Two Old Bats in the Belfry
Two Old Bats in the Belfry
Laughter & Leaks: Aging with Grace and Giggles
Are you ready to laugh and maybe shed a tear about the joys of aging? Join us, Shelly G and Vicki Z, on the latest episode of Two Old Bats in the Belfry, where we tackle the hilarious and often unglamorous realities of getting older. Ever heard of an "organ reciter"? Tune in as we share side-splitting anecdotes about friends who can’t help but list their health issues like items on a menu. From navigating the pharmacy aisle for the perfect pair of Depends to reminiscing about the limited feminine hygiene products of yesteryear, we find humor in the relatable changes that come with age.
But it's not just about the laughs. We reflect on how our conversations have shifted from careers and kids to ailments and medications, and how despite the challenges, maintaining a sense of humor and camaraderie makes all the difference. Listen in as we recount our favorite stories, from dinner parties where everyone’s wearing Depends to the awkward days of buying tampons wrapped in cardboard. Whether you’re confronting these changes yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers a heartwarming look at the ups and downs of aging with grace and humor.
Hi everyone, this is Shelly G and Vicki Z, and we are Two Old Bats in the. Belfry.
Speaker 2:You know, it's so funny how things change when we get older. I mean, just in the short time that I know you, we're what? Four or five years older and things have really changed. But you said something the other day which made me crack up, after I had a whole group over and you were there, of course, and we'll go into that, but you have to tell our listeners the definition of an organ reciter.
Speaker 1:I would be so happy to share that who was absolutely the most incredible person and we just fell in love with each other and we became very, very good, good friends over the years until she passed away, sadly. She visited me in Arizona many times. She knew my mother, she knew my grandmother. My grandmother was the queen of organ recitals and when I asked her what she meant she said well, let's say, you run into someone after not having seen them for a long time and you ask them the very simple question three words, how are you? And then the answer comes back well.
Speaker 1:I am having problems with my heart. I think I'm diabetic now. My kidneys aren't functioning well because I can't pee. I don't know what's happening to my liver and my lungs. Oh, I can't breathe. How are you Well?
Speaker 2:see, that's why you should never say to somebody how are you? You could just say hello and leave it at that. Somebody, how are you? You could just say hello and leave it at that. But when I had company over the last few months, I would see all the guys sitting together and I would look and in my head I would say prostate, prostate, atrial, fib, diabetes, heart. Who's wearing Depends? Diabetes heart, who's wearing Depends, who's wearing Liners, who's not? I mean, things have changed so radically Years ago. What did we talk about?
Speaker 1:We talked about food books, plays kids. Yes, we are living our own organ recital, Absolutely. And when you see everybody at a table for dinner and you realize that all of them, or most of them, are wearing Depends.
Speaker 2:I know, and they all have ailments. But really who wants to know? I mean, we're everybody's good friends, but really too much information. I mean we have to start reverting back or steering people away from medications and doctors. Nothing makes us feel or look older.
Speaker 1:Well, I used to go to a store here a large box store, and I used to buy my mother the extra large Depends and as I would check out, I'd say they're not for me, they're for my mother, because I really didn't want to be associated with that.
Speaker 1:But you're right, things have definitely changed and people are more open about discussing their ailments and what they have to do, but unfortunately, I think it becomes so much a part of our daily life now that it's just incredible that that's all we talk about it is, and with a lot of people being retired, this is what they focus on.
Speaker 2:You know how do I feel today. Am I going to be able to do?
Speaker 1:this. Should I buy the Depends with the flowers?
Speaker 2:on them, or should I?
Speaker 1:just get the ones that are striped.
Speaker 2:I know I don't know.
Speaker 1:See, I'm working full-time and my husband is still working full-time, so we're out a little bit, we don't focus that much and we're older than everybody where we were, and I am that much and and we're older than everybody where we were, and I am not working at all at this moment in my life and I have all the time in the world to find my husband's new set of depends that are going to make him look well. Does he want gray? Does he want black? I mean, it's true there and talk about the choices. Do you remember when we were younger that when you had to buy tampons they were wrapped in?
Speaker 1:yes, you couldn't see what they were and they were cardboard, cardboard. I remember tampons right, but there was only one type of tampon or one type of pair, there was one type of everything and that was it, and you had to buy the belts.
Speaker 2:Oh my oh, yes, you remember how they get twisted up.
Speaker 1:Oh, it was terrible.
Speaker 2:It was terrible and you had to attach the pads onto the yes.
Speaker 1:Oh my God, Just as bad as the stockings you had to attach to a garter belt and now you could go crazy. Absolutely In the store. Extra long, long, medium, right, low flow, control, high flow, not control. Overnight, I forgot about the overnight Big deal for overnight. You know what?
Speaker 2:I think of when I see overnight who's going away.
Speaker 1:Right, where are they?
Speaker 2:going Right. I mean it's crazy, I know.
Speaker 1:I think that someone now, though, has to come up with depends for animals Because, as they get older.
Speaker 2:I'm sure they don't have it Well they have diapers.
Speaker 1:There are diapers that I have used in the past with questionable results. I think that someone really needs to fit animals properly, because it would save a lot of people who have older animals who are not able to hold their pee in quite as long.
Speaker 2:And that would really help quite a bit, I think. Well, we were having a discussion just yesterday this is true At work about cloth, diapers and pampers.
Speaker 1:Oh, right, what do?
Speaker 2:you think about those. Well, years ago people used a diaper service, right, and somebody that I work with, who's close to my age, said you would empty the diaper in the toilet and then you put them in a a thing and then the service comes and takes them away. Well, this younger girl said what put dirty diapers in the toilet? So my friend said where do you think you put dirty diapers? It's filled with shit, right? You put it in the toilet, in the toilet. She was so scandalized, right?
Speaker 1:it's not funny, but but I never used cloth diapers? I never did either, although I was told that they were probably better, they didn't cause rashes or things like that. But I used Pampers from the get-go pretty much which were out at that time, yeah, and now when you see how far they've come, it's just amazing to me. Well, my mother and that's why they did it for women. She should rest in peace.
Speaker 2:Shirley at Mount Hebron Cemetery said I was so obsessed with being clean that I used to step out of my dirty diapers and run around the house naked, because I couldn't stand to be dirty. I understand that?
Speaker 1:Do you know that the?
Speaker 2:first word that I said was not mama or dada, I said tissu so I could wipe my face. Oh, my goodness, is that adorable. Well, it was a little OCD at the time.
Speaker 1:But I was a clean baby, but I was always that way too. I could not stand to have anything tucked in Nothing. I could never have anything bought for me that was tucked in. A blouse, a sweater. I couldn't bear it, I couldn't stand that, and I think that that is definitely OCD. No question oh, I do.
Speaker 2:I do. Well, we've certainly segued from an organ recital and all the diseases that we mentioned, no, and look where we're at. Yes, and that's what makes us so delicious and lovable Absolutely, and we want everybody to listen to our podcast.
Speaker 1:And we'll leave you with this. Remember, age is mind over matter.
Speaker 2:If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.