Originally posted by zartgirl
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Bobi,
At my old house where my X now lives, the neighbor lady was 82 when we moved in several years ago. Ofcourse I have not talked to her much this last year, but @ 82-85 she would go down to the senior center and serve the "old folks"! You know the little old 60 year olds who would be wheeled in because they acted like they were 105 years old! My grandmother up until this last year when she started aging @ 98 years old use to help take care of the "old folks" too, at the senior apts where she use to live. Most of them were decades younger than her, but they acted OLD! I am thinking that your mom might like to get involved in like the senior center, or at the hospital in like the gift shop (Pink ladies) where she can help out maybe a few hours a week. There all all kinds of places that would love to have someone like your mom come in... Hey if she likes kids maybe she could go read stories to them at one of the pre-schools, or something like that. If she loves to cook, then maybe there is someone in her neighborhood who she can cook a meal for once a week or several if she likes... Hey maybe there is a single mom or somebody... OR you who could use a night off from cooking!
She just needs something to look forward to each week. Keep her mind active, and in an area that she has a passion! Hope this helps!
Blessings Sallyjane
At my old house where my X now lives, the neighbor lady was 82 when we moved in several years ago. Ofcourse I have not talked to her much this last year, but @ 82-85 she would go down to the senior center and serve the "old folks"! You know the little old 60 year olds who would be wheeled in because they acted like they were 105 years old! My grandmother up until this last year when she started aging @ 98 years old use to help take care of the "old folks" too, at the senior apts where she use to live. Most of them were decades younger than her, but they acted OLD! I am thinking that your mom might like to get involved in like the senior center, or at the hospital in like the gift shop (Pink ladies) where she can help out maybe a few hours a week. There all all kinds of places that would love to have someone like your mom come in... Hey if she likes kids maybe she could go read stories to them at one of the pre-schools, or something like that. If she loves to cook, then maybe there is someone in her neighborhood who she can cook a meal for once a week or several if she likes... Hey maybe there is a single mom or somebody... OR you who could use a night off from cooking!
She just needs something to look forward to each week. Keep her mind active, and in an area that she has a passion! Hope this helps!
Blessings Sallyjane
Thank you for your thoughts and ideas. Yes, some people age early while others are ageless. Hope to be in the latter group myself.
I'm thinking maybe the need is to help mom find clear certainty that continued service down the road will still happen when she can’t drive or if her eyesight goes will be possible. (Well, that and helping her care for herself and home as long as possible.) There is something I can’t quite put my finger on -a sense of mission maybe –that would act as template for life along the way. And yet, these are already her gifts – now, every day. Oh crap – I’m at a loss for words. What is the *zing* I felt and how do I respond to it?
When I say it’s hard to keep up with my mom it’s quite true. She… volunteers as for Team Reading at a local grade school. Spends 3 hours Wednesday nights at her church being a “table mom” and “comfort person” during Logos –(which she dresses up for. Last week was cowboy theme. She was so darn CUTE! in her red cowboy hat and red kerchief! ). She has two (three?) weekly study groups, one of which meets at her house at 8:30 in the morning and the other she goes to at 6:00 in the morning
. She calls on sick and ailing friends – hail and hearty ones too. Calls across the country checking on family. Has occasional dinners or breakfasts for: the widow ladies, the guys who built her fence and their wives, the electrician guy, someone’s birthday or whoever/whatever reason comes to mind and loves to host out-of-town guests and holiday meals. She’s a Red Hatter. Visits with neighbors, hires kids for small jobs, greets on Sunday mornings, attends all grandchildren events, and does a myriad of “little” things like occasionally watch the associate pastors children some Sunday mornings so they don’t have to be at church from 7am – 1pm or calls on an old neighbor who recluses himself. She loves people and learning new things so attends: a special event at the MCC (gay church), a multi-denominational potluck dinner and joining in open discussion about sharing ideals w/our children from Muslims, Jews, and UU’s perspectives. And the list goes on. Service, connection and love are what mom does so it seems kind of funny to look for ways for her to continue – and still, it rings true to do so. I just don’t yet understand my part in this. She is, at long last, beginning to accept that these things she does and the way she touches lives are special gifts, and yes, perhaps she does make a difference and maybe a “calling” can be such a simple thing as being who you already are. Such talk makes her tear up.
Her getting “hinky” might cut into her ways – or will it? - so it gets my attention more readily.
Gosh – didn’t intend to rattle on or give mom’s whole dossier but appreciate the opportunity to think aloud and draw from the collective wonder of this forum.
With much gratitude,
Bobi
) would you please include that in your list?
) More importantly I had to pull back over cause it is illegal to talk on the cell phone and drive w/out hands free! Ok to the point... It was someone calling me for graphic design work! I did not approach this person personally as I did not know she would be looking for my talents! Just a phone call out of the blue! 
for everyone to know what we are talking about!! 
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