is eating and storing many peanuts. I can't imagine that one Blue Jay can eat so many whole peanuts so quickly, so hopefully they are not being fool hardy and are putting up some of the peanuts in their larder for winter eating. 

Occasionally we will see migrating birds stopping in for a seed snack before they continue on their long journey.  I hope that they get their fill, rest up for a moment and then be on their way as the harsh, snowy season cannot be far behind.  

I will put seed and snacks out year-round. I don't care who eats them.  If they are hungry, I am glad to feed them. I don't notice as many visitors stopping by in the summer months.  Hopefully they are receiving their food from more natural sources.  I am more than happy to feed them when their natural food sources are harder for them to harvest under inches of snow.  So, all are welcome at my bird feeding table...there are daily specials for all customers.   

  

DAILY WALKS ALONG THE BAY...UP MICHIGAN

 

I am a gatherer.....of all things natural.   I see so much beauty and creative possibilities in fallen leaves, little sticks, acorns, stones and little plant pieces...anything I find on the ground.  So many people these days are looking down at their phones, I'm also looking down...but on the ground for whatever I might find that interests me.  

I always have a cloth bag folded into my pocket ready to hold all of the beautiful pieces of nature that I find and gather.  I always see a future artistic purpose and creation for each piece that I gather.  I am an avid painter, crafter and nature journal creator.    I use the little gathered pieces in pictures, add them to woodland whimsical characters that I create out of fabric and also to add to the many junk journals that I am always adding more pages to... 

Because it is Fall, I have been collecting fallen leaves that I am drawn to, various pieces of plant matter and interesting shaped twigs.  When I get all of my new finds home, I decide on a color palette and design and then I get to work arranging all of these new fascinating pieces of nature.  After creating the picture that I want to create on a clean canvas, I layer on a coat of paint, just on one side to each piece and lay it back down in its place.  Then I proceed to cover the arrangement with parchment paper and a piece of muslin fabric.   I then press down with my hands or use a roller...one of my vintage rolling pins over all of my pieces.  After feeling satisfied with the amount of pressure...I carefully lift the cloth and parchment paper and then carefully remove the leaves and plant matter with tweezers.  Finally, I stand back and am always amazed at the amount of detail that the paint brings out in these beautiful pieces of nature.  If it didn't work....I create a collage over the intended piece...I'm sure that this is how the concept of a collage began... 

I am always on the hunt for pieces of driftwood.  Fortunately, new ones seem to wash in closer to shore every week. I try to just take (rehome) what I love...and leave some for others and just generally...leave them where they landed.  Where we walk each day is at a beautiful park that jets out into the Bay.  Our favorite place to sit awhile to enjoy the beauty and the sound of the waves, is a big old fallen tree that sees waves coming in from several different directions.  What a lovely place to live.  So much to hear and see. This is my favorite place to sit and enjoy and also to see what the waves have brought in each day.  I never thought that a discovered piece of a broken branch or root would make me so happy...but it does.  When I pick up and handle each piece, I think about how far it's traveled and how many hundreds of times it's been rolled around making it so smooth and unique.  

I am currently using a longer piece of driftwood to hang from the ceiling displaying the dried orange slices, lemon peel stars and brown paper bag stars that I have been making for the upcoming Holiday...and after.  

Every driftwood piece is like a cloud overhead.  If you watch or look at it for a while, you begin to see a character developing.  Of the pieces that I have collected over the years, I have many that have holes where a knot once way...so, a marble or a bead can be inserted in that space for the light to shine through.  Some pieces look like birds and others like fish.  Longer, gnarled, knotty pieces of driftwood just stand in the corner looking like they are in charge. 

I belong to several Facebook groups whose members are also lovers of all thing's natural with a piece of driftwood as the center of their creations.  An equal amount of the members just enjoys their natural beauty, and others rework the piece into something artistic and unique.  I have seen beautiful chandeliers, picture frames and table center pieces that are decorated for each different seasons...with other natural pieces, pine boughs, leaves, berries and flowers.  I also love the collected driftwood pieces that are used in large plants...sometimes decorating them with seashells and beautiful rocks. 

I used a few of my longer pieces of driftwood to assist with the growing of our beautiful, bountiful tomato plants this summer.  Now with the growing season coming to an end, the pieces of driftwood now live in the house for us to admire and appreciate their effort of holding up the thick tomato plants so that we could enjoy homegrown tomatoes on our sandwiches and in our salads... 

So much natural beauty and so many artistic ways to use.... I love driftwood...

