Anonymous wrote:My father recently (last 3 weeks) died of Parkinson's and related complications. He had it for 20 years, and the last 3-4 was mostly homebound.
If there ever was a model for how to age and accept your body's shortcomings gracefully, he was it.
He spent a lot of time with people he loved, including his wife and his kids and grandkids. That shows me that the most important thing as we age is good relationships. He also had good friends, who visited him frequently. And good neighbors. You don't need to have a lot of money. You don't need to take trips to Europe or the Caribbean to feel fulfilled. You just need people that you like spending time with, and who likes spending time with you.
He had to go to the ER a lot for various issues. Lots of falls. He didn't think too far ahead after each setback. He just looked at the present day He did prepare financially, so my mom is actually a very rich widow now. For once that was done, he just left the rest to the universe.
I do find it pretty interesting, because he was an atheist through and through. He didn't spend too much time thinking about the future and his soul. But he didn't spend a lot of time thinking about his regrets either or what ifs or the bygone yesteryears. Just focused on the present, and his hobbies and academic interests of which he had quite a few.
I am so sorry for your loss. And what a beautiful legacy he left you, in this approach to life and aging.
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