senior

Boxes

Was it Steve Jobs who first made us aware that we were living inside of boxes? I’m not sure. But it’s so hard to be sure of anything in this changing world, isn’t it? I guess none of us likes being defined by the boxes to which life consigns us. But hey, that’s life.

Two of the boxes that most define me nowadays are Artist & Senior.

I chose neither of these. The first box is one I was born into and shaped to fit because of the family and society that raised me. The second is the box everyone of us is forced into should they live long enough.

I was advised long ago to shed that artist box and get a real job. I really tried but over and over potential employers discovered that I was only pretending not to be an artist. As I grew older and society began to measure me for my senior box things began to get really uncomfortable.

Being an artist had been difficult enough but until I became a senior I had no idea how it felt to be a true outcast. But I’ve been a lone survivor for a very long time.

Over the past few weeks I’ve made an attempt to contact other survivors like myself, those floating about in their own boxes, trying to find a friendly shore on which to land and build something suitable and worthwhile.

I thought there was a solid shore but I guess that was merely an illusion. So these days I just float, imagining that somewhere out there are other artists, some like myself who have at most 20 or 30 more years of life, perhaps 10 more years of making art. I’m trying not to be sad over this failure. At least I tried.

2016

2016
As someone who was so often reminded never to forget about being Irish … Even these several generation later, I look across and wonder what it might have been like had my ancesters stayed in Ireland and not made a new life in Canada.

Would I even exist and if so what would my life be like in Ireland.

Today I think I found a little glimmer … http://www.ageandopportunity.ie

This might be a good model for New Brunswick, perhaps even all of Canada.

BUT! BUT! BUT!

Yes … We know …
New Brunswick is bankrupt
Or so they say
No way no way
Naught left to pay
Shall we then move
To the UK

My take on this is …
What take might that be
Well now I admit
There are doubts within
Where is your solidarity
Have you no pride
Sink you so low

The bridges we built
Have fallen away
Our generation is lost
Have we nothing to say
Nothing resounding
Except to demand
A fair chance to all

Scrap that old system
Scrap it I say
What’s fair about it
When some have free dental
And others must pay
When jobs are dependent
Upon who you know
When some work their ass off
While others take dole
If the system you have
Is so perfect, so good
I’m sure you’ll agree
Then spread it out Further
Apply it to all
Giving basic income a chance
Let everyone in
Her him you and me.

The truth they say will set you free
Was it truth from my Nanny
My Irish-Scots Nanny who said to me
Never want to be an artist
An artist’s life
Is much too hard
After years of struggle
… Yes Nanny … I agree

Click to access Senior_Artists_full_report.pdf

Birthday Bash For Jacque

Are you going?

Or are you coming?

What’s the difference?

As long as there is a bash for Jacque’s 100th Birthday Party next March 2016?

Jacque who?

The Jacque who said …

Something about politics being a little round and a little flat?

Not quite …

Please if you quote

Try your best

Get it right

Hmmm … That song again

Jacque must know that song
… From younger years …
Better times … something like …
“I don’t want to start a revolution
I just want to Change the world … ”
Well … After all … he tried

And he tried

And tried

All those door handles

He must have

Tried to turn.
—————————————————————–
We interrupt to bring you …. The following …
This is an unpaid non-political advertisement.

Invest in good.

Get a good job
——————————————————————-

The Auld Bag

The Auld Bag

Eureka

The Auld Bag

You sit here and you tell us
You dare to sit and say
She will not keep still
You tell me that today
She rises up too early
When you want to sleep
She won’t take her happy pill
That gives her deepest sleep
She wants conversation
And to get up dancing too
Which all those other seniors
Would not dare to do
You strap her into bed
To keep her safe you say
But that wily little witch
You cannot make her stay
Hot P and vinegar
No matter
How hard you try
You canna keep her still.

Copyright 2014 MSO

NewsNose

Here in Canada? How does it go? Something about No news is good news? Does that make sense.

Considering how the news is being filtered … Big Brosister you mean? Hmmmmmm 

What is a poor old Granny to do?

 

So George, what do you think?  

 

Quality Control … I think quality control might be worth looking at George. All the old Grannies of the world … after having lived so long and seen so much … Well surely grannies must have some idea about quality. How about a world-wide grannie consultation on quality control?

And since quality control begins with education. Well, yes, George. If there is no quality control in education, how do we teach future generations to distinguish between real medicine and snake oil. Grannies need to wake up and realize that one day soon …

… Hmmm you know George …

I’m sure you know about the population getting older … And one of these days all these grannies will find themselves at the mercy of the younger generation … Well all I’m saying, George is that the grannies need to realize this and speak up before it is too late. Otherwise, George, the grannies might just find themselves being force-fed snake oil in their final days.

So, where do grannies begin? Glad you asked, George. Ever heard of GIQAC?

How about ORBICOM?
Which is? Oh ohhhhhh … Was is it?< Any Grannies there? Did any Grannies get invited?
Hmmmm chosen by lot? You think?

Just imagine … Nowadays … Canada is one big box George … Sort of … Ever see a real ballot box George? Not like they used to be. One time ballot boxes were made of metal.
You don’t get it do you George?

