Defining Old
I have this lingering fear that January 20, 2009, will mark the beginning of OLD age for me. It’s probably a totally irrational fear, but it has of late been haunting me.
I always thought old age was something you just slid into gradually, much as one passes from youth to adulthood to middle age. But maybe there is sometimes a more rigid boundary.
I’ve been experiencing a little of that glass-half-empty syndrome this week and that may well explain my worries about being old.
Maybe I’ll just get a remedy from Dr. Seuss that will put me back in a state of advanced middle age. That would be just fine.
I still have a lot of things I want to see and do. I’m mentally not quite ready to be a senior, except when I go to the movies, where the age is now 60!
posted by Barbara at 12:14 PM
15 Comments:
I am constantly surprised by the face and body in my mirror. When my mother was in her 60s (and I was in my 30s), I thought of her as approaching old age! She was NOT. I don't know how I got here so fast, nor do I remember watching wrinkles blossom or feel aches and creaks develop. In my mind, I stopped aging at my peak, mid-forties at the latest - and though I may look (as one of my outspoken second graders told me) older than John McCain, I don't feel that old!
They changed the movie senior age? I had no idea.
You're only as old as (the men) you feel. ;)
It just sunk in a couple of days ago, I will be FIFTY in six months! I know they are just numbs... but omg! I think it helps that I am spending more time with my folks that are in their 80's and I know there is ALOT of living to look forward to!
Bullhockeypucks, Barbara. Your hip is aching from this unexpected weather, and you are still recovering. Remember all of those steps and hills in Italy? You'll get back to "that" Barbara.
You must not let being 60 make you feel old--it only makes those of us who are older feel ancient! My birthday is Sunday. I'll be 63 and I do fight that feeling, but I do enjoy the Sr. discount at the movies. That 60th birthday is a tough one to get past, but I think the reality of 60 is not nearly as painful as the anticipation.
I think old age is a state of mind - in other words, in spite of all of the obvious physical inconveniences of getting older, it is still possible to find joy and happiness in all of the weird little things that life has to offer. Or at least that is what I have deluded myself into thinking for now. I hope that real old age does not burst my bubble, and my nine year old sense of humor.
On the other hand, I will most definitely NOT be pleased if they raise the senior citizen age again at the movies. With my luck it'll be 65 or 70 by the time I get to 60.
I used to say that middle age was 5 years older than me..... I'm thinking of moving the goalposts to old age is ten years older than me. Maybe that would work for you to as long as tyour not at the movies!!!
xx
The word "old" would never cross my mind in reference to you. You continue to impress me with your active mind, busy schedule, and your mobility (in light of your recent fall and surgery). Definitely not old. Not by a long shot.
nonsense! I remember my mother telling me she couldn't wait to get to be in her fifties, as all the women she knew were so calm and centered.
Don't worry be happy! I heard Maya Angelou talk about what it felt like to be 80 she said it felt just fine, and joked about some sags. No big deal, though, life is good.
Tomorrow Ms. Angelou will be 81.
Thanks to everyone for not letting me be declared OLD just yet. Some day I will be ready, but not right now!
One more example of free therapy on the Blogosphere!
You are certainly not old at 60 but I can understand where you are coming from with this post. I had a bit of feeling old when I turned 40. I noticed I was not popping up from the rug in class as fast as I had been, I was now older than the parents of the students I taught and as Pauline said, children can point out how old you look (gray hair, wrinkles, etc).
But, I honestly feel that there is so much to celebrate at every age. This life is YOUR journey and try not to give in to pressure to feel young or be 'young'. Enjoy the journey and everything it brings.
I think you have a wonderful blog support system here. I enjoyed all the comments.
It's all in the mind, Barbara. Trite but true! :)
You ARE old Honeybun!!! Old is great. I love it. Life has never been better. FL
How about musing on some of the blessings of your age as a partial antitode to those blues -- wisdom, accumulation of sweet memories, children, web of community, depth of knowledge, humor, etc.?
XO,
F.
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