Ageing, Alums and Attitudes

This weekend, all roads lead to the college campus for that one most revered of traditions, alumni weekend. My charges these last three days were the lovely ladies of the class of 1938 and 1948. For those whose math is challenged they graduated when they were 22, which makes them…crank that mental calculator…92 years and 82 years respectively. For shame so many of us young ones were struggling to keep up with them, not me, though, I used to hang with grandma when I was home so I was well covered. They are so at ease, I am learning the secret to a long life, do remember and be thankful for your blessings, and do not sweat the small stuff. The two oldest ladies live on their own still and they are so spry and happy with all the fussing we are doing over them.

I believe that the attitudes on ageing are so different here and at home. Here, in the US, nobody can imagine growing into a grey haired old lady, whereas at home, many of our mothers and grandmothers are the most regal when they are older. Of course widely accepted African culture assigns greater meaning to the older members of society and they get respect, are seen as sages, and are taken care of as major assets to the community. I want to be older in Kenya, where many an older person’s counsel is valued and cherished.

In these parts, an older person is maltreated and ill cherished. See the large number of old people’s homes, the number of older homeless people, and the way gray hair, wrinkles and age indicative effects are rejected wholesale by the vast majority of the people here. I would hate to be aged here. Even some people start the age conversation very early with their teens, with some mouthy young ones threatening to place their parents in homes when they are older when the parents threaten to revoke a privilege that the child has abused.There are no old people in ads except for drug company advertisements, over-65 ads and gardening ads. Its rather sad.

I think of my own grandma, and how she is cared for by her children and grandchildren and I am thrilled for her. I want to celebrate her wisdom, relish her yummy food and hugs and kisses for many more years and I want to have her advice in my life. Even if she were not as close to me as she is right now, I would never put her in a home, nor would I make her pay rent to live in my home, yes, that happens here…Gasp!

So wont you age gracefully today?

Update:

This week, I have been in research mode and I am happy to note that I am 25% ahead in my goal to raise money for breast cancer research here through the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The last few days have been phenomenal with the fundraising. I am so encouraged. Although there is a long road ahead for many of the people who are here, I am assured that we shall make a dent in the research dollars needed for breast cancer research. Why am I doing this, you may ask, if you are a new reader to the blog, you have to know what my mantra is. I believe that the money we raise will raise the early detection rates, bring us closer to a cure, and celebrate the lives of my friends, co-workers and family who have survived breast cancer, as well as those who are now angels. I am painfully getting fit, refusing to give up and growing along the way.

PS Goes to Summer !

So here I am at the starting point of what promises to be an eventful summer. Two great cities, and a host of people, places and occasions in between. A long time admirer of this nation’s capital, I shall spend the bulk of my time in Washington DC.

Here is my roundup:

Sports madness. Was the whole world watching last week’s soccer matches? It seemed, for the last part of the week, all the conversations I had via email or in person with random strangers had to do with soccer. Football makes the world go round is all I can say.

Alright, granted, my only motivation is to Ronaldinho, whose postage size stamps I still have from my high school bubble gum collection, but the footie frenzy was too deadly. The local pub happens to attract a really high number of English football fans too.

Twitter: Some really interesting folks have joined up, and I am being followed, even though the bulk of my posts are of the “Being a student … ” variety, I am happy. If you are a fan of various bloggers, and other web personalities, look them up and join up yourself.

Matchmaking: This weekend, I meet some good people from KE. Here is where it got interesting. So we were having a great time with my friend’s family, who are from a different community than I am. So this older couple, aunt and uncle to my friend decide to match me up. Small transcript of the conversation:

Couple: (Turn suddenly towards me) Do you have a boyfriend?

PS: (Thinking’ None of your Biz People’) Why do you ask?

Couple: Well, here is our cousin, this face of yours cannot be wasted, give him your number, he is a good man

PS: (WTF, Keeping a calm face) I am trying to finish school. This is not the time to be planning so far into the future.

Couple: This one, (points to the guy) he is young (PS is thinking 35-40yrs and she can barely remember the early nineties) and he will not rush you to have kids, he is patient

PS: No, thanks so much.  (Kids? As in…assuming I am even going to progeny-tize with their brother/son/cousin…when did we get there?)

PS:(Exits conversation mentally here)

(I then weather the icy chills from this couple, and an awkward stare from the prospective, who says not a word to me, just gives me one of those looks you would give a really juicy tender steak, well done. It funny how you can tell the look a mile away)

Word of Advice - If you know a twenty something person, do not try and set them up without delicate consultations akin to those which you would if you thought they were a perfect stranger, who you approach cautiously. By the way this whole exchange happened in the middle of the room within earshot and view of all who attended the event. How discrete, yes? )

Breast Cancer Awareness Walk : Set for October, and will raise $2200 or more for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. For more details and how you can sponsor my walk, send me an email at sunnykay9 (at) gmail (dot) com

May Highlights!

My corner of the world is 2 hours drive from NYC and 4 hours from Washington DC. The weather is 75F (23.8C) and cloudy. There is a slight breeze and the trees are in bloom, flowers have reappeared. Its delicious weather to be outside and ready for a jog, or a walk, or like my gal and I did yesterday, just sit on a lawn and watch the sun set at 8:00pm. The days are longer!

Quick highlights from my week.

1) May Day - Celebrations of everything Spring oriented.
It was great to finally usher in some normal weather. Normal to me is the onset of 60-80F weather also called Spring. perfect weather for running, walking, being outdoors. We also had a grand party to usher in the Spring last Sunday.

2) Obama took North Carolina - Proud of your Carolina!
I believe that this is a sign to think strongly about what state I would move to if I went South.

3) I am squat in the middle of finals - hence the ’slow coach’ on regular postings.
I will spare you the details of the work, suffice to say that by next Friday, I will be a free woman ( at least from academics)

4)Twitter me! - SunnyKay
I am being followed a bit, am an Afrotwit and also, there are loads of new members doing all manner of things. It may reduce those 6 degrees of separation.

5) Found out that women need calcium before age 29, then after that we do not absorb the same way. Loading up on my calcium. But then again I am only 18*, so got some time left.
*-Approximately 18 till I die.

6) If you are a fan for documentaries a la Jamaica Kincaid’s “Life and Debt”, Michael Moore’s “Sicko” and “Bowling for Columbine” you should check out freedocumentaries.org

7)I am heading further south for the summer. I will be documenting my summer travels better than I did last year, and hoping to refine some things for the future. Details to follow.

Blogs of Note:
Food: Simply Breakfast - The art of doing breakfast
Art: Indexed - Art on Index Cards
Femme: MwariWaDavid - Hopeful, helpful, heartfelt
Tech: AfriGadget Innovation, entrepreneurship and technology in Africa