ANOTHER NOTE DURING THE LOCK-DOWN

Tuesday, 2nd June.

WINTER has officially arrived here in Melbourne. Low temperatures, grey skies with very low clouds, and a slight drizzle of rain. Yesterday I decided it was necessary (indeed imperative) that I sort through my thicker warmer knitted garments, bringing them to the front of my wardrobe. As is usual, I found two or three sweaters and T- shirts I’d forgotten I had, and I had just been about ready to buy some more on-line. Now I don’t need to, so I’ve saved some money in the process of tidying up my wardrobe! I also found a few new summer tops I’d purchased last year, but hadn’t worn nor had I chosen to wear this year, so my girl- friend (and she knows who she is!!!!) is going to gain a few she and her daughter may like.

IT’S DURING THIS “SEASON” OF ISOLATION, that my thoughts readily go to women who live apart from their families, and more specifically those whose families are no longer close to them - in emotional terms. Growing older (and in turn “feeling old”), living alone, and being dismissed by the people they love, this Isolation has taken a battering on their feelings. Feelings of worth, of value, of importance. When one takes this Pandemic into account, those feelings sometimes become shattering.

* So it’s essential that women who are “alone”and more-so during this time of lock-down and restrictions insofar as not being able to meet up with friends and going to places outdoors as well as shopping (even if only window-shopping), take time to reflect just who they are exactly, and to recall all the things they have done in the past. Not only for themselves, but for others, too. To remember and get to know the person they’ve always been, and realise even if their family or certain friends no longer maintain any contact with them, that they are extremely important to themselves. Important enough to cope with the constant changes that are occurring around them, and to adapt to the best of their ability, especially taking into account the isolation.  It is imperative they continue to hold their heads high and to be grateful and proud of just who and what they are. They’ve got plenty of experience, and that life-experience is invaluable.

A couple of my friends this week during our telephone catch-up, mentioned this very subject. I know as one grows older, when friends drift away and families have their own responsibilities and no longer “have the time” for their elders, it is very easy to become the shy and unsure person they used to be when they were children. Too easy to be told one should focus on the here and now and not allow earlier feelings of unworthiness, of incapability to perform certain things, to be strong and always put others first, to come into a person’s daily thoughts. It comes down to how we feel about ourselves, and how comfortable we are in being who we are and what we are. Knowing we’ve always done (or tried to do) the best we could for others in the past. We’ve worked through many difficulties, physical as well as emotional, and we’re proud people!

And don’t forget, there are many other women out there who feel the same way, and it’s up to each of us to take their feelings into consideration, and to pick up the phone, or to write them a short letter just reminding them of THEIR importance too!

**  As with my readers, I am well aware that in 2020 and in these times of pandemic, there are women of all ages, who have no home, no roof over their heads, no money, no food, no blankets, no warm clothing. Women who through no fault of their own no longer have the advantages of even a small room. They’d love the opportunity of even having a telephone to ring their friends, if they have any, that is! What can we do to ease their suffering?  Older women cast out by society and having to overcome the risks involved in living in cars, or finding a spot to hide in.  I also think of the work our wonderful volunteers of all ages readily do in going beyond their personal safety boundaries caused by social distancing, every night to adminsiter their caring sharing to all the people out there living on the streets.   These people too deserve thanks and support (moral, prayer and/or small donations to worthy welfare agencies, whether financial or practical.)   

WOMEN HAVE TRAVELLED SOME INTERESTING, INCREDIBLE, DIFFICULT, EXCITING, FULFILLING JOURNEYS. We’ve accepted and taken full responsibility for our actions, our behaviours and our dreams (even when those have not met with approval by others or never come to fruition.)      Many of us have been trodden on, walked over, ignored, used and abused.

But as Helen Reddy sang:

I am woman, hear me roar

In numbers too big to ignore 

And I know too much to go back and pretend

‘Cause I’ve heard it all before 

And I’ve been done there on the floor 

No one’s ever gonna keep me down again.“

Oh yes, I am wise

But it’s wisdom born of pain 

Yes, I’ve paid the price
 

But look how much I gained 

If I have to, I can do anything 

I am strong, I am invincible, I am woman.

