Embracing the Unexpected: Aging with Hope and Love

It's about finding love in the final chapter of life.

“It ain’t over till it’s over”

A Senior's Solace-
Anonymous
 
Who could have possibly known 
After all that life had shown 
My wife, my love has passed 
Fond memories and offspring will last 
With most of my life behind me 
A brand new world would find me 
When first I saw her I couldn't resist 
From letting her know that I exist 
Over coffee we shared our thought and schemes 
And soon there was love invading our dreams 
And much to our complete surprise 
The loneliness finally left our eyes 
"It ain't over til it's over," said a wise man then 
"It's like déjà vu all over again" 
So embrace and nurture all the joys you see 
Before time makes us history

Good old Yogi Berra said it as only he could, “It ain’t over till it’s over.” What drew me to this poem is the fact that I struggle with this. I lost my wife to cancer almost ten years ago after fifty years of marriage. I’m 82, as portrayed in a wonder book, Eightysomething.” For a brief period, I was looking for a romantic companion, but none of them worked out. Then I just gave up. However, “it ain’t over till it’s over” means to me that I have a lot to live for and feel happy about including writing.

This passionate poem embodies rebirth, love, and the uncertainty of life. It is about how life gives us unexpected, joyful things and people in our paths after we have suffered tragedy and decades of living. It affirms resilience, the power of love, and the potential to rebuild and find meaning wherever we are on our journey.

At the poem's beginning, mourning occurs, as in the loss of a spouse through deep grief. This loss appears as an absence and an important chapter of life that leaves its mark. Yet, the poet says, despite this sorrow, the memories and the legacy of children bridge past happiness and the future. This sentiment gives hope that something remains beautiful even amid grief.

As life unfolds, the poet faces an unexpected new beginning. Having met someone special ignites emotions and possibilities. In their time apart from the world, the poet encounters this miraculous moment, which acts as some pivotal moment that had to be taken a step to engage the world, to engage with life again. The casual act of sharing dreams and ideas over coffee develops into a deep connection, revealing how even common, mundane moments carry the future's potential.

Love becomes the go-to medicine as loneliness is replaced with warmth and companionship. This experience reminds us how much, as humans, we like connection and how good it feels. The unexpectedness of this new relationship, but there is always something far more than anything surprising about life because life can give you happiness when you least expect it.

Please make the most of every precious moment; seize happiness when it presents itself. This approach recognizes the brevity of life and promotes gratitude and engagement in the moment. We can be fulfilled when we care for the joys in our world.

This is both a testimony to the resilience of the human spirit and a gentle reminder that life is fleeting. It reminds us to remain open to the possibility of new chapters even when the best parts of life may be behind us. This suggests that renewal is always possible, that love, in its myriad forms, is transformative, and that it heals.