Upon Becoming a Septuagenarian

Septuagenarian: A person who is 70 years old or between the ages of 70 and 80. 

Just as Fall showed up this year with the turning of a calendar page, I've come to the realization I'm owner of this label. I feel I passed over some threshold upon reaching my seventies.Which, for some unknown reason, has been cause for a great deal of self-recognition and examination of my life's progress.

Some of the genes I've inherited come from forebears who lived fully productive lives into their nineties. This could indicate there are a few more left for me to fill. I find myself taking stock, trying to figure out what the coming years will bring.

As I entered this decade, I sensed a shifting of emphasis in how I will use the time remaining. Not that the time I've already spent on this earth hasn't been interesting and challenging. I can honestly say in looking back over my life's accomplishments, many of those goals achieved never entered the ken of my adolescence.

Not in my wildest dreams did I ever consider myself a writer back then, much less a published author of several books and numerous magazine articles. I was ignorant about illiteracy in this nation and how it would become a focal point of my interests. So all-consuming that I spent several years as a literacy tutor and created a local program for those in my own community who desired to read and attain their GED.

One of my realizations of late is this lack of passion for those interests that once captured me in the past. So many of the goals that energized my life previously have lost their appeal. It's as if I've reached a plateau and I'm pausing to look around, determining just what I intend to fill my life with that will give me purpose and satisfaction.

I don't know if this is indicative of others who have reached this stage of life. But I do know I don't want to live my remaining years stagnating, filling hours with useless busyness.

Lest this posting come across as one of morbid thoughts, I leave you with this shared bit from elsewhere:

GOSH, I'M RICH!


Silver in the hair

Gold in the teeth
Stones in the kidneys
Sugar in the blood
Lead in the butt
Calcium in the arteries
And an inexhaustible supply of Natural Gas

I never thought I'd accumulate such wealth.

Time and trouble will tame an advanced young woman, but an advanced old woman is uncontrollable by any force. Dorothy L. Sayers

Bring on the years!