The View from 64

July 15, 2014 – The View from 64

For weeks, I’ve been hearing that old Beatles song, “When I’m Sixty-Four,” running through my head.  When the song came out in 1967, I considered sixty-four ancient.  Recently, as the date of my own 64^th birthday approached, I started feeling a bit of trepidation.  I had to confront the fact that, despite my best efforts, my body is aging:  a few extra pounds, a few more wrinkles, some drooping and sagging, twinges in joints, etc.  And there was obviously a communications breakdown when it came to this year’s birthday gift.  I specifically asked for eyelashes, but I got a tummy instead. 

Joking aside, I have no major complaints.  I’ve made a pledge to myself to modify my eating habits (even when no one is looking) in an attempt to shed at least five pounds by the end of the summer.  Elliott helpfully reminded me that I snack too much between meals, so I’ve taken a new approach to eating, consuming more protein at breakfast and lunch.  I hope this will allow me to avoid uncontrollable between-meal hunger pangs.  The first day wasn’t too bad, but by the second day, I was craving a mid-afternoon nosh.  Right now, I’m sipping a cup of calorie-free ginger-peach tea, trying to convince myself that it’s more satisfying than the leftover blueberry pie from my birthday. 

And another resolution for my new year is to restrain myself from taking on too many commitments.  This summer, I simply over-scheduled my life.  The calendar has been filled everyday.  In addition to attending classes four days a week, there was a lot of reading for dance appreciation and a lot of practice for vocal training outside of class.  This is the final week of my George Mason class, but I still have a few more weeks of vocal training, and my Sunday fused glass workshop in Lorton continues through the end of August.  Add to the mix several other activities – Zumba and workouts at the gym, tutoring two bar and bat mitzvah students, leading services, attending Hadassah meetings, getting together with friends for lunch, and providing chauffeur service for ET – and it’s no wonder I’ve been too busy and/or too exhausted to keep up with my writing.  What little writing I’ve done has been confined to scribbles on scraps of paper lying around the house.  But all of this will be changing.  I need more down time to write, to reflect, and to relax.  Although it’s hard to say no to my learning addiction, I have vowed to limit myself to one class during the fall semester.

Fused glass "pattern bars" in the kiln for firing

Using the diamond saw to slice through the pattern bar

These slices can be components in larger pieces

Keeping busy at home isn’t a problem.  Elliott and I have embarked upon a new project, called Take It to the Dump!  This is a team effort to de-clutter the house by shedding stuff that has outlived its usefulness.  For example, at Elliott’s insistence, we’ve held on to every single computer we’ve ever owned, including our first Mac.  Along with other assorted electronics, this vintage (and incredibly heavy) computer made a final journey a few days ago when we gently deposited it at the Fairfax County dump.  I expect to have some difficulty deciding about old photos,and I also hesitate to throw away some of the children’s things.  Elisa has never forgiven me for getting rid of Bibi Phoque (that’s French for baby seal), her favorite stuffed animal.  However, if all goes according to plan, we’ll be making frequent trips to both the dump and the local Goodwill. 

Elliott, down at the dump

Elliott needed a hearty meal (meatballs at Ikea) after a day of de-cluttering