Another Decade
I don’t know why it is that I measure my life in decades, ‘when I was in my 30s, my 40s,’ etc. But I’m having trouble realizing that I’m in my ninth decade. Math was never my strong suit. I don’t know what is. It certainly is not grammar. Maybe it’s imagination.
Several years ago, a friend told me, “The eighties don’t seem to agree with me.” My eighties got off to a sad start with Frank’s death. He had been ill for several years and we knew it was coming. We told each other goodbye (for now). I assured him I would be alright. And I am. My grief and sorrow were eased somewhat when shortly after his passing Paul and Lois Howe invited me to join them on a Reformation Tour of Germany. We walked in the steps of Martin Luther. From his birth till his death. Wonderful, from beginning to end! We visited many ‘burgs,’ Coburg, Augsburg, Wittenburg and others. I hadn’t traveled in a while due to Frank’s illness. The trip and the time with the Howe’s eased me into my eighties. I’ve been back to Germany.
I was eighty-three when I fulfilled a life-long dream. Elizabeth, a widow friend, and I went to Africa! A tour of Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia with Road Scholar. I was glad I could climb up into safari wagons. The trip was all I had hoped for and then some. I loved the country, the people and the animals. Imagine the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls, elephants outside your tent, hippos ‘singing’ in the lagoon, giraffe trimming tree tops, members of the antelope family dashing at breakneck speed to evade lions and leopards, huge termite mounds, and baobab trees, and…and… I’d love to go back to Africa.
A couple of years later we took Tauck’s Grand Tour of Italy: Amalfi, Pompeii, Rome, St. Peter’s and the Sistine Chapel. Our guide in Rome, Franco of the flashing eyes and vast knowledge, made walking a pleasure whether up and down steps in the Colosseum or during our private tour of the Vatican. Our historic hotel was a block from the Pantheon. We walked into history. We saw beautiful Cinque Terre, Florence and famous art collections, Venice and canals, gondola rides, music, gelato, food and wine! Bella Italia! I’d love to go back, (We threw money over our shoulders into Trevi Fountain to assure that we would.)
Back at home, there were trips to visit Mike’s family in Washington State; to Taos to visit Judy and her family at their mountain cabin; a trip to Chattanooga and The Great Smokies. (I walked all the way across the Appalachian Trail – must have been at least four feet!) Yes, my eighties have taken me many places. I give thanks for the health and means that have allowed me to live my dreams.
Then came COVID19, the pandemic. Cause for caution. Reason to stay home. Sadly, my abundant good health, taken for granted, began to fail. I’d never had altitude sickness at the cabin, 8,400’, but now I did. I hadn’t had balance problems or shortness of breath, but now I did. For years, I had seen my doctor for annual wellness checks. Now I saw doctors for all the above. In summary, I don’t think my late eighties agree with me. And memory! I’d tell you about it, but I can’t remember for sure. I just saw one of my new. doctor friends. I had planned to ask whether it was okay for me to travel, that I was looking at a cruise of the Greek Isles from Athens to Ephesus, to Istanbul on the Bosphorus. I’ve never been to Turkey. And just imagine, Europe to my left and Asia to my right! A great start to my Ninth Decade! I didn’t ask the doctor. I’ve revised my thinking to a trip to the Big Bend. With my cane and my Lord Jesus as my constant companion.
Tess Todd 12/14/2021
Comments are closed