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Grown-Up Girls Have Fun, Too!
by Lila Meyerkorth
"Nobody has any fun after thirty-five," my teenage
niece informed me. I couldn't keep from laughing out loud because I'm
past fifth and I'm still having a great time.
Sure, smooth skin, girlish giggles, shiny curls, trim waistlines and the
energy of youth have their appeal. But there's something to be said for
the experience and ripened charms of the mature female, too.
Fun comes in all varieties. There's no reason why a fifty-year-old can't
still have fun with her girlfriends.
When Sue arrived at 8 a.m., I was saddling up Friend, my three-year-old
quarter-horse. Standing 14.2 hands high, a rust-brown color, she seemed
to cast a reflection of falling leaves. Calling on all the strength in
my 110 pounds and 5 feet, 3 inches, I lifted the saddle to Friend's back.
Sue, standing nearly the height of her pure-bred Morgan filly, slipped
her saddle on with ease. Sue is a charming, middle-aged lady with dark
hair and brown twinkling eyes. She spoke, "Where are we riding today?"
"On the Indian Cave Park trail," I said.
"How long will that take?"
"Four hours."
"Think we'll be able to walk after four hours?"
"Sure. Remember when we rode horses with the girls from the group
home in Auburn? They groaned for a week. You and I hardly felt a thing."
"But that was five years ago," Sue replied.
As we rode down the side of the county-line highway, Sue pointed over
across the pasture and asked, "What kind of flower is that?"
"A dried up Columbine," I told her.
"Wish I could get a closer look at it," she said. I dropped
the reins, slipped off Friend, crawled under the fence and returned with
the flower, handing it to Sue. With a hint of envy she said, "You
little squirt!"
I lifted myself to the saddle, then glancing ahead I saw an out-of-state
vehicle slowly moving toward us. As our eyes met, a nice-looking gentleman
smiled and said, "Say, Red, I saw all that. How about me coming next
Saturday and let you show me how to mount a horse like that?"
"Suit yourself," I gleefully shouted, as I gave Friend a kick
and sped away with Sue following close behind on her Morgan.
Then there's the fun you can have on your own. The trail ride had been
relaxing, but when I returned I noticed that the garden was beginning
to show signs of needing attention. The evening was perfect for weeding.
There had been a light shower. Now the sun was shining and I watched a
beautiful rainbow come and go in the eastern sky. Then I saw a couple
cars drive into my neighbor's yard. Mary lives down the road a quarter
of a mile. We had both lost our husbands to cancer within a few months
and agreed not to burden our friends with stories of self-pity. Life would
go on. And most anytime of the year we can expect someone to stop by for
a cup of coffee or piece of fresh homemade pie.
I was ready to quit for the day. The garden was looking better. I'd finish
it tomorrow. As I started to leave the garden, I leaned down and picked
a rose. My favorite -- the PEACE. Then, heading for the house, I mused
about my niece's claim that nobody has fun after thirty-five and recalled
a date I had recently. Sure, young people searching for romance are having
fun, but they don't have an exclusive contract on romance. I can happen
after the age of fifty, too.
A beautiful Grand Prix drove up the lane. I waited for the rap on the
door. I had been ready for 30 minutes (I hate being late, don't you?).
I had checked my hair every few seconds to see if each hair was still
in place. Dale stepped out of the vehicle neat as a pin. I was at the
door. We greeted each other with a warm smile. As we meandered into the
kitchen, observing the beautiful green bluffs and the cattle through the
patio glass door, we decided to sip a cool drink on a muggy, late summer
evening before venturing out.
Dale opened the door and waited as I stepped out, leaving all responsibility
behind. He had the car door open before I had time to get there. Cool
-- just like they used to do! I got inside and we slowly drove away talking
about a long-ago prom.
Dinner was delightful. I neither had to cook it or pay for it. What bliss!
Stepping out into the night, I felt warm inside. There was a full, yellow
moon, and we had a fifty minute drive home. It was a peaceful drive. No
blow-outs, no screeching tires or screaming horns. Only soft mellow music
coming over the radio, touching my heart strings with the favorite song,
"My Happiness."
