Things I have learned - Enjoying life for the first time twice

By Bill D. Ward

Today’s Wisdom:  “A man’s real possession is his memory. In nothing else is he rich, in nothing else is he poor.” - Alexander Smith

Since arriving at the age of senior discounts some time ago, I have noticed a trend that was not present in my younger life. For lack of a better term, I’ll call it the “Double Deal.” In short, we get the privilege of experiencing things twice, sometimes even more.

It just happened recently to me. I was working on a home project and needed some concrete. Not being up on all the concrete products today I relied on the help of a nice young man at the store. I bought his recommended product and headed home, a 34-mile round trip in all. At home I read the directions and consulted the internet. My conclusion… I had the wrong product.

My wife and I got to enjoy the drive, along with the usual inspection of crops, for a second 34-mile round trip. This one may not have been my fault, but there are enough instances of going down to the basement only to forget why I went there, going back up to figure out what I was doing, then making a second trip. I know plenty of times it is my fault.

A few days ago, I was at a meeting when I received a compliment for a video project I had worked on. One of the others present stated she didn’t know what it was and wanted to hear about it. I explained to her that she had helped me with it two years ago. “Oh.” She gets to enjoy the video all over again for the first time.

Back when I was working, I saw a different side of the issue. Many of our folks suffered severe memory loss. One particular gentleman would ask our staff many times a day where he was and why he was there. We finally made up a card for him to keep in his shirt pocket, with all the answers. When he would ask, we simply told him to read the card. Many times a day he experienced the shock and angst of discovering he was in a care center. I never saw the man happy, as he was always in a state of anxiety over just discovering where he was for the first time.

I have learned to appreciate the good things that life still brings my way. There will come a day when there are less of them. But for now, if I must count the ability to enjoy the same event for the first time twice as a good thing, then so be it. I’m just sayin’.