A Senior Woman's Life Story in a Song

I wrote the lyrics to this song, "Looking At My Hands," on March 19th, 2026, but in many ways, the story began decades earlier.

The First Verse Inspired By My True Story of Mom Helping Me Move Into My First Apartment in 1979 - But It Applies to Many Women!

The first verse is not just imagined — it's a memory I've carried with me all my life. 

I was 19 years old in 1979 when I moved to Toronto to go to school, sharing my very first apartment with a friend. 

It was only a few hours from home, but it felt like a whole new world had opened up in front of me. I remember the excitement, the independence, and the quiet realization that life was beginning to unfold in a new and exciting way.

And I will never forget my mother being there with me.

We unpacked boxes together, cleaned (we were cleaning maniacs lol), and set up that apartment piece by piece. There was something so simple about it at the time — just the physical act of lifting things, putting them in place, beginning a new chapter. 

But looking back now, that moment holds so much more meaning. It was the beginning of everything.

That verse, for me, is almost a diary entry. It takes me right back to that young woman standing at the start of her life, not yet knowing all that she would one day carry.

On a side note, I start the song with the words:

"Looking at my hands, remembering what they've lifted, my pens and my dreams, and how those early weights shifted"

These words reference what my soul knew it should be doing, writing, and how those dreams shifted to the practical side of life. 

Thinking back, it was the world we lived in: be practical, think about a career, not your artsy-fartsy dreams. 

Well, it ain't over till it's over! So here's my lyric video :)

The Verses About Youth and Ambition, Marriage and Family

From there, the song moves through the stages so many of us know.

The years of ambition and growth, when life feels fast and full; meeting new people, building a career, stepping into independence with excitement and hope. 

And then, as life unfolds, it brings love, relationships, marriage, and children. Each chapter arrives naturally, almost effortlessly at first. Yet, each one brings new layers of responsibility and new forms of "lifting" that we never fully anticipated when we were just starting out.

That's really what this song is about.

It's not just the events themselves, but what comes with them. The unseen weight. 

The emotional and mental strength required to hold it all together. The quiet resilience that builds over time as life becomes more complex.

In the beginning, the lifting is physical — boxes, furniture, the pieces of a new life. But as the years go on, what we carry becomes much deeper than that. It becomes about people, about love, about responsibility, about showing up again and again for the life we've created.

And then something shifts.

The Verse About How The Lifting Will Now Be Experienced by Our Grown Children

We begin to see the next generation stepping into those same roles.

Our children begin to carry their own weights, to build their own lives, to face their own challenges. And in that moment, there's both a sense of understanding and a quiet passing of the torch; a recognition that this is the rhythm of life.

The thread that runs through it all is that simple image: looking at our hands.

All that they've held.
All that they've lifted.
All that they've carried — often without us even realizing the strength it took.

I Gave This Song, These Lyrics, A Positive Ending

And in the end, I wanted this song to land somewhere peaceful and positive. Not in hardship, but in reflection. In that later chapter of life where we can look back — from that young woman in her first apartment in 1979, to the woman we are today — and recognize the fullness of it all.

Not perfectly lived, but fully lived.

And in that reflection, there is a quiet kind of victory.

Not the kind that needs to be announced, but the kind you feel when you realize… You did it. You're still standing. That's a win in my books.

****************

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Temperature Drops and Keeping Warm Are Important To Me ~ A Product Review

It's that time of year when the temperatures are dropping and you know that Good Old Mister Winter is just waiting to make his presence known. Keeping your hands and feet warm is going to be one of the ways that you will enjoy this temperature drop, really!

Personally I'm just enjoying the beautiful autumn that we are having right now, but, I know that it will be short lived.  I hate being cold. Unlike springtime when the temps are rising, in October, the temps are dropping and dropping quite quickly.

My biggest problem is that walking has become my go to exercise to keep myself fit and sane all at the same time.  I need some time away from my home in order to clear my mind, think about what needs must be met (this is where it gets difficult), and just get away from the source of my stress.

