The Best Place to Grow Old

Can you guess where? It's Sweden. 

An article in this Yahoo news, Global study: World not ready for aging population , explores the rising problem of meeting the needs of the fast-growing number of elderly people throughout the world. Reading about the depicted pathetic plights of the elderly in the less-developing countries made me look back to my country of origin, Philippines, where the same situations apply. I remember vividly how the elderly struggle to survive sans job and pension. They usually end up living with the family of one of their kids who is more economically well-off, and being fed for the rest of their lives. Sometimes, their children go through a grueling discussion/fight over who should take care of their aged parents. And then they have to wrestle with their feelings of being unwelcome or not being treated with dignity or tenderness, which they really need.

On the other hand, I want to cite an excerpt from that news article: "However, the report found, wealthy nations are in general better prepared for aging than poorer ones. Sweden, where the pension system is now 100 years old, makes the top of the list because of its social support, education and health coverage, followed by Norway, Germany, the Netherlands and Canada. The United States comes in eighth."

I tend to agree. My line of work allows for opportunities to observe firsthand how the elderly ones in our city are faring, since most of those I'm helping up are aged ones. My first encounter with these group of people incited in me a quick sense of recognition of the striking difference between these people and those where I came from. At 80's or 90's, the old ones here are still healthy and strong. They can manage to live by themselves in their units or villas. They can cook their own foods, do light home-cleaning jobs (note: the homes of the elderly are the cleanest I have ever "cleaned", much cleaner than the cleanest homes in the Phil.), go on a Nordic walk with friends, do some work-outs in a gym, knit, do crossword puzzles, read books, etc. I usually ask them if they have ever felt alone or lonely or bored, and their ready answer is "Aldrig!" (Never!)

That's how it goes with the aged ones here. They are well-taken care of by the government system and by their children and grandchildren who live in other cities. They have a sense of self-worth and security. As far as I have observed.

And they are glad to see me come and help them where their limitations stand in their way. They are delighted to have my company, at least once in a while.

So let me say, Long live Sweden! Long live the elderly!

But not for long, really, in this old world. For I have hopes for a new world based on these promises:

"Let his flesh become fresher than in youth;

Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor." (Job 33:25)

"And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will morning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.

And the One seated on the throne said: 'Look! I am making all things new.' Also, he says: 'Write, because these words are faithful and true.'" (Revelation 21:4,5)

These are the words of a loving Creator with wonderful purposes for his human creation. No more aging, suffering and even death. And his Words have power, for when he speaks, something happens. The above verses are just some of the few remaining promises that we are awaiting fulfillment.

For now, Sweden may be the best place on earth to grow old, and I'm happy to be here. But will I grow old here? Or will I ever grow old?

Whatever the answer is, my hope and my confidence in those divine promises keep me young even as I'm growing....

First Snow, 2013

The leaves haven't completely turned their fall colors yet  (in fact, green still dominates, except some aspen and maple trees), and then the first snow fell.  It came on Thursday morning, 26th of Sept., with 2 degrees C temperature, while  I was fast asleep. Regretfully, I missed it, only a wet ground left to be seen when I opened the window blinds.

The event was brought to my attention by a video post of a friend in FB, who has just recently moved to Sweden. That was her first snowfall experience and she recorded it.

Well, I'll just watch out for the second snowfall which will probably come soon, as temperature keeps dropping down. 

Meanwhile, I'm posting some of my recent fall-watch images, taken last week.

This week has been gloomy, windy and a bit rainy. Most leaves are still green, though we're undeniably well into autumn.

I'll keep my eye out for more changes. Have a fantastic weekend!

Triumphant

words of suspicion and accusation                                                        

  clearly a far cry from the truth

    issuing forth from the lips

     of one beloved or cared about

       blindly, impulsively, ruthlessly

         cutting the heart of an innocent

           who wrestled in her pain alone

             eyes drowning in pools of tears

               chest tigthening

                 heart heaving in anguish

                   why, why, why?

                      she let herself be hauled

                        by the force of a whirlpool

                          swirling down in a suffocating hole

                            swallowed by gloom

                              willingly, not a whit of struggle.

