The warm weather is coming just around the corner, and worries should be set aside — especially the view to the other side of the street which always looks better than your own. But upon a closer examination, the view of the other side of the street isn’t quite as wonderful as it seems. They are probably looking at you with envy as well. It’s a long-range observation, not very clear or detailed, and many fine points are missing.
The truth is there is no such thing as that perfect senior who lives over there. No matter how hard one tries there is always somebody better: with a better body, a better car, a bigger yard, and even a ride-around lawn mower to trim that yard. Some are even single seniors and that is perfect for some, and for others, not. Seniors have to accept who they are and leave it like that and be happy with it, or make some changes for the better. As the summer sun gets warmer, so should you.
It gets right down to the fact that some people just aren’t happy no matter what the situation. They are called “grumpy ole men” or “crabby ole ladies.” The idea is to avoid those pitfalls and learn to smile, no matter what. And just keep in mind -- the person on the other side of the street may be looking at you with envy. Just look at the weeds in the grass, and the rips and stains on the lawn chairs being put out there on their lawn. You have yours out in your soft-lawn back yard. He has a 2-car garage for a back yard to hold his two brand new cars.
For starters being perfect means being entirely without fault or defect: flawless, like a perfect diamond, and good luck with that. Or corresponding to an ideal standard or abstract concept, satisfy all the requirements – like being a perfect gentleman or lady. Good luck with that, too. Flaws are what make one character different from another. If everyone were perfect, what a boring party that would be with nothing to talk about or spread gossip about.
And wishes and desires would be thrown by the wayside because as perfect seniors they have everything, and the perfect person or lifestyle doesn’t need anything else. Those small-in-number of have-everything seniors will wake up in the morning to the fact that there is nothing to wake up to but the morning sun, which will end in half a day, and nothing else to do because it’s been there already, and they can go back to sleep. It could be called contentment, laziness, or just plain boredom.
There are a few ways to look at this annual phenomenon called warm weather is coming. “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’ is the way Robin Williams looks at it, which ain’t bad. Or the more philosophical view, “Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language,” said Henry James, and that’s a real sitting back and enjoying it attitude.
The other side of the street can be your side of the street if following the advice of Chekhov: “People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy.” You just have to drag that attitude through any season or up any street.
Patrick M. Kennedy does full-service editing and writing and has published several books. http://www.abetterword.com/ and http://www.funwithretirement.com/