Senior Citizen Site Revised  ’19                            constructed by Mary DeFalco

I Wish For You

Comfort on difficult days,

Smiles when sadness intrudes,

Rainbows to follow the clouds,

Laughter to kiss your lips,

Sunsets to warm your heart,

Gentle hugs when spirits sag,

Friendships to brighten your being,

Beauty for your eyes to see,

Confidence for when you doubt,

Faith so that you can believe,

Courage to know yourself,

Patience to accept the truth,

And love to complete your life.

And if you can't have all that

...

Then I wish you enough chocolate

to make it through the tough times....

sent in by Phyllis Singer, 5/11/08 SD

                        Garbage Truck Rule

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport.

We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.' He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.

Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so... 'Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.' Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

What a great philosophy!

   Sent by Phyllis Singer, 7/30/08, SD

    Killed in a car accident 11/08

1. ★Alex Jones’ INfOWARS
   

2. ★Drudge Report
   

3. ★CBS News
   

4. ★ABCNews
   

5. ★Fox News
   

6. ★CNN News
   

7. ★NPR News
   

8. ★NBC
   

9. ★USA Today
   

10. ★Huffington Post
    

11. ★Reuters

1. ★St. Valentine’s Day Around the World
   

Sent in by ReadGirl/Arlene2/13/08 LI

House Call with Sanjay Gupta

Sent by Pat Herfurth LI  3/13/10 (R.I.P 2017)

1. ★U.S. National Debt Clock: Real Time
   

        Sent in by Richard Charm/ Seattle/5/18/10

1. ★Another Clock on many topics

1. ★If the Shoe Fits, Wear It
   

A moving Good Samaritan story-

9/21/12

1. ★Mother’s Day/ U Tube  2012 sent in by Rusty Driscoll 5/2013
   

1. ★The last words of Steve Jobs 2015
   

“God gave us the senses to let us feel the love in everyone’s heart, not the illusions brought about by wealth....

The wealth I have won in my life I cannot bring with me. What I can bring is only the memories precipitated by love....

1. ★ Best iPad apps 2019
   

2. ★Top 50 iPad Apps/Technology
   

3. ★Seniors “Hi ah,....” Mother of All Sites

1. •Can’t Believe this Was Done by a Teenager
   

                         Sent by Lorraine, LI, 7/12/10

 The  creator of the much loved Charlie Brown series was all of these and  more. In a way, he was the Shakespeare of his day who had wonderful  insights into the 'Human Spirit' and presented them to his readers for what they were worth. They  proved to be worth a lot and helped people make adjustments to their  lives and functions for the better. Here  are several thought provoking examples.

Subject: Wisdom of Charles Schul

Share This Wisdom...Lorraine  3/4/18

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Explains Who Can Serve the Community Best

Dr. Ravitch 1/21/19 “... Dr. King knew that all of us have something to contribute. He understood the power of community action – of many small acts pushing a society closer to its ideals.

“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve,” he said. “You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. … You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.”

                             Retirement

Someone described retirement as  “Life is a beach…”  an endless summer of doing “what I want when I want to do it. It is an endless day at the beach”.  Instead of the metaphor of “life is a beach,”  I prefer the metaphor of “Rosie the Riverter.”

The objective in describing retirement was one of many positives for unions. Yes, we owe much to our union leaders fighting for worker’s rights and benefits - 24 I can readily think of.  Not one of those rights entitles one to be lazy and incentive after retirement. It is one thing if a person is suffering from some ailment that hinders one from getting involved but it is another issue for an able body person to be lazy and self-centered. In gratitude to those that forged our union rights and benefits it behooves us to “pay it forward”  help those who follow and the community that supported us.

I assume it was a figment of his imagination which might suggest that a care-free life would give you happiness-  a time in one’s life when you are no longer responsible for others or to others.  But we are not free to be indifferent to the needs of others “ free “ to do what I want when I want – endless days at the beach.”

I can’t phantom living such a life- such a lonely life, so much time lost for doing good. I realize that I am more productive when I adhere to a schedule otherwise too much time is lost in lollygagging.

My day begins at 6:45.  My morning routine includes 15 min. of exercises (It use to be a half hour on the tread mill until I started going to daily Mass.) After breakfast I start my “Bucket List” of things that need to be done or places to go- made out the day before in my head if not on paper. 

I have heard numerous people say that they are busier now than when they punched a clock. Many retirees I know volunteer their time helping out at school either tutoring or using their expertise working part time. Many volunteers help out at the food pantry, at the senior citizen’s center, at a nursing home, driving handicapped seniors to the doctor, delivering meals….  A 102 year old woman from our parish volunteered for 34 years at a nursing home.  Many of the retirees do all kinds of volunteering.

