I read this story the other day about a gentleman whose name was Tom. Tom always dreaded the thought of old age. He said he couldn't imagine anything worse than being old. He would often write, "How awful it must be to have nothing to do all day long but stare at the walls or watch TV! That's just not the way I want my lfe to end up!"
Just recently Tom decided he would call on his new neighbor, an elderly retired gentleman, recently widowed, and who, he presumed, had moved in with his married daughter because he was too old to take care of himself. He went and bought a box of doughnuts and without bothering to call (some old people cannot hear the phone), headed next door to brighten this old guy's day and to let him know that his church had special ministries for the elderly.
When he rang the doorbell this "old guy" came to the door dressed in tennis shorts and a polo shirt, looking about as ancient and decrepit as Donny Osmond. "I'm sorry I can't invite you in," he said to Tom when he introduced myself, "but I'm due at the Racquet Club at two. I'm playing in the semifinals today."
"Oh that's all right," Tom said. "I brought you some doughnuts..."
"Great!" he interrupted, snatching the box. "Just what I need for bridge club tomorrow! Thanks so much!"
Tom continued, "...and just thought we'd visit a while. But that's okay! I'll just trot across the street and call on Granny Grady. She attends my church"
"Don't bother," he said. "Gran's not home; I know. I just called to remind her of our date to go dancing tonight. She may be at the beauty shop. She mentioned at breakfast (at which house?) that she had an appointment for a tint job."
So Tom went home and called his Mother's cousin (age 83) and she was in the hospital working in the gift shop. He called his aunt (age 74) and she was on vacation in China. He called his great uncle (age 79) and then remembered he was on his honeymoon.
He wrote in his story, "I still dread old age, now more than ever. I just don't think I can keep up with it!"
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