“Oh, that problem? It’s Age-related…Anything else…?” Chances are, that is the response an elderly patient might get if he goes all the way to the physician with a complaint that he thought he might as well get examined.
This response might be a statement of fact. But the cryptic way it is delivered does not augur well for the patient in terms of value for money; more so after having made it to the Clinic in Uber and waited for long for one’s turn. To overcome the inevitable wait, you even try to browse through the half a dozen medical journals on the table to make something out of the contents but find yourself no wiser at the end.
You resort to the next option - count the average number of minutes the doctor spends with each patient and multiply by the number of patients ahead to arrive at the approximate time it will take for your turn. More often these calculations go haywire because sometimes the person accompanying a patient also is a patient thus taking double the time. You begin to wonder if this happens only in your case despite your selecting a mid-week like Wednesday for consultation.
These said, such minor setbacks don’t dampen us, the joie de vivre elders. We know how to take these in the stride and move on in life – with gusto. Don’t believe me? Satisfy yourself.
One of my co-residents is all set to celebrate his milestone birthday soon performing homas chanting hymns to shower health, long life, and happiness. Rather than leaving everything to God to take care of him, he does his half to keep fit – yoga, gym, cycling for shopping, singing for pleasure and writing technical books. I had an opportunity to browse through one book and I wished I were able to write more than one para on that subject, let alone bring out a 293 or so page book under the banner of a renowned publisher. We salute you, Sir.
Then there is my friend, philosopher and guide – the 92-year old VNR, a epitome of discipline in all walks of life. It would be safe to say he knows the bye-laws governing Apartments in Bangalore way more than those who framed them. No doubt he was the go-to man in the previous apartment we lived together, and now in the Retirement home in Devanahalli. He too is celebrating his Kanakabhishekam the week after next with a host of renowned priests. As a pre-curser he and his 85-year old wife went to Goa on a week’s holiday. If one is keen on getting tips on fitness, one should go to him. I see no change in him these last 12 or 13 years except for sporting hearing aids.
Back to SFV, we have our learned judge – the ‘intellectual property’ judge to some and ‘judge mama’ to many. He will enlighten us on how to write a Will, things to incorporate and things to avoid, so that instead of a valid Will we don’t end up leaving a legacy of problems for the beneficiaries. He will also share the steps involved in the execution of a Will. The talk will be followed by a Question-Answer session. I myself plan to get some doubts clarified – whether I can bequeath padosi’s property as well so that both boys are happy. If not, I will authorize one son to divide my assets and liabilities and give the first choice to the other.
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