We asked readers to give us essays of 300 words or less about Golden Senior Moments. Here are their contributions.
The last sunset
If you’re from central Illinois, you know the kind of night I’m talking about. I remember it because I was there.
It was one of those nights, later in the summer, when the sun started waning and it seemed like the tree branches refracted the dying rays. A few dry leaves skittered across the parking lot, dropped from the mother tree way too early, but out of necessity, the parched earth unsatisfied with the moisture it had been allotted.
The cicadas’ chorus reached a crescendo, then rhythmically subsided as they signaled the impending sunset. A lonely train whistle cut through the humid evening and faded as the locomotive pulled its load out of the city onto the prairie.
I was there that night because the decision had been made: All the options had been exhausted and it was time to move to the hospice.
The hospice was right across the street from the hospital but it required an ambulance transfer because of the oxygen tank and all of the IVs. So I went ahead and walked across the street and waited by the ambulance entrance. After about 15 minutes, the ambulance arrived and parked underneath those old trees on Eighth Street.
The paramedics unloaded the stretcher and rolled her over to a spot under a tree, facing west where she could see the sunset, now spectacular with shades of pink, purple, orange and blue. The paramedics stepped respectfully away, almost standing at attention by their rig.
No one was in a hurry for this sacred moment to end. I can still remember the scratchiness of the brick as I leaned against the wall watching her see that last sunset. Over the years I’ve pondered how long this lasted … me, her and two paramedics witnessing that beautiful sunset. Since that day, I’ve always treasured sunsets. –Stephen Lee
The power of awe
I first learned about the science of awe after an awesome whitewater rafting trip on the Colorado River. I was overwhelmed with emotions I couldn’t explain when immersed in the vastness of the Grand Canyon, stunningly beautiful scenery and the Milky Way filling the night sky. This intrigued me to learn more about the power and science of awe.
Dacher Keltner is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of the 2023 book, Awe, The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. He explains that “awe is the emotion we experience when we encounter vast mysteries that we don’t understand.” Awe can be found everywhere by opening our minds and engaging our senses. His research documents that experiencing awe is good for your mind and body. It triggers the release of oxytocin and dopamine, activation of the vagus nerve and reduces the fight-or-flight cardiovascular response. It produces inflammation-fighting substances called cytokines. The result is reduced likelihood of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression and everyday aches and pains.
Keltner cites eight wonders of life where one can find awe – moral beauty (exceptional character and ability), collective effervescence (being part of a collective “we”), nature, music, visual design, spirituality and religion, life and death, and epiphany. Experiencing awe leads to feeling part of something larger than oneself, being open to new ideas and it animates children’s curiosity.
I now realize other ways I have experienced awe – the birth of my two grandchildren, watching them learn and explore, observing a monarch butterfly lay an egg on a milkweed plant, looking closely at paintings in art museums, taking walks in Washington Park during COVID-19 and observing clouds in the sky.
Slow down, engage your senses and find the extraordinary in the ordinary for a less stressful and more fulfilling life. –Karen Ackerman Witter
News of war
A long time ago, my education began in a one-room county schoolhouse.
It all started in the first week of September 1939. During that first week, the teacher made an announcement to all the students: “The Second World War began today.” –Joe Donovan
My maternal grandfather
My grandfather was born in Italy and immigrated to the U.S., leaving his immediate family behind. He, my grandmother and their two daughters arrived at Ellis Island. He was an avid outdoorsman who fished, hunted rabbits and squirrels, along with catching turtles. There were many times my grandmother would fry fish or turtle over an open fire made from two cinder blocks topped with a metal grate where a black wrought-iron pan sat.
He was a mushroom hunter, identifying poisonous from nonpoisonous, teaching me the difference between them. His other talents were gardening and winemaking. I assume those skills were used to survive in his homeland. He said his family was among many at the poverty level.
His garden measured one-half lot, including different types of tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, green beans, potatoes, onions, garlic and strawberries. Weeds were scarce. He cleaned his tools daily, coating them with oil. He grew fruit trees in his yard; sweet red and yellow cherries, sour red cherries, apricots, peaches and apples. And he had a grape arbor.
To make wine, grapes were delivered annually to his door. The wooden crates had colorful labels showing pictures of different produce. He said they were shipped from California. Barrels with spigots were in the room behind the crates. This room was dark and cool to best ferment, I’m guessing. Other men made wine, however my Dad claimed my grandfather’s was best.
When I was nine, my grandfather brought a crow home and gave it to me as a pet. I thoroughly enjoyed this. It stayed for nearly six months before eventually flying off.
Another memorable case was when he told me to eat poison ivy to build immunity. It then erupted in my mouth. He said I should have eaten it in the spring, not fall. – Joann Howard
Another definition needed
The phrase “senior moments” conjures up an instance of momentary forgetfulness or confusion that is attributed to aging. These moments or glitches in the brain can happen to people in their 30s or 40s also, so I would like to offer another definition.
Let’s think of these moments in a positive light.
Wisdom and experience. We seniors have a wealth of knowledge and life experience to share with the younger generation. Invaluable advice and guidance gained from a lifetime of learning.
Embracing self-care. We seniors now can prioritize our well-being, recognizing the importance of maintaining our physical and mental health. This involves regular exercise, healthy eating, meditation and yoga.
