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Highlands Today

Another Day Older For All Of Us

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By Raleigh Whiteman | Highlands Today

Published: October 2, 2008

This thing about every day we get another day older is getting to be a bit bothersome. Aches and weaknesses in our bodies are really a nuisance especially when we try to do what we used to do 20-30 years ago so easily.

Then there's that thing that we'd rather not talk about because we do not want to seem to have a weak libido. What we used to do daily now only happens a few times a month. The following, while I hope not, is likely very true.

Reconciliation

An 86-year-old fisherman was sitting in his boat one day when he heard a voice say, "Pick me up."

He looked around and couldn't see any one. He thought he was dreaming when he heard the voice say again, "Pick me up."

He looked in the water and there, floating on the top, was a frog. The man said, "Are you talking to me?"

The frog said, "Yes, I'm talking to you. Pick me up. Then, kiss me and I'll turn into the most beautiful woman you have ever seen. I'll make sure that all your friends are envious and jealous because you will have me as your bride."

The old fisherman looked at the frog for a short time, reached over, picked it up carefully, and placed it in his front breast pocket.

Then the frog said, "What are you nuts? Didn't you hear what I said? I said kiss me, and I will be your beautiful bride."

He opened his pocket, looked at the frog and said, "Nah, at my age I'd rather have a talking frog."

Remembering

Kurt Rittner, who is a few years my senior, sent me the following poem.

My forgetter's getting better,

But my rememberer is broke

To you that may seem funny

But, to me, that is no joke

For when I'm 'here' I'm wondering

If I really should be 'there'

And, when I try to think it through,

I haven't got a prayer!

Oft times I walk into a room,

Say 'what am I here for?'

I wrack my brain, but all in vain!

A zero, is my score.

At times I put something away

Where it is safe, but, Gee!

The person it is safest from

Is, generally, me!

When shopping I may see someone,

Say 'Hi' and have a chat,

Then, when the person walks away

I ask myself, 'who the hell was that?'

Yes, my forgetter's getting better

While my rememberer is broke,

And it's driving me plumb crazy

And that isn't any joke.

But the good part is that when we ask someone how they are doing the answer is, "Well, I'm still on the green side of the grass.

The Other Side

I can only speak for myself because this is a subject that we seldom bring up except maybe in a joking or humorous way. There have been a few who I knew fairly well and spoke to as they were preparing to pass on. Only one was able to tell me what he was feeling and it was that he was ready because he had experienced a full and happy life and only regretted that he had to leave his wife alone to face her future years. He was aware that any medical help he could receive would only

Raleigh Whiteman, of Lake Placid, is a contributing writer to Highlands Today. You can reach him on the Internet at rwwhiteman@comcast.net

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