Winter memories - Ode to Life

Here in Greece we come to the end of the carnival period tomorrow, on ‘Clean Monday’, when the traditional fast begins in the run up to Orthodox Easter.  Thinking of friend, Vera, from Rio de Janeiro, for reasons carnival and because a year ago, with other good friends, we enjoyed an informal Lancaster Uni MA meet-up. Picture is of two glorious Pearly Queens we met fund-raising in a bitterly cold London- I still wear my Marie Curie daffodil with pride!

Joined up later with Pal (fore-mentioned, fellow crossword and Sudoku addict) and had a lovely lunch with a couple - friends from our Golden Greek Era. One was battling womanfully with the C-demon (well they both were, really) and I’m so glad we hold in our memories the giggly time we had together as sadly she left us at the beginning of April. Soon after, a friend announced the joyous arrival of her grandson but was also bemoaning the symptoms of ageing.

So, to honour the Cycle of Life, to honour the memory of Doreen and, perhaps, at this difficult time to bring even a small smile to her husband’s lips, I’m posting this poem :

A Poem: Walk on the White Side!

So you’ve just become a grandma       
  Let's welcome the little soul         

 He's continuing the genetic line     
 The very essence of Nature’s goal.                                    
                                                                           

And here you are – now left behind     

 Genetic baton passed on                                 
Feeling depressed and insecure                                                       
Lest the wick in your engine has gone.

Well, yes – the memory is less acute        
Especially for names and faces                                        
And things mysteriously disappear       
To turn up in the strangest of places.

Skin turns into parchment folds     
Your tum is much less trim                         
Once well-turned ankles start to bloat                      
It all seems pretty grim

Hairline recedes as do the gums   
 And you, once an all-night clubber,         
Are having difficulty working off                    
The winter-accumulated blubber

Though I really am sympathetic                                                                              
You’re not in this alone   
There’s no point whatsoever                                                                                                                                                         In reducing life to a moan

Sure your eyes don’t focus well                  
Jelly blobs make images shimmer                                                                                                                                          
But this way your wrinkles  are less pronounced                                                                                       
In the well-lit bathroom mirror.

The body goes into gradual decline   
But that’s no cause to slump  
For each defect, use sartorial style :  
Hoodies hide the shoulder hump       

 For subtle enhancement there are hormones                                                                                                       
To be taken in smallish doses,         
Cosmetic surgery and don’t forget   
Pills for osteoporosis 

Do crosswords puzzles and sudoku      
To keep your mind alert   
Silicone can also play a role                    
In keeping some places pert.

Still nicely youthful mentally                      
With confidence at the brim     
When you’re annoyed with  people                                    
Let  them have it on the chin

So go for the high-octane perfume                                 
Go extreme and even further    
Wear minis, pile on the slap           
Role model? Tina Turner!

And when our time to go arrives    
For it’s something we can’t duck                           
Think on a recently departed friend   
Whose final words were :Oh f*@k!

Take heart , my dears, life is a joy                                       
Thinking positive is advantageous       
Welcome each day , go smiley-faced                                                                      
You’ll see that it’s contagious!

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