I walk between 5 and 8 kilometers a day (for my American friends that translates to 3.1 miles to 4.97 miles respectively).  This is my routine and has been for the last 3 years.  I have learned to enjoy the walking, but, I still hate the part about getting cold!

Well I have come to rely on a handy dandy and easy way to get rid of that feeling, so that my walks are comfortable in whatever weather Mr. Winter decides to throw my way.  I just happen to love My HotHands!

HotHands Toe, Hand, & Body Warmer Variety Pack - Long Lasting Safe Natural Odorless Air Activated Warmers,Beige

 

This pack has a great combination of hand, body and feet warmers, all together. So there is no need ever to feel that Mr. Winter is winning and keeping you away from your much needed walking schedule. As seniors, I and my other half look forward to keeping ourselves healthy and strong. One way we do this is to keep active. Walking is by far one of the Best Rated exercises for Seniors all around the world. You don't need any equipment per/se. Good boots and warm clothing are the basic requirements. Of course hats and scarves help too!  This is where the HotHands come in.  We place these little packets into our mitts and into our boots and both our hands and feet are kept warm and toasty the whole time we are out!  We don't use them every time we go out, but when the temperatures really drop they are a life saver!  

We live in an urban area so that most of the sidewalks and roads are plowed, but if you lived in a very rural area you might also want to invest in some snow cleats for your own safety.  These are handy items that attach to your boots and give you that extra grip when ice and snow become an obstacle to your fitness routines.  If I lived in the countryside I would have these for sure.  Where I live they would not be necessary.  My other half and I don't go walking in the "outer reaches".  We stick fairly close to home.

 Crampons Ice Cleats Traction Snow Grips for Boots Shoes Women Men Anti Slip 19 Stainless Steel Spikes Safe Protect for Hiking Fishing Walking Climbing MountaineeringCheck Price

 

For those of you who are city dwellers, but still like getting out into the countryside, then I would recommend that these traction aids be a part of your outdoor activity equipment along with those wonderful HotHands! 

Nothing should keep you from getting a good walk in everyday, especially the cold temperatures.  You can keep up your exercise goals with the help of these Hand Warmers, enjoy a beautiful walk in the brisk air and feel comfortable the whole time you are out!

I hope that you will give them a try and keep yourself strong and warm during those winter months when hibernation seems to be the only other alternative.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Safety and Aging Go Hand in Hand ~ A Product Review

For anyone who has had to look after an aging relative or even an aging spouse, you know that the most important thing from day to day is a person's safety.

While our loved ones may still be able to do many things, there are also many that they can no longer do for themselves.  So as their caregivers we need to make sure that their independence and safety come first and foremost.

We took my mother into our home at the end of February and since then have made many small changes that has resulted in her being able to do some things for herself .  This helps her with her self-esteem!  The more we can help her be independent, the less she will suffer from Depression.  

One of the major things we needed to do was to make sure that her night-time routines would be easier for her and for us as well.

Nightlights became a "must have"!  She has one in her bedroom and one in the bathroom.  What I love about these nightlights is that they don't cast such a glow as to interfere with her sleep, yet when it is dark at night, they illuminate her surroundings enough that she can make out a clear path to her bathroom.

We were talking with many representatives about services and tools that are useful for seniors.  They gave us a great list of things we could do to make my mother's situation as good as it can be.

The second part of this safety lesson for us, was having something that she can hold onto when getting up out of bed.  It's difficult at the best of times for the elderly to get safely from their beds to the bathroom, but when they also have lightheadedness, it is even more critical to make their trip to the loo, an easy, and safe journey.

This may be of great help for you in whatever situation you might find yourself.  It is a simple bed frame that is firmly attached to the box spring on the bed.  It offers a rail that can be held onto until they get their feet under them.  It stabilizes them until they can take that first step or two after getting up!

