Inner Thoughts
As I look at the last few tomatoes and impatiens struggling against the cool weather I try to compare it to a human existence. In my column I try not to be overly sentimental, but these thoughts have been intruding on my consciousness more and more.
My tennis game, which I was proud of five years ago, is one of the victims. My A-minus status has descended into C-plus or B-minus. Also, I need more sleep to get through the day. My pace of living has also slowed a bit. I am not used to being lethargic. I was always a firecracker, springing to the task at hand.
At the dinner table I was a non-stop storyteller who dominated conversations with a few good or bad jokes. Now I am content to listen more and talk less, except on a few topics. I listen to jokes told by others and even if I have heard them a hundred times, I hold myself back and do not utter “I’ve heard that one.”
I feel that I am a stranger in my old body and I don’t always admire that new persona. I wonder if this phenomenon is a result of 77 years of life or just a phase I am going through. I am also curious if it stems from the many pills I ingest daily. The question arises, “Are all my childhood pals also going through this perception?”
I don’t attack a new subject or theme with the same verve as in years gone by. Again, I am an outsider or alien to the situation.
I know that my game has declined and is not what it used to be, but I am still out there on the court trying in my own way to be an active participant.
My Sunday of The New York Times Crossword puzzle meets with varying success. I look forward to the challenge on weekends to see if my mental acuity is still present. In Newsday, I do the Jumble daily with almost a 100 percent success rate.
These thoughts occupy my mind more and more.
