Old-age graduation present: A cane

At 921/2, I have graduated to using a walking cane to gain my stability. Stability is something I always took for granted, just get up and go. I am now known as that old geezer, which is not as bad as old goat or old buzzard or old bugger, or worse yet old f---.

Injuries due to falls by the elderly is a senior citizen’s No. 1 problem. I can attest to that. I have had several falls since I hit 90. Fortunately I wasn’t seriously injured because the lawn cushioned my fall.

I have been retired for the past 30 years. Many of my friends and relatives have bitten the dust. Walking has been my strong suit my entire life, and I miss the exercise in my waning years.

As an award-winning safety director for Commercial Intertech Inc. I keep reminding myself of my most famous safety slogans, “Be Safe – Not Sorry” and “Be Alert – So you don’t get hurt.” Repetition is the key to safety awareness and prevention.

Old age and infirmities creep up on all of us. The old gray mares and old gray studs are not what they used to be. Shoot for the long haul anyway. It is challenging.

The one thing I have missed in my life is not having known any of my grandparents, since they lived in Italy on top of the Apennine Mountains. I have always lived here in good old Youngstown, Ohio, to give input and support to my four grandchildren, Michael and Patrick Krieger and Jeff and Dr. Laine Vicarel.

Michael J. Lacivita is a Youngstown retiree and member of the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame and the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.