In the August Presence – Upon Becoming a Septuagenarian: A Retrospect at the End of the Telescope Through Each Decade.

They say “70 is the new 50!” – that may be so. Today as I turn 70, I am compelled to write about the decades leading up to this auspicious age and in so doing, shed light on the wisdom gleaned through those ages and some of the milestones.

20’s – Two very wonderful highlights: first I became a mother and received my heart’s desire which was to have a daughter. My one & only: Amber Nichelle. Although I was a single mom she was received with love into my life and was a delight to the entire family being the first girl after 20 years of no babies in the family.

For six years I juggled the responsibility of a full-time career and motherhood until marrying at age 28.

30’s – Ten years of a whirlwind waltz through life. Amber and I adjusted to adding Joel Williams to our circle. As Joel moved up the ranks in his profession, we moved house 12 times covering 3 different states and 2 years of life in the United Kingdom. Amber tried on different hats during that decade, first as a snow bunny, then British overnight and lastly a surfing beach bum. At the end of that decade, we weathered the storm of parenting a prodigal child. We all worked hard and played hard.

40’s – Loosely coined“THE AMWAY YEARS” – Life in California put my engineer husband on a soul-searching trajectory. For a time he found his answer in us joining Amway. It was a wonderful experience, until it wasn’t. During this decade “The Emperor” came into our lives – our one & only grandson JonCarlo Savala. We managed to perfect the art of being long distance grandparents. At the end of our 40’s and just before our 20th anniversary we were setting across from each other after a (4 month separation) in the chambers of a divorce judge.

50’s – GOD intervened and with renewed insight gained though counseling that armed us with valuable tools to reconnect – we entered into a new phase of our marriage. As empty nesters, we lived life to the fullest which included retirement and a move overseas, culminating to living on a cruise ship for 4 months.

60′s – My darling husband wrote a book with the title “You Must Do It Alone But Not By Yourself” that became my motto when I found myself unexpectedly widowed.

As The Kadeesh states:

Blessed, praised, and glorified, exalted, extolled and honored, magnified and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed is He, though He be high above all the blessings and songs, praises, and consolations which are uttered in the world, and say amen.

I am eternally grateful to those that have come alongside me and made this journey a bit less painful.

70’s – In the August Presence as I enter into this new decade, filling the void for my Mister Darling are my little familia: Amber & JonCarlo. One particular sentence in the book “Weeds Like Us” by Janiva Magness, resonates and through GODS grace, we are choosing to “Move Towards Love & Light”

The System Is Broken

For some reason I used to be fascinated reading articles about senior citizens in New York resorting to buying and eating canned food for animals because they could no longer afford the prices at the grocers and lately, I’ve been slightly curious wondering just how awful or tasty (with the proper seasonings) a can of Kibble would taste?

I also used to imagine living like Eloise! How grand I’d imagine, room service, maid service, every day one adventure after another.

The reality is proving to be not as fun.

Dark thoughts assail my waking hours as I face the challenge of starting life over at age 70 – I am no longer an empty nester as both my daughter and grandson have come to live with me.

A couple of years ago my daughter started experiencing mysterious maladies that affected her motor skills which meant she could no longer drive safely which in turn meant she could no longer keep up in the fast paced environment of the Amazon warehouse.

She found excellent care from a highly recommended chiropractic physician specializing in neuropathy treatments, however insurance did not recognize it as a covered service, the treatments were too effective not to go forward so I put the charges on my credit card.

Two years later I put the outstanding balance into a debt consolidation program, I’d never missed a payment but the interest was accumulating so at the time consolidation seemed the wisest choice until my credit score plummeted and visions of Eloise are starting to resurface.

I’ve been applying for places to live and am finding out without a great credit score it doesn’t matter if you have reliable income and added insult to my injury, at my current apartment dwelling – in 9 months two separate tenants have vamoosed under cover of darkness abandoning their apartment.

I know life isn’t fair but geesh.

Until I receive a break or a miracle, I’ll be somewhere trying out a cat food casserole.