WATERING YOUR GARDEN

 

The joy of having a garden is the daily walk of anticipation to check and see what's new and what's happening in your lovely oasis. Finding new growth, little flower buds ready to burst open and the beginnings of little fruits and vegetables makes me look forward to future walks.   It is all so satisfying. 

 I feel like all of my plants appreciate my presence, attention and care.  

I always feel positive vibrations. 

 Especially when I am watering. 

When watering one can feel the air surrounding you and the plants, cleaning and humidifying.  I think of the roots taking a big satisfying drink of water.  I always like to flip the sprinkler nozzle around to just watch the droplets dance everywhere, like it's raining - giving them and me, a cool shower and a bit of relief from the heat. Also, the beautiful reflection rainbow that appears as the light is reflected inside the droplet and finally reflected out again into the air.  Feels like magic...

I know that they advise you to water early in the morning so that the foliage will have a chance to dry before nightfall.  If the leaves are wet when it cools down at night the plant may have problems with fungus and disease.  

I have to say that I have watered - on more than one occasion, during the afternoon heat - during the hottest time of the day because I felt sorry for the plants - sometimes they look stressed under really hot conditions.   I do however get down low and try to water under the plants, not on their leaves.  But, I also do like to sprinkle the whole plant - thinking that I am cooling it off.  No fungal problems yet - fingers crossed.

While I'm sprinkling, I wash out and refill several containers that I have set out for the birds, squirrels and anyone passing through that needs a drink.  I have seen squirrels lying on their tummy's and drinking quite a bit.  Good to know that I'm providing water for them in hot weather.  I also enjoy birds taking baths in the containers I have set about.  They are not deep, and I put a brick in the middle so that no one will have a problem in the water.  We have a big, beautiful pond but the containers of water on our decks seem to be more of an attraction.  Probably because they are near the seed feeders and the water is cleaner, cooler than the pond water.  Anyway, I love that they come up close so that we can see them drinking, bathing and just enjoying the water.  

I also think of all of the bees, butterflies and bugs drinking the water droplets that are on the leaves.  

There might also be Fairie folk in my gardens - I think there are.  They too would enjoy a cool shower and just might be filling their little buckets with fresh, cool water.  

I don't know if the watering does more for my garden plants or more for me - it always leaves me with a satisfying, full feeling. 

  

When I water in the morning - I tell everyone "Good Morning, it's going to be a beautiful day." And, if I water in the evening, I tell my plants "Good Night, sleep well, see you in the morning." 

We have had quite a bit of rain this spring/summer - and even though it appears that it has rained enough - sometimes it just hasn't.  It might rain hard and just kind of run off - or the 10-minute rain might only just touch the surface....so, I always scratch back the soil to see how much of the water actually seeped down into the soil.  We have rather sandy soil at both the log cabin and the intown Victorian as they are both very near the Bay on Lake Michigan.  The water tends to run off and so the plants are really not getting a good watering.  I mound mulch in my gardens every year to make sure that I am building a better soil.  Our chickens do roam free until they roost at sunset.  So, I am able to shovel out their dirt from under their roost and add that to the soil out at the log cabin and also take it into town for my beds there.  I have compost bins for vegetable scrapes at both places that I do layer up with leaves and straw.  The soil in my gardens does appear to be darker and more of a combination of materials. I can see that my constantly mulching is really building up a good, healthy base for my new and existing plants, bushes and trees.  It appears that when I scratch at the dirt there is some dampness in the soil...which there was not before.   

Apparently, it is all working because my gardens are always beautiful. Lots of beautiful cut flowers, abundant fruit from our apple and peach trees, lots of strawberries and blueberries and beautiful multiple blossoms on all of my perennials.   

I keep a big rain barrel and water my plants with the collected water.  I keep several goldfish in the barrel in the warmer months and then bring them into a tank in the greenhouse in cooler/colder weather.     We have always...in the last 35 years lived in rural areas.  We have lived on several hobby farms., so we've always enjoyed well water.   But now that we do spend time in our Victorian in town, I have to deal with city water.  And there is a difference.  So, I decided to fill gallon jugs with city water and then let them sit before watering anything with that water.  I have about 20 - 1-gallon containers and that's what I use on my indoor plants and my potted plants on the deck/patio.  But the grass and the gardens in town still do get quite a bit of city water.  Maybe they have adapted, they always seem to flourish.   

Watering my gardens reminds me of the way I feel when I hang bed sheets on my clothesline.  Some people may think of it as a chore.  I think of it as a reason to slow down, enjoy my beautiful surroundings, feel blessed and be grateful.  While moving in this rhymical type movement - my mind and body float into a deep, relaxing state of mind.  

