Monday, October 12, 2015

The Games we Play




































































































































































































































































































































Old folks like us are constantly doing what we can to maintain our edge. We hate it that we cannot recall that name or that film or that novel or celebrity or that perfect word. In ten seconds they will come back to our brains, but we worry about getting Alzheimers or just going gaga.

So we try to stay sharp by doing crossword puzzles and online brain games. My daily shot of brain boosting is learning another language. Since I live in a community where Spanish is spoken, and where I have to connect with parents and kids, this seemed to be a natural. I love to be in the community here when I have to interact with only Spanish speakers. What I need to say is pretty basic, and what they say to me is also basic.

I make excuses to go to the local Bravo supermarket where I can ask "tiene pimientos secos?" I love to try out my Spanish with the veggie person who guides me on how hot the peppers are. I love connecting with those mammas and their kids at school.

But, in Pimsleur Language, I now can say that when I was in Belize it was unfortunate because we had a flat tire and my cell phone dropped and was broken and my fiancé had a stomach problem, but my mother-in-law fell and injured her knee.

We are making a trip to Cuba in the near future, and I think that all I will need to say is "where is the restroom?"

What I really do to exercise my brain is to walk ten thousand steps every day, go to Tai Chi twice a week and attend Jazzercize every week. And I love to be a caretaker of this magnificent land (and that is hard work!).

Working with kids, growing gardens, maintaining contacts with old friends and making new friends are key to keeping my edge. My volunteer work takes me to interesting places and frames of mind. Every day I work on my artistic things, quilts and such, and I am never bored. Always something new happening.

My life is good. However,  I worry about the future of this country and this planet.





























The

No comments:

Post a Comment