Although I am ancient (86) I still have some life left in me. My husband describes me as beautiful (he’s 88). His brain works better than mine, although I can out-run (out-walk) him. On a good day.

My short term memory is such, that if I turn on a burner in my kitchen stove, I have to set a timer as well. If the phone happens to ring, or even if an idle thought distracts me, it’s as if someone has pulled a curtain down on what goes on inside my mind. The potatoes burn and my sense of smell cuts in.

My sense of smell is about the only sense I can count on: I wear hearing aides to hear and eyeglasses to see. I had a masectomy in 1999 so I wear what used to be called a “falsie” on the left side of my bra. I’ve had a few other additions and subtractions, including a full set of dentures, but I don’t think a blind person would be interested in hearing about them.

I enjoy writing. When I sit down at the computer, I am still able to put words, sentences and even paragraphs together. It takes longer than it used to though.  

How would you describe yourself to someone who can’t see you?