<p>Remember the immortalised Hollywood number by yesteryear actor Julie Andrews in ‘Sound of Music’? The lyrics go like this… “Rain drops on roses, Whiskers on kittens, Bright copper kettles and Warm woollen mittens, Brown paper packages tied up with strings, These are a few of my favourite things…<br /><br /></p>.<p>This actor, on her 79th birthday, had crooned the same song in rejigged version, which elicited audience’s standing ovation. The song’s revised version was... “Botox and nose-drops and needles for knitting; Walkers and handrails and new dental-fillings; Bundles of magazines tied up in strings; These are a few of my favourite things... Cadillac and cataracts, hearing aid and eyeglasses; These are a few of my... When the joints ache; When the hips break; And when the eyes grow dim... I simply remember the great life I’ve had; And then I don’t feel so bad...”<br /><br />These lines vividly reveal the vivacious actor’s vibrant persona, bubbling with volumes of vim and verve. Her spirit seems to be suffused with sanguine energy, despite her physical state being shorn of her earlier sprightly self. Here, I remember the sagacious words of yet another graceful octogenarian.<br /><br />She says, “I strongly abhor agonising and getting awfully agitated over attendant old-age aches and ailments. This ‘climacteric stage’, wherein the physical powers decline with age, is pretty common to all human species. Once we realise this grim reality, we won’t get hounded or harried by old-age fears/problems. Moreover, when we compare with those physically challenged beings, we realise having aching limbs is better than no/defective limbs! And, having bad vision is better than being born blind. And having a whit low/high BP is better than being anaemic, with no blood at all!” Interestingly, we hear human folks, in their childhood, discussing their collection of colourful toys; and in their youth, discussing their high-end acquisitions. But in old age, they are busy discussing ailments. Perhaps, only when we start counting our blessings, would we be able to enjoy the old age. Compared with others, maybe we are bestowed with better physical health, sound financial stability, good social support, or, some talent to keep ourselves ever engaged. So, it’s all up to us to see the hell or heaven around us.<br /></p>
<p>Remember the immortalised Hollywood number by yesteryear actor Julie Andrews in ‘Sound of Music’? The lyrics go like this… “Rain drops on roses, Whiskers on kittens, Bright copper kettles and Warm woollen mittens, Brown paper packages tied up with strings, These are a few of my favourite things…<br /><br /></p>.<p>This actor, on her 79th birthday, had crooned the same song in rejigged version, which elicited audience’s standing ovation. The song’s revised version was... “Botox and nose-drops and needles for knitting; Walkers and handrails and new dental-fillings; Bundles of magazines tied up in strings; These are a few of my favourite things... Cadillac and cataracts, hearing aid and eyeglasses; These are a few of my... When the joints ache; When the hips break; And when the eyes grow dim... I simply remember the great life I’ve had; And then I don’t feel so bad...”<br /><br />These lines vividly reveal the vivacious actor’s vibrant persona, bubbling with volumes of vim and verve. Her spirit seems to be suffused with sanguine energy, despite her physical state being shorn of her earlier sprightly self. Here, I remember the sagacious words of yet another graceful octogenarian.<br /><br />She says, “I strongly abhor agonising and getting awfully agitated over attendant old-age aches and ailments. This ‘climacteric stage’, wherein the physical powers decline with age, is pretty common to all human species. Once we realise this grim reality, we won’t get hounded or harried by old-age fears/problems. Moreover, when we compare with those physically challenged beings, we realise having aching limbs is better than no/defective limbs! And, having bad vision is better than being born blind. And having a whit low/high BP is better than being anaemic, with no blood at all!” Interestingly, we hear human folks, in their childhood, discussing their collection of colourful toys; and in their youth, discussing their high-end acquisitions. But in old age, they are busy discussing ailments. Perhaps, only when we start counting our blessings, would we be able to enjoy the old age. Compared with others, maybe we are bestowed with better physical health, sound financial stability, good social support, or, some talent to keep ourselves ever engaged. So, it’s all up to us to see the hell or heaven around us.<br /></p>
