THE BOOK OF BARKLEY: On Getting Older

Monday, April 3, 2023

On Getting Older

My husband just had a birthday - he passed the age 40 mark. I reminded him any comments about getting old would involve dog houses and kibble for dinner, as I turn 65 this summer. But all in all, I feel really good - except when the weather changes and "Accu-Knee" forecasting kicks in. So for this Monday - some thoughts on getting older.

1. My goal for 2023 is to lose 10 pounds. Only 15 to go.
2 I had a salad for dinner Saturday night! Mostly croutons and tomatoes. Really, just one big round crouton covered with tomato sauce. And cheese. FINE, it was a pizza I ate a pizza
3. How to prepare a healthy dinner
a. Put the vegetables back in the fridge
b. Start frying the bacon

4. I just did a week's worth of cardio after walking into a spider web.
5. I tried the Weight Watchers diet. I did great and ate exactly my 24 points. The only problem was it was only 10 am in the morning.
6. A recent study has found women who carry a little extra weight live longer than men who mention it.

7. Kids today don't know how easy they have it. When I was young, I had to walk 9 feet through shag carpet to change the TV channel.
8. Remember back when we were kids and every time there was a foot of snow they would cancel school. Nah, me either.
9. I may not be that athletic or funny or beautiful or talented. I forgot where I was going with this.
10. I'll love being 65. I'll learn something new every day from the stuff I forgot.

11. My parties don't wake up the dog, let alone the neighbors.
12. I've pulled a muscle putting on a sock.
13. Phone calls after 9 p.m. upset me.
12. People call me spry and I'm not offended.

13. I don't have hot flashes. I have short, private vacations to the tropics.

14. I was finally asked to appear topless on film - time for the mammogram!

15. I'm becoming more reflective as I get older. I ask myself - what is life? - what is happiness? How many pints of Healthy Choice ice cream can I eat before it's no longer a healthy choice?

16. I can sell my childhood toys on eBay for a small fortune.

17. I've learned there is absolutely no good reason to act your age.
18. I'm still younger than Mick Jagger

2 comments:

Terra April 3, 2023 at 11:53 PM
You share some good funnies here. I like the leather motorcycle jacket Billy Connolly wore that said Too Old to Die Young. For some reason that makes me smile and it suits me too.
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SherryApril 7, 2023 at 7:42 PM
This one made me laugh. I disturbed the dogs' sleep and they looked at me! I can certainly relate. I turn 75 this year, but who cares? I still do what I want and enjoy life.
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Welcome to The Book of Barkley and the Blogville dog blogging community. This blog was created for more memories of Barkley as well as updates on our Lab Rescues that have joined our household since Barkley left us.

Stop in and say hello. However, comments from strangers offering business links will NOT be posted. I

FIVE STARS

No one who has ever had a dog as a companion will be able to read The Book of Barkley: Love and Life through the Eyes of a Labrador Retriever by L. B. Johnson with dry eyes.

Johnson tells the story of her life, from childhood to adulthood, from the perspective of her relationship with Barkley, a Lab that she got when he was just a stubborn ball of fur who ‘selected’ her when she viewed the litter of which he was a part. Her descriptions of adjusting to Barkley’s presence in her life, and how this helped her come to terms with and understand her past and learn to take life a day at a time on her own terms will resonate profoundly with anyone who has fallen in love with a dog and had to learn to live with its loss.

This is a story of unconditional love and acceptance, the kind that asks nothing but love in return. As Johnson and Barkley forge bonds of trust and understanding, she also strengthens her human relationships.

This is much more than a mere memoir – it is a story of life and how to live it, and how we humans can learn to live our lives better if we’d only learn to live it like a dog does. The author uses language well, with descriptions of animals, people, and places so vivid you feel that you can feel the textures, smell the odors (pleasant and otherwise) and hear the whining of a puppy needing to go out to do its business. Life can be sad or happy, and the author takes us through it all – a trip that you won’t regret taking. A five-star book that definitely merits the Awesome Indies Seal of Excellence

About Barkley and His Mom

My Mom started this blog due to requests from friends who wanted a place to go for stories of her furry friend Barkley that weren't in the book and stories of my rescue and new life in my furever home. She donates all of the proceeds from her writing to animal rescue and groups that train search and rescue and service dogs but that's OK, as she still gives me lots of dog treats and toys.

The Book of Barkley is Mom's first memoir. She used to be a jet pilot for somebody's Uncle but now has a Ph.D. in something involving science and forensics which is like TV but without expensive suits or cleavage. Additional mayhem is provided by my Dad and our 100-year-old "fixer upper" Mission Bungalow.

Her second memoir "Saving Grace - A Story of Adoption" was published in April of 2015". Her Third Book - "Small Town Roads", her first Fiction Novel was published October of 2016 and was an NPR selected "2017 must read" and 2017 Readers Favorite International Book Award GOLD for "Fiction - Religious Theme". Her 4th book, "Calexit, The Anthology", a Novella with other authors, was published in October of 2017 and was on the Amazon Best Seller's list two days later. Her fifth book "True Course - Lessons from Life Aloft" was a #1 best seller at Amazon 24 hours after publishing so I think she has been bribing you all with treats.

Abby - Mom's Lab Assistant