Monday, December 30, 2019

Youth and old age

Dwelling with both creates a weird tension in life. There's new resident Stella and the teen-who-thinks-he's-a-man on the one end of the spectrum, full of potential with years (hopefully) stretching out ahead of them. Then there's Jackson who is fading day by day as we support him as best we can, knowing that one day soon we'll be saying a heartbreaking good-bye. Rick and I are somewhere in between, closer in status to Jackson than the others if truth be told. I certainly don't feel that way, though, especially as I look forward to working with Stella to partner in her potential!

Facing the year 2020 is surreal. Y2K wasn't that long ago – for that matter, neither were the 80s! Until I think of how much water has flowed under this bridge of mine.... It's a good thing I don't think about my "legacy;" the ripples I leave behind in the pond of life will be little ones that peter out and are soon forgotten. If I wasn't looking forward to a better land, I'd be depressed! Instead, I think often of C.S. Lewis' The Last Battle. Scenes from that book are so very prescient of the time in which we are living, and a time yet to come. I need to read it again; scary and then exciting stuff.

Off to bed with me, as it's much too late. I may just have to go to bed early on New Year's Eve!

That's it for now from . . .


7 comments:

Leigh said...

It never hurts to hope for a better new year.

Thanks for the reminder about the C.S. Lewis trilogy. I should read the whole thing again.

Mama Pea said...

We would all be a sorry mess if we didn't, as Leigh said above, hope for a better new year. I'm happy for you in your excitement looking forward with so much joy and enthusiasm to this coming year with your new equine friend!

Debbie said...

Wishing you a Happy New year!

So glad that Stella is home.

Susan said...

Oh, Stella is a beauty! Just like her person... :)xo I hope your new year brings you more peaceful times than not. And that you take plenty of time for yourself. I'm sure Stella will help. xoxoxo

Michelle said...

Leigh, I think there are SEVEN in that series! Brian read them out loud in the car several years ago, and "The Last Battle" has really stuck with me.

Mama Pea, it's not so much that I'm not hoping for a better year as it is realizing the limited number of years left. ;-) We'll make the most of each one, right?

Thank you and me, too, Debbie!

Retired Knitter said...

Well, your comment to Momma Pea about - realizing the limited number of years left is a common thought for me as well. But for me it isn't "the number of years left" so much as my own observations of my aging body and the struggle to keep it going. But one thing aging has given me is a better appreciation of the little things, like today ... New Years Day ... another year ahead of me (Hopefully), this very morning sitting with my computer and writing to you and enjoying that first coffee of the morning. Another day where both my feet hit the floor from my bed and I have no commitments - just whatever I want to do. Michelle, the focus changes, as you get older and it isn't all bad. In fact, I had a terrible December health wise - minor illness, but a lot of them. And yet, I am joyful this morning because I feel good and have recovered completely.

Enjoy that beautiful Stella. And that other young man cub - be hopeful. And Jackson? Shower that dog with love right now until the end. He has served (and loved) you very well in life.

Happy New Year!

Jeanne said...

Happy New Year, Michelle! I'm a bit slow here. Didn't get to read this right away.

Stella is so lovely! And I'm so anxious to watch her progress with you!

I'm glad 2019 is over. It was such a tough year for me. I pray that this new year will be a good one for both of us.