Type used to be produced with metal too. Took a little more time, more effort. A ticking clock meant there was time to think things over. Not all news all the time was about a ticking clock.

What about news outside of Canada? What about it?

Lets Talk

Let’s talk George.

If ignorance of the law really is no excuse then it seems we need to do something about our ignorance.

If we are supposed to know and obey all these laws then it seems we must understand what the laws are telling us to do or not to do. Clarity is what we need. Clarity means that we need to understand what these laws mean. Clarity does not happen by magic. Clarity is enhanced by serious debate.

The expression “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” is what I think of when I read what is written into some of our laws. If laws do not protect the most vulnerable in our society then why do we force people to obey such laws?

That is what we need to talk about George. As a law-abiding senior Canadian taxpayer I expect some protection and service along the road to hell.

Your dime George.
A Quarter? Are you sure? Oh … A French Quarter …
Quarter
… For your thoughts, George.

And now … As we near the end … A word from our potential
sponsor

And do we forget about Ashley? No George … We could never forget about Ashley

Elder Pride

See you May 2015 in Gloucester County, New Brunswick, Canada

Meanwhile

 

 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826); American Declaration of Independence, 1776”

Where did I find this George? Good question. (Look down below at the bottom of the page for *1) I’d like to explain — I was on this particular page because I had asked a question on another page. The question was about Elder Law. I had never before come across this particular expression and was wondering what it was.  As usual, not only did I not get a straight answer —- err no that is wrong George — the answer was quite straight — immediately under the little box saying “Ask A Canadian Lawyer Now” —- there it was plain as day: “Sorry the term Elder law is misspelled or the definition does not exist …” well yes there was more George … Basically telling me to look for it myself I guess.

So just to check the spelling and verify that I had it right — well George what I did then was I went back to the previous page where I had found the expression (*2 look below)

yep — there it was … Plain as day … Ah but then my eye was caught … Yes George … What I was saying was that I was distracted … A yellow box over on the far right of the page … And I read the contents of the box

Another quote George “The law … is a mistress only to be wooed with sustained and lonely passion; only to be won by straining all the faculties by which man is likest to a god. Those who, having begun the pursuit, turn away uncharmed, do so either because they have not been vouchsafed the sight of her divine figure, or because they have not the heart for so great a struggle.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1934”

Don’t be confused into thinking that this is about sex George … I believe it is more like a metaphor. Nice thought though isn’t it. Ah were I only younger George … Were I a man … And were I to have the financial resources … You know George … I might be tempted … As it is … Well that is another story George.

Back to the alligator swamp for me George — I still need to find out what exactly is meant by “Elder law” … Well yes George … I guess I do consider myself an Elder … For me at least … I try to follow my own best advice …  So I guess that makes me an Elder.

As for Elder law — well I did find an Elder law lawyer website (*3) so I guess there must be something called Elder law — which, by the way is a good thing — it is scary enough growing old nowadays George — all the stories you hear about old folks being forced out of their homes and into something called “special care homes” — sure George some people might like to spend their final days in a hotel atmosphere taking happy pills  — but where is the pool and sauna — and a cafeteria is not exactly my idea of fine dining — as for someone feeding me off a tray in the privacy of my room — that takes a lot of patience George.
As for Elders being told to ” eat up all the numm-numms” — well George I think I would not really like that —

Another thing is the signs George — tiny little printing — do you realize George that it is perfectly normal for Elders to have less accute sight in later years.  And ask yourself George can the Elder actually read the particular language on the sign?

Less acute eyesight can also affect colour choice — a brown sock and a blue sock might not look like a perfectly matched pair when your eyesight is perfect George … But no it is not necessarily a sign of senility — it is a more likely a sign of fading eyesight.

And if the dear old soul stops wearing makeup and a certain brand or style of clothing? That is not a legitimate sign of senility.

Talking about signs of senility — don’t be too quick to judge that one —
Changes in personaliy — well of course there are going to be changes in personality — as there will be changes in anything — Change can be very good — sometimes what the soul needs most is change.

As for Elders saying something peculiar … Well George … When the hearing starts to go and what you ask them is not what they hear — what can you expect but a somehat inappropriate answer to a perfectly straightforward question.

And if they look at you in a strange manner … Well maybe it is simply that they cannot make out what you are saying because your mumbling sounds more like obscenity than speech.

Have a little respect George. If you are speaking to an Elder — well you don’t have to yell but don’t mumble — speak distinctly and clearly.

About that Elder law — well I really am curious George.

hmmm look here: “… legal, social and health needs of older persons and their families. …” talks about what Elder law is about (*4)

Here is another one (5.)
And something here on an Elder Law Clinic (*6.)

I guess that is all good — wonder about New Brunswick — hmmm suppose that’s another story huh George?

Elder Pride? What do I mean by Elder Pride? Being an Elder and Proud of it!

References
*1.http://www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/E/Elder%20law.aspx Ask A Canadian Lawyer
*2.http://www.duhaime.org/LloydDuhaime.aspx Law as Mistress
*3.http://www.elderlawcanada.ca/english/index.html
*4.http://www.elderlawcanada.ca/english/what.html
*5.http://bcceas.ca/?s=Elder+law
*6.http://bcceas.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/elder_law_clinic_needs_assessment.pdf