MAYBE NOT THIS YEAR-BUT WHAT ABOUT NEXT?

BEING OLD AND OLDER THERE ARE EXTRA THINGS TO SCHEDULE THAT CREEP UP, NAPS AND DR APPOINTMENTS. AND, FINDING TIME TO FILL THE PILL BOX, IF YOU CAN FIND THE PILLS. THE ELDERLY MAY HAVE A MORE BUSY PERSONAL CARE ROUTINE THAN WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER. THAT TAKES UP MORE TIME THAN BEFORE ALSO.

BEING OLD IS ONE THING, BUT BEING ANOTHER YEAR OLDER AND COUNTING ADDS UP. WITH THE GRACE OF GOD YOU CAN GET TO BE OLD BUT THERE IS THE LIFE CYCLE. WHEN ONE HAS COMPLETED THEIR LIFE CYCLE THEY HAVE FULFILLED THEIR LIFE. BUT OUR ADDRESS BOOKS NEED TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES. WITH EACH PASSING THERE IS NEWS OF ANOTHER BABY BORN. ALMOST SILLMUTAINISLY.

WE USUALLY CAN'T SCHEDULE THESE LIFE EVENTS BUT THEY HAPPEN AND ARE BOTH EXPERIENCED. LIFE HAPPENS. EVERYONE'S LIFE CYCLE IS DIFFERENT MAKING EACH AN INDIVIDUAL. WE CAN HOPE FOR THE BEST BUT EVERYONE EXPERIENCES THE CHANGES AND CHALLENGES OF BEING.

THERE ARE 30% RETIREE GENERATION NOW IN THE US. THAT IS ALMOST 1/3 OF THE POPULATION WHICH IS A LOT. AND, THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR A ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT'S RENT IS COSTLY. AND, AT AROUND $1,100 TO $1,600 A MONTH IN LARGER CITIES. THESE ARE ALL SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE RETIREE HAS TO LOOK FORWARD TO, LIKE IT OR NOT.

TWO MORE GENERATIONS ARE BEHIND YOU IF YOU ARE AROUND 62 AND UP. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN ASPIRATIONS--AND ARE CHARMING AT TIMES. WE HAVE TO MAKE A PLACE FOR THEM IN THE POLITICAL ARENA NOW. AND, WE HAVE TO FINALLY RETIRE THE OLD BECAUSE THEY WILL BE ONE YEAR OLDER NEXT YEAR. MAYBE THEY CAN SERVE NOW--BUT CAN THEY CONTINUE?