OUCH!
Posted by Nona Nita's Blog at 5/7/2009 10:09 PM 
Categories: Nona's Musings
Tags: Seniors personal safety senior humor self-defense aging
Categories: Nona's Musings
Tags: Seniors personal safety senior humor self-defense aging
Every once in a while something happens and like a slap in the face, I am instantly confronted with my age, and the fact that it is advancing rapidly. Here's a perfect example:
In my twenties, as a young married working in the city, I began to worry about my personal safety. I was working during the day and going to a city college at night. A friend suggested that I take this great course being given by a former police officer who was also a martial arts instructor, on how to defend yourself using only a small hand stick about 4 inches long, which was to be carried around on a key chain. He convinced us that we need carry no other weapon than this, and I remember being so impressed with the many different ways that an attacker could be disabled, and even killed, with this instrument. We practiced how to manipulate it with moves to the nose, the eyes, the groin, etc. and, of course, at the end of the class, we all felt empowered and purchased one. I carried mine around with me for several years, feeling powerful, yet thankful, that I never had to use it.
Today I was flipping through the AARP magazine and there it was, staring me in the face... and putting me in my place:
"So you're worried about your safety after dark", it began, "and you've thought about trying to buy a stun gun, or maybe a light saber, to keep assailants at bay. Not necessary. All you need is a cane" and it went on to describe classes being taught by a martial arts teacher who would empower seniors, like me, to use canes as weapons for self defense.
.
Forty years of my life raced by me in an instant and all I could say was OUCH!!!!!
For more on Enlightened Grand parenting visit Nona Nita's Nook
and click My Path Productions for ideas that support conscious living
In my twenties, as a young married working in the city, I began to worry about my personal safety. I was working during the day and going to a city college at night. A friend suggested that I take this great course being given by a former police officer who was also a martial arts instructor, on how to defend yourself using only a small hand stick about 4 inches long, which was to be carried around on a key chain. He convinced us that we need carry no other weapon than this, and I remember being so impressed with the many different ways that an attacker could be disabled, and even killed, with this instrument. We practiced how to manipulate it with moves to the nose, the eyes, the groin, etc. and, of course, at the end of the class, we all felt empowered and purchased one. I carried mine around with me for several years, feeling powerful, yet thankful, that I never had to use it.
Today I was flipping through the AARP magazine and there it was, staring me in the face... and putting me in my place:
"So you're worried about your safety after dark", it began, "and you've thought about trying to buy a stun gun, or maybe a light saber, to keep assailants at bay. Not necessary. All you need is a cane" and it went on to describe classes being taught by a martial arts teacher who would empower seniors, like me, to use canes as weapons for self defense.
.
Forty years of my life raced by me in an instant and all I could say was OUCH!!!!!
For more on Enlightened Grand parenting visit Nona Nita's Nook
and click My Path Productions for ideas that support conscious living
Boy that hit home here also. One of these days I'll have to find out how to defend myself with a walker!
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You know, I refuse to subscribe to that magazine. I'm sure it is wonderful and has all kinds of enriching ideas---for the elderly. When I turned 50 I got my first card from them and tossed it. As soon as I begin to feel old, I might get a subscription. Well, I might unless I forget. What were we talking about?
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I applaud you. I don't subscribe either. My mom had given me a subscription when I first turned fifty but I found it totally depressed me every time that I received the magazine so I let it expire. The clincher is that the people who lived in this cottage before me subscribed and never changed their address so the magazine still comes to this address. Thanks for reminding me that having it around is hazardous to my mental health. I'll email them tomorrow to advise AARP that the former tenants have moved. Ahhhh! I feel younger already!
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