.... of celebrating late fifties !

" yam seng..." Salute to the late fifties.


Yours Sincerely ( Y S ) received the following e-mail and felt that it is wasteful if not shared with others who are on the way or on the dot or off shot the late fifties. So, read on .........

" I would not trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I' ve become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before thay understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 am and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60s and 70s, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ...... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet ski. They, too, will get old one day!

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually only remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car ? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face, So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I 've earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be.

And I shall eat desserts every single day if I feel like it. "

So, let's celebrate life in the late fifties . Live on. LIFE is for the living. There is plenty of time to be DEAD.

Sign up for the cruise you always talk about.
Dine at that restaurant you always wish to.
Take that walk around your neighbourhood which you never have time for.
Wash your car in the rain and make your neighbours laugh
Drive through that stretch of the highway which you always wish to try.
Check into the hotel which you read about.
Hit that golf ball which you always think is so crazy to do so.
Sing that song with your tuneless voice in the karaoeke .
etc . etc. etc. etc ...

And embrace your loved one and tell them you love them if you are still inhibited !!!

When we were born we cry and others laugh. Make sure that when we go, others cry and we laugh ...................................