It is a very good thing for my soul, my spirit and my lovely plants.

  

SPRING/SUMMER - A TIME OF BEAUTIFUL BEGINNINGS AND A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF POLLEN

 

We live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  The UP, as it is called.  It is surrounded by three of the Great Lakes - Superior, Huron and Lake Michigan. 

 Living up north, we do have longer winters.  We moved here from Wisconsin a few years ago and initially thought that the further north you went, the colder it was, and the more it snowed.  We are always amazed at how mild winters really are here in the UP.  We live close to the Bay - Green Bay/Lake Michigan and it seems that most approaching storms either go north or south of us. We only have a few inches of accumulation each winter and the temps rarely go below zero.  Winter type weather and sudden dips in temperature does come and go on until May.  So, that basically makes the growing season from June/July until Oct/Nov.  Which is pretty much what we are used to as Midwesterners.  

So, when the tulips, daffodils, grape hyacinths and all of the other bulbs you planted pop up, color begins to fill the ground where snow laid not long ago. Even when the temps still drop down at night, I'm always amazed and happy that these beautiful bulbs survive and thrive. 

Slowly but surely the daytime and nighttime temps start leveling out and all kinds of other plants start making their way out of the soil.  Reaching out for the warm sun.  The plump buds are busting open on every tree and bush.  

Not due to any expertise on my part - but it seems like when one blooming plant has lived out it's blossom life, another one kicks in...first tulips, then lilacs and fruit tree blossoms.  Then the big orange happy faces of the Poppies and the beautiful delicate purple Trillium.  The sturdy but short lived (little flowers) of the Lily of the Valley are up and smelling wonderful alongside the Iris.  All of the buds on the rose bushes are plumping up and starting to open revealing so many beautiful variations of color and size.  The Stella D'Oro's are getting ready and opening everywhere.  Next the Asian Lilies and fragrant Stargazer Lilies. And this year we were treated, for the first time, with Columbine flowers that made it through the winter and also a first, Fox Glove, and their beautiful purple and apricot bells.  I have quite a few Rudbeckias and they are all growing tall from under the Hosta and soon there will be their most amazing flowers.  Rudbeckias are pretty sturdy and last for weeks...in all kinds of orange, yellow and brown combinations. 

 I always plant a lot of seeds - how could you not?  When there is still snow on the ground all of these beautiful little packets of joy start appearing at all of the stores.  They give us all the joyful anticipation that spring and summer months will bring.   Lastly, all of the seeds that I planted are starting to make an appearance, Zinnias, Cosmos, Moon Flowers and beautiful, tall Hollyhocks.   Mixed into the seed plants are the sunflowers that the birds plant.  We have many bird feeders hanging from hooks above our perennial gardens - so, there are going to be sunflowers...I don't care, they are cheery little faces of sun.  

 Well, there are blooms popping out every day - but day by day there is a feeling that we're getting closer to the end of so many beautiful flowers and closer to fall.  

That's why I plant marigolds, mums, zinnias and decorative grasses - so that fall won't be all green and that there will still be color and flowers...

I have learned that it is okay to cut flowers and bring them inside to admire.  I do go outside each morning to see what is new - and I take a lot of pictures.  But, I wasn't the person that was cutting flowers at the peak of their beauty - until now.

We've had quite a rainy spring/summer this year and one day the blossoms would be beautiful and after the rain - they were so beat up...so, I started bringing in some of my beautiful flowers so that I could admire them every time I walked past them in the dining room.  

I love my gardens and all that they bring - bugs, butterflies, birds and the opportunity to take beautiful pictures to capture some of summer's color....

I HAVEN'T ALWAYS BEEN THIS AGE.....

I Haven't Always Been This Age......

Now that I am a recently retired woman, 

 I find myself paying much more attention as to how others around my age, conduct themselves in public.  And also, how they are treated by others when they are out traversing about in this

 fast-paced world.  

 I am a writer and general overall ' people watcher' so this daily activity is not new to me.   I have one published book under my belt and another that is currently going through the publishing process with a Literary Agent.  In my various professions and my love of a good story - I glean voices, facial expressions and stories from everyone I meet or have ever known.  I watch strangers that are interesting to me in some way, on my daily travels. I am very observant of others, (without starring I hope) and I often watch people's faces as they speak.  I listen to the tone of their voices and especially what kind of laugh they have.  I love a good hearty laugh. I watch the many...many...types of gaits and how people hold themselves. All of these various characteristics will many times inspire me to start writing a new story and/or add a character or event to my many stories that are 'in the process'.    