Then there's the fun of work and of offering simple friendship to others.
The next day dawned as usual. I'm up at 6 a.m. listening to the birds
sing and watching the awesome sunrise. I drink in summer's cool breezes
while gardening, but winter's cozy mornings are for writing. Coffee and
toast start my day, and by 10 a.m. I'm more than ready for some tasty
home-grown fruit.
It is a busy day. I anticipate meeting all kinds of people. I was at the
office making out a uniform order when Larry stopped by. Larry is a six-foot,
27-year-old young man with a mental handicap. I helped Larry get his financial
problems straightened out a couple years ago. Before leaving the office,
Larry asked, "Will you go bicycle riding with me Saturday?"
"Sure. Where will we go?"
"I'll meet you at your farm around 9 o'clock and we'll ride around
the section. I need lots of riding to get in shape for the BICYCLE RIDE
ACROSS NEBRASKA. I like it down by the Indian Cave Park. It's pretty."
"That's a deal," I told Larry as we shook hands. When Larry
arrived Saturday, only a few minutes after nine, I had the lunch packed,
and with a feeling of excitement, I was ready for the day.
We bicycled on and on with pleasure, raising our voices now and then to
point out an interesting object. Then I began to feel muscles contract
in the calf of my leg. Oh no! Not a charley horse, I thought. I used to
cry when my brother had them. They hurt so bad. Larry rode with ease.
The wind blew my long hair reminding me of happy days gone by. My heart
was palpitating. Pounding! Pounding! Then Larry suggested, "Let's
have lunch." Nothing could have sounded better.
The day remained as nearly perfect as it had been when we began our morning
ride. The beauty of nature all around us was breathtaking, and I had a
smug little feeling that I had done pretty well keep up with Larry, even
if I did say so myself.
We arrived back at my house at 4 p.m. Larry asked, "Are you thirsty?"
While I stirred up a pitcher of lemonade, Larry asked question after question
about the farm. How long had I lived there, what kind of fish were in
the pond, and if the horses in the pasture were mine.
When Larry rose to leave, he took my hand and said, "Lila, thank
you for riding with me today. That made it more fun. In fact, that's the
most fun I've had in a long time." I felt my heart palpitate again
as I replied, "I had great fun too, Larry," and with a feeling
of fulfillment I watched Larry slip out of sight, riding into the gorgeous
Nebraska sunset.
Evening shadows brought the day to a close. I remembered my niece was
coming tomorrow to spend a couple of days, so I got busy and tidied up
her room. I put fresh, pink-flowered sheets on her bed and took the scratch
on the window sill off with Old English polish. Lucy's a pretty, 5 foot,
6 inch blonde, particular, and says she'll never marry. We'll see. Anyway,
the secret I am harboring inside makes me bubbly.
Dinner was cooking and the aroma of fresh homemade bread and apple pie
filled the kitchen when Lucy arrived. At 4:30 p.m., the table was already
set. After our usual hugs we walked to the kitchen, the room most people
head for when they come to my house.
"Why have you prepared dinner so early?" Lucy exclaimed.
"Oh, I already had my evening planned before you called. But that's
alright."
Lucy appeared to question me with her curious blue eyes, but I offered
no explanation. As we devoured teriyaki chicken and twice-baked potato,
we had a pleasant chat, bringing each other up-to-date on most of the
latest news in our lives.
"Well, Lucy, you can put the dishes in the dishwasher. I must get
ready to go now. I have less than an hour to be ready."
"Go where?" Lucy wondered.
"Out to have fun." With this I hurried off to freshen myself
up for the evening. I walked out of the dressing room just in time to
answer the doorbell. Lucy stood gasping as Dale gave me a quick kiss on
the cheek and exclaimed, "You look radiant this evening!" I
almost forgot to introduce them. Hardly noticing Lucy, Dale affectionately
took my hand and said, "Let's go."
As we reached the car and Dale opened the door for me, I glanced toward
Lucy. Her mouth still hanging open, she ventured, "When will I see
you again, and what am I to do until you get back?"
I smiled, and with a hearty wave, said, "Have fun, Lucy, I am!"
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