In my mid-forties
I remember drinking coffee with friends
at Belfast City Hall.
“In years to come”,
one friend commented,
“we’ll sit and drink coffee
while we discuss our ailments.”

“Not me!” I thought to myself.
(Growing old was definitely
for other people!)

Roll-on fifteen years
and those thoughts come back
to haunt me.

You see,
now that I’ve turned sixty,
aches and pains
have begun to appear.

Words of my mother-in-law, Dolores,
come to mind –
“Nobody ever thinks
that they’re going to get old!”
And Aunt Winnie, too –
“Growing old isn’t fun!”

Feeling somewhat humbled
by my aches and pains,
I settle down to pray
before going to bed.
“If this discomfort
is what You has planned for me, Lord,
then so be it.
In the meantime, Lord,
thank You for cod liver oil.”

The final part of my prayer
shocks me.
It can only mean one thing –
I’m definitely old!

Yikes!!!
(How did that happen?)

© Claire Murray, 2nd October 2025