Thinking back to when I was a younger, I remember feeling impatient with older folks and telling myself, 'That will never ever be me'.  Older folks still occasionally irritate me even though I am now joining their ranks.  They tend to move more slowly, block the aisles in the store while looking through the many choices, and seem to take a lot of time to check out with cards/check or cash.  I often wonder if they've always been like this and are now just an exaggerated version of themselves.  Or, if they just aren't as aware of other people's need to 'get going". I try to remember that probably they are just doing their best to keep up with their changing life in this always, hard to keep up with, changing world. 

I'm trying to learn as much as I can about this inevitable transition time in everyone's life.  Not everyone has been fortunate enough to live this long to actually experience it.  I'm used to being a mom, wife, student, businesswoman and person who worked their entire life. Thinking about retiring always seemed like the dream.  So, I did it three times. When I retired from my main profession (Social Services), I immediately went back into the nursing field and then when we relocated, I worked at a busy, great deli/catering business.  Now I think I am really retired (although I do a lot of volunteering for local organizations, and I am getting ready to open up a shoppe on the internet selling crafts that I love to make). Anyway....

 When I was feeling impatient with older folks, I hope that I am not showing that impatience outwardly.   I have always held doors and assisted in any way that I could for parents with little kids/babies and also for older people.  I have always made eye contact, smiled and said 'Hello", "How are You?" or "Nice day".  I am now starting to understand the whole process of getting older and it's not quite as delightful as I used to think it would be.  Sure, there are always really nice people that notice that you are older and hold doors, ask if they can help you load lumber into your truck and kindly grab your cart in the parking lot and either use it or take it back to the cart corral.  But unfortunately, there are also people that just look through you as though you are invisible. Eventually it might make you feel like you don't matter as much as you used to, or even at all. But we do all matter, and we must never forget that....

 My wish would be for all people to view each other as someone that loves, is loved, has a life, a past, enjoys hobbies, has or had a career and is busy figuring out this new life of aging on an everyday basis.   And, that we are all just doing the best that we can in this quickly changing stage of our life.  I would wish that everyone would know that 'a gentle recognition', a nod, a 'Hello' or a short conversation can make a difference in a person's day and quite possibly in their life. Any small act of kindness makes an older person feel visible again.      

I think about the fact that they - everyone - is going to be this older age eventually.  I know this is not something that you think about when you are younger, but you will age, your life will change, and you will be treated differently.  

Does one ever get used to this treatment, just accept it as part of the cycle of life?  And how does it affect you, mentally, emotionally and possibly physically?  Do you fight it, get used to it, just go with the flow?  Do you allow it to make you sad and thus feel unimportant?  Fortunately, this is not true in all cultures - and/or with all people.  It is hard to understand why this same person, only an older version, is being treated differently.  You are still you and you still matter as much as you ever did.... 

How do you learn to 'fit in'?  You cannot force others to act any different than you did, when you were their age.  I think that by just recognizing that the world is really moving quickly and that we are moving slower as we age, helps you to better understand this change   And, that we need to just make more age-appropriate choices for ourselves. Choices that feel more comfortable for us at this stage of our life.  Acknowledging that we are older and have changed is not a bad thing to admit to oneself.  Love that your life has slowed down and that you can now take the time to 'smell the roses' so to speak.   Be careful, be safe and try to move with the flow when you have to...but all other times, enjoy the place that you have reached.  A place to slow down enough to really think about wonderful times and memories.  And, purposefully in an uninterrupted fashion, continue to create those memories for oneself and for our loved ones.  

 Recognize that your children, grandchildren are still in a busy stage of their life.  They are not ignoring you. You can't always have it both ways...doing all of the things that you hoped that they would do and also have all of the time in the world to talk to you and to spend with you.  Enjoy creating memories for them in whatever way you find most fulfilling.  Whether it be through writing stories, poems, journaling about the past and present, exploring your family's genealogy, learning or doing crafts to make things that they will love.   Because whatever you are creating at this time will be very important to them one day when their life slows down and they too will wonder where all of those years went.  You wish that you could adequately convey this whole aging process to them, but you really can't.  They will have to find out for themselves.  Your hope is that you were a good example of a parent, grandparent and older person and that they will have learned from your example. Being a good example will also help you live up to the very best you.... 

   The Grandeur of Age is the Richness of Wisdom that No Youth Can Claim

 Aging Gracefully Means Dancing in the Rhythm of Time, 

 Yet Keeping the Music of Youth Alive