Where’s the ESC Key? April 12, 2012
Posted by nrhatch in Health & Wellness, Nature, People, Poetry.trackback
1: At about 100 m. reserve canopy suddenly unpacks and opens 2: Skydiver decides not to cut away the main canopy, because there is a risk the main will tangle with the reserve. Reserve canopy goes forward and strikes the main canopy. 3: Skydiver fights for main canopy. Main and reserve canopies assume biplane position (one of two possible positions when both canopies can work) Photograph by Dmitry A. Mottl
Memories erased
By a hard drive malfunction
A lifetime abased
Software keeps crumbling
Circuits and synapses fried
No longer firing
Fumbling thoughts
Stumble
Mental acuity
Tumbles
And takes a nosedive
Nothing
Free
About
This
Fall
Where’s the Escape key?
* * * * *
Need a laugh? The New Alphabet for Seniors (Passionate About Pets)
Illustration: Wikipedia ~ Malfunction (Parachuting) (Creative Commons License)
Spirit Lights The Way 
I was going to make a joke about the “any” key but realized this isn’t about a computer, is it?
No. But life is better with laughter . . . always! 😆
Well, damn. About all I can do is laugh for you and with you.
Thanks, Matt!
The wonderful thing about poetry is that it can be applied in the most valuable and meaningful way, determined by the reader’s perspective. This poem can mean so many things, and each reader will create value for themselves, unique to themselves. Thanks, Nancy.
My thoughts exactly, Janet. That’s why I love poetry:
https://nrhatch.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/the-value-of-what-we-write/
Very poignant and scary. I can relate in a very real way, as I suspect you know.
Yes, I thought this would “hit home” for you if you read it ~ so many people are witness to the rapid aging of parents, siblings, and spouses.
Welcoming new life is much more better than watching the other end of the spectrum. For me, at least.
Stop. This sounds like me. 🙂
Hardly. You appear to be of sound mind and body . . . except for the clumsy bits, of course. 😉
I wish my Mum could have a new memory card. How simple life would be if we could just replace parts as they fail us.
Yes! Snap out . . . Snap in.
Or just recharge the batteries. 😉
I don’t want to live forever . . . but I want to be compos mentis as long as I’m here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non_compos_mentis
Unfortunately, there is nothing wrong with her batteries, just her mind. (I think she would be an excellent advert for the Duracell brand of batteries becuse she just keeps on going)
I spoke to her yesterday on Skype and it was heartbreaking her memory is shot away.
Well, if we lose our minds at least our blogs will be a legacy of our better days for our families.
Yes! And maybe re-reading old posts will give our memories a “jump start” when they start to slip.
beautiful analogy.. 🙂
Thanks, Jas. Here’s to being awake, alert, and alive.
This pulled at my heart strings. I think of my Mom and the many people whose mind has declined. Very nice analogy!
Thanks, Marie. It’s hard to witness the decline. If you need a laugh, I just added a link to a post on the “lighter side” of aging.
Just read your new post. It’s good to be light, as an example I purchased Snoopy bandaids and have one on in my pinky as I have a small paper cut. I like it! 🙂
That’s awesome. I’m going to get “kiddie band-aids” the next time I shop.
The link above to Barb’s blog ~ the alphabet for seniors ~ is great. Funny, and true.
The warden has that key.
If only they could be “paroled” for good behavior. 🙂
This is very appropriate for me this morning Nancy. I wish I had an Escape Key for my mother; she has just taken another turn for the worse. She will be 92 next week – if she makes it.
btw – thanks for the shout out.
Sorry, Barb. It’s hard watching our loved ones fading away.
I’m glad you had a chance to visit with your mom and family in Scotland last year.
For that, I am truly thankful.
You both looked so happy in the photos. Good memories.
Beautiful poem, Nancy! Yes, modern medicine has done wonders for keeping us alive…but only our bodies…they don’t know yet how to keep the mind alert and active.
No, they don’t. I expect that fresh air, sunshine, exercise, laughter, and chocolate 😉 help to keep cobwebs out of the attic.
Oh gawd, may we all escape! Oh, wait a minute…we do! 😀
Exactly. We should have an ESC key . . . so we can exit stage left when we have had ENOUGH.
It is hard to watch…the synapses slowing down, even in really healthy aging parents! And then there is the reality that in time it will be my turn, too. And I’m sure I will wonder where my escape key is! Debra
My parents’ parents (even those who lived into their 90’s) maintained their mental faculties to the finish line ~ maybe their DNA hadn’t been compromised by a lifetime of exposure to pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and other environmental pollutants?
Or maybe they were just lucky? No way to know.
My thought exactly on the pesticides chemical exposure. We had an occurrence here in CA that still disturbs me, and I thought I might share about it soon…maybe for Earth Day. I try not to be so loud I frighten others, especially over things they can’t control directly, but I personally feel such a sense of concern for the children. Here I go again…breathe deep…exhale… 🙂
When corporations put PROFIT ahead of WELL-BEING, the Earth and its inhabitants PAY THE PRICE.
Sounds like a great post for Earth Day . . . any day.
A thought provoking analogy – cleverly thought out. Thank you 🙂
Thanks, Jacqueline. Wish aging were like parachuting . . . so we could pull a rip chord and slow the descent.
At first, I thought your puter had pooped out. Duh! I clicked over and read the Senior’s alphabet. 😆 And found that lilies were poisonous for kitties. Had no idea.
No lol for the lily sentence!
The senior alphabet had me nodding along. Oh, what we have to look forward to. 😀
Pet owners need to be careful about plants and pets ~ some of them are lethal.
You describe it so well – it’s decay all the way.
Thanks, BB. We need a dentist for the mind (e.g., a mentist) who can get in there to address our mental decay by filling cavities and doing “bridge work.”
Remarkably enough….my mother’s software seems to be improving the past few weeks…circuits and synapses seem to be firing appropriately…(except she seems to have moments where she thinks her bed is on a chair lift at a ski area…)…but generally improvement over a few months ago. There is some well intentioned, but confusing, multiple medicating going on with some seniors and the side effects are hard to distinguish from senility…but any improvements are happy signs…
That’s great, Kathy. Glad you’re seeing some improvement. On a lighter note, I hope she doesn’t fall out of bed . . . that would be a L~O~N~G way down! 😉
yup…now THAT would be a fall!
Bombs Away! 😯
Great photo and scary too. Skydiving ain’t for me. 😉