My calendar was always filled from the first day of retirement- helping family, community, and beyond.  Volunteers are needed in every field. Oh, so much can be done by our retirees to make better and happier communities, a better and happier world. People who think of helping others instead of catering to themselves are happier people. It is in giving that we receive. You can’t give away happiness; it keeps bouncing back.  Paul Todaro of Bohemia, LI.  said with a smile, “Sometimes, we get more out of it more than they do.”

“Life is a roller coaster of highs, lows, hard lefts, hard rights, and even some loop-de-loops. But, know this participation is mandatory as your legacy is the accumulation of what you gave back not what you took out.”

― Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army

 Senior citizens

are constantly being criticized for every conceivable deficiency of the modern world, real or imaginary.

We take responsibility for all we have done and do not blame others

 HOWEVER, upon reflection, we would like to point out that it was NOT the

 senior citizens who took

 The melody out of music,

 The pride out of appearance,

 The courtesy out of driving,

 The romance out of love,

 The commitment out of marriage,

 The responsibility out of parenthood,

 The togetherness out of the family,

 The learning out of education,

 The service out of patriotism,

 The Golden Rule from rulers,

 The nativity scene out of cities,

 The civility out of behavior,

 The refinement out of language,

 The dedication out of employment

 The prudence out of spending,

 The ambition out of achievement or

 God out of government and school.

 And we certainly are NOT the ones who eliminated patience and tolerance from personal relationships and interactions with others

And,

 we understand the meaning of patriotism, and remember those who have fought and died for our country. 

  YES, I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN!

 I'm the life of the party...... even if it lasts until 8 p.m.

 I'm very good at opening childproof caps.... with a hammer.

 I'm awake many hours before my body allows me to get up

 I'm smiling all the time because I can't hear a thing you're saying.

I'm sure everything I can't find is in a safe secure place, somewhere.

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 Yes, I'm a SENIOR CITIZEN and I think I am having the time of my life

Spread the laughter

Share the cheer 

 Let's be happy While we're here.   

    Sent in by Pat Herfurth 9/30/14 LI (R.I.P 2017)

The “Golden Years”

Perhaps we should rename them:

            The arthritic years

             I can’t hear you years

             Mind over matter years

             Can you see the eye chart years

             The  oiy vey years

              The wonder years

              Can you spell ancient years

               The golden years

               sent in by Harvey fom Michigan

                                                                                            

Time Gets Better :With Age
Read it through to the end, it gets better as you go!
*
I've learned that I like my teacher because she cries when we sing "Silent Night." Age 5
*
I've learned that our dog doesn't want to eat my broccoli either. Age 7
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I've learned that when I wave to people in the country, they stop what they are doing and wave back. Age 9
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I've learned that just when I get my room the way I like it, Mom makes me clean it up again. Age 12
*
I've learned that if you want to cheer yourself up, you should try cheering someone else up. Age 14
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I've learned that although it's hard to admit it, I'm secretly glad my parents are strict with me. Age 15
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I've learned that silent company is often more healing than words of advice. Age 24
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I've learned that brushing my child's hair is one of life's great pleasures. Age 26
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I've learned that wherever I go, the world's worst drivers have followed me there. Age 29
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I've learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it. Age 30
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I've learned that there are people who love you dearly but just don't know how to show it. Age 42
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I've learned that you can make someone's day by simply sending them a little note. Age 44
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I've learned that the greater a person's sense of guilt, the greater his or her need to cast blame on others. Age 46
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I've learned that children and grandparents are natural allies. Age 47
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I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on and it will be better tomorrow. Age 48
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I've learned that singing "Amazing Grace" can lift my spirits for hours. Age 49
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I've learned that motel mattresses are better on the side away from the phone. Age 50
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I've learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. Age 51
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I've learned that keeping a vegetable garden is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills. Age 52
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I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die. Age 53
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I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life. Age 58
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I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. Age 62
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I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. Age 64
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I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your work, meeting new people,

And doing the very best you can, happiness will find you. Age 65

*

I've learned that whenever I decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decision. Age 66
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I've learned that everyone can use a prayer. Age 72
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I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. Age 74
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I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch - holding hands, a warm hug,
Or just a friendly pat on the back. Age 76
*

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. Age 78
* I've learned that you should pass this on to someone you care about. Sometimes they just need a little something to make them smile.

If Things Get Better With Age Then I'm Approaching Excellent.

 Sent in by Mike Wieseler Minn. 2/20/19