 |
| getting ready to cook... |
It's Sunday evening and although I hope to see my Sunday night PBS English comedies such as "As Time goes by" and "Goodnight Sweetheart", I know that staying up late is not my strong suit. They don't come on till after 10 pm. It's 7:30 now and my eyes are drooping... Wish I could blame it on old age, but unfortunately I've always been this way. And my daughter is the same. We are 'morning' people... definitely not 'nite' people.
When I was working, getting up at 5 am was fine. Now that we're retired, it's more like 7 - 7:30. (And I still take an afternoon nap when it's possible between 2 and 4. It doesn't affect my bedtime habits.) DH and I both go to bed between 9 and 10. But I think it's healthy - getting 8- 10 hours sleep a day. Now if I could just exercise more and eat less sugar. (I'm working on it.)
Can't remember if I mentioned this before (Senior memory?) but I've been trying to learn piano this summer - with a book and a keyboard. It's been interesting and I've progressed to using both hands - which may sound like a simple thing, but believe me it isn't. First let me tell you that I know nothing about music. But I've always liked watching people play and wondered what it must be like. So I bought a book. The keyboard was my brother's which I had given to my son - but borrowed it back this summer. I can read basic notes, but that's about it. I didn't find it hard to play the notes with my right hand, but co-ordinating reading the treble and cleff notes and making both hands do different things is a whole nother' story... but I'm doing it - albeit slowly. If training your mind to do something it's never done is good for it, this must count... as my mind and fingers are getting a work-out (besides I figured if nothing else, the finger exercise would be good for arthritis).
 |
| crazy, yes? |
Good for you!
ReplyDeleteYes, it is brain training. I couldn't "get it" when I was a child, but my daughters played instruments. The older plays piano. I remember telling her when she practiced Fur Elise for a recital and struggled with that lovely fall of notes, "You're making a new path in your brain; keep on." She practiced until it became "habit".
Well Joanne, I'm enjoying it. And it's possible that I can get only so far on my own, but it's a start. And if I'm making a new path in my brain... that's a good thing... because the old paths may be closing down.
DeleteI LOVE "As Time Goes By!" Judi Dench is fabulous. I watch the reruns sometimes, though don't catch them every week.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm an 8PM to 9PM in-bed-lights-out person right now, but then, I'm lucky if I sleep till 4AM (thanks, Nicki, you @#$% cat).
I think it's so cool you're learning to play the piano! You're a fabulous example to me, of someone who is so engaged and creative and curious, especially in retirement. I'm not sure if you understand what I mean, just that it's terrific to see someone who is probably about my mom's age, so active and interested. Keeps you young!
Kim, I probably am your mom's age. I'm 68 and my 'kids' are 45,43, and 40. But believe me, I'm not as active as some 70 year olds, although I would like to be. However, I am extremely curious and do believe that it's important to stay 'interested' in things - you just have to find the things that draw your interest.
DeleteAnd I don't know if "keeps me young", but it does keep me happy.
Good for you, Rian! It sounds like a challenge to learn this new skill. I think it's good for your brain and your fingers to try to do this. I am a morning person, too. Even though I'm retired, I still get up at 5:00am because that's when I wake up. And in the evenings, if I make it to 9:00pm it's amazing! :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan, you have to know that skydiving trumps learning to play the piano anyday. But yes, it is a new skill and probably good for my brain. As much as I wanted to in my younger years, I don't believe I could/should take up skydiving now - although I have *thought* about doing it for a birthday event.
DeleteI sometimes wake up around 5 also... but can usually snuggle down and sleep until about 7 - when Rose starts rattling the blinds and running back and forth across the bed.
I watch those PBS show's also and was just complaining about the late hour to my Frank. :(
ReplyDeleteNot crazy at all, Rian. Learning something new and complex is a wonderful way to keep your brain as well as your fingers active and ward off memory loss. I'm afraid I'm a night owl. Though i love the early morning when I do wake up early, I don't find it easy to get to bed early. If I get my second wind, I'm good to go until after midnight or even later. :-)
ReplyDelete