In all tongues, welcome to new year, new start

‘La Multi Ani” is the Romanian way of saying “Happy New Year.” It is also the way to say “Happy Birthday.”

My dear Romanian friends, Vio and Lucy Lupsa, send me this greeting twice a year and each time I think about the concept of a new beginning, either from the day of your birth or from the first day of a new year.

How wonderful to be given two days for starting over.

Of course, what we do with those chances is up to us and that brings to mind these verses about what women see, when they look at themselves in the mirror.

At age 5 she looks at herself and sees Cinderella.

At age 15 she looks at herself and sees an ugly sister (Mom, I can’t go to school looking like that!).

At age 20 she looks at herself and sees “too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly,” but decides to go to school anyway.

At age 30 she looks at herself and sees “too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly,” but decides she doesn’t have time to fix it, so she goes out anyway.

At age 50 she looks at herself and sees “I am” and goes wherever she wants to go.

At age 60 she looks at herself and thinks of all the people who can’t even see anymore, goes out and conquers the world.

At age 70 she looks at herself and sees wisdom and goes out and enjoys life.

At age 80 she doesn’t even bother to look, just puts on a purple hat and goes out to have fun with the world.

What’s in a name?

You may recall that in the beginning of this column, we tried to think of an appropriate name for it and some of you sent in suggestions.

Here are a few more (courtesy of the “Funny Times”): “The Keyhunters,” “The Viagravations,” “Old Volks,” “The Amazing Ceramic Hipsters,” (with love to Diane Crow) or “WAWYWBS (IYL)”—We Are What You Will Be Soon (If You’re Lucky!)

Palliative care

A new term has come to my attention – palliative care. It is the care which is provided when there is no cure available and the patient is focused on living with the best possible quality of life.

In the past, it has often been linked with hospice as end-of-life care, but that is only one aspect; it can be used for a wide variety of medical conditions, many of them not terminal.

The VNA Home Health Care Services has a wide range of options and Medicare home health benefit allows for palliative treatment. For more information, visit www.healthjourneys.com or call 534-4300 and ask for Riley or Elizabeth.

A final poetic thought

My loving daughter-in-law, Beth provided this from her poetry collection:

“Come my friends

‘Tis not too late to seek a newer

world …

Though much is taken, much abides.”

Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “Ulysses”