Don’t you hate that word ELDERLY? Every time I see or
hear it, I bristle with irritation. Yet, I’m the first to admit that I’m over
70 now. I know I’m not middle AGED any more. I like the term
Senior Citizen better. Although, when I was 50 years old, and
Sizzler restaurants started a new Senior menu for those over 50, I thought then
that age was just too young. I remember my mom being upset because 65 was the
official age for Senior Citizens. At age 55, she was NOT a senior citizen
although her spouse was. She lived to be 89. Age is relative, just a number in
your mind or an attitude .
Looking back as an OLDSTER on your life as past decades can be enlightening. My
first decade was childhood, second-school years, third-college, marriage and
career, fourth-child rearing, fifth-raising teenagers, sixth-empty nest and retirement,
seventh-grand parenting and…the future is unknown at this point. Each stage had
its challenges and gifts. I would say I’ve been happier in my
elderly years than I was in younger days not knowing what
the future would hold. In
some cultures, the elderly are revered, respected and listened to as
wise sages
. Experience does bring wisdom, but not always the
opportunity to share it.
Here’s my feelings about old age written while at the doctor’s
office. I’m sure you can relate:
DEATH
BY OLD AGE
I’m sitting in the doctor’s office
among all the other blank
stares.
What am I doing here?
I ask myself.
Falling apart like all the other folks?
It’s not called old age for fun and
kicks,
a time of slowly down and forgetting
where I need to rush to next or
what
it was that even brought me here.
Finally the doctor will see me.
He looks like a twenty something
with no life’s experience, yet I’m trusting
him with my precious few years left.
He can’t figure out what to prescribe
to bring back my youthful energy.
Even I who watch faithfully those TV ads
can’t remember which pill to request.
He says...Exercise and diet, come
back
in two months, and we’ll talk again.
Charges me eighty bucks which my Medicare
may pay. I go home poorer, and closer to death.
NEXT TIME: Surviving Death
