My mom and dad returned to Texas today after spending a month with us in Malibu. I am in awe of their endless energy and enthusiasm for experiences. They are truly up for anything. Having an opportunity to be close to them for an extended bit of time, I realize that their day to day life is the secret of life.
My parents take a vigorous walk every morning. They meet and greet everyone in their path with a genuine sense of interest and kindness. They relish their newspapers, books, daily sudoku, emails, stock prices, barrage of grandchildren photos.
Lunchtime is exciting ~ my parents love good food and spend a decadent amount of time discussing the day’s fare. Back and forth on the options and benefits of kale salad, seared tuna, summer ripe tomatoes, my mom’s own tunafish salad, a perfect burger, fish tacos . . . at the end of the lively exchange it seems to always boil down to what my mother is “in the mood” for.
My teen queens and their friends and boyfriends were an endless source of entertainment and discussion. My parents, married for 47 years, dated from the age of 14! So, they take my teens seriously and make them and their peers feel as special as they are.
My dad approaches everyone he meets as if he is interviewing them. He wants to learn as much about what you are willing to share ~ he’s not being nosey ~ he is just so genuinely interested in every human being, and he also knows how much we all enjoy talking about ourselves. Everyone loves my dad after a good chat.
At the end of the day, my mom and dad relax, take a walk, have a cocktail. They talk a little about tomorrow, a lot about today. They laugh.
Aging is a fact of life. Embracing it like my parents is the secret of life.
Sharla on Skin Care 
Sharla, as I think you know, I truly love you and your entire family so much. And I so loved what you wrote about spending time with your parents. Y’all are blessed /awesome! XO
Beautiful post Sharla. Sounds a lot like you and Nils. You’ve clearly learned a lot from your wonderful parents…and are putting that into your own life. I knew I was right so many years ago when I seriously considered asking Ben and Margaret to adopt me. 🙂
Of course, that would have the added benefit of making me your ACTUAL sister. Instead of just your soul sister.
There’s a business idea in here somewhere — first 2 weeks of ‘adoption’ by Ben and Margaret with days of walking in the hot Texas heat…and then 2 weeks of finishing school with Sharla in Malibu. Walking in the hot dry Malibu heat, drinking grass juice or eating ACTUAL grass, and having skin care treatments every day. Now I’d pay BIG money for that.
Oh my, I’m so flattered by your reflections. You are truly one of our many amazing blessings.
Well put!
What an inspirational couple your parents are.
I so happy to have spent time with them.
Jen
Very nice article ms sharla