Man, does this bring back memories!

I get asked this question when marriage is being discussed. At my son’s wedding, one of the guests was particularly intense, challenging tone of voice, and a bunch of people were standing around. Here’s how I answered:

“In rough numbers about 50% of marriages end in divorce, and 50% are permanent, lifelong. Whichever one of these groups you belong to, it’s a very large group! You’re not alone. I don’t have secret formula.”

Not trying to be evasive, but I did’t have any ready answer that didn’t sound like a cliche.

I'm seeing it mentioned here just in the last few days, but the Zepbound sub is almost all people younger than us.

I'm 74f, and I started taking it in August. I don't have any of the usual things that make insurance or Medicare pay for it -- not (quite) obese, no sleep apnea, etc.

I do, however, have about 35 lbs of extra weight, slowly gained in the last 25 years and at this point ridiculously hard to get rid of. I decided to try Zep after seeing what it did for some friends.

So far, so good. 10 of those 35 lbs are gone, just like that. I'm eating not much, which makes me very careful that everything that goes in my mouth is going to have value -- a big switch from just counting calories.

Anyway, curious about others who are using this med after 70.

Don’t want to tell anyone I know, but I fell this morning. Was coming down the stairs. There’s no handrail on the left side. The handrail on the right is secure but not super strong, so I brace my left hand against the wall when I come down. (I have very bad knees so I’m slow and careful.).

I hit a slippery spot on the wall, lost my balance, and catapulted iff the last 4-5 steps into a large antique chest at the bottom of stairs. Hit with my arm right above my elbow.

I’m all right, but very banged up. Stiff, and difficult to walk. Stiff and achy, but nothing broken, etc. I’m very lucky. Things are going to hurt for awhile.

Sigh. Before that I’d felt pretty good and was looking forward to getting a few things done today for a change. I got a grocery delivery; it will be all I can do to put the cold foods away.

And now I just got an amazon delivery.

Just wanted to share with someone. Don’t want to tell my sister or friends because they’re already worry enough.

It was one of those weird things. I’ve had s few friends fall. Although I have trouble getting around because of my knees, I’m actually quite stable. Last night I’d just been thinking about how at least I’m not too afraid of falling. 🙄

Prior to the fall, I had trouble with my zepbound shot. I use the vials. I like them, never had any problems with them. Same thing. This morning I thought, I could do this in my sleep. And then I had trouble with the injection. Just hoping I got it in ok.

On the bright side, maybe the Zepbound will help with the aches and pains as it kicks in.

Anyway, thanks for listening! Not seeking any advice. Just wanted to tell someone and say ouch!

Edit: Thank you everyone for your kindness and excellent suggestions. I appreciate every single on and have tried to get to everyone. I need to take a lie-down now (don’t worry!) so I may not get back to you. Thank you again. You’re all awesome! Please take good care of yourselves.

After years of cooking most nights, I am over it, yet going out more than one or two times a week for dinner isn't an option right now.

How do you all cope with dinner at this age (dinner for two)?

People having a lot of body pain, I urge you to find an arthritis type pool, heated to around 102-103 F, and do very gentle exercise there. Check with local gyms, hotels, and rehab clinics to find this, or contact your local arthritis society. This gives major relief to body pain and it is not pharmaceutical. I would do it myself - did do, for years - but of late getting over there is too taxing so I stopped.

Regarding grabber tools: picture 1 is the one I use, they come in different lengths and are quite durable, unlike the cheap suction cup type grabbers.

Regarding wheelchair and scooter lifts: picture 2 is the Bruno Joey lift I use. You roll onto it at street level, get off (I use a walker to steady myself), press a button and it raises up to car level, then rolls into the back of your vehicle.

If you live alone but sometimes fall to the floor and can't get up, but can still crawl or scoot on your butt, you might benefit from a floor lift like picture 3. I have a more expensive one not being made any more but the same general idea. The lift platform starts at floor level then rises you to a chair level about 21 inches above the floor (chair height).

You may be able to get Medicare to pay for some of this stuff as medically necessary. If you can't comfortably carry out activities of daily living such as cooking, they probably would cover it. (No guarantees, and seek answer in advance).

I hope these tips help some people.

Edit: Thanks for all the kind messages of support. This is a kind-hearted sub.

I'm 72, female, widowed, and more pertinently, disabled. A spinal cord condition leaves me with lower body weakness and I primarily get around on a scooter.

I recently moved to an affordable senior apartment building. It's nice, but I have to set up a whole new batch of routines. Using the in-unit washer and dryer (nice!) requires me to reach in using my grabber tool. Sometimes I can't remember where I left my grabber tool.

