Middle Age Plus

Pluses and Minuses

My title, Middle Age Plus, is intended to emphasize that in this time of life past middle age, there are many pluses. One of the pluses is that we have learned to deal with the minuses with less stress. We experience more losses as we age. No one can deny that, but we also know that these losses can be tempered by the many good things in life.

Our 15-year-old pure white cat who became blind several months ago had adapted to his blindness quite well and had seemed to enjoy the summer months. Each time we took a cold drink to the deck to relax he joined us. Usually he jumped into my lap and purred loudly while kneading his claws into my clothing. It was the same action that he had repeated daily for 15 years. He enjoyed his food, napped in the sun or the shade, depending on the temperature and was doing what many of us middle age plus humans do -- adapting.

However for two weeks we have not found him, so we must assume that he either met some tragic end, or went off somewhere and died. He had been confused the last week, so we think he possibly had a stroke or something similar. We consulted his veterinarian who thinks he probably had a natural death somewhere. Because he was one of a trio of 15-year-old cats, his loss was not felt as keenly as other pet losses in the past have been. Actually I had worried how he would fare in cold weather, and was comforted that his last days were ones where he could enjoy the outside.

This last weekend was one of highs and lows also. My sister Gertrude's children arranged for Saturday to be the date they would bring their parent's cremains back home for burial in Newton Cemetery. Several family members joined them, and us, for this occasion. It was again comforting to share memories and sadness with others. But the next day we celebrated Lester's 80th birthday with relatives and friends from all over Missouri and other states. It was an example of how we could be together for both sadness and joy and draw strength and enjoyment from each other.

News on the television continues to be depressing. Many candidates for office berate their opponent to the extent that we don't think we can trust either side. Casualties in the war, accidents locally, news of illnesses and deaths bombard us each day as we reach the age where many of our peers are failing. But we can rejoice that a husband has reached 80 years old in good health and that his 97 years old brother-in-law was able to come from Washington, D.C. to be at his sister's burial and also remain for the birthday party.

An evening of playing family games in the family home with an age span from five to 97 years was a memory we will cherish for years.

Each time we are together we can participate in fun activities and store up even more happy memories for future times.

And one of the best things about the weekend was that there were so many people here, with so many suitcases, purses, laptop computers and jackets that we didn't need scattered about, that no one could see all dust and fingerprints over our house.

There are many things to be thankful for!