Growing Old

As kids we can't wait to grow - just simply grow. We measure ourselves against the door frame and squeal with pleasure when the pencil mark is above the last one. I recall having many pencil markings on my bedroom door frame. My cousins and I would be regularly marking our heights. Sometimes we would cheat by tilting our heads up or wearing a high curry-puff hair style, just to get our egos deflated the next time we measure ourselves properly.

Then, as teenagers we can't wait to grow up! We want to do grown up stuff like put on makeup, stay up late, be independent, manage our own pocket money, have a girl/boy friend, drive a car, hold a job, smoke (!), drink (!!) and kiss someone (!!!).

When we get there, nothing is as exciting as it was when it was imagined. We then start to grow again - we grow cynical, skeptical, bored, apathetic, disillusioned, disenchanted, proud, in and out of love ... and together with all that, we grow mustaches, sideburns, long hair, waistlines, bust lines and families.

Then, we grow old and this is the no fun bit ... or so people say.

I watch my 12 year old dog Jordan struggle to his feet. He is a proud and tidy little chap and I am sure it must have pained him to have had to pee and poo in my bedroom! It pained me to have had to clear and clean the floor at 5 am in the morning. But it comes as a package - keeping a pet. It was cleaning the floors 11 and a half years ago when he was a pup and it has come full cycle. I am still praying it was just an accident, but it is ok if it is not. He has given us 12 wonderful years of love and devotion as only a dog can give, and this is a small price to pay in return.

We loved him as a cute, energetic puppy and we adored him when he grew up obedient and loving. Now, he is growing old and we love him even more and celebrate every day he is still able to enjoy his walk, his food, Chloe's companionship and ours.

His walk is unsteady and his eyes are bleary. But underneath all that he is still Jordan.

I too am growing old. I pray that people will one day look beyond my unsteady gait, my cataract eyes, my faint urine ordour and see that I am still Elizabeth.

Growing old can be fun - if people around you allow it. So, stop nagging and stop gripping if you have someone old in your presence. Remember - we will all get there one day!

God bless us as we live each day. May it be to the fullest and may we experience a whole load of fun as we grow old!!!