My mother loves this rail and uses it even through the day when she feels the need for a little extra support.  It has a non-slip covering that is soft on "old hands".  This is the Amazon Choice for bed rails, but in our case it was also the one most recommended by Senior's Occupational Health and Safety.  It is not terribly expensive and gives us so much piece of mind.  Because of the relative costs for her safety and depending on your own situation, you could install these rails on either side of the bed or on both sides for that little bit of extra safety and security.

In our case one rail was enough as her bed is on a wall on the other side.  There is only one way into her bed and one way out!  We are so pleased with this purchase because it makes our lives easier knowing that she is safely tucked into her bed at night, but that should she need to get up, she can do so in a manner that doesn't put her at risk of falling!

In the description of this item it says that it takes 2 minutes to install and I thought to myself, that for sure it was an exaggeration.  Well, I was wrong!  It really did only takes a few minutes to have this bed rail installed and ready for use.  Over all both my husband and I are so pleased with this purchase and my mother loves it as well.

Aging is not easy as every day brings some new challenges, but with the right tools, everyday life can be made easier!  

Here's to keeping our loved ones safe and secure in their later years.

You can read more about safety and seniors in my other review:

Wonderful Tools to Help You Age Gracefully

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Aging Gracefully is My Goal for 2023 and Beyond! ~ A Product Review

 Aging is a topic that many people don't want to talk about, but, it's happening to each one of us as each day passes by!  

Today we are going to look at a product review that will help keep you safe as you journey through the days and your years increase.

Both my husband and I are well into our retirement years and we are thankful and happy to have made it to this milestone in life!  We are brave souls that don't take too much for granted and try to make the best out of every day we have.  I guess it helps that we have "Older" people around us that we care for!  They unwittingly give us hope that we will make it further as well. 

Aging is not for sissies, you have to be ready for changes!  Lots and lots of changes!  So when the inevitable decline in mobility started, we knew that it was time to do something about it!  No we aren't ostriches with our head in the sand, we know that in order to keep our days moving forward, we had to make some changes.

Aging gracefully is an attitude we have both decided to adopt.  Being old and miserable just doesn't suit us at all and it makes life more difficult in the long run.  No one wants to be around someone who is cranky all the time because life has brought about some changes.  They will happen whether you like them or not.

We accept the changes and work to make it easier to live with those changes.  

One of the most important aspects of this new philosophy of life is to be "SAFE"! 

With my double knee replacement and my husbands neuropathy in his hands and feet, mobility has become one of our major changes.  Standing for us is sometimes difficult, so we needed help in that area.  Not to worry, there are lots of "tools" available to make that easier.

The one room I will focus on today is in the bathroom!  Most accidents in the home happen in this room!  Why?  Well let's just take a quick look and see what the problems can be! 

• Lots of very hard surfaces.
• Water and non-permeable surfaces and floors
• Lots of  very hard edges and corners
• Tubs with glossy surfaces and water just waiting to be used like an ice skating rink
• Hard protruding handles and water spouts
• Confined spaces (once you fall, there is no where else to land)

My husband had a close call in the shower one morning and that was my wake up call.  Thank goodness for Amazon Prime, the problem was fixed in a day!  

While taking his shower, he felt a little lightheaded and dizzy.  We didn't have anything to hold onto in the tub area, so he was grasping the walls as well as he could.  That day we searched out a way to make showering safer for us.

This is what we came up with and it works well, is not too costly!  

We have had this chair now for a few months and can't believe we did without one for as long as we had. It has been a great purchase for us and I can honestly say that I don't worry about him in the shower anymore.  I know he is safe!  The other modifications we made to our bathroom is a grab bar and a hand held shower head!  Both of these were additions that made showering so much easier, safer and better! I must add that there was always a non-slip floor mat in the bathtub.  If you don't have one of these, they are the first and maybe the most important thing to add to your bathroom safety list.  Anyone, not just seniors can slip in the tub.  So a non-slip bath mat is good for any family, no matter how old or young they are!

Stay tuned for more products that should help you be Super Seniors that take their safety seriously!  Be Fabulous, be Great and above all be Safe as we all move through our days!

