COMMENTS

66 responses to “Open Thread Update: I Said “God, I’m Old!” When….”

1. My father used so say that old was 15 years older that what he currently was. He died in his 80s and I’m now 68 so I guess I have aways to go.

   Reply to Judy Morris

2. I’m wondering if folks Up There are wondering if I didn’t make it because I’ve been down here so long… My grandkids wonder at the fact that I was born before the TV was even invented, let alone color TV, computers, cell phones, etc. Some of them drive cars to high school versus even owning a car (with a cruising speed of 35 mph) was a rarity. Life still brings daily miracles to us all, at any age, when we can open our eyes and rise up out of bed!!!

   Reply to Lynda

3. I beg to differ guys i am 73 yrs young, I am not getting OLD, I’m aging. I found this book at a thrift store some years ago by Shad Helmstetter, titled, Finding The FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH INSIDE YOURSELF. It, has been a Godsend.
   Age begins in the mind, yes our bodies will go through changes.
   I still ride a bike, play tennis, use a trampoline, walk etc. Most important is my mind, keeping it free of hate, jealousy, old the negative energies that ages us first
   Look at the Sunrise. All nature. Its how we look at things, the world is beautiful. We just have to deal with people who have no clue.

   Reply to GERALDINE P GOODIN

   1. Hi Geraldine. I loved your comments. I turned 70 last April, and was saddened to think that I’m no longer in my 60s. But then I realized that age is definitely only a number. I live in a retirement community, where there are a lot of activities to keep me busy and active. I walk every day, and enjoy riding my bike up to the pickleball court to play and enjoy the company of my fellow players. I feel like I have more physical endurance now than I did when I was in my 50s. Probably because I can focus on my needs and enjoyment more than when I was working and taking care of the needs of my family. Stay young at heart — and keep moving every day.

      Reply to Carol Leonard

4. My paternal grandfather used to say “the only way to keep from getting old is to die young!” when my siblings & I would comment on his graying hair. My last conversation with him, when he was dying with congestive heart failure just prior to his 84th birthday, he joked “I guess I don’t have to worry about dying young, huh?” My reply was “yeah, Pops, I guess you don’t…” Makes me grateful for being over 65, and my narrative is “Thank God, I’m old!”
   Gray hair is a plus; enjoying the “Yes ma’am’s,” people helping me with luggage when traveling, offering their seats, etc.

   Reply to BERNADETTE SESSION

5. I knew I was old when women started holding doors open for me!

   Reply to cece Kelly

6. I wish people talked slooow and loooud to me as I am hard of hearing and most young people slur their words rapidly and sometimes almost like a whisper with their mouths barely open, which aggravates me as I know people get annoyed when I ask repeatedly “what?”. Occasionally I’m lucky to have some people speak normally and articulately so I can hear and understand properly. Yes….another sign old age! :(

   Reply to Rosa

7. A very popular meme says it all: “You know you’re old when you’re entering your birth year online and have to spin that thing like you’re on Wheel of Fortune.”

   Reply to Joe Nowak

8. I feel good when I pick up groceries at WalMart curbside, and one of the carry-out people ask for my date of birth for liquor purchase. I tell them 1937 and their suprise shows as they say, ‘Man, I never would have believed it”
   that has to make you feel good!

   Reply to old Arkie

   1. Thanks! I love this one! They start at the given year , then it’s spin that wheel Y’all!

      Reply to Sandi Howell

9. Let me add this: Real men, cultured, educated, feminist, centered, love the opposite sex. Dare I get philosophical–men and women are separated at conception. It is our purpose in life to conjoin with our opposite in order to become spiritually whole. We do this through the act sexual conjointment–that is sexual fulfillment. I believe that few women have fully experienced what I have subscribed here–but is available with the right man.

