Valentine's Day 2026

Michelle, Byron, and me

We are standing in front of a beautiful tapestry scene, put there to give us a backdrop for our holiday pictures, with hot chocolate and keepsake mugs for us to take home. Our Senior Center administrator hosts one of these occasions several times a year, and this one gave us a really nice place to showcase the group. There were only a couple dozen or so of us, out of hundreds. I had forgotten about the party, but my friend Michelle never misses a chance to have a party, even if it's a small one. She picked me up at home and shepherded me to the Center.

It is so nice to have such a wonderful social venue. I think we are really lucky to have our vibrant and well attended center, and we are expanding to include our numbers into yet another building. It's where my yoga class is held twice a week, as well as Zumba Gold (which I haven't attended in the new place yet), but I will, eventually, I hope. The amount of exercise I am currently getting is much less than this time last year. I've stopped doing many long-time activities because of my failing eyesight. As I sit here in my usual spot early on a Sunday morning, it takes me much longer to get these posts written, since I keep hitting the wrong keys. But even if it takes longer, and tends to frustrate me to an extent, I can still get it done, with the help of my magnifying glass and patience, patience, patience.

My newest friends are mostly fellow voliunteers in the lunchroom. Michele (another friend) just returned from a three-month-long stay in Australia. She travels every year or so with her spouse, always in the winter and finding warmth and adventure wherever they go. I don't have any desire to travel anywhere these days, anywhere that requires air travel or long periods of time away from home. I suppose this is a normal part of the aging process. Who knows? My parents were long gone before they would have reached my current age. I know I don't have nearly the stamina I took for granted not long ago. But now I have so many seniors that I interact with on a weekly basis and realize that I am very fortunate to be as active as I still am. There are probably three dozen walkers lined up on the sides of the room during lunch, and I look at them and give thanks I don't yet need one.

My friend John now has one, which he keeps in his truck behind the driver's side, and he now uses it for walks in the park. He is much more stable and able to go farther when he uses it. It's also nice to have a place to sit down whenever you need to take a rest. Tney are also handy for the bus, too. Must people don't need to ask for the ramp to be lowered but push their walkers up the slope and then find a seat where they can secure it so it doesn't go flying. 

I also received some new Valentine cars this year, since there was a elementary school sing-along after the lunch was over, and many of the kids made Valentine cards for us old folks. I can't remember the last time received one, so I kept my favorite in my keepsake drawer. It will be nice to look at it once I've forgotten all about it. And the kinds were so much fun!

Well, that's about it for this week's post. I do feel an obligation to write one, and that might change in the future, but for now I am happy to still be here in the virtual universe with my dear electronic family. I hope the coming days and weeks will bring you many smiles and delight as the early spring flowers make their way into the sunlight. Until we meet again, I wish you all good things. Be well.