Reflections from the New Cave -- Balance, Compromise and Perspective Key to Long Term Happiness12/7/2021 By Juan C. Ayllon My late grandmother Doughty once said that life is about cycles; it’s about a long journey with its ebbs and flow, peaks and valleys, and the wise learn to savor the joys and make peace with its difficulties. And in this season, I find myself more acutely aware of life’s precious and fleeting nature. My mother, in her eighties, though mentally sharp, relies on a cane and a walker to augment unsteady steps.
And tomorrow morning, my wife, Belle (Isabel), will undergo an invasive surgery. She should be fine, but it’s still a bit frightening. Remarried late in life, we have come to appreciate the joys and trials of two loving but imperfect people doing life together in their fifties (actually, I just turned 60 this year). There’s laughter, conversations, pillow talk, listening to music, dancing, affection, arguments, the joys of grandchildren, stresses of downsizing, budgeting for retirement, dining out, binge watching Netflix--and so much more.
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Juan C. AyllonA writer, artist, educator and owner of Prairie Audio Man Cave, he lives with his wife, Isabel (AKA Belle), and their Goldendoodle, Liam, enjoys listening to high fidelity music and all things hi-fi at their home in the greater Chicagoland area.. Archives
March 2024
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