                                then suddenly, inexplicably

                                  she emerged out of the whirl

                                    refined and recharged

                                      unafraid to face

                                        whatever arrows aimed at her

                                           past hurt confined to oblivion

                                             not a trace of ill feelings

                                              transcendent love has conquered

                                                she came out triumphant

                                                  ... as always.

A Season For Outdoor Dinners

Well, the season has elapsed, but I want to keep a record of those beautiful summer evenings that allured us to have our dinners at our little back porch.

This practice of eating outdoor, that is, the veranda or patio of one's house or unit, is very common here every summer, when everyone takes advantage of the warmth and luminance of this brief season. Most residences have outdoor dining sets with umbrellas or similar canopies where families enjoy dinner together during evenings that look like midday.

These are also times when hubby is inspired to cook palatable foods and arrange them attractively. He is kind of a food connoisseur. We grilled pork and chicken, and made salads, which we ate along with wine or beer. Favorite dessert was vanilla ice cream with strawberries.

When dinners were over, we would usually laze in our chairs for a few minutes and admire the flowers that the season bestowed us through our potted plants and our small flower bed. Their presence had such a wonderful effect on our psyche.

Now, as temperature gradually goes down, outdoor dinners may come to a halt, unless we feel comfortable eating in the cold air of fall's onset. But we have had our fill of those outdoor gastronomic pleasures. Just right enough for this year's summertime.

By the Lakes of Storuman

Two days after our small grill party with the boss, we set off to a place frequented by anglers and berry-pickers, named Storuman, 231 km northwest of Umeå, about 3 hours ride by car. Actually, it's my second time to visit the place on purpose. This time, we traveled by caravan - a volvo combi conveying Mikael and Raquel, and a volvo sedan with hubby and me, same group that went to Ö-vik.

We started out after lunch of July 25. We dropped by Lycksele to buy some grocery and eat our sandwiches before driving non-stop across vast spaces of evergreen forests  and lakes toward our destination.

We arrived in the late afternoon, with fine weather awaiting us.  We headed straight to the same camping site where we stayed last time, and set up our tents, probably my first and last time to sleep in tent this year. 

At the close of the day before going to sleep, we stood along the banks of the lake for a few moments to watch the gentle ripples on the serene water gilded by the glow of the moonrise. 

The following day, we walked down the lake, which was just a few strides from our tents, borrowed a couple of boats and rowed across to check if we could catch a fish. It looked like the fish were not hungry at all since they didn't care about the "foods" we  cast them. But that's okay, at least, we enjoyed the relaxing boat ride.

After lunch, we tried another lake which was not so far from the camping site. Here, we caught a few small char fishes , which became our tasty dinner that evening. The rain poured while we were in the middle of the lake, after which came the rainbow.

I also picked blueberries while waiting for our companions to come ashore. Obviously, others had already picked ahead, so I just gleaned their leftovers.

Another night set in, tranquil and reposeful.

I captured the blazing sky,

...the moonrise,

...and a couple of toads.

Then we retired to our tents and spent our second night in sweet sleep.

I was awakened by the pounding of the rain on our tent. The sound lulled me back to sleep even though it was already high time to be up and about. When the rain stopped, we all crawled out of our tents, made coffee and ate our late  breakfast. 

This was our last day here, but before we checked out of the camping site, we went to the lake one last time to catch fish. This time, Hubby and Mikael shared one boat while Raquel and I took another. The two men were out to catch fish while we girls aimed at picking berries from the slope at the other side of the lake.

Hubby caught one medium-sized charfish, which was all they got. I also filled half of my bucket with blueberries. I could pick much more since the whole hillside was blanketed with blueberry bushes loaded with ripe sweet berries, but it was quite hard to carry a full bucket and walk over the moss-covered boulders with hidden hallows along the banks of the lake. So I contented myself with the half bucket.

While waiting for my companion to come down, I took my time to shoot some little things that pleased my eyes.

The rain came when we started to row back to the other side, and the waves were quite alarming. Hubby told us before to wait for a motor boat to fetch us, but we said, no need, we could make it. When we reached the middle of the lake, a rainbow appeared as the clouds began to part.

Having packed our things, we set off for home, carrying with us (or me, for sure) another precious memory of an entirely relaxing weekend sprinkled with simple pleasures that nourished my soul.