Skip to main content

When I'm 75




Ruffled, faded hair. At least two joints dislocated. Brittle knees – twice operated on. Teeth surgically removed. Dark circles the shade of ‘dark-brownish- grey’ surrounding the ‘lost-their- glow’ eyes. Weak spine – once operated on. Hollow cheeks.
These are the short descriptions you might find in my medical record, when you meet me when I’m 75. You’ll see me as a person showing thorough indifference to any data of the type of this medical record. I’ll be a person who has embraced optimism. Walking with a leisurely gait, I will have a ‘happy-go- lucky’ demeanor and a ‘don’t count the days’ attitude.

Firstly, I’ll be a member of a laughter club, guffawing in my lowest pitch and highest tone. Laughing will make my life seem lighter – it will help me relive my youth.

Secondly, I’ll have a library of my own, with a collection of over five hundred thoroughly read, ocher-yellow-coloured books that I will circulate to my members from every niche of the neighborhood. I will spend the days categorizing and sorting the booking books, checking the catalog, counting the deposits, brain-storming for more ideas and schemes to attract more members, and also, in spare time, reviving memories by reading the books all over again.

Thirdly, I will have started an ‘Environment Awareness’ campaign with scores of oldies like me campaigning with posters and mottoes to protect the environment. We will plant trees, and prevent the destruction of trees with events and messages in the form of posters.

In general, I hope to be, as a 75 year old, a person continuing on the path of life irrespective of the many obstructions on the way.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What the New Year Means to Me

 What does the new year mean to me? I don't know.  I think it just means that I can give myself another chance to try, fail, succeed.   I think it means that I can spend time with family, differently this time. I think it means that I can connect with people and with myself, in new ways.  I also think that it gives me a chance to see things with a different lens. The kaleidoscope becomes a periscope. I don't know what else. Every year, I put on a new pair of goggles. Every year, I grow, whether I try, or not. Some things may work as I had expected them to, some may not. But who knows?  I will allow myself to be Novak Djokovic in my arena, who hears his name when the crowd cheers for Nadal or Federer. I will allow myself to be Rafael Nadal, who always has a plan, no matter how bleak or bright things may seem, and sticks to it. I will allow myself to be Roger Federer, who glides in, serves, plays and walks out, all in grace and style. I will allow myself to b...

Nut and Shell

 Coconut Tender as a coconut. Hard as a coconut. Light as a coconut. Heavy as a coconut. I wish I was a coconut Today... A double-shelled, strange coconut. They call those people coconuts Whom they cannot understand, Like tapping on hard rock but not getting hurt- Like knocking against the hollow And shaking a bowl of jingling water That is cushioned by tender walls. Well, maybe people could be coconuts They could have hard shells and tender interiors, A hard crunch but a sweet essence- I would like to believe so. I want to know why I'm fascinated by the coconut. It can't be solely because of its duality. It can't be its beguiling double facedness. What is it, then? I feel like maybe a shaft of light A hollow for each hard tap- Tears through the hard door. An intriguing belt of  adventurous light Wriggles out from apparent darkness. Mystery, mystery. That's what it is. The mysterious coconut.  It has a shell But it has a soul- Shell protects soul, Soul preserves shell I...

My Imaginary Pen Pal

Ma Chére Amie Félicia, Bonjour! I wonder how long it's been since I last wrote to you. Time enough for the salutations to transform from English into French indeed!:)  How is old Bob keeping? Still nosing the kennel for those dollops of fondue? Ha Ha, I really won't be surprised. 'The Triple Imbecile!' #Mam'zelle Dupont. Give Scruff my greetings. Where's that collar I gifted him? Gnashed into bits? :( Or does Mickey wear it on her head now? :\ Send me a photo whichever one of the two.  :) Last week we learnt how to tell the time in French.  Pretty tedious for 11 o'clock, if you please. Pun intended. Knuckle-knocks not very frequent , thankfully. Neither are the thumb-fiddles. No question as regards the eye-droops- French is incapacitated to give me those! We're having fun galore learning French!:)  I miss your hot chocolat terribly. Something like the warm gust of the Niagara trickling into my throat. Yesterday when I was ...