Aging...On Growing Older

I was reading this wonderful poem, and it inspired me. You might read the original “When I am Old” and then read my version. I am sure I forgot some other pointers!

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me,
And I shall spend my pension
on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals,
and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired,
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells,
And run my stick along the public railings,
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens,
And learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat,
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go,
Or only bread and pickle for a week,
And hoard pens and pencils and beer mats
and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry,
And pay our rent and not swear in the street,
And set a good example for the children.
We will have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me
are not too shocked and surprised,
When suddenly I am old
and start to wear purple!

THIS is MY version:

When I am old, I will stay in my pajamas til noon when the mood grabs me,

 and I won’t feel guilty.

I will spend my Social Security on chocolate covered caramels, with nuts,

And on pedicures and manicures.

And say, we’ve no money for such things.

I will eat lunch out with friends even though there might be some good leftovers in

     the refrigerator.

I will wear my best clothes to run to the grocery store, or simply to relax at home.

I am not going to wear them out anyway!

I will pay less attention to changing the sheets every week,

And instead I will buy real flowers and keep them in a vase in the middle of the kitchen table.

 I will burn candles that smell good, and I will buy more when I have the whim for

   A new smell,

If I want to snuggle up on the sofa in the middle of the day to read a good book,

And drink hot chocolate with cookies as I sit there,

I will do that…and not feel unproductive and lazy.

And if I stub my toe, or bang my head on something, and say a bad word that makes

   me feel better,

I won’t beat myself up for doing so…and I won’t apologize either.

I will recognize that life has problems, ups and downs,

But I will choose to not waste my time dwelling on those problems and denying myself a glad heart...regardless of the circumstances.

So, as the poem goes…maybe I ought to practice now?

So that others can practice with me..

And we can happily all grow old together!