You can bend but never break me 

‘Cause it only serves to make me 

More determined to achieve my final goal

And I’ll come back even stronger 

Not a novice any longer 

‘Cause you’ve deepened the conviction in my soul.

I am woman watch me grow

See me standing toe to toe

As I spread my loving arms across the land

But I’m still an embryo

With a long, long way to go 

Until I make my brothers understand.

Oh yes, I am wise

But it’s wisdom born of pain 

Yes, I’ve paid the price
 

But look how much I gained 

If I have to, I can face anything 

I am strong, I am invincible,

I am woman.

...oOo...

Friday, 5th June.

THIS TIME WE’RE LIVING IN AT PRESENT IS A TEST OF WILLS.

The will of an unseen and irresponsible virus, pitted against the will of determination and discipline of men and women and children. The pressures put upon our brothers and sisters (and children) is intense. Unemployment; how to pay the mort- gage; home tutoring; how to provide for the family; the uncertainty of the times.

And we come back the constant need for KINDNESS and A CARING HEART. For no one knows what this virus is, no one knows how it came into being, no one knows how long we will need to adapt knowing it’s around us, ready to strike. For there have been any epidemics even pandemics in earlier times, although the statistics of such events is really unknown for the simple reason the peoples of those times did not realise the importance of keeping figures or numbers and communications were nothing like we have today.

And here we are, we’ve followed the suggestions and instructions by our Health Departments to the best of our abilities. We’ve adapted to the restrictions and while other countries are coming “out” of similar restrictions, there’s still the concern that while this virus may be dormant (sleeping) in those places, it may nevertheless still be present.

So we have to be watchful, we have to be alert, we have to care for one another, we have to show kindness to one another. We also have to be personally careful, and to be aware of our own personal health and the responsibilities we have to ourselves.

Again this morning I’m sitting at my computer, and lifting my eyes I am confronted with a bright blue sky. Hmm. Nice and early and I can’t see anyone else around outside, although with the roads through the village,  residents are able to continue walking as their exercise each day. Time for a quick “scoot” around the village, to take in some fresh air, and to be refreshed, ready to get stuck into what tidying up I need to do around my room.

I’m an avid collector of documents and papers. Great lever-arch files containing all the “important” things, which in the scheme of things are perhaps not!  Yet I have to admit I’m never sure about these papers and documents - they seem to have a life of their own. I place them in neat piles ready to be filed away, only to find to my dismay that they “breed” overnight. Honestly, and I can’t keep up with them! So what I have to do is to maintain control of them. Go through them, sort them, throw out what I don’t really need, and then immediately file those I want to keep. Not put it off until later. So here goes ......

In the meantime, God Bless you one and all, without exception.

Rosemary 🌹🌹🌹 STAY SAFE, TAKE CARE EVERYONE.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY:

BE ON THE ALERT TO RECOGNISE YOUR PRIME AT WHATEVER TIME OF YOUR LIFE IT MAY OCCUR.    ........Miss Jean Brodie, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

AN ADDENDUM TO MY NEWSLETTER:

I’d finished up my newsletter, rugged myself up and took myself for a “scoot” around the village. It was 5 degrees. I sat in a small secluded spot, reading, when my eyes lifted to see a special little visitor. Because the surroundings were dark, this young Australian magpie had stopped in a tiny spot of sunshine. Only a few steps away from me, this little fellow (who knows it may have been a lass) absorbed the weak sunshine, and then came nearer to me. How does one talk to a magpie, without it flying madly away? Well, Dr Doolittle succeeded, and Rosemary did her best to pacify the little bird, and to make soft noises that would satisfy it, so it would not be frightened by a human, being so close.      

You see, my Great Aunt back in the 1940s had a pet magpie, and I was given lessons by her, as to how to allow them to approach her. So I did what Great-Aunt showed me. And I had a magical ten minutes with a beautiful magpie. There’s nothing quite like being permitted to go close to a native animal or bird. It’s like an invitation to share their space, and I can only use the word “magical”, for that’s what it is                                       ...... Rosemary

GROWING OLDER, with style

I'm a great observer of places and people.  Particularly women.   When it comes to seeing someone who takes your eye and is an example of a person who is comfortable with who and what she is, then this shows in their dress as well as demeanour.

