Gerontology

  • The Ten Things on My Mind

    My recent stroke has compelled me to reevaluate my life and goals. Here are the ten issues I am most focused on. 10. Keeping My Sanity Have you ever been hit by a torrent of water from a fire hose?… Continue reading

    The Ten Things on My Mind
  • Old(er): An Epic Journey

    Part Two “Eat Life like you’re starving. You may feel full at the end of the day, but damn, it tasted good.” antonio pedro ruiz I remember the moment I touched down at LAX Los Angeles Airport like it was… Continue reading

    Old(er): An Epic Journey
  • I Ain’t No Superman

    Man, I can’t catch a break. Hard living. First, my knee replacements. Both knees. Then, my recent brush with life-changing trauma, a stroke. It reminded me of my last body-slamming event: a blocked heart and the pacemaker implanted in my… Continue reading

    I Ain’t No Superman
  • Fat

    This is not a word to be thrown easily at anyone these days. I’m told it’s very disparaging. Obese is the proper term to use. Porky. Falstaffian. Overweight. Plump. Fleshy. Tubby. Roly-poly. What does it matter? We’re all getting to… Continue reading

    Fat
  • Momma Julia

    The following is a fictional narrative inspired by a writing prompt in my Playwriting class at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). We were asked to view several photos, choose one, and write a character description and narrative based on… Continue reading

    Momma Julia
  • The Shrinking Memory

    Remember when we would hoot over the fact that after 12 hours of smoking ganja, we’d swear we couldn’t remember a thing we’d done that day? Then there were the times when you were talking to someone, and suddenly your… Continue reading

    The Shrinking Memory
  • An Interesting Life

    I’ve often said that at seventy-seven, I’ve lived an interesting life.An understatement. It’s times like now when you look back at your life. Celebrate the victories. Learn from the failures. I often think about where I was born and raised.… Continue reading

    An Interesting Life
  • Catching Memories

    It’s strange what you miss when you have a stroke. One moment, your mind is full of so many memories that you can’t recall them all. The next, poof, gone.You must truly want to remember one to make it a… Continue reading

    Catching Memories
  • Broken Brain

    On February 25th, I had a mild stroke caused by a blockage in the left carotid artery. I experienced memory loss and had difficulty finding words when speaking. I felt confused and didn’t understand what was happening.  That day, I… Continue reading

    Broken Brain
  • Life Expectancy

    It’s official. I’ve got 10.6 years left of this most interesting life. At least, that’s what the U.S. Social Security Administration says. Of course, I’m saying all this while ignoring the fine print, the part about my current health, lifestyle,… Continue reading

    Life Expectancy