You know, Posse, my papi had a saying: “you get old… or you get dead”. And while I’m happy to be in the ‘old’ category (or ‘old-er’, I guess) that category does come with challenges – things you experienced in your 20s and 30s suddenly come back to remind you of your misspent youth. Got thrown off a horse at 24? At 54, it’ll come roaring back to remind you – that morning when you can’t get out of bed because your back is SHRIEKING!!! ‘What the HELL were you thinking, doing (insert whatever foolishness caused your misery, 30 years later)??? And Floyd knows I don’t need any more art/books/jewelry (except for that 22cwt IF emerald cut diamond I’ve had my eye on) –
so … I’ve been getting ‘different’ gifts from folks, especially my gals who, like me, are of a Certain Age. It started about 5 years ago, when my sister had me try her TENS unit. Omg. I saw stars! It made my busted shoulder feel awesome!
I didn’t think anything of it, though – until the hollerdays rolled around and I found a TENS under my tree!
Then… then my cousin came to visit – and instead of a box of chocolates she brought me a massage gun.
Then I pinched a nerve in my neck and had to get a new hot water bottle to replace my mother’s 50yr old model. I loved it so much I got one for March, who loves it!
A new yoga mat! (and every time I get down on the mat (which is twice a day) I am reminded of the stateroom scene in ‘Killers of a Certain Age’ and I have to chuckle – even assassins grow older … if they’re lucky. 
Paraffin wax tub for my hands!
My house is turning into a hybrid spa/rehab center and I’m not sure I’m all that mad about it. But I do have to ask – is this a regular thing for us Certain Agers or is it just that everyone who knows me knows how many impact injuries I’ve sustained over the years, given my horse & motorcycle activities and my propensity to fall off roofs… are there any of my beloved Posse who are starting to get these kinds of gifts?
Ain’t mad about it (okay I love it!!!) but I do find it … different.
And why isn’t anybody giving me that damb diamond?
Years ago I bought a cashmere sweater in the wrong size and colour at a thrift shop for peanuts and then took it to my tailor to make a hwb cover. Ahead of my time as it took years for hwb covers to catch on, much less fancy ones.
After a lifelong autoimmune illness and multiple orthopedic surgeries to correct the (ongoing) damage, I aid and abet health related gifts! When my sister asked what we wanted for our wedding anniversary, I gave her the make and model of the heated mattress pad that was on sale (I strongly recommend heated mattress pads, btw – amazing for creamy joints and bad backs.)
My husband recently treated himself to one of those full body massage chairs and I have been using it often, I set it for a half hour to one of the heated settings then fall asleep with a fuzzy blanket. Highly recommend! As for gifts, there is nothing I need at my age (early 50s). For people my age and older, I gift local treats picked up at the annual Christmas fair, candles, movie tickets, gift cards to locally owned coffee shops, and other items that can be consumed or used up. I have no more space in my life for “stuff”. I’ve begun slowly passing on my jewelry, scarves, and clothes to the kids. They are also showing interest in my perfume collection and I allow them to try things but they cannot have the bottles just yet!
Yes. But I’m okay with these “improvements” until they morph into a walker. Then I’ll be annoyed. Hot water bottle for reals? I have not seen one of those in decades!
HW Bottle for the win! Perfect combo of heat and weight. Jeffy B’s place has tons of them in cute colors and covers!
LOVED that book. And … yes! Part of it is living alone and having the space (and time) to myself for self-care… definitely taking the time for things like the gym. I’ve gotten even more on the skincare bandwagon, as you know this climate is TOUGH — dry, sunny. I’m seeing results and I’m pleased. I was too much of a weenie to have a biking accident and I’ve been lucky not to have any major physical trauma, for which I am grateful, although I’m getting a bit creakier. As you note it’s better than the alternative, and I’m not just giving up and giving in.
Horses and modern horsepower have been my bete noire for eons. Alas, I am paying for it now, though I’m glad to have done all the riding, etc.
Yeah. Older skin. Sigh.
Your weather: even more SIGH!
Perfect timing for this post, Anita friend. I had an x-ray last week of my painful foot which has been bugging me for 10 months, and was told “marked degenerative arthritis.” Great! I guess my future will be marked with cushy, supportive shoes. Later this week I’m signing up for an aqua aerobics class for the winter — a sign of the truly decrepit. But hey, it will be easier on these aging joints.
OW!But aqua aerobics ain’t just for us oldies – it’s an excellent way to get fit without tearing up your joints! GO FOR IT!
I’m working my way back to my stilettoes – but I think it’ll only be for show – no actual walking!
