A doctor and his wife were having a big argument at breakfast. "You aren't so good in bed either!" he shouted as he stormed off to work.
Later in the day, the doctor decided he should apologize. He called his home and the phone rang for a long time before his wife answered.
He asked her, “What took you so long to answer?"
She said, "I was in bed."
He asked "What were you doing in bed this late in the day?"
She replied, "Getting a second opinion."
So often I hear people say how happy they are and yet they fear that the day will come as that get older that they will lose their zest for life.
It has been my experience that the aging process, while slowing me down a bit, has had just the opposite effect. As I wrote my book and met and spoke with persons in their 60’s 70’s and up, one thing became abundantly clear: It is because my beloved Anna taught me about life’s secret ingredient, which you will learn about as you read this blog. I use this secret ingredient every day.
Whether they were married couples still able to interact, single persons in warm relationships or individuals who on a daily basis found ways to love and help others, those who daily expressed their love openly were the happiest.
No matter how old we are, no matter what our physical being, Love is the ingredient that gets us happily from the beginning of life to its end.
Just consider every stage of your life and how the love of your parents, your family and friends made your days so much more enjoyable when you kept your heart open to that love.
Oh yes, bad judgments were made at times, and just as Aaron’s sons went in different directions, the sooner the wounds were healed and love returned the happier the they became.
While this blog is about the love between two married aging people who have been an inspiration to me. They recently celebrated their 21st anniversary and although each has medical and physical problems their love for each other is in full blossom every day.
However, the message goes much deeper. It is really about how at any age in your life you can find true happiness by Sprinkling the Ingredient Love on your relationships. Don’t waste one single day. People die, but love lives forever.
Yes, this poem is dedicated to my friends Ruth and Burt who enrich my life continually as they demonstrate in a real life way what the ingredient of love can add to our joy of living.
Age Does not Limit Lovebirds
He rides his motor cart wherever he needs to go
She pushes her walker very close behind
Although the neuropathy pain he feels from head to toe
He is one of the most kind and upbeat men you will ever find
She is beautiful and has always a smile on her face as she greets everyone around
And they help and encourage each other to be happy every single day
They express openly and lovingly how exited they are each other to have found
It is most exciting to see their many family members gather around them as for dinner the often stay
He tells funny jokes and laughs and sings with great delight
She always does her best to encourage him even when he’s off key
They go to in-house movies almost every night
To watch them as they hold hands is a great delight to see.
They say that as we age life’s excitement fades away
Well my friends there is no statement more unfitted
As Ruth and Burt so clearly prove in every way
It just takes two warm persons who to each other are committed.
Bernie Otis
Bernard ("Bernie") Otis is the author of the upcoming international bestseller, "How To Prepare For Old Age (If You Haven't Married Into A Wealthy Family)". If you have a question or comment, or a personal story about life and aging, please send me an email to seymour.otis@gmail.com
And, please be sure to support my friend Lorrie Caplan Shern's work. Information about her book and blog can be found at www.givingbirthtomyparents.com, and her wonderful songs can be found on www.soundcloud.com. Her phone is 720-652-6655.
