Transitions

[Marshall]

The I-Jam discussions mirror a lot of things going on around me. I call them transitions. And not in a nice way. Seems like I’m (we?) at the age where a lot of good things I’ve come to take for granted go through a change. Degradation? Things like Marty’s illness. Lonnie’s passing. Bill’s hand issues. Todd’s loss of Kim. Many things here. And also elsewhere in my so-called happy idyllic life.

My latest friendly local music community, the center figure moved away a couple months ago to be near their kids and grandkids. Sad for all his musical friends. One of the other pillars tore his Achilles and is having knee surgery and will be out for a good while. His wife has degrading Parkinson’s.

My old music friend group @ FitzGerald’s has broken up because there’s a new owner of the place and he doesn’t believe in Open Mics. No place to gather. The group splintered.

My mother just turned 96 and she requires a lot of attention. The loving gentle person I knew forever is replaced by a confused and ornery complainer.

The church I belong to for 38 years is losing a long-time pastor and the attendance is dwindling to mostly slumped white hairs with walkers. These were people who were vibrant pillars of the church. Very few younger people filling the void.

Me and Sue are holding our own, but we notice every day more and more short-comings popping up in our physical routines.

The wolf is at the door.


(Sorry for the downer. I just had to get that off my chest).

[drlj]

Gee, thanks a lot, Mr. Sunshine!

You speak the truth, though. We have lost a lot of friends over the years. Another was diagnosed with multiple cancers a couple days ago.
I have some mobility issues due to an ankle problem I have had since birth that never bothered me when I was young. I have to cut way back on activities I have long enjoyed because of pain. That’s one major reason I have to skip IJam. Another is because Barb has to have a biopsy done on her thyroid. Due to her heart and blood thinner issues, it requires a lot more of her than it would of me.
My fingers still work so I can still play but I notice a few things that used to go smoothly are a bit less so. I still try to learn something new every day even if it is just a new way to play a lick.
We still get up looking forward to the day, though.
I have reached the age where doctors say, “For someone your age…” and waitresses call me sweetie. “More coffee, sweetie?” No waitress called me sweetie when I was 25.
Do not go gentle, but don’t forget your meds.

[Marty]

Me and Sue are holding our own, but we notice every day more and more short-comings popping up in our physical routines.

I have reached the age where doctors say, “For someone your age…” and waitresses call me sweetie. “More coffee, sweetie?” No waitress called me sweetie when I was 25.

Do not go gentle, but don’t forget your meds.

I don't need to be reminded about stuff like that you guys. 

[Hobson]

Resistance is futile. I'm watching a friend go kicking and screaming into selling her house and moving to what will probably be an independent living retirement community with meals, housekeeping, and some transportation provided. She has been at this for over a year. Found a place and didn't like something about it. Has been through at least 5 other iterations of "getting ready to move." Even had decided to rent a house that's farther away from medical care than she is now. Her doctor advised against that. She has various medical problems. Each time she gets better, she thinks she can live on her own. Then something else happens. Now she's back to thinking about the very first place again. I know it's a difficult transition and moving is a lot of work, but I hope I'm not that stubborn. Mr. H and I took the first step 3 years ago when we moved from a house on 2 acres in the sticks to a detached townhouse a mile from a good hospital and most of our doctors in the middle of Tucson.

For someone my age, I'm doing OK. Mr. H is 7 years older and doing OK for someone his age.

[PaulKay]

Aug 20, 2022 8:02:04 GMT -5 Marshall said:

The I-Jam discussions mirror a lot of things going on around me. I call them transitions. And not in a nice way. Seems like I’m (we?) at the age where a lot of good things I’ve come to take for granted go through a change. Degradation? Things like Marty’s illness. Lonnie’s passing. Bill’s hand issues. Todd’s loss of Kim. Many things here. And also elsewhere in my so-called happy idyllic life.

My latest friendly local music community, the center figure moved away a couple months ago to be near their kids and grandkids. Sad for all his musical friends. One of the other pillars tore his Achilles and is having knee surgery and will be out for a good while. His wife has degrading Parkinson’s.

My old music friend group @ FitzGerald’s has broken up because there’s a new owner of the place and he doesn’t believe in Open Mics. No place to gather. The group splintered.

My mother just turned 96 and she requires a lot of attention. The loving gentle person I knew forever is replaced by a confused and ornery complainer.

The church I belong to for 38 years is losing a long-time pastor and the attendance is dwindling to mostly slumped white hairs with walkers. These were people who were vibrant pillars of the church. Very few younger people filling the void.

Me and Sue are holding our own, but we notice every day more and more short-comings popping up in our physical routines.

The wolf is at the door.


(Sorry for the downer. I just had to get that off my chest).

There has GOT to be a song in there somewhere. And most certainly called "Transitions". Or have you done that one already?

[TKennedy]

When we go out with a couple in our age range Pat and I have a little game we play. I start timing and see how long it takes until the main topic of conversation is our health issues.

Typically it’s generic greetings 1 minute, recent activity 1min, kids and grandkids 3 min, medical/health/aging issues 1 hr. +

[coachdoc]

I’m just back from music camp. It was wonderful. But the topic of aging was brought up a lot. Once again every thing but the food was spot on. The Kennedys were the pinnacle of instruction and performance. They are superb.

