And then it is winter………..
Time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware. It seems like it was only yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on a new journey with my mate. And yet sometimes, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went by. I know that I lived them well as I catch glimpses of how it was back then and all my hopes and dreams.
I loved playing golf and always enjoyed playing the front nine with my friends…. But here it is, the back nine of my life and it has certainly caught me by surprise. I remember seeing older people through the years and thinking that they were a zillion years away from me…that I was on my first hole and the back nine was so far away that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like. This is an honest confession of an 88-year-old young man dealing with new aches and pains everyday but still braving it in his own abode as a proud warrior.
With each passing day, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day, and taking a nap is not a treat anymore…it is mandatory! And so, I enter yet another season of my life, unprepared for all the aches and pains and the gradual loss of strength and ability to do things. But at least I know that though I am on my back nine and have my share of regrets—there are things I wish I had not done or things I should have done—there are so many things I am happy to have done. It is all a part of life.
I am a proud man drawing a very decent pension, living independently in my own house (a dream that my wife and I had shared). I have children and grandchildren, who are doing extremely well for themselves and extremely caring daughters in law—we speak on Skype, exchange notes and they visit me occasionally and generally care for me and are worried about my wellbeing—but I like staying on my own. My one and only dream is to accomplish as much as I can by myself while staying in the comfort of my own home.
When I came to know about Support Elders Private Limited from a well-wisher and decided to hear them out, I realised that their services seemed to be tailor-made for me. I wanted to live and function independently in the society and occasionally mingle with like-minded company or go out. I want to live for today and say all those things that I want to say and do all the things that I have always wanted to do. After interacting with the Support Elders staff, I felt sure that my needs will be suitably taken care of. The best part about their Medical Emergency Alert Services is the assurance that 24X7 someone is there to react knowledgeably and promptly in case a medical emergency arises and ensure that I reach the nearest medical institution. Even my children support my decision. After a long time, I sensed relief in the voices of my children and grandchildren—this strengthened my conviction that I had taken the right decision.
I believe that life is a gift, and the way one lives is our gift to those who come after. I am enjoying my life fully today and with Support Elders to take care of me, I can breathe easy. I quote Dalai Lama, “Not everyone will understand your journey. That’s fine, it is not their journey to make sense of. It is yours.”
Jai Hind.
Lt Col ( Retired) Samaresh Nath Bhaduri is a member of ours. We consider ourselves privileged to be a part of his life.