The amazing blessing of parents at age 56
I’ve just returned from a wonderful 3-day visit with my father in Minneapolis.
When preparing to go, I posted my plans on Facebook and got lots of envious responses. I realized I take my blessing of parents at age 56 for granted. I’ll stop that right now!
Here are a few of the golden nuggets of having parents at this age:
- The freedom to accept each other exactly as we are
- It seems easier to choose to be ourselves instead of trying to be something else.
- It is all “golden time” now. It’s way beyond any “promised” time (not that there is such a thing!). To actually have healthy, happy parents at my age (56) is truly a blessing—and not the norm.
My father took the time and effort to arrange a wonderful itinerary. We saw three shows (programs pictured below):
Our lodgings were carefully orchestrated so we could walk or ride public transportation to our events. No driving at night required! Great thinking ahead!
We spent one morning only tasting a few of the delights of the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Time and heat limited our time there, we moved on to a shady picnic. But not before being impressed by plants and origami sculptures alike!
I DO realize how blessed I am to have not one, but TWO healthy parents at my ripe age of 56! My mother is not only healthy, but off doing something I can barely imagine: biking around Lake Michigan!
You can see the similarities of my father and I: both long, tall drinks of water! We enjoyed a slower pace together, especially taking time out to read aloud to each other this is a time-honored tradition in my family, and one I treasure. Do you know my father calls me every Christmas Eve to read “The Night Before Christmas” poem around to me over the phone?
I am the world’s luckiest lady!!!
I have no “Coach’s Challenge” for you this week—only the desire to share my good fortune with you. May you feel vicariously the delight I had in my time stated with my father!