The cartoons on this page are borrowed from "weloveourgranny.com"

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The Carry-All Wagon That Will Make Life Easier For Everyone in 2021! A Product Review

We have always been on the look out for something that will make our chores easier!  After all we are seniors! 

The wonderful thing is that when searching for things that will make senior life easier, we sometimes stumble on things that are useful to everyone!  

We are in an apartment and so when doing our grocery shopping, we often take a bundle buggy with us, so that bringing up our purchases can be done in one trip.  Hauling groceries to the elevators 2 or 3 bags at a time just doesn't appeal to me or my other half.

Sometimes though, that bundle buggy just doesn't cut the mustard, so to speak, and we are left tripping up and down the elevators ad nauseum.

There has to be a better way!

Well, I think I have found it.  Bundle buggies take up a lot of space in the trunk of the car.  When shopping is the order of the day though, you need to find that space.  No questions asked, you will need a way to get those groceries to your doorstep as easily as possible.

Now I have found that there are these really great collapsible wagons that can do the job as well or better than a bundle buggy.  They are compact, take up little room in the car, and open up to reveal a substantial amount of space to place all your groceries and any extras you might have picked up.

What I really like about this wagon is that it is not just for groceries or for older folks.  This wagon is useful for everyone. 

Families when they are going on a picnic, or to a sporting event with their children, can load this wagon with chairs, extra toys for the children that aren't on the field, snacks, drinks, blankets and any other possible need to keep the kids out at the park for the duration.  No need to be running back and forth to the car for extra things.  It's all in the wagon, ready for you!

Going to the cottage would be a fantastic time to use this wagon as well.  Just think of unloading the car, with blankets, food for the week, drinks, water toys, bathing suits and the like.  Pile it all into the wagon and I'm sure you will have fewer trips back and forth.  Even the children can pull the full wagon without too much difficulty.  Help is on the way in more ways than one.

Gardeners and garden lovers, can use this cart to move around new plants, soil, compost, tools and so much more.  All of it just goes into the wagon and it goes where you need it.  How wonderful is that?

 MacSports Collapsible Outdoor Utility Wagon with Folding Table and Drink Holders, GrayCheck Price TIMBER RIDGE 400L Large Capacity Folding Double Decker Wagon, 54Check Price

 

Collapsible wagons come in a variety of sizes and styles.

There are a few things that you should discern before you purchase one of these wagons!  What is the ultimate use for the wagon going to be?  If you are using it for transport from one location to the next, you might want to check out the specific size and weight of load  the wagon can handle.  

Are you going to use it just for carting things from the car to an apartment, or are you going to walk to the store and use it to carry your purchases on the way home?  You might think this is a silly idea, but let me tell you, some of the "attributes" of the wagon you choose could make the difference between a good hike home or not.  Do you need brakes on your wagon?  How about an adjustable handle?  For our purposes, the adjustable handle is a must have.  I'm 5'7" and my other half is 6'5",  My arms and his are not the same and our ability to grab that handle and go with it would need adjustment.  There are a few different options on these wagons as you might expect and it's good to think about that before you buy one.

If you are going to use this wagon year round, you might want to go with wheels that are a little larger to get you through snow easier.  Some have rotating wheels that makes it easier to move it about!  You can either pull it or push it.  

These wagon/carts can be opened up with one hand and it can collapse with one hand too!  Their footprint is small so that your trunk isn't all taken up with the wagon in it's storage position.  But it is there when you need it.  You can also purchase a tarp to carry things that might overflow the body of the wagon.  

Just imagine a coach of a soccer team with 24 or more soccer balls.  They would all fit into the wagon with the tarp overlay keeping everything secure!  How's that for a time saver and trip saver too!  

As I get used to having this new tool at my disposal, I will keep you up to date on more uses for this handy wagon.  I know I will make good use of it especially on the days that I walk to the grocery store or those days when recycling needs to be disposed of.  No more trotting back and forth, it will get done in one trip!

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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