“How was your day?” I said to my mom the other evening after I arrived home from a very busy day at work.
“My day was very busy too,” said my mom, who is truly blossoming in her new assisted living residence.
“What were you so busy with?” I curiously replied.
“Oh, first I had breakfast. Then I went to exercise class at 10:00 a.m. Then I had lunch. In the afternoon we played word games. The kind of word games where you get a word and you have to make other smaller words out of the larger word,” said my mom. “The instructor said I did very well.” (My mom always completed the NY Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle when I was growing up, so it did not surprise me that she aced the word game.)
One of my favorite prints from a female artists that hangs on the wall at my condo on the corner at the Jersey shore. It encourages me to have more fun in my life post 50.
“What fun. What else did you do?” I said.
“Oh, Judi. Oh, Judi,” said my mom. “At 4:00 p.m. I watched the best Oprah show ever.”
“Really,” I said. “Who was on Oprah?”
“Robert Redford and Barbara Streisand were on Oprah,” said my mom. “It was so great that it almost brought tears to my eyes. Remember The Way We Were? Barbara sang the song. This was the first time Barbara and Robert appeared together in an interview. They also showed Barbara’s designer home in Malibu.”
“Wow,” I said to my mom. “You did have a fun and fabulous day.”
“What did you do today?” said my mom.
“Oh, just another busy day at work,” I responded. “Not as much fun as your day.”
I wondered as I hung up from the phone call with my mom, will I have to wait until I am almost 90 like my mom to raise the fun factor in my life? No, no, no, no. Absolutely not. I have to figure out a way to put more fun into each and every day to ensure that I make it to my 90’s.
Let’s see what should I do for fun? I know. I know. I know. I can go find that Oprah episode with Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford. It must be online somewhere. Ooh, ooh, here it is: Barbara and Robert. Ooh, ooh, ooh, it is great, just like my mom said.
Ooh, ooh, ooh. The Way We Were was and always will be one of my favorite movies. Ooh, ooh, ooh, I love the way Barbara and Robert are reminiscing about their days during the filming so many years ago. Ooh, ooh, ooh, I can’t wait until they show Barbara’s new designer home.
Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Bing, bang. Bang, bing. What’s happening? Is there a short in my computer? Now there’s darkness. Barbara and Robert and Oprah are gone. The person who posted the replay dropped her camera and the show is now over.
Well, at least I had a little bit of fun. Go Judi, go Judi, go Judi.
But, I need more fun, more fun, more fun in my life. Yes, I need a little bit of fun every day.
I must learn how to lighten up and have more fun.
I must learn from my inspiring mom.
My mom was always inspiring.
I must also learn from my lucky son D, who is quite good at making sure he has a high fun quotient in his daily life. D is studying in Rome this semester while I am home in New Jersey having less fun.When I spoke to D yesterday, he shared all the fun he had just had during his spring break trip to Madrid and Spain.
Get ready D, D, D. Your sister and I will be visiting soon and we want to have lots of fun. Tell the gelato and pizza and pasta places to start cooking cause we’re coming. And make sure the weatherman calls for sunshine because we want to walk the parks and piazzas too.
Ooh, ooh, ooh. This weekend, I think I am going to have some fun and prepare for my upcoming Italian holiday by watching Roman Holiday. Ooh, ooh, ooh, I just love, love, love Audrey Hepburn.
Have any other tips on how I can raise the fun factor during my life after 50? Please send them along – all ideas are welcome. I have many more fun-filled hours and days to enjoy this year and hopefully many more fun-filled years to come.
LOL
Judi
Hi Judi – just found your blog and I can so relate to the fun factor need! I am hoping that I can find some life fun before 90 too! Planning for your trip to Rome sounds wonderful! Enjoy!
My sister and I are in the same boat, being flexible and spontaneous helps make things fun. We don't want to get stuck in the same old routine! I found your blog thru BlogHer ads.
Thanks so much for your comments. Glad you can both relate to the fun factor.