In my last post I told how a colleague old 55 years ago contacted me. The contact was a surprise and she went through a few major parts of her life. Sadly she had lost here husband. She listed her three sons.
I made a short reply and told her I had a daughter and son who are 46 and 48. I also added, "I have a wife who's eighty!" When I wrote that it suddenly hit me. Well I didn't know what to think or should I be more honest and say that I tried to deny or ignore this milestone.
We noted the Micro Manager's eightieth birth date very quietly. The Micro Manager had been fretting over the number for some time. Me? Well, whatever happens , happens.
However,the other day when I jokingly referred to my wife's age, it hit me. Wow, this is getting old. I have an eighty year old wife.
As with most things that hit me , I soon forget. But then I suddenly realized
that I've become very elderly. I can think of the elderly people from the time when I was a boy. Eighty year olds seemed like another species. I wonder if they thought like I do that being eighty ain't bad. I still think of myself as a younger person even thought the number says something else. Eighty year olds to a young boy looked as if they constantly sat in a chair. I seem to keep moving all day. Or do others see me differently?
Realistically I know I'm elderly. I don't dwell on it. I keep going and try to be active in life. Yesterday I lead my bird Saturday morning watching group.
Last week somebody got a photo of me that I was unaware of. I like the photo.
I too think of myself as younger than I am. It's probably better not to dwell on the number. You look younger than 80 in your photo. It helps that you keep yourself healthy and have some great hobbies.
ReplyDeleteWell, my wife's the eighty year old but I'm not far behind.
DeleteNice photo! Are you growing a beard? I still think of 80 as old...heck I think I am old...and I am only how old?? 66 I think boy those years go fast! :) Enjoy everyday!
ReplyDeleteI hope I live another 12 years to see you at 78!!!
DeleteAs I deal with a body that doesn't want to keep up with all I still want to do, I begin to feel the aging process taking over my life. But I fight on.
ReplyDeleteYour last three words are the keys. If we stop , it's over.
DeleteWay back in 1962 when we married I was 20 and Bob was 30. At that time I was positive we would never observe our fiftieth wedding anniversary because Bob would never live to 80. In those days 80 was very old. As it happened we saw our fifty-fifth anniversary and Bob made it to 85.
ReplyDeleteWell, you know what they say about predictions. My dad was 65 when he remarried and never thought he's see a 25th anniversary. He saw 25 and was very close to thirty the second time.
DeleteI sit with my respite client (94) and read the paper as she snoozes, some days. As I open the paper, I'll say "Let's read the obits and see if we're in there. If not, it's a good day!"
ReplyDeleteThat's some good black humor.
DeleteI think our generation is a bit different old than the ones before us. I remember my grandparents as old people sitting in a chair. Although one of them my mothers father cycled still at eighty to go to his allotment. My parents travelled a lot and were very outgoing, until they got ill. And that is the point, as long as you are healty getting old is nice. But to get ill is a doom you never know when will happen.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the good health. The elderly get ill at a higher rate.
DeleteHi Red, I like Joyful's comment ... I couldn't have said it better. I do have to admit I like it when someone says I don't look as old as the number. :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, I also like to hear that I don't look 78.
DeleteYou look pretty darn good for any age, Red. I like that picture, too. And congratulations to your wife on her milestone birthday. If we are lucky, we'll all get there. I only have five years to go. :-)
ReplyDeleteLooks don't count for much. However, I'll take what's given me.
DeleteMost young people see old age as some kind of far-away, almost mythological land. Wait until they realize how quickly they're going to get there!
ReplyDeleteYes, when I was 14 an 18 year old seemed like somebody who was old. I started teaching when I was 18. I bet everyone of them thought I was old.
DeleteThat is a good take on you.
ReplyDeleteMy dad tends to pick up the newspaper and go through the obituaries first- and check off anyone who's younger than he is.
I'm exactly like your DAd. I look at obituaries first.
DeleteBoy those years sneak up on you don't they? I'll be 66 this summer and one day I feel much older and another day younger. I do think the secret is to stay active. That's a good picture Red.
ReplyDeleteI look back at photos when I'm 66 and it's hard to realize what I looked like.
DeleteGood picture of you. I remember my parents approaching 40 and thinking that was old. I am 65 and try to stay young.
ReplyDeleteYou are very active in many areas. Keep on being a rambling man.
DeleteStaying active is probably the best thing we can do to stay looking and feeling younger. Locally in one of the retirement homes there was recently a celebration for the ten centenarians who live there! Some were barely over 100 while some were 100 plus a few years. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteTo follow up on the question you asked about where our condensed milk is made, we have two brands on the local shelves. One is made by Smucker's of Canada and the other by Perfection in PEI. None by Alpha; I wonder why not.
You know I've got to check something. Is Alpha being made or have they just left the sign up and contract to make other brands.
DeleteWhen I was a kid eighty was really old but now it seems as though pretty much everyone gets there and most times, in good health.
ReplyDeleteWhatever age you are, you might as well enjoy it because we never know whats around the corner
Aging is very personal, I think. One person's 80 is young, and another's is "old". A lot depends on health and the rest, outlook on life. I'm finding the hardest part about aging is accepting new limitations, new annoying aches, and some pains. It's hard to accept a few things I really can no longer do, and that seems to be one of the tasks required at the "older" stage of life.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is quite a beard! I wonder, will you keep it through the hot weather of summer?