Take Jill for example.  A woman in her 70s and very proud of it.  I have only known her for about 3 years, yet She astounds me with her dress sense and style every time I see her.

For more examples of "growing older" women who are living exciting and adventurous lives, visit our sister-blog,  "the SILVER GENERATION©".   

AGING NEEDN'T BE DAUNTING!

Hidden within all sorts of abysmal news in the national newspaper this week 

I came across this article which I'm quoting hereunder:

The prospect of ageing needn't be daunting as we're happiest at 85, according to new research.

An increasing number of wrinkles and getting undeniably close to death aren't enough to put the elderly off enjoying themselves - research confirms we don;t get sadder as we get older,

In fact, it seems that just the opposite is true.

A telephone poll of 340,000 people showed that after 50, people start progressively getting happier.

By 85, people were more satisfied with themselves than when they were 18.

While the results of the US Gallop telephone poll showed that happiness came with age, it didn't uncover the cause of this phenomenon, as reported in Live Science.

The survey showed that people start out at age 18 feeling pretty good and feel progressively worse until they hit 50.

But after that point, people begin getting happier.

FASHION and WARDROBE STYLISTS

I can’t keep up with the expressions, Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Gen Y.  To be quite honest I haven’t found anyone who could explain what they mean.  Young people know, because they fit into one or another of the categories.  I’ve given up trying to understand.

But there’s one thing I do understand, and I hope many adult women will take on the title of being a member of the “silver years”.   What I have learned, and what I hear woman of a certain age say every day, is that “fashion” (read:  clothing in the stores, be that major stores or chain stores), is geared for the young, the very young.   Even, unfortunately, many of the brand names that have their own boutique stores.

In this comment I don’t include the following here in Australia:  Big Time Clothing (up to size 50); Sybil’s (up to size 32), Fella Hamilton; Motto; Maggie T. that all display a knowledge of the older woman’s needs in the fact that the majority of their garments fall within the term “classic”.   I still wish however that all these companies who only go to size 20 and yet claim to be "plus size" would consider increasing their clothing range to include size 24 and 26 at least.   

However I digress.  Let me get back to the subject of the “silver style” (elegance and sophistication for the “silver” generation).   For too long the growing older woman has been given the choice of dressing in the mode of young women whose life is fast-paced and quite casual.  The trend towards tops and tee shirts worn over tights is all very well, and certainly satisfies the needs of the young.  Tights go very well too for growing older women who have good legs, flat tummies and taut and trim upper arms and figures and there are many women who have this advantage. 

But we don’t all fit into that category.   Even though our figures have changed in shape and size over the years, doesn’t mean that given sensible, smartly designed and cut stylish clothing that we won’t come up looking fantastic.  This is where classic and style comes into the picture.  For we deserve to look fantastic!

For those of us who are enjoying the “silver” years, there’s a growing interest within our fashion and wardrobe stylists, to cater to our needs as an ongoing focus.   This has taken time, but the Myer buying team have recently noticed “silver shoppers” are being attracted to the designer brands. 

Stylist Jo Blankfield (Melbourne) writes in an article in the Sun Herald this past week:  “silver shoppers had been scared of looking like mutton dressed up as lamb but were starting to rethink their assumptions that there was nothing available for them in fashion outlets where younger women shop.”

That’s all very well especially for growing older women who have slim and trim figures.  Tight, poured-into leather pants really don’t however look good on a woman with curves who usually takes a size 24-26 and not only proudly boasts her curves but also her wrinkles.  She requires a special kind of styling - garments that flatter her figure by fluid lines, are not tight, or too short, or a cheap looking fabric/colour mix.

So “silver women” everywhere, share your views on what you consider to be a classic, stylish wardrobe for your everyday needs, be they as a retired woman or as a career woman.  Share photos of your favourite garments and tell us where you bought them.