As I have now officially entered my ninth decade on earth, people have asked if I have any special secret to self-preservation. Umm. Well, here are a few suggestions, in no particular order.
Keep upbeat. Nobody likes to be around a sourpuss.
Never lose your sense of humor, as my grandmother used to say. My Jack loved taking Gammy out to lunch and having a few laughs.
She was a real pip!
Don’t get sunburned. Never mind if your friends are brunettes. You’re a basic redhead and married a sailor. Lather up and cover up. Who cares if you wear your socks on the beach.
Stay curious (and brave). Don’t be afraid to try something new, even if you’re not much good at it. Mahjong? An Apple watch? Netflix? A balancing class?
Get vaccinated. Stick your arm out for anything that‘s offered (an easy walk-on at ShopRite).
Take care of yourself. The guys (usually guys) who pride themselves on never going to a doctor are often the first to drop dead of a heart attack. Why do women outlive men? In olden days, women cooked and took care of babies; men pushed the plow. Today, men sit in front of their computers, and women go to the gym.
Always have something to look forward to. Every day: A good book, a needlepoint project, a Liberty jigsaw puzzle permanently set up in the family room. (Ok, I admit it, and a crossword puzzle book in the head.) Every week: Lunch dates with friends you need to catch up with; dinner dates and a glass of prosecco with friends you can bitch to.
It’s OK to say, “No” without feeling guilty. You’re a big girl now. Yippee!
Have Gary fix your hair every month or so. And while he’s at your house, ask him to change the burnt-out lightbulbs in the kitchen ceiling.
Have Bob Capazzo fix your neck if you look like a turtle in a photograph.
Have a tech-pro on standby. Mine’s name is Joe; but At Home in Greenwich can put you on to some good ones. Who needs the stress?
If you like what you’re doing, keep doing it. That is, as long as you’ve got your marbles. You’ll know when your time is up, or somebody will be sure to tell you.
Stand up for what you think is right—and shoot off your mouth when necessary. March for women’s rights. Go to No Kings rallies, yell and stamp your feet. Keep tuned into what’s happening politically. As a member of the Horseneck DAR, I want my patriot ancestors to be proud of me. After all, they were there for our first revolution.
Avoid people who annoy you. Life’s too short.
But Treasure your friends and relations—yup, even your relations. And that’s Treasure with a capital T. After all, life is all about love, what?