730 things — Day 87 of 365

 Gosh, the milestones of growing older!

I have been successfully fending off some encroaching and increasing health problems, but I have some issues still remaining — and today, for the first time, I said to our household people going down to the spring to fetch water, "I'm sorry, I'm not going with you." I ordered some cases of Hildon water (in glass bottles not plastic) instead.

And, our car having now been sold, none of us will be going up to Sainsburys — the only place where oily fish canned in tomato sauce without sugar is sold — so I've placed a Sainsburys order to be delivered. 

I can feel myself swimming further out to sea . . . Jeepers. 

My dear hope in growing old is to maintain and support the functioning of all my body systems for the longest possible time. I have no fear of death whatsoever, but I am conscious that the routes considerably vary whereby one might arrive at that point. I don't mind when it comes, but I would very much like to arrive there continent, ambulant, still with my eyesight and cognitive function and teeth. If you're reading this, God, and I have forgotten something, please of your mercy add it in. I want my life to end quietly, with dignity, simply, suddenly, without fuss and alone. I don't care when.

My prayer partner Margery, who died in 2004, firmly believed no one need die of illness. She thought all illnesses could and should be healed, and that a person need only be quite simply called home when the time came — and I fully support her belief. Throughout her old age she doggedly and determinedly prayed for healing in Jesus' Name when any accident or ailment befell her. She didn't achieve her objective in every instance, but she often did and always tried.

It is the weirdest thing, isn't it, to be set free on this planet with responsibility for a human body that came with no instructions.

But when I went for my walk this morning, in the tree overhead a robin was singing, one of my favourite sounds in all the world. And our garden is in full bloom and leaf, like heaven on earth. 

I am very happy; just growing old. Parts of me hurt. But I can still, so far, dodge the issues and find solutions. May it be so right up to the end. 

Today, here are two sweaters I liked and bought secondhand on eBay, but in the end decided not to keep (and I won't be keeping the stretchy jacket I wrote about yesterday, either, although it is very nice).

These were Freegled.