   Reply to Alan Smith

   1. Real men can enjoy relationships with any gender.

      Reply to Nancy Neff

10. As I rode my bike up the street, feeling fit and jazzy with my blue hair flying in the breeze, I overheard a man talking on his cell phone say “There’s an old lady riding by on a bike.”
    Then on our recent trip to Budapest, where pensioners ride public transport free, the monitors always smiled and waved my 72-year-old fiancé and me through before I could reach for my pass. Friends say I appear ten years younger than my chronological age of 66, but transport staff don’t need to flatter.
    There are new reminders daily. Riding home next to a couple with an eleven-month-old on mom’s lap, I was happy to have those years be a distant memory.
    I know I am lucky to have a wonderful playful partner, enough money to get by without having to work, and good health; for however long these blessing last. Nothing lasts forever.

    Reply to Amber

11. I knew I was old when there began to be awkward moments when the elevator door opened. I was waiting for the young woman to exit first but she was waiting for the old man to go first. I‘m not sure of the rules of etiquette about this.

    Reply to Mike Bowden

12. When were were kids and then well into our 30s, my grandmother used to warn us in her thick German accent: “Folllllllks,” she said, pronouncing the no longer silent letter “L”, “Don’t get OLD.” Oh how we laughed whenever she said that. We are not laughing now.

    Reply to Mona-Lisa W

13. Watching television seeing celebrities and thinking wow they are old. And then realizing I’m the same age or older.
    At work they referred someone to me. You will like her, she’s like a mom or grandma. I’m the oldest person where I work even people who look older are younger.
    Guess how old Grammy is? 124 years old.

    Reply to Taminator

14. I realized I must be getting old when the musical guests on Saturday Night Live were mostly unknown to me. But I knew I had crossed the line from old to elderly when I didn’t know who most of the hosts were! Not only that, somewhere along the line, SNL stopped being funny.

    Reply to Anne Ritchey

    1. It stopped being funny when the original crew quit doing cocaine!

       Reply to Anne Culver

       1. Now that is funny!

15. I started talking about how the days before social media were easier on relationships. I always thought so but realized I’m old when I started talking about it.

    Reply to JOANN

16. * When I realized my nephew qualifies for AARP next year.
    * We found the perfect CD player online after ours broke. The comments are all about what a great retro machine it is for the old folks.
    * What do you mean the 90s songs are old? My husband has just barely starting accepting 80s music.

    Reply to Ann

17. A neighbor sells fresh eggs. On the way to the front door, I saw several bikes that looked like they would belong to a middle-schooler. I knocked on the front door. I heard some rumbling from inside and a young voice ask to someone else in the home “…who is it?” I heard them say “An old lady.”
    I teased them a bit when they opened the door.

    Reply to Ann R. Wittneben

18. I knew I was old when “I asked for rite dye” at Walmart. The clerk said “we don’t sell that, what is it abyway”. It was one isle over. The older clerk pointed me to it. I started to make it a reaching moment but decided against it.

    Reply to Amira

    1. I feel old because
       I can’t text without my glasses on. To many typos.

       Reply to Amira

19. I KNOW that I’m old when younger people talk to me slooowly and loud, as if white hair means I’m deaf and/or stupid, neither of which I am! Being old is a priviledge, we should honour it:-)

    Reply to Conceição Brito

20. I began to feel old when I started receiving junk mail from funeral directors.

    Reply to Michael Rose

21. I say, “God I’m Old ” …

    … when I look in the mirror expecting to see a nineteen year old and an old lady is looking back at me.
    … when I’m lonely because most of my loved ones are gone.
    … when I see a cute guy and think, “If I was only forty years younger, lol!
    … when I’d like to make new friends but meeting people is so hard.
    … when I wish I had someone to love who’d love me back and realize no one will ever kiss me or look at me romantically again.
    … when I go to bed at the same time I used to go out.
    … when I spend more time looking back instead of forward and wish my life was full of love, laughter, and fun the way it used to be before it went to hell.
    … when I hear the clock ticking. It sounds like Big Ben!
    … when I remember where my a$$ used to be.
    … when I remember this is the short list.

