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By Jeff and Judy

Feelin’ Groovy?

Jeff and I are often asked, “Why and when did you decide to get out of the fast lane and start taking things ‘nice and easy?’”

For that we have to go way back to a wintry morning – exactly 15 years ago – with just the two of us breakfasting in a large house with 4 empty bedrooms and a demanding garden when the realisation hit hard that the three children we’d done our best raising to the point of no return had irrevocably flown the coop.

And when Jeff who had once again to rush his porridge and take his coffee with him said – perfunctorily pecking me on the cheek – “not much longer, honey,” before suffering heavy traffic to the airport for a flight to a budget meeting in, I think, Brussels but it might easily have been Milan.

On his return we began earnestly plotting our flight to freedom and within a year had eliminated all ties that bound. Then after we’d elected to move to tropical climes but didn’t know quite where, by a stroke of sheer good fortune the final piece fit in the puzzle when our flight from Brazil to New York made an emergency landing on the tiny Caribbean island where we’re now permanently self-exiled.

But there’s another reason for us being here today, doing as much – or as little – of what we like best. When the children were small “The 59th Street Bridge Song” better known as “Feelin’ Groovy” was a monster hit with the immortal opening, “Slow down, you move too fast. You got to make the morning last.”

My goodness, how this entered my brain and stayed there. Through the inescapable years and years of caring and sharing and cooking and housekeeping whenever I felt my situation getting the better of me I’d belt-out the words at full volume. And when we eventually passed safely through the escape hatch I got Jeff to sing-along too.

Oddly enough I’d paid little attention to how the song ends and only recently discovered it predicts with amazing accuracy what happens when you do slow down;

“Got no deeds to do, No promises to keep.
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me.
Life, I love you, All is groovy.”

Yes, Simon, Garfunkel and Uncle Tom Cobbley and all, it really is.

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Just who are Jeff and Judy? Judy and Jeff Sellers are a US couple who love sunsets, world travel, fine wines, good food and each other. As often as possible and not necessarily in that order. They currently seek a congenial publisher for their "Frisky after Sixty" book ('A Good in Bed Read') and after many requests from friends all over the world waiting impatiently for their local newspapers to carry this column. To find out more go to Frisky After Sixty.

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