by Eric Maier

Created on: October 01, 2009   Last Updated: October 03, 2009

The Near end of the Tunnel

When I was younger I went to see the double features a lot. The ratty corner movie house, with the chipped popcorn counters and sticky theater floors seemed like heaven to me. The flickering screens would transport me to strange and vibrant worlds for a few hours every Saturday afternoon. There was nothing better to my child's eyes.

I went so often that, even now, nearly seventy years later, I can still conjure the musty odor of wet carpet just by closing my eyes. I can still see the smiling face of grey-haired Mr. Davies as he took my ticket-stub in his stubby, wrinkly fingers.

"You enjoy the show, now, Tommy. I hear it's a good one."

"Thanks, Mr. Davies."

As I grew older, I moved on to other activities, sports and girls mostly, but I never forgot the movies. The "Tommy" years melted into "Tom", which passed quickly into a short stint as "Thomas", and then slipped immediately into the "Honey", "Dad", and "Mr. Smith" era. Now, apparently, I am in the "Q-tip" stage of my life, or so my granddaughter, Josie, likes to tell me. She likes to tease that I looked like a Q-tip from behind when I used to drive a car. She's silly.

Josie and her husband visit me a lot. Last year, I fell and broke my right hip and now it is hard for me to walk. My family moved me into "Cedar Plank Retirement Community", a huge hotel-style building full of other people my age.

At first I was incensed. I'd been independent my whole life. Having someone else dictate where I will live and the confines of my life was humiliating and upsetting. But my new neighbors are very nice, and the on-staff nurses are great if I need help with anything, which seems to be happening more and more frequently. I guess my body is just wearing out on me.

I can't really complain though. Hundreds of years ago people only lived to age thirty, and here I am, nearing my eighty-fifth birthday. And I've filled those extra fifty-some years with some wonderful memories. I've traveled the world and seen many majestic vistas and natural phenomenon; I've walked with lions in Zimbabwe and ridden camels in Egypt; I've cruised on the Caribbean and walked in the Amazon rain forest; I've ridden the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls and slept at a bed and breakfast on Prince Edwards Island.

My fondest memories, though, are of my family. I have a lot of children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. They have filled my life with joy and love throughout the years and I would be so lonely without

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