Yesterday, I shared that I am traveling this week and that all the posts for this week were written before my departure. Because time is pressing in, this post is not as developed as I would like it to be. I share lines from the lyrics of a song by one of my favorite singer/composers, Leonard Cohen, interspersed with some connections I make to the lives of gifted elders. Enjoy!

                 Tower of Song

Well my friends are gone and my hair is grey
I ache in the places where I used to play
And I’m crazy for love but I’m not coming on
I’m just paying my rent every day
Oh in the Tower of Song…

I have lost four colleagues from my university since the beginning of this year. It is sobering to see role models like they were to me pass so suddenly. Extending the circle, my husband and I hear almost each week of lifetime friends who have passed. Each day is a gift, and a day to honor those we have lost. If you are a gifted elder, or if you have gifted elders as loved ones, my hope is that you will experience gratitude each day, no matter the aches or pains.

In the Tower of Song

I was born like this, I had no choice
I was born with the gift of a golden voice

My colleagues in the field of giftedness know what we risk when we use the “g” word. Many believe the term gifted is elitist. We cannot deny who we are. We were born like this. We had no choice. Among gifted adults and elders we find most of the same traits of gifted children, often with more intensity; for example, perfectionism, heightened empathy, curiosity, intense sensitivity, high energy, keen imagination.  Be gentle with yourself and with other gifted elders.

Now I bid you farewell, I don’t know when I’ll be back
There moving us tomorrow to that tower down the track
But you’ll be hearing from me baby, long after I’m gone
I’ll be speaking to you sweetly
From a window in the Tower of Song

Leonard Cohen is a writer who sees through so much of the deceit in the world. This is also true for most gifted elders. Embrace your new role as crone – a wise elder. We need the voices of elders in our world!

You can access the video of Cohen singing Tower of Song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WirxqAn7Ck8 .

This post is part of the Blogging from A to Z (2016)  Challenge. Click here. to see all of the blogs in the A to Z Challenge