I
feel the stiffness of age growing in the
joints
of my fingers which has spread up
from
my toes to my knees, to my hips and
shoulders.
Thank
goodness the presence of my grand-
children
remind me there are still blessings
bestowed
as we grow old.
When
I was younger, I could have never
imagined
the treasures and the pain which
I
have gradually gained over the years.
To
feel sorrow for my losses or shame for
shortcomings
and mistakes is only natural,
I
suppose.
In
this condition I find myself, there is, how-
ever,
some consolation in knowing that I am
not
alone.
When
I was a child I thought that old people
were
always that way. I never gave much
thought
to the stages one must go through
to
get there.
I
recall several years ago my brother told me
about
an experience we had as children. I was
surprised
that I couldn’t remember that par-
ticular
event.
Apparently,
it made a profound impression on
him
and not so for me. My brother passed away
last
year, and I miss those weekly conversations
we
had over the phone.
Often
we would share common experiences we
had
in our childhood. Some times he reminded
me
of forgotten things; sometimes I reminded
him.
And
now with him gone, there are these tiny
missing
pieces I shall never know about myself.
It
doesn’t make any difference to him now, my
brother’s
story has been told, and he has
achieved
his completeness.
As
for me, and each of us eventually, there comes
a
time when we shall no longer have need for those
missing
pieces anymore...Completeness.
-30-
Chris
Hanch 1-16-2020
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