Barbara J. Hamby

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Text Books for Life

When I was married for the first time more than fifty years ago, I had very limited information about the so-called “birds and bees.” None of it had been imparted to me by my parents. Nor did I know much about marriage. There was a hodge-podge of information on radio and television, most of it conflicting, and not very trustworthy.

Since I worked for most of my married life, all the advice about greeting a husband at the door on his return from work was wasted on me. True, I might still be fairly well dressed in my office attire, but I definitely would kick off high heels I had worn all day before I began cooking.

Often, I was not the first one home, but that didn’t mean dinner would be started or anything else, other than reading the paper, would be done when I got there. Sometimes my hair would not have been combed since morning and my makeup would be pretty tired. But my spouse was not freshly groomed either. No one suggested that he should be.

By the time I had my first child, Dr. Spock had obligingly provided a manual for new parents. I bought it, hook, line and “let the baby cry.” At least I did until it became apparent the colicky baby had a bellyache, then I lost a lot of sleep.

By the time middle age approached, my first child was grown and my second was soon to be a teenager. There was plenty of advice available for middle age, menopause and mid-life crisis. More books than anyone could possibly read were in every library and bookstore.

Now that old age is racing toward me, I find articles on diet and exercise to help me “grow old gracefully.” There may be books or articles out there that describe all the assorted aches, pains, and infirmities that can turn up even in an active body. I haven’t seen any, but I could write one. That is, if I could find time in between swimming, exercise classes, Bingo, working puzzles to keep my brain sharp and writing memoirs.