Alpha...Yes the indignities of growing old are cruel..when one is old we become invisible..such is the obsession with staying young in this society today...cosmetic surgery going thru the roof for both men and women trying to turn back the clock to stave off the inevitable..

Time marches on though and we have to face our mortality sooner or later...for those of us lucky enough to stay healthy for as long as we can all well and good but as you say there so many old and forgotten ill and elderly people in hospitals who, yes do rely on only hospital staff to care for them in their final time on earth..
Its a cruel reminder of how aging can make us invisible..noone cares and expect nothing.

I will try to accept that my children will eventually have less and less time for me as I grow older...I will try to begin my life again with renewed vigour and focus..make time for all those projects i dont have time for now..go on hikes for days at a time...become a 'femme fatale' and give all the oldies in the nursing homes a bit of a thrill.
I dont know but i do know this ..NOONE IS GOING TO put me on the rubbish tip before im ready.

Now all i have to do is hope to do is stay healthy, physically and mentally.
Cheers

Alfafemale

I would just like to say you have done something good for people by this article.
You come on here and you feel peace and love and yes a bit of sadness too.

Its a rare place where people actually speak to each other with understanding.

Well Done.

Thanks Scout Mum and dad would of been proud of that.

Remember Alfagirl just because dad liked a drink doesnt mean he didnt love you beyond belief.

Reserach has showed alcolics are generally clever senstive people who have trouble adopting the hard facts on an uncaring world.

Mums of course are always the salt of the earth and yours sounds remarkable.
The result of course is a remarkable daughter such as you.

Thats her prise and reward for all her efforts.

We are lucky because we can share with her.

Thanks mum

I dont drink much guys.
Only when I hear from Yabby[grin] Which reminds Me Yabby lesson three>
A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was cold,The bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field.
While he was lying there,a cow came by ad dropped some dung on him.
As the frozen bird layed there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realise how warm he was.
The dung was actually thawing him out!
He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.
A passing cat heard the birs singing and came to investigate.
Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung,and promtly dug him out and ate him.
management lesson>
Not everyone you SH on is your enermy
[2] Not everyone who gets you out of the SH is your friend.
[3]
And When Your in deep SH its best to keep your mouth shut!.

Wendy...LOL...thats all...

I lost my mother at age 55(her age)..
If she had been given the choice I know for a fact that she would have chosen to end her life in HER own time...
I still remember the day she begged to be 'put down' such was her pain and never a time in my life did I as her daughter feel so wretched and in pain for my mother.

I nursed her thru lung cancer and it was long and drawn out...my children watched her on a daily basis waste away..
the indignity of her daughter toileting her, bathing her, it made her feel less than human..but her choices were taken away..

So Alphafemale...in some small way I know of what you speak..you are amazingly strong and have not had an easy road, but remember you can reach out and be brave enough, and yes I use the word brave and trusting enough to know that there are some beautiful people in this world who would share your heartache and help you thru some of your toughest and darkest days..when you are used to coping alone and struggling thru it feels alien to actually put your faith in the hands of another human, I know I,ve done it for the longest time, but only now am I realising that there are a lot of people with enough love in their hearts for you too.
Coping alone tells my children that the world and its people cant be trusted ,that they are alone and noone cares.. the one regret I have about being in my position..I am trying to change that.

Wendy extended a loving gesture to you..how much do you trust your own vulnerability to accept her?

Alphafemale, Scout, Wendy, OZGIRL thank you all for opening your lives up on this thread. I'm struggling to find appropriate words for the impact some of what is being shared has but please know that your contributions, compassion and openness are a breath of fresh air despite the pain of the topic.

R0bert

ah Gee Guys

You nearly have me in tears Ozgirl, Robert.

Alfafemale. I hope you do take me up on that offer.

The only thing that could improve on that is if Ozgirl and Robert all came along too.
Why Not.! I have haps of room.

Maybe Scout and Celiva could come too.!

Hey we could do it once a year. If you like.

Lets!

I am serious.

We could take the boat bbq on the beach and with the horses.

Lets!

Come on Ozgirl You certainly deserve a break too.