You do know that lab diamonds are a thing now, right? Twenty-two carats may still be out of your league, but surely a well-heeled Santa-someone could swing a 2-4 carat IF D EC for ya? 😉
I’m all about the labs – but Santa Someone is me right now – and I’m more focused on the house than the stone. OMG! I just said that, didn’t I?!!! Yow!
know what I got, to go with my hot water bottles? A cashmere sweater for it. Seriously. While the bottle is empty you insert it into the sweater, which is the shape of a hot water bottle. then add hot water and enjoy.
I have two sweaters for my hot water bottles 🙂
that is GENIUS!!!
Horse riding – crush fracture lumber/sacral vertebrae. Now osteoarthritis with nerve stabbing spicules. Also scarred lip & crown.
Dance & gymnastics – lordosis, inflamed hips, broken ankle, bent toes. All now inflamed.
All of it – Osgoid Schlatter’s with op on 12th birthday. Slightly short leg & arthritic knee.
Apparently I was too “energetic” for my parents to manage.
Yes I have TENS, needs updating, yes was gifted.
DH has gifted me numerous heat & cold thingies
omg! You really beat yourself up!
Parents never bought me a reliable pony so I ended up with loans that were insane.
Osgood Schlatters is a sports injury of childhood or growth disorder depending on pov the person writing.
Gymnastics & dance leave older adults with wrecked bodies & mega broad shoulders.
Energetic children beware!
yessiree bob. currently, I have one persistent physical issue which gets tweaked periodically and that’s my doing. I think the gifts I’ve appreciated most include a pair of cashmere fingerless gloves/handwarmers; the boxes a friend and I sort of exchange periodically with surprises in them; the annual renewals of house design magazines by others so they just arrive rather than me thinking about them. I guess the thing I most ‘need/desire’ at this point is travel where I see people (‘a change is as good as a rest’). I feel like that helps to keep my brain working. I’d suggest having a look at the jewellery at Lucifer vir Honestus.
I agree on the travel. I’ve been wanting to go to the Dalmation Coast for awhile – maybe this Spring!!!
Nooo! on the jewelry! NO!
(scuttles off to see what’s there)
I’ve so far (knock wood) been fairly light touched by any abuses I put myself through. But I’ve never even broken a bone, soooo…
I personally dislike jewelry on men so don’t wear it, except for the Apple Watch I bought when they came down in price and anything nicer than a Fauxlex could get you robbed at gunpoint in LA. Of course if I had a fabulous string of creamy pearls or an opal the size of a hens egg, I’d take it out and play with it.
One “old person” thing I’d love is a walk-in tub. It’s practically the only way I can think of to get to soak my long frame neck-high in the space of a normal tub.
Now I have to go look up a TENS..
TENS are fabulous!
and I agree on the jewels – I remember a spate of robberies on tony Madison Ave, with brides getting separated from their Graff rings right in front of Vera Wang… oh, the humanity!
Massage gun and heating pad used daily!
My sister !!! though I do like the weight of the hwb a bit more.
Please please please share the water bottle that’s such a hit. And yes, my friends and I have been sharing gifts like this for a while. And a water bottle will be perfect for a certain friend this coming Christmas!
goog ‘hot water bottle with cover’ (I don’t want to link Jeff B’s site on here – but that’s where I got mine) all of them are pretty much the same (most) so it’s down to color and what cover(s) you like
My (younger) brothers have given me a massage gun & a tens unit. At nearly 80, all I can say is that aging is not for sissies.
it really isn’t! If you’ve not read ‘Killers of a Certain Age’ I urge you to do so – it’s FABULOUS! (especially that early stateroom scene)
Musette! Jin asked for a massage gun thing a few years ago for his birthday. He picked it, I paid. He LOVES it.
Considering the way I treated my body the problems are pretty minor. Mainly teeth, the cost of two screwed in beauties is terrifying. So I’ve taken it really slow. They should be finalised by February. Have done something funny to my left heel but it’s getting itself right.
Funny thing about jewellery. I want it, want it, want it. Get it, put it away. Bring it out every couple of years and admire it then put it back. WEIRD. (except for my glittery work junk, that gets used a LOT)
Portia xx
and that, my darling, is why I fantasize about that diamond – well, that and the fact that I cannot afford it. I certainly cannot wear it to a construction site. Can you imagine losing the stone there? Omg.
Be careful with your lovely mouth!
Thankfully I have arrived at my late fifties basically unscathed from follies of youth. Which doesn’t mean I hop out of bed bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but at least my small aches and pains aren’t too serious. I do need to keep doing yoga and cycling in order to feel good. If I get lazy and slack off it’s painful to get myself back in shape. I do love a good hot water bottle.
the older I get the more I value flexibility over strength!
Keep up the yoga!