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Ginge Deary · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 3:18 pm Post subject: All Stars

When taking part in the All Stars Concerts I’m usually greeted by millions with “Hi Ginge. Don’t know why we call you ‘Ginge’ anymore. We should call you ‘Grey’”.

Having heard it so many times, it became a bit boring after a while. (The pi$$ takers didn’t stop to consider that while many of them are slap heads, I at least have a full head of hair!)

About five years ago I decided, for a laugh, to confuse them by dying my hair back to ginger. The instructions said the dye would be gone after three washes. So being the ‘OD’ that I am I went ahead with the plan.

Unfortunately the result was that my hair turned out bright orange and the dye refused to budge. I ended up sitting in the middle of the band like part of a set of traffic lights!

Ginge Deary · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:21 pm Post subject: Grey

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life and my loving family for less grey hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra biscuit, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be as messy as I like, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 & 70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old. I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when a car hits somebody’s beloved pet? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning grey, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day if I feel like it.

admin · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:41 am Post subject:

OUTSTANDING!!! Well said...
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2nd Clarinet · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 12:01 pm Post subject:

What a lovely catharsis that must have been for you...........

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy marshmallows, which are kinda the same thing...!
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Ginge Deary · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 12:08 pm Post subject:

By which definition?

1. the relief of strong suppressed emotions, for example through drama or psychoanalysis
2. evacuation of the bowels, esp. with the use of a laxative [Greek kathairein to purge, purify]

2nd Clarinet · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 12:19 pm Post subject:

Both.................

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy marshmallows, which are kinda the same thing...!
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Ginge Deary · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 12:36 pm Post subject:

Is that a polite way of saying my post was cr@p????????????