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Irene Watson of
Reader Views (5/06) writes
I took this book on to review because I
know that the Golden Years for me are
eminent and I’m closer to them than I’m
not. I wanted to learn from a Golden
Ager what I was to look forward to. But,
to my surprise I learned more than I
bargained for. David Wayne Silva speaks
not only to senor citizens but to Baby
Boomers that are entering the Golden
Years of their lives. With over 78
million Baby Boomers facing their own
transition from their set beliefs and
circumstances to facing their own
mortality as well as challenging health
issues, Silva gives the reader a glimpse
into the reality that they will
encounter. He has “been there, done
that” and now shares his experience with
chronic health issues, deterioration of
the body, isolation and loneliness after
loss of a loved one or friends, and even
issues like sleeping and maintaining
relationships.
In each chapter Silva writes about
his own experience, often reminiscing or
lamenting. The stories touch the heart
with many emotions – sadness, laughter,
and concern. He ends each story with
suggestions to overcome or embrace the
situation. Each section is closed with
an ecumenical prayer. Although “Senior
Moments” has religious connotations, it
is not a book about religion.
Reading Silva’s book had me sit back
and get in touch with my own decisions
of how I wanted to live my remaining
years. I reflected on my in-laws, whom
are now deceased, and on my own parents,
whom are still living. I realized that
each has chosen how they want to live
out their Golden Years and how they
contend with their challenges and issues
that arise daily. Silva’s book confirmed
in my mind that I’m the one that has to
choose whether or not I want to live the
Golden Years with grace and dignity, or,
with complaints and isolation. I chose
the first and add to it the necessity of
activity and relationships with others.
Although Silva targets the senior
citizens and Baby Boomers with this
book, I highly
recommend “Senior Moments” to children
and families of both. Silva gives a
clear and
concise understanding of seniors – many
things we don’t know about unless we
experience them ourselves. The second
best is to read about another’s
experience and
learn from it. Silva gives the
opportunity.
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An inspiring, sensitive read writes reviewer Kaye Trout of Kaye Trout Book
Reviews - Copyright 2006 (Pagosa Springs, CO USA)
February 25, 2006
I particularly wanted to review
this book because I'm a senior myself and
just starting to enjoy the benefits of
retirement-doing just exactly what I want.
David Silva was a teacher,
school administrator, and family/grief
counselor prior to his retirement. I'm sure
his vocational history contributed to the
fine quality of this POD published book.
Senior Moments is a well-written,
well-edited, and poetically inspirational
collection of thoughts and experiences.
David's lyrical prose style makes one stop
and rereading a verse or two for the
pleasure and feel of it. Allow me to quote
from Cricket Songs:
"Cricket songs are night sounds, much
like rain falling on the roof, a
mockingbird singing its ancient night
song, or the neighbor's dog barking in
the distance. Crickets lull us to sleep
and keep us company when we have trouble
sleeping."
"The awareness of
a common, taken-for-granted sound
suddenly interrupted my contemplations.
Once again I became aware of the ancient
song of the crickets. Their melody crept
in from the garden, through the open
window, and over the windowsill. I could
not help but wonder at the strength and
beauty of the cricket song. We usually
have to be alone to hear cricket songs.
Their voices are a sound that lulls us
back to sleep or gently wakes us, a
sound that sings accompaniment to our
nighttime thoughts. While I listened,
night's darkness no longer appeared
quite so somber, and a pleasant
sensitivity permeated my thoughts."
Senior Moments is
a collection of thirty-three short
inspirational stories and of these, Are
There Really Miracles? was my favorite.
It's the story about David and Sallie's
two-month premature baby, Dave, which
they took home from the hospital to hold
while he died. Sallie had a dream that
gave her the answer to keeping her baby
alive . . . and he did indeed survive.
David Silva urges
the reader to, "look at the process
of aging with humor and good
intentions-to observe the beauty in the
natural world around us, to take care of
our bodies, to exercise and eat a
balanced diet, to maintain old and build
new relationships, to maintain and re
enforce our spirituality, and to laugh
more and cry less."
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