tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917006732840712469.post9014870407296909074..comments2024-03-26T20:18:45.133-05:00Comments on The Generation Above Me: Death Comes to All: An Elder Tale Karen D. Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00681456166093275598noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917006732840712469.post-18083888591396900562015-10-31T23:40:01.406-05:002015-10-31T23:40:01.406-05:00At this very moment, I'm helping my 90 year ol...At this very moment, I'm helping my 90 year old mother get ready for bed as she's spending the night at my house. It's difficult to watch her as I know I'll soon, well not too soon, be in her shoes. Janie Emaushttp://www.janieemaus.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917006732840712469.post-92230590216104079752015-10-31T22:11:09.051-05:002015-10-31T22:11:09.051-05:00Such tales fascinate me. There's much to consi...Such tales fascinate me. There's much to consider. I abhor the idea of becoming old and frail though it will surely happen. (Now I just hope my head doesn't fall off and roll in the path of my grandson.)Lisa at Grandmasbriefshttp://www.grandmasbriefs.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917006732840712469.post-15630454782691281432015-10-31T20:05:38.187-05:002015-10-31T20:05:38.187-05:00Stop in from Rambling with Am. Not much goes on he...Stop in from Rambling with Am. Not much goes on here for Halloween. It been raining.<br />If you have time to stop on inpeppylady (Dora)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01649272822470007714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917006732840712469.post-45466739970860470422015-10-31T14:42:23.434-05:002015-10-31T14:42:23.434-05:00Wow! You hit the nail on the head. Most of us as w...Wow! You hit the nail on the head. Most of us as we age (I'm 74) are not as afraid of death as we are of becoming old and frail. I have ( Ihope) my own solution, which I will probably post in the next week or two. There is plenty to think about here. Thanks for presenting it so well.Toni McCloehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17398716942376764973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917006732840712469.post-90845003550516827832015-10-31T10:19:05.582-05:002015-10-31T10:19:05.582-05:00Wow, this story kind of gave me chills. It can be ...Wow, this story kind of gave me chills. It can be very hard to come to terms with our aging bodies but I'm trying to just be grateful for my health and the fact that I AM lucky enough to grow old.Lois Alter Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00457009348917459495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917006732840712469.post-80134226904783853152015-10-31T10:07:16.832-05:002015-10-31T10:07:16.832-05:00Such a very interesting tale. It is true, how we b...Such a very interesting tale. It is true, how we begin to look at these tales in a different light as we age. LauraEhlershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00174524869895005180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917006732840712469.post-68905119454047887262015-10-31T09:59:27.043-05:002015-10-31T09:59:27.043-05:00Oh, hugs to you Brenda. That's a tough thing,...Oh, hugs to you Brenda. That's a tough thing, but it sounds as though there was some beauty and tenderness amid the pain and difficulty. Bless you, bless all who love your mother, and bless her. Karen D. Austinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00681456166093275598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917006732840712469.post-44449761602039627352015-10-31T09:58:12.899-05:002015-10-31T09:58:12.899-05:00I have been finger wagging younger people about ca...I have been finger wagging younger people about caring for older adults, and it just does NOTHING but make them recoil from me. I am trying to see how I can develop a lot of personal strength now in order to meet more of my own needs (spiritual and emotional) as I age. And I'm trying to sit at the feet of women 30 or 40 years older than I am and learn from them (while there are still a number of women around who are that much older than I am). All my best to you (and to me and to all) as time marches us into advanced age (if we are lucky enough to live that long). Karen D. Austinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00681456166093275598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917006732840712469.post-82847795789171451982015-10-31T09:55:26.455-05:002015-10-31T09:55:26.455-05:00So cool that you majored in cultural anthropology....So cool that you majored in cultural anthropology. (I'm waving at Wichita and WSU for you in your absence.) My 14 yo daughter interpreted this as a cautionary tale when I asked her the moral. She said, "Feed old people or they will haunt you." I read it as "Find the personal strength to get through frailty of advanced age because you can't count on others to help you." But I suppose there are a lot of ways to make meaning of this story. Karen D. Austinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00681456166093275598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917006732840712469.post-15735491172469531062015-10-31T09:07:07.191-05:002015-10-31T09:07:07.191-05:00Your tale is timely because this week, I buried my...Your tale is timely because this week, I buried my 93-year-old mother. She was all bones, less than 80 pounds. Right before she died, she came "alive" in a way I've never seen her before. Her last moments gave me much to think about and admire. http://bit.ly/20i6mde Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15138140094568459194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917006732840712469.post-12157213634249866362015-10-31T09:01:58.262-05:002015-10-31T09:01:58.262-05:00Cathy: Your story DOES have something to do with t...Cathy: Your story DOES have something to do with this post. The author of the book that contained this tale has an introduction that is almost identical to your story. She saw her aging face in very harsh light and was completely taken aback by it. This sent her on a quest to confront her aging body (and the fact that we all die) and to make peace with it. She started working on the book as a result. Wow. You are right in sync with Thomas! Karen D. Austinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00681456166093275598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917006732840712469.post-76182236295429017312015-10-31T08:42:22.158-05:002015-10-31T08:42:22.158-05:00I know this has little to do with this, but the ot...I know this has little to do with this, but the other day I saw a photo of myself taken under bright lights and noticed the multitude of lines on my neck, my double chin and the lines around my eyes. I was horrified. The comfort of light in my bathroom is not true. I was so upset about how I looked. Then I realized something you said. I am going to get old and never have plastic surgery of any kind. It's who I am and how I help and give to others that matter more than the lines on my face and neck. I felt vain and silly.<br /><br />I love this story, Karen, and I'm thrilled to be honored by the privilege of reading it. Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01530651626467011526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917006732840712469.post-55772844319779620202015-10-31T08:38:14.241-05:002015-10-31T08:38:14.241-05:00I love the idea of aging with grace, but you know,...I love the idea of aging with grace, but you know, it doesn't always happen that way. In a way, this was an inspirational read for me.Carol Cassarahttp://www.carolcassara.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917006732840712469.post-90306822095610840162015-10-31T08:17:17.783-05:002015-10-31T08:17:17.783-05:00I majored in cultural anthropology (and I lived br...I majored in cultural anthropology (and I lived briefly in Wichita in the 1970's - took two night courses at WSU). This brought back memories of studying how various cultures treated their elderly - some with honor, some leaving them out to starve when they were no longer productive to the tribe. Now that I am 62 and a caregiver to an 87 year old mother in law, I now see how our society treats the elderly - it is eye opening.Alanahttp://ramblinwitham.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com