Just spent a delightful week in Holden Beach, N.C. with my daughters their boyfriends, my husband, his sister and her daughters family. I really dreaded the long drive with my back and hip but I chose to stretch out in the back seat with my legs up in the air periodically, and it was great. Due to my lack of sleeping lately, I didn't have to drive on the way down at all. My husband and dear sister-in-law, Marla took on that task for 8 long hours. The beaches of NC were lovely, remining me of Ocean City Md. about 40 years ago...very laid back, quiet and no high rises! Our house was perfect, one block from the ocean, a pool right in our back yard, and a huge house with 4 BR an, 3 bathrooms, jacuzzi, 3 decks and a huge living room and kitchen.
I really gave my hip and back a rest from my hard core DVD workouts....boy did it pay off. Each day I either rode my bike for 45-60 minutes (flat terrain everywhere) and/or did a aqua workout in the pool with my noodles and weights. No pain at all till I finished that brutal ride home as I am really trying to adjust to staying in shape in a gentler, low impact fashion.
Well yesterday Cal Ripken turned 50 and I turned 56, and began my 57th year---somehow as I eek closer to 60, old age seems like something real instead of some far-off notion. At dinner last night with my daughters (27 & 29 and obsessed with youth and all the marketing that goes with it) I told them to prepare themselves over the upcoming years as my body changes...because we are supposed to age! They were speechless! Aging is natural and inevitable, but not license to default to the rocking chair and wait to die! Last night while I couldn't sleep I thought of the things that I'm doing and want to do these next 50 fifty years. These things came to mind, in no particular order--just brainstorming:
I just acted a small role in my step-son's indie movie this past Sunday (aging biker chick was my role-YIKES!); get my research study published; get a second Master's or my PhD.; visit Asia, Australia and complete my visit to all 50 states (only 11 more to go); cruise the Mediterranean; join a research travel group; hone my technological skills; join a drama company and act; be a grandmother; retire in my current occupation but continue to promote vibrant aging through all my movement therapy classes; design and execute an aquatic tai chi class; continue my tai chi studies and do a triathalon or whatever the 5k run/walk, 10-mile bike ride and 1 mile swim is called. Whew--maybe this is why I can't sleep, too much to think about. Anyway--I off on another vacation to my beloved little condo in OC from Sept 2-10...will check in later
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