Maturity. Muffin Anyone?

                                      MATURITY        MUFFIN ANYONE?

 One question in some of our minds is:  When we get older do we become sweeter or more sour?
 Smarter or denser? More mature or less so?
As we have our breakfast every morning, in our large dining room in our Senior Home, we are
offered a 'home baked muffin'. Each day there is a different selection. My favorite is the blueberry muffin, and we are not allowed to touch them or to pick it ourselves. The only way to indicate which is, I tell the waitress..." blueberry, a BIG one."  I  giggle with the others as I say it because even I know that I sound like a 4 or 5 year old child.

One morning my daughter was over early and heard me. Her face turned a different shade of pink, a deeper one, and rolled her eyes ......
"Ma! A 'BIG' one?" I didn't like to embarrass her but what choice did I have...to get a small muffin or even a medium sized muffin? I wanted a BIG one, could even be the largest one on the tray!
 The 'Problem' stayed with me all day and overnight,  but I woke up with the answer. I'd give Debbie a call in the morning. "When we reach my age" I'd explain, " we should be permitted to talk any way we want to!" Suddenly it hit me, Debbie had a point too...that we can ask for a LARGE one in a more grownup way. I couldn't wait to try it! At breakfast time, Sherry, our waitress came by, "Muffins!"
she said, "Corn or blueberry?"  I spoke first, I'll have a blueberry," I  said and added, " a NICE one."
I motioned with the fingers on my hand, pleased with myself. I was talking like a grownup to a grownup. And when she picked me out a muffin,which was the biggest one on the tray and handed
it to me with a smile and a wink I knew that I had learned something valuable and I was eager to try it again with something else!
                                                                THE END

OUR SLOGANS

    OUR SLOGANS
All the stages in our lives have special meanings for us, from
our entering school as 5 and 6 year olds, through middle and
high school and then into college. Through our adulthood, middle age and finally seniors! 
As Seniors we are in the unique stage of facing 'End Of Life' 
issues; how to feel about it,what to think AND how to talk
about it. 
"When God wants me, he'll take me," Adele likes to say, "and I'll be ready".
"Not me" says Ellie,"I want more time...see the grand kids get older...have their own kids..."
"Mmm" I agree," says Ida,"that's what it all about...isn't it?"
"Yes and No," exclaimed Nancy with passion,"there are still
places that I want to go to and see..."
"Really?" Norma exclaimed."Where? Why?" She shook her head,  "I'm amazed that you're even willing to sit on trains or planes to
 get to anyplace. My bones and muscles won't let me!"
"Oh no!" Nancy pointed to her head, "This will decide what I'll do or not do!"
"Hurrah!" called out Pauline."Words I live by also,one of my favorites..."MIND OVER MATTER."
"Tell that to my knees!" shouted Evelyn.
"Knees?Tell it to my bladder" said Renee."Mine has a mind of
its own!"
"ALL our bladders do," came other voices. Groans and laughter swept the room.

Even our Good Morning's and Goodnight's to each other strikes me as not the way we ever did before.
"Well, Goodnight. See you tomorrow...I hope" is added, the word heavy with meaning. Could it be because we sometimes get the  news of someone's passing overnight?
And then our "Good Morning! How are you today?"
"So far...so good." For a place like this, that answer is pretty 
positive.
 Or "One Day At a Time!" is said... heavy with meaning and not
as positive.
But the favorite, "Hangin' In There.!" is said but without the
the unsaid "by a thread."
I went over to my friend Janet who was seated on her chair and
staring at the ceiling. 
"Hi!"I said, "How're you doing? What are you're plans for the day?"
"The day?" she smirked, "Have you heard this favorite slogan
 here, 'Treat Each Day As If It Were Your Last'." Tears sprung 
to her eyes as she spoke.
"What's the matter?" I asked. "Are you alright?"
She nodded." I'm fine, just fine...."
"Then what's all this talk about your last...last what!  So
how about taking that bus trip later?"
"But I just told you, 'Treat Each Day..." 
"Yes, I've heard you," I said. "But is today your last day?"
Her face reddened,"I don't know. 'So Far So Good' But it's
still early in the morning."
"AND?"
"And what if it is! Should I spend the last day of my life at
 the 99c store!"

                                    THE END