If you are the last of your family, as all the other significant members have passed on, an empty hole, hard, if not impossible, to fill, seems to characterize your emotional state. At 74, and an only child, losing my parents has meant that that mysterious connectedness which has been with me all my life is now in the past. You are now quite alone. Although you likely have created other significant alliances that have helped you get through life, those most intimate and emotionally significant to you are now gone.

Those who have enjoyed and celebrated having siblings or geographically close relatives of one ilk or another have the memorable joy of some important unions. Some find the fraternity of long time friends to be helpful in cementing significant relationships. There is, for most of us, the need to

Retirement doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. In fact, many doctors will tell you that complete retirement isn’t always good for your health. A better option is semi-retirement, where you continue to contribute to the community while enjoying what you’ve earned — more time for yourself and the family. What you decide to do [...]

There aren’t words enough to reveal the feelings that come upon the death of a dear, sainted Mother. There aren’t emotions, poured out in tears and agony over the loss of the one who gave you life. There aren’t sentiments eloquent enough to describe the lonely hurt that overtakes you, the sudden flood of tears, the amazing emptiness that overtakes you.

But as the popular song suggests neither is there any “mountain high enough, no valley low enough to keep me from you.”

In spite of the alienation caused by the suddenness of death, the deep and abiding loneliness, the sudden and abrupt separation, one must find ways to keep the loving memory going.

Oh, how great it would be to be allowed do overs. How marvelous it would be if we could just put the back space on and redo the last thing we said or did, the one thing we wish we had never suggested or tried. How pleasant it would be for all our report cards in life, for those to be pitched and only the remarkable acts, the wild successes, the incredibly rewarding behaviors offered a chance to do it again.

If only do overs were allowed. But somehow in the great scheme of things that is not allowed or offered, not even a consideration, not a chance.

And so we are stuck with having to work out our mistakes, erase, if only we can, those behaviors

To be sure there are some attractions and residual appeal left to visiting Facebook. But, and that’s no small but, there is much about it that is addictive and just downright tiring. I suppose for some, younger and generated by fascination, that is the hallmark of much of what comes through on the largest blog there is, it maintains its appeal. For others, of us who have “been there, done that” Facebook represents a fad of sorts that holds attention by its various attention getting methods. No longer so, for others of us.

Increasingly, at least in conversations, I am discovering how many are dropping out and leaving the mystique, if that is what it is, of Facebook behind. There is enough “sameness” about it that leads to, well, nowhere, that many are beginning, in fact, to search elsewhere for stimulation

How many, how frequently, how numerous, how much, how often are the times when seniors deal with officials, professionals, clerks, representatives, assistants are we thrown into a state of total frustration and complete dissatisfaction?

How many calls have been made when attempting to identify an official with appropriate authority to identify some means for addressing an issue related to some business transaction, purchase, agreement or other arrangement caught up in a business deal in which the process went south, was clearly outside the boundaries of mutual understanding and contradictory to any expected outcome?

More and more, as one walks in the garden, there seem to be more weeds than flowers. This winter seemed to bring more moisture, more cloudy days than usual. Not being a climatologist, I can’t declare for sure, but it seemed so. Thus, the weeds have seemed to proliferate, while those more sensitive and fragrant, more colorful and butterfly-attracting floral species are less in abundance.

One may wonder whether it is more perception than reality. Maybe one is guided more by one’s visual experience than the ability to see it all in a colorful light of fresh and flavorful wonder.

Is this more of a slanted view of the world out there, as spring seems to take on its appearance? Is

Age is one of those episodes that keeps getting our attention. It interrupts us in the middle of a conversation, when we have forgotten the subject. It leads us into discussions we know nothing about, but pretend we do. It demonstrates that our attention span may be detoured. It illustrates that our capabilities at keeping the conversation going is something of a challenge.

Our once lauded ability to be astute in sustaining an intelligent discourse, is somewhat challenged. We just don’t have the sharpness of tongue nor possess the quickness of thought we once did. The consequences of such frequent reminders to our lessening of verbal skills and a sharp repertoire nudges us to be less verbal, more anxious, slightly less self confident in conversation.

Seniors are challenged , often daily, by finding means for keeping zest in our lives. Clearly it is a choice. For example, if health issues threaten your ability to have adequate stamina, stirring up zest for daily activity becomes a demanding undertaking.

Or, if life seems to require more work to just get through the day, zest is all the more important. Or, if there seems to be more frustration and anxiety confronting your daily journey, life seems to have less to offer. If the familiar motivations that have contributed to more happiness and satisfaction in your daily living patterns, are fewer, how do you regenerate? Aging requires a daily discipline for using your imagination, for accepting and discovering challenges, for allowing your own interest in life to be stimulated.

Aging has a way of introducing both expectations and disappointments. Expectations come when some plan is suggested for some future activity. Disappointments follow when the expectation is not or cannot be acted upon.

Often, these disappointments come when a conflicting appointment interferes. There are all kind of expectations which meet the barricade of disappointment.

Medical appointments are often cause for expectation or disappointment. When an appointment is set, the expectation is that that is inviolate. If it is cancelled, that often means a worrisome delay. Or, it may mean setting the appointment at a time that interferes with another appointment, one which you