[Cornflake]

Marshall, I wish I could say that I have no idea what you're talking about but I can't. Those of us in a certain age group are all going through that. Only the details vary. It's constructive to acknowledge it. I felt less alone when I read your post.

"There has GOT to be a song in there somewhere. And most certainly called 'Transitions'. Or have you done that one already?"

I was reminded of one I wrote, "Side Effects of Not Being Dead."

[billhammond]

None of this stuff bothers me all that much ... oops, look at the time! Time for my morning 8 pills!

[majorminor]

I had the exact same thought when I read the Ijam attendance thread. Change.

At 57 every thing still pretty much works but have some arthritis in a hip and knee so most days I’m in some low level of constant pain. Just gonna deal with it until I can’t sleep at night and then go get new ones. Hands are getting a little stiffer but still ok. Especially for acoustic strumming or playing electric.

I’m pretty sure I’m not gonna be one of those spry 80 year olds I meet from time to time 6 miles in and up on a hiking trail.

[Marshall]

Aug 20, 2022 8:56:27 GMT -5 PaulKay said:

There has GOT to be a song in there somewhere. And most certainly called "Transitions". Or have you done that one already?

No but it's festering. Though I did a song years ago that applies: The River

Helen takes another sip from her coffee
And stares down in
How did love become a 4 letter word
Time to start again

Paul goes out to have a beer with the guys
Can’t stay at home
They solve the problems of the whole damned world
Except for their own

Drift away down this river
Paddle when you’re strong
Caught up in the current
The River plays its song

Mark is always there when you need a friend
Or so he was
The body failed him, but never his spirit
Now he’s gone from us.

I lie awake at night and stare at the ceiling.
It’s just not fair
That some find happiness. Some find sorrow
More than their share

Drift away down this river
Try to be strong
Some times we fight the current
You’ve known it all along

Drift away down this river
Have faith and be strong
Caught up in the current
The River plays its song.

[coachdoc]

Aug 20, 2022 9:16:51 GMT -5 Marshall said:

Aug 20, 2022 8:56:27 GMT -5 PaulKay said:

There has GOT to be a song in there somewhere. And most certainly called "Transitions". Or have you done that one already?

No but it's festering. Though I did a song years ago that applies: The River

Helen takes another sip from her coffee
And stares down in
How did love become a 4 letter word
Time to start again

Paul goes out to have a beer with the guys
Can’t stay at home
They solve the problems of the whole damned world
Except for their own

Drift away down this river
Paddle when you’re strong
Caught up in the current
The River plays its song

Mark is always there when you need a friend
Or so he was
The body failed him, but never his spirit
Now he’s gone from us.

I lie awake at night and stare at the ceiling.
It’s just not fair
That some find happiness. Some find sorrow
More than their share

Drift away down this river
Try to be strong
Some times we fight the current
You’ve known it all along

Drift away down this river
Have faith and be strong
Caught up in the current
The River plays its song.

Not too shabby,Marshall.

[drlj]

Barb has a sister who is 95. We were sleeping one night. It was about 10:30. The phone rang which can be scary at 10:30 when you have sisters in their 90s. Barb answered. It was Clara. She was at a casino and had just won $1500. She was surprised we were asleep.
We thought, what is wrong with this picture?

[t-bob]

A song with changes & transitions

Wherever I Go - Mark Knopfler

Maybe I'm bound to wander
From one place to the next
Heaven knows why
But in the wild blue yonder
Your star is fixed
In my sky
Just another bar, at a cross roads
So far from home
But that's alright
Whenever I'm going down the dark road
I don't feel alone in the night
There's a place in my heart
Though we're far apart
May you always know?
No matter how long since I saw you
I keep the flame there for you
Wherever I go
They're looking too close up in here
Pulling down the blinds
But they'll let you stay a while
And I'm going, in a while
Now I've got leave you, brother
So this round's mine
Just looking at you, anyhow
You can go on and have another
You wouldn't, call time
I'm gonna say my goodbye's now
There's a place in my heart
Though we're far apart
May you always, know?
No matter how long since I saw you
I keep the flame there for you
Wherever I go

[billhammond]

I have found that melanoma is a good gateway disease in life boundary appreciation. From here on out, apparently, I will get to see my derm doc every three months to get my pasty white body examined from head to toe. It's kinda like a mini-physical, so there is that, even though I am sure it's costing me a fortune. But you know what they say -- you can't put a price on a really good tamale.

[Tamarack]

The wolf is not at the door but he is loitering about the back fence.

[billhammond]

Aug 20, 2022 9:35:08 GMT -5 Tamarack said:

The wolf is not at the door but he is loitering about the back fence.

Fortunately, my eyesight is so bad I can't see him licking his chops.

[Cosmic Wonder]

I have no idea what you all are blathering about. I take five pills every morning. One more pill with food at night. And three more at bedtime. And don’t talk to me about nueropathy. Or sciatica. Or hearing loss/tinnitus/+balance issues. I do see a little better after my recent cataract surgery. My big goal for next year? To actually go surfing again. Not sure I can do it, but I want to try. So…

Mike

[billhammond]

Speaking of transitions, I feel a really good BM coming on -- exciting! (Marshall, I think there is a song in that, go for it!) (So to speak.)

[Cornflake]

"Speaking of transitions, I feel a really good BM coming on -- exciting! (Marshall, I think there is a song in that, go for it!) (So to speak.)"

You could call it "Peaceful Easy Feeling."