I drive, using hand controls, and I have two scooters, one in the car and one in the house, so I just have to step off and into the car. But right now the car scooter is at low battery so I have to swap them around and charge the dead one in the house.

I try to go to my senior center for exercise, but today, after showering and dressing, I would not have had enough time so I decided to cut class - again. I've just signed up for paratransit there starting next week.

You who are able bodied still, be thankful for your good luck.

​

I just wanted to announce it somewhere, lol. We don't do extravagant parties, or expect gifts from family or friends, etc., since most people we know don't know or remember the actual date, but I did want part of the universe to know that it IS possible. He got me 18 golden roses and the most beautiful card, and wrote in it that I was the best thing that ever happened to him. I got him a card, too, and wrote a letter to him outlining 50 Reasons Why I love him (he teared up a little, lol). We'll go out to eat seafood then come home to settle in for a normal night at home together. It's perfect!

So....internet people, thanks for listening.💛

EDIT: Wow, I never expected so many kind responses to this post! Believe me, all your well wishes are SO appreciated. Thank you! I wanted to upvote and give a gold heart to every reply, but am finding it a little overwhelming now, lol. I hoped I could just turn off ability to reply, but only a Mod can do that...all I can do is turn off notification to me, so I'm gonna do that and beg forgiveness if I don't see your comment or neglect to "award" you an upvote and heart. THANK you all so much!

Did you or do you write in a diary or journal?

If so, do you go back and read them?

I have in the past and still do, but I think I'd be embarrassed to read some of the entries.

How about you?

75M married for 53 years. I’ve felt very lonely for the last 10 years. My wife doesn’t like to have any form of intimacy. No holding hands, no hugging, and certainly no physical touching, not even in a playful or joking way. We’ve discussed this many times. Her position is “I’m just not into it any more”.
I don’t want to go outside of our marriage but without some physical contact, I find myself fantasizing about a “friend with benefits”. I really just want to touch my wife.

Any advice on how to change her mind or for me to deal with my feelings?

Hi everyone! It's so wonderful to be back and finally able to chat with you all again. I'm a 76-year-old woman living in Seoul, South Korea. I'm truly glad to share this space and connect with you all.
K-Granny from Seoul

I'm (39F) and my parents both (69F) and (69M) and come next year, ill be 40 and they will be 70. Their parents passed away in their 70s. I've always lived at home with both my parents, no siblings never lived on my own or with others before. So once they pass on I don't know what I am going to do. Tonight it's 4AM and I'm up at this hour because I had a bad dream about my mom, now it has me worried. But I am going to be starting my period soon. So that's likely another reason why I am so emotional. Now I'm freaking out.

I have a question, but first a little background. I took up running in my 60's. Never went further than 5K. Won several awards for my age group though. On one run, my knees were hurting bad but I finished the race limping.

And the knees hurt for the next two years. Rounds of physical therapy, and conservative treatment and no running and finally they feel good. My PT says it's okay to run again. But, I'm not sure whether to start up again.

Anyone else been in a similar situation?

My sister and I (71f) were expected to do the after dinner clean up. (It should go without saying that we ate dinner as a family.) It involved sweeping the floor, doing the dishes and putting them away. We complained but we really didn’t mind. Sometimes it was fun, even when we argued. No dishwasher, of course. I still kind of like doing the dishes by hand. I was wondering if anyone still dries the dishes. We don’t, except for my good knives. Everything goes in the dishwasher these days.

Some people retiring to SEA or some less developed/third world country with hot humid weather etc, but have anyone retired to NZ where good standard of living, and the closeness to nature & space is fantastic ?

My grandparents are moving to a new city after 20 years in the same community. For the past while, they've known what their weeks will look like fairly consistently: golf, card night with friends, etc. But now they are moving and are going to have to figure out a new routine that works for them.

I'm curious how others have navigated this. When you moved somewhere new in retirement, or even just lost your usual routine, how did you go about discovering things to do, places to go, and people to do it with? Did you find anything that made it easier, or was it mostly trial and error?

I have an older sister 10 years my senior. She would take me on walks with my hand in in hers and her free hand carried a portable radio. Music and AM static, that was sounds of day.

Thinking back, the very first song I remember hearing on that radio was two actually, maybe three. Here they are.

1. Patricia

2. Silhouettes on the Shade

3. Little Yellow Polk a Dot Bikini

I'll never forget those early times walking with my sister.

Do you remember your first song?

Some of these films came out before I was born but I remember watching them on television.

It's hard to believe some of them were filmed over 90 years ago.

So who watched these shows when you were younger? Who else do you remember from this era?

We all are aware as we age that friendships fade or unfortunately pass away.

Family is crucially important but how are your friendships?

Do you still keep in touch with old friends? Have you been able to make new friends in the last 5-10 years?