    Bella

    Reply to Bella

    1. Hi Bella, I’m 72 and a rather newly wed. I got married two years ago. I thought no one would love or kiss me romantically again then Prince Charming dropped right out of the sky and adores this old lady. Beauty, love fun and laughter are still possible regardless of one’s age. I was single 33 years. What a surprise at 70!

       Reply to kathy roth

       1. Kathy,

          I’m so happy for you! It’s lovely and heartwarming to know that you found another “Prince Charming”after so many single years. If I should ever have that good fortune I’d be more than surprised, I’d probably keel over and crap out from the sheer shock of it, lol! I’ll be keeping an eye out for any incoming parachutes, lol! Enjoy your new found happiness. I wish you many more years of beauty, fun, and laughter!

          Bella

       2. I’m recently widowed and you give me hope- not that I’ll get married again because I don’t want or need that, but that there can be companionship and romance in my life.

    2. Oh, Bella, how easy it is to relate to everything you wrote.
       My Golden Years are tarnished years and can no longer be polished.

       Reply to Maxane S Goldstein

       1. Maxane,
          You get it!  I’ve been rubbing away and have gone through tons of polish. When I look on the “bright side” all I see is a very dim and ever diminishing light. I’m so sorry it’s happened to you too. Please accept a {{{{{BIG HUG}}}}} from me.
          Bella

    3. Bella, start looking forward not backward; forward thinking can be uplifting. If you are physically able get out, walking, going places, become active in your church or other social group; you have wisdom to impart; see the humor in life in the big things and small things, make new friends; it is up to you to seek out love, laughter and fun. Even when you are young it doesn’t just drop at your doorstep. Be proactive, take charge of your life and be determined that while you may be old in age, you are young in mind learning new things, doing new things, meeting new people. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and I hope you see possibilities of what it means to be young in spirit.

       Reply to Brenda Boykins

       1. Brenda,

          Thanks for replying to me and for the encouragement. I appreciate it. Looking forward, there’s nothing to see. I’m no shrinking violet. I’m as proactive as I can be. I’m physically able and get out as much as I can.I invite the few people I know who are left to do things. Sadly, they simply aren’t interested in the activities I’m interested in. After trying, repeatedly, I finally gave up but that doesn’t stop me! I go alone because there’s no one else to go with. It does get tiresome.
          I’m approachable, friendly, and inclusive but that doesn’t make meeting people to do things with any easier. Making friends takes time and it’s a two way street. I’m willing to invest but both parties have to be interested in establishing a friendship. The group thing is fine but the people I’ve met confine their “friendship” to the group meetings and it doesn’t extend to any outside activities. I certainly don’t expect anything or anyone to “drop on my doorstep”, unless somebody falls over from a heart attack!  I never have. That would be foolish.
          Sure, I’ve got wisdom but, don’tcha know, most people already know everything, lol!  I’ve always been in charge of my life and will be until I’m on life support and even then I’ve made provisions to be in control as much as possible.  Determination is great and so is eventual acceptance of the way things are not the way you wish they were. I’ve always had plenty of spirit young or old and that will never change. Thank God I still have a sense of humor otherwise I couldn’t get through the endless lonely days. Once again, thanks for your thoughts!

       2. I love your supportive message and advice.
          I follow points you noted!

    4. I’m with you Bella. So much of what you said is me exactly!
       I never really felt old until I lost my husband. And now it seems life is only filled with little old ladies around me. And lovely as they are it’s just not the same!

       Reply to Mary Katherine

    5. My feelings exactly…

       Reply to Yolanda Gutierrez

22. I was telling my granddaughter that when I was a kid we had no internet, one small black and white screen for the house, and phone calls (especially long distance) were special events.

    Reply to Marc

23. I started feeling old when my grandchildren graduated from college.

    Reply to Ken Kenney

24. When you are out at a store or grocery store and not one man even looks your direction.

    Reply to Dianne

25. When Ol’ Charlie down there doesn’t want to wake up and say hello! anymore.

    Reply to Ernie

26. I realized I was old when a woman with toddler offered me their seat at a car wash. And then a handsome young cashier called me sweetie as he rang up my sale. Not sure if that is better or worse than being