We Are All In This Together

Happy 49th Birthday, Calvin, (my 2nd youngest brother!)I love and appreciate you so much! Which means my youngest brother (above left) turns 47 in a few weeks!They don't remember me much at home (because I am almost 11/13 years older) other than being one of five extra mothers (their big sisters) The Martin Clan is growing old  up! 😅 We are all in this together; growing older, day by dayGaining fresh courage to weather Father Time's insistent preyLearning how to cope with changes no sleight of hand can evadeBotox only rearranges, and money cannot dissuade We are all in this together, learning to adapt and copeBound by an ethereal tether testing youthful-yes/youthfulness with nopeSooner or later the engine that once hummed with easy cheerNeeds intentional/additional attention just to sputter into gear We are all in this together; students in Father Time's schoolWhile his touch, light as a feather, exacts the proof of his ruleLike a token of remembrance he leaves his kiss on each browAcknowledging the attendance of both young and old somehow We are all in this together so let's give the best we've gotWe are growing older whether we admit its truth or not Sooner than we care to mention Time steals youth's sleek, purring catLeaving us an old steam engine huffing-puffing down the track We are all in this together; nobody is out of reachAs we learn to learn and weather lessons only Time can teachAs with unspoken reluctance we accede our slowing strideWhile feigning brave-faced nonchalance (for Time is not on our side) We are all in this together; left-foot-right-foot-left-let's-go Smooth-as-silk-skin turns to leather, raven locks turn white as snowWhile once-starry-eyed-successors to their grunting, groaning peersJoin the ranks of predecessors weathered by a few more years Love, from you big sis akaJanet Martin Lol! While not all of this may apply to my younger siblings, yet....give it time. It will! 😁