Squeeze That Lemon Called "Life"

Life can be bumpy, yellow and sour.  But if you look beneath the surface, it can be refreshing and satisfying, especially if you add some sugar.  And believe it or not, the older that lemon gets, the more flavorful it gets, and the easier it is to extract the juice.  This awkward metaphor works only if the lemon doesn't actually rot, of course.  So it's a good idea to take care of the rind and flesh that houses your life.  And avoid bruising, whenever possible.

 I spent way too many years wishing my life could be more like an orange, or even better, a tangerine - bright and sweet.  Unfortunately, all I got from that wish was a thin skin.  So now, at the ripe old age of 60, I'm going to stop wishing and start doing.  I'm going to accept the lemon, but make the best of it.  I'm going to squeeze out the juice, judiciously of course, and sweeten it up with self-indulgence.  I have retired from my stressful, boring job.  I have relaxed (euphemism for "abandoned") my fussy housekeeping standards.  I have been eating chocolate (and that's MILK CHOCOLATE,  not semi-bitter, dark, good-for-you chocolate).  I have given up trying to make my husband agree with me on any political subject.  Whew!  How liberating that is!  If I feel like doing something, I do it.  If I don't feel like doing something, I don't do it.  If some other, more altruistic people want to volunteer their time and risk their lives helping the less fortunate in the world, that's wonderful.  I applaud you all.  I hope your lives become more tangerine-like.  As for me, please excuse me.  I'm going to make some lemonade.