Truth in Advertising

Raoul’s Two Cents: August 16, 2024

Aging With Grace

I bumped into one of my favorite movie scenes in YouTube — the opening scenes of the Pixar movie – UP. I love this masterpiece of storytelling that roller-coasters your emotions from happiness to tear-jerking sadness in a span of 4 minutes.

The older I get, the more I see myself in the movie. I think of the plans my wife and I shared and the dragons we feared and conquered. I see God’s blessing surpass many of our dreams. I also see so many of my friends. This past week I reconnected with some of them in their different stage of life.

Pain
I’ve known this couple for over 20 years. We’ve experienced the good and bad. So I was shocked when excruciating pain ran down the wife’s side and her screams worried her husband no end. Wasn’t it yesterday when she promenaded so elegantly at that hip restaurant in Pasadena? How could she fade so quickly? We feared the worst and prayed for a miracle. To our relief, the doctor said it wasn’t cancer and she was going home. Praise God! But it was certainly a close call.

“I don’t let my age define me, but the side effects are getting harder to ignore.” —Unknown

Phone Call
Out of the blue, another (much older friend) gave me a call in the middle of my afternoon movie. Ordinarily, I would have excused myself but I had not talked to him in such a long time I hit the pause button. I thought there was something important he wanted to convey but no, he just wanted to catch up. He said my article “What Life Is All About” made him reflect. We exchanged typical old conversations about health, family and his memories growing up as a Mexican in the Los Angeles of his youth. I should write a book about his life. He knew about landmarks before they were landmarks. We sighed because many of his stories will never be retold when he’s gone … and there are a lot of other stories like his.

Alone
I got a text from another old friend, a hard core Biblical researcher and a prolific writer, who enjoyed last week’s TGIF email about “Man’s Best Friend.” His soft-spoken wife passed away last year. How does he spend his time? Is he writing another book? Who does he share his thoughts with? Who shares his meals? I pray for him. He reminds me of my Dad who survived 6 years after Mom passed away.

Classmate
By some coincidence, an old classmate sent me a very long series of jokes about growing old … too long to share here but I created a special page just for her contribution. CLICK HERE. It brightened up my day; perhaps it will brighten yours.

Weekly Breakfast
Every Monday I have breakfast with many more old friends. We solve the problems of the world without the world even knowing. Come to think of it, I’ve always hung around older friends. They just love to share their opinions and I bask in their overflowing wisdom.

Old friends … aging friends … forever friends.

Conclusion
I never thought I was old until my son told me years ago that I should stop playing basketball because I could hurt myself. He was right. Boom! I was old! It used to bother me but I have since accepted my new role in society. I’m now the token white-haired, wrinkled, slow moving zombie of the neighborhood. Don’t mind me; I’m just one of the boomers … and I’m lovin’ it!

I observe and I share.
I don’t care if they stare.
But if I fall down the stairs,
Please call Medicare! — Raoul

As always, this is just me. Is this you too?
TGIF people!

“By the time you’re eighty years old you’ve learned everything. You only have to remember it.” —George Burns (1896-1996)

“Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.” —Robert Browning (1812-1889)

“Those who love deeply never grow old, they may die of old age, but they die young.” —Benjamin Franklin

“You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely.” —Ogden Nash

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” — Isaiah 46:4

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Original art by Raoul Pascual.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Sharon of Connecticut

Thanks to Richard of New Manila, Philippines

Thanks to Magda of Boston, Massachusetts

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Drew of Anaheim, CA

Thanks to Benny of Detroit

Thanks to Rachel of Seattle, Washington

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with this.

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