Why Old is Good

Life's Lesson: Why Old Is Good

Musings

by Patricia L. Cummings

Old Things

Probably, it is no secret that I am a fan of old things. I like old quilts. They are, in some cases, the only tangible works that some women have left behind. I like old houses. They hold mystery, secrets, and sometimes history. They cannot compare to new construction that is hermetically-sealed.

1940's quilt block

As you can see, the 1940s quilt block above lacks precision piecing, which is exactly why it is still "just a block." However, the colors and designs are charming and bring us back to another time and place.

Our 1821 Federal-style home

This Old House

In an old house, one has a lot of co-inhabitants. In our home, we have mice in the cellar, and in the walls, when it gets cold outside. We have lots of ominous looking spiders and periodic invasions of ants. We have bats that take up residence in the old chimney that once served as an outlet for smoke that was generated from a large hearth in the kitchen.

Hungry Mice

In fact, one day, mice found their way into one of the drawers, just under the former bread oven, where I kept some candles. I had to interrupt my instant messaging with my friend in Argentina, as Jim called me downstairs to the kitchen to see that the mice had eaten the beeswax candles, leaving only crumbs.

We never know what discoveries we will make in this old house. A pair of very old, women's undies were found in the one of the ceilings, apparently used for insulation. The mice had done a good job of aerating the underwear.

Please click on the photo below, to see a larger view.

By the way, this garment is NOT mine. :>-)

Speaking of "undergarments," below is a photo I happen to have of a pair of nineteenth century "bloomers." The handy garment that is actually two completely-separate legs joined together by a waistband, and is open from the crotch upwards, a handy garment for quick trips to the outhouse on a chilly evening. These are also NOT my personal garments!

Bloomers

Habits of Old

An unlit, long-neglected closet upstairs revealed the words, "Don't spit on the floor." The scrawled words must have been written at a time that someone would have sat in front of the closet, chewing tobacco, and spitting into a spittoon, made for the purpose.

Then, there were the thick sewing pins that look almost like nails. Those were discovered between the wide Hemlock floor boards in the room that is now my sewing room. (Will add a photo of the pins, as soon as I can locate them!)

One of the most charming finds, however, was a dance card that had been wedged in a crack in one of the beams in the cellar. In Victorian times, it was customary to promise to dance with certain boys who would "sign up" ahead of time.

Comfort in the Old

Can you think of some old things that give you comfort? How about an old easy chair, or an old family recipe? How about seeing old photos of loved ones, some no longer with us? I do not know if past times always seem to have been more special than today, for you. Often, we do not live today. We are too busy reminiscing about yesterday, or else we are frantically planning for tomorrow. Sometimes the shift to thinking about yesterday, or tomorrow, happens because the troubles of today, with all of its demands, and all that we have to accomplish, just makes us people full of anxiety and stress.

Old People Have Learned Not To Worry

I have always loved old people. They have learned to take life a bit easier, and to take the back country roads to enjoy the scenery, rather than the turnpike. When I was a teenager, my "best friend" was a retired Danish woman who loved houseplants and gardening. I was always thrilled when she would share a "slip" of one of her favorite plants. She taught me how to root the slip and grow a whole new plant. As a young teen, the process was new to me, and magical. Due partly to her mentoring in (4-H) gardening, I was runner-up in a county-wide contest in which the task was to identify seeds; and plants; and the names of bushes (from photos, cut from catalogs).

Another 4-H leader taught me how to sew with a sewing machine, and yet another, taught me to knit. Some of the most valuable and useful things I've learned for living a life, were not learned in school.

After a breakdown in our plumbing system last week, I think that my husband would be the first to tell you the same is true for him. Though he is neither a plumber, nor an electrician, he has a lot of knowledge and skill in those areas. Many of our skills are self-taught, and others have been shared by older people: parents, or older adults. There are also books, for folks who can learn that way.

Discounts at McDonald's: The Crowning Glory of Old Age

Since officially, I am now a senior citizen, believe me, the new status is getting plenty of mileage! Luckily, I am not a vain person and I do not feel the need to try to "look younger," or to color my hair. Consequently, we both are given senior citizen discounts. Being frugal New Englanders, that suits us just fine.

Whenever I say that I am old, I always hear emphatically, "You're not old!" I always think - as compared to what?

I suppose life is always a series of comparisons. Compared to a two year old, I am very old. Compared to a ninety two year old, I am just a young thing. You see, it is all relative. However, you know what? I don't mind being "old."

To me, being old means that I have paid my dues. It means that I have gained a little wisdom, along the way. I have had a lot of rich experiences that I would not trade for the world, such as: watching a sunset with my Dad and discussing deep subjects like..."eternity"; and seeing my child grow into a fine young man who is contributing much to society; and finally getting the chance to know some members of my extended family, especially cousins, some of whom are in the same boat as I, with both of their parents gone.

Rocky Road is Not Just An Ice Cream Name

Being "old" means that I have had my share of sadness, grief, challenges, and at times, turmoil, sometimes brought on by myself, and sometimes inflicted by others, or by circumstances. Now, I give myself permission to be angry when I am angry, to cry when I need to do so, and to accept that I am human and that I make mistakes, hard as I try not to. Emotions are integral to the human condition. Bad moods or good ones are transient. They do not continue forever. Yet, we have to continually forgive ourselves, don't we, for all of our human frailties?

To Summarize

I like my old friends. I like my old car. I like my old jeans, standard wear, as I work from home. I like old family traditions, such as making Stollen at Christmas time. I love my old companion. We have weathered a few decades together. Old is good. Old is comfort, and yet, when all is said and done, I will always welcome the new, especially grandbabies!

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