Senior Moments
By Charles P. Eberson
My wife recently celebrated a shall we say, milestone birthday, and I was tasked with buying her a gift to commemorate the date. But what do you get a girl who has everything; two wonderful children, three adorable grandchildren, a house at the beach, a new bicycle, and of course, a thoughtful husband? Somehow, earrings, a necklace, even an Amazon gift card feel like a get out of jail card. I wracked my brain when I had an epiphany. My wife has a creative bend to her and I thought what a warm gesture it would be if I fed that passion; nurtured it if you will. I came across a product called “What’s Your Word?” at MyIntent.com which by the way, does not sponsor me. The product is used to make a bracelet/necklace with “your word” stamped into a metal washer. The packet includes washers, a substantial hammer and a stamp for each letter of the alphabet, and “33 meaningful question cards.” The cards are broken down into five categories; Let Go, Be Me, Dream, Grow, Love, Serve. The interviewer (wife) would use the cards in a series of questions to the “willing participant” (me) to arrive at The Word which would be stamped onto, in my case, the bracelet. My wife loved the gift and couldn’t wait to use it with me and her friends. It wasn’t a gift that would be put in a drawer and be brought out occasionally but something that allows the participant to share one’s feelings and innermost thoughts with the interviewer. After the first few questions, I thought “what have I done?” Let’s face it, some of these questions take me places I would rather not go even while alone in my thoughts and perish the thought of speaking them out loud. Some questions just had me staring at her like a deer in the headlights. Some of the easier questions were, “What do you spend too much time doing? What do you want to let go of? Where have you found peace?” Then there is the “What makes you feel loved?” Suddenly it got rather warm in the room. Eventually, we concluded our interview. My wife methodically calculated my answers and gave me “My Word.” True to form, I did not feel like that was the word I wanted on my bracelet; a word I would look to for inspiration. A reminder of who I am. My wife was puzzled by my pushback. After all, the calculations were based on my answers. She challenged as to whether I answered truthfully. Perhaps, I miscalculated the wisdom in buying this as a gift. After some discussion and rehashing some of the questions and answers, I decided on my word as my wife admonished, “that’s not how it’s done.” So, what else is new with me. I believe it is a word that embodies what is necessary for this life. What has carried me through some of the major challenges I have faced and will potentially face in the future. It is a word that will calm, focus and strengthen me. That word is FORTITUDE and it is stamped onto my bracelet. Next year though, perhaps a pair of earrings would be the safer choice.
Charles Eberson has been in the newspaper business for over 25 years. He has worked as a writer, advertising executive, circulation manager and photographer. His photography can be viewed at charles-eberson.fineartamerica.com
