Do we really listen to....

elderly people?  They, who have such life experiences, wisdom and humour to share, are often just tolerated or ignored.  It's as if, once we grow older, we don't matter anymore.  Yet, elderly people can enrich our lives, with their humour, their stories, their resilience, their perspective, and their attitude.  Can they sometimes monopolize a conversation?  Yes, but then again, they have earned that right, in my opinion.

Let me tell you about Gertie and Gus.  Those aren't their real names, but they are truer and bigger than life.  They are an absolutely I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E couple.  I was their babysitter way back, in my early teens, when they had five children. They consequently adopted a sixth child.  Their life has been hard. They have had to endure MORE than their share of pain and sorrow. Death has stalked their family - two children have died, one at four years of age (my first real exposure to death) and one when he was in his forties, from AIDS.  Two other adult children now have cancer.  The eldest has mental health issues that have crushed her spirit and left her, in her late fifties, living with her parents for the last seventeen years.   Through all that life has thrown at them, they somehow managed to be musically involved in the community for decades, while volunteering, raising a family, and working.  I could go on and on, about their trials and tribulations, but what I also want to share is their ETERNAL optimism and positive attitude.

I drop in for a visit now and then, to chat and to listen.  I enjoy listening.  I talk when I blog. :)  I have had them over for dinner, or lunch after church and had countless cups of tea and sweets at their place.  When we part, I am usually shaking my head in bewilderment and wonder, while laughing to myself with a huge smile on my face.

The following are NOT cute quotes from children, but rather nuggets from the OTHER end of life's spectrum.

"There is the Rock of Gilbraltar, and then there's Gertie!"   I am quoting Gertie.

After Gertie called out his name, Gus replied, "Am I being spoken to?"

Gertie's words of advise for a long marriage?  "Don't fight. But if you DO fight, more importantly,  DON'T lose!"

"When I met Gus, he told me he was Lebanese. I was from Cap Pelé.  I didn't know what CELERY was.

Me- "What's Gus' cell number?   Gertie- "Block 4, cell 17."

Gertie, fiddling with her hearing aid, yells "Come in Moscow!' Gus tells her, "Turn that thing to another station!"

She, to him: "I'll put you back in your cage with Tweetie Bird, if you don't behave!"

Me- "How are you Gus?  Gus - "I'm good, or so she tells me.", as he flicks his finger in her direction.

When talking about a scandal in the local parish, Gertie refers to another priest up shore, as "That fat boy up there!"  I had to guffaw at that one!

Gertie: "At my age, I can't stop going to church. I don't know WHAT'S on the other side, so I can't take ANY chances!"

Their secret to longevity?  LOVE, LAUGHTER AND LIVING!  I adore them. They enrich my life beyond measure.   Gertie is eighty-four and Gus is eighty-five.

This photo is NOT of Gus and Gertie, but symbolises, to me,  their indomitable spirit.