Karen OConnor - Its Taken Years to Get This Old: A Lighthearted Look at the Senior Moments

Verses marked NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Verses marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189 USA. All rights reserved.

Cover illustrationDugan Design Group, Bloomington, Minnesota

Cover by Dugan Design Group, Bloomington, Minnesota

Published in association with the Books & Such Literary Agency, 52 Mission Circle, Suite 122, PMB 170, Santa Rosa, CA 95409-5370, www.booksandsuch.biz.

ITS TAKEN YEARS TO GET THIS OLD

Copyright 2006 by Karen OConnor

Published 2010 by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

OConnor, Karen.

Its taken years to get this old / Karen OConnor.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-0-7369-2953-0

previously published as: Gettin old still aint for wimps.

ISBN 978-0-7369-1771-1 (pbk.)

1. Older ChristiansReligious life. 2. AgingReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Title.

BV4580.O357 2006

248.85dc22

2006001336

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 / BP-SK / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For my grandchildren
who keep my funny bone working!

I want to thank the following men and women for sharing their touching, humorous, and tender experiences with memany of which provided seeds for the stories in this book.

Marie AsnerAmy C. BakerMillie BargerRalph BenderNargis BunceJanet BurrShirley CarsonMarge CarterGlenna ClarkJoan ClaytonDolores CollinsEleanor CowlesDean CroweMona DowneyLorraine EspinosaPat EvansSylvia EverettPam FarrellLana FletcherMary Lou FlinkmanAnnette FrelighFreda FullertonVernette FulopJoyce A. GendusaMillie GessJudy GilboeAlice King GreenwoodPeggy HamburgJeanette HanscomeJohn and Edie HolmMarsha HublerAngela HuntShelley HusseyPatti IversonVeda Boyd JonesSusan KeckMary KirkJames LambJudith LarmonBrad McBrayerMary McCormickJim McEldowneyJoan McMahonLouisa Godissart McQuillenKaren MilamSharon MooreSherrie MurphreeMarilyn PrasowNaomi RhodesSharon RiddleMary Beth RobbMartha RogersNancy RoseJoanne SchulteJoyce SeaboltMargie SegerTheresa SheppardShirley ShibleyRuth SigmonShirl ThomasJune VarnumStephen WalshMarion WellsGary WintersBrenda WoodardJeanne Zornes

Bette Davis once said, Old age is no place for sissies. Indeed! It takes grit and wit to keep standing when your skin doesnt fit the way it used to, when you think someone stole your car but in truth you forgot where you parked it, when your grandchild looks at your figure and observes aloud, Grandma, you look like a teenagerexcept for your head! or Grandpa, why does your neck jiggle when you talk?

I hope youll enjoy this collection of original, lighthearted stories and inspirations to warm your heart and tickle your funny bone. Included are scriptures and prayers to nurture your spirit and turn your eyes to the One who made us, who numbered our days, and who promises clearly that he will never leave us nor forsake usright up to our last breathand beyond.

Karen OConnor

J ane looked in the mirror at her straggly hair. What am I going to do with you? Im getting fat, and youre getting thin. Its not fair!

She raked her fingers through the gray strands, remembering how her late husband, Terry, had loved her hair when they first met. It was golden thenand thick. Now at age 60, it needed all the help she could give itperms, thickeners, a weekly shampoo and styling. But nothing gave it the look she wanted. When it came right down to it, she was losing her hair and there was no getting it back.

Jane dressed for the day, and then checked the mailbox. The carrier usually arrived around nine oclock each morning. She pulled out a handful of envelopes and leafed through them. Bills, flyers, ads. Nothing exciting here.

Then a catalog caught her attention. The model on the front smiled from the page. Her hair was gorgeous, thick, flowing, wavyjust what Jane wanted. The headline beneath the picture beckoned: WIG ISSUESEE INSIDE FOR BEAUTIFUL, NATURAL HAIRPIECES.

Just what Jane used to have and was now desperate for. She tore through the pages, her hands shaking. Could this be the answer to her problem? A wig. Why didnt I think of it before? Thank you, Lord. You always provide.

Jane grabbed her credit card, dialed the 800 number, and talked to a representative about the perfect wig for her. After their consultation, Jane made her choice and placed the order. She hung up and looked at herself in the hall mirror. Im on the way to being a new woman. No more plain Jane!

She kept her purchase a secret from her daughter, Kim, who lived with her, and from her best friend, Dotty, who lived across the street.

The wig arrived on Saturday while Kim was on duty at the hospital. Jane tore open the package and pulled the hairpiece over her head. Gorgeous! She couldnt help but touch the soft curls and run her hand through the gentle waves. She loved the sheen and the texture and the way it felt. In fact, she was sure she stood taller and looked much prettier than she had in years.

She decided to debut her new wig the following day. On Sunday morning she walked into the kitchen. Kim looked surprised and then delighted.

Mom, you look fab! A wig, I presume.

Ah, Jane mumbled, I hoped it wouldnt be that obvious.

Mom, get real. Youve hated your hair for years.

Jane shrugged, grabbed her purse and keys, and headed for the car.

She drove to church in silence, but she noticed Kim looking her over and smiling.

What a morning. By the time they returned home Jane was flying. Angie had said she looked great. Barbara said she nearly didnt recognize her. And Dotty stood back and yelped, Jane, its a new you. I love it!

By mid-week, Jane was so attached to her wig, she wore it from the moment she woke up till she went to sleep. It needed a small size adjustment, but she didnt want to part with it long enough to send it back.