Opportunities for learning. Age is no barrier to learning. Seniors love new opportunities. Whether it’s a new hobby, taking classes or traveling to new places.
Freedom from responsibility. Many seniors enjoy a newfound freedom from pressures of work and raising children/family. It allows us to pursue other interests.
Legacy/impact. Seniors can make a positive impact on their community, whether it is volunteering, sharing wisdom or sharing knowledge.
Aging is a privilege denied to many. So, let’s be thankful for seniors and their moments. The next time a person you know has a senior moment, recognize all the wonderful things that are before and after those 30 seconds. –Lori Fragier
I’m a grandmother
I didn’t really know a grandparent, but I knew that when I became one, I’d be a GRAND-parent. Friends (not wanting to sound old) were becoming Nanas, Memas and Mimis but I wanted to be called Grandma. When someone asked my grandchildren about their grandmother, I wanted them to think of me.
Though they lived out of state, I was there when they were born. I visited often to help, pushed them in baby carriages to the parks, pushed them in swings at the parks and as they grew, walked them to and from school. They got to know their neighborhood and neighbors with me.
And, oh, when they came to Springfield to visit we played! Dress-up clothes including wigs and wedding gowns, songs and dances on the porch, hot wheels and trains in the basement, tents with sheets in the living room, “Grandma’s School” in the mornings with “Word of the Day,” “State of the Day” and as they kept growing, “Country of the Day.” Baseball in the back yard, flower watering, garden vegetable picking, water hose fights, lemonade stands, bike rides to the “willow tree” for swinging and tree climbing and always story time before bed.
Picking one moment from all the glorious moments with them is hard, but one does stand out in my memories because it was so unusual. Apparently, I said something in a scolding manner to my 5-year-old grandson. He walked away down the hall and turned to look at me. Trembling and with his little puckering lips he burst into tears and cried, “You broke my heart!” I vowed – “never again.” –Judy Gunn
Loving, caring and creative Aunt Mary
My mother worked full time and my Aunt Mary was my caregiver. I went to her house every day for lunch and after school. She was a loving and caring person.
At Christmas she would make 15 nut rolls and hundreds of cookies to give to family and friends. At Easter she would make lamb cakes. As she grew older, she could no longer bake. I began to send her homemade treats at Christmas.
In December of 2010 she was 94 and living alone in her home in Chicago. She had no children and I was very close to her. She called me when her UPS package had arrived. I asked her if she had tried any of the baked goods. She said that the package was still on the front porch. She used a walker and was unable to bring it in. Her neighbor who helped her was not at home. I told her not to worry because nothing would spoil.
A few hours later she called to tell me that the package was in the house. I said, “Oh, did your neighbor come home?” She said, “No,” and then added, “I ordered a pizza and when it was delivered I asked the man to put the package in the house.”
She was very creative. I laugh when I think about this story. She died two months later. I still miss her. –Rita Whitney
Vaguely
My husband, Ralph, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in his late 70s. We moved into Brenden Gardens, an independent living facility, a few months after his diagnosis.
Here are a few fond memories I have of living there.
One sunny afternoon, I left to make some purchases at Walmart. I told Ralph there were clothes in the dryer but I would be back by the time they were dry. I ran my errand and, as I pulled into the parking lot, Ralph was there waiting for me. Ralph helped me carry my purchases in, and, as I opened the door to our apartment, I was surprised to see the laundry neatly folded on the table. As I looked closer, I realized the laundry was still damp and wasn’t even our laundry! Ralph had taken someone else’s laundry out of the other dryer. We laughed as I quickly grabbed the damp laundry and took it back to the laundry room and put it into the dryer to finish drying. The other dryer held our completely dry clothes.
As Ralph’s disease progressed, we found humor was the best way to cope with his condition. We had always used humor to get through the more trying times in our marriage. Many times, I would ask him if he remembered certain things that happened while raising our three children. He would always say, “Vaguely.” Time after time when I would ask him a question about something he would say he remembered it “vaguely.” Every time he said it, we would laugh. It was our way to bring some levity into our lives to make it more bearable to cope with the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.
Ralph passed in 2020. I have fond memories when I think of that word . . .”vaguely.” –Carolyn Dowis
Getting older is like riding a roller coaster
“Senior moments” is a term used to describe a temporary memory lapse such as forgetting your PIN or a person’s name. While these types of lapses can affect people of all ages, older people seem to have them more often.
My friends and I always say that getting old is not for sissies. You go to bed feeling good, and you wake up with a new pain, wondering where it came from. One evening I went to bed and when I went to get up the next morning I almost fell because my knee gave out. You have an issue and go to the doctor. He says that he is not sure what it is and sends you to a specialist who is bewildered.
Most seniors have experienced going into a room and then standing there because they forgot why they went into the room. You must laugh at yourself.
Always keep your phone charged so you can have your mate call it when you can’t find it.
A glass of wine is good for the soul. The day we run out of wine is just too terrifying to think of.
Getting older is like riding a roller coaster. There are thrills, exciting moments, highs, lows and sometimes you just may pee your pants from laughter. I get up each morning and thank God for giving me a new day just to experience life. –Nell R. Clay
This article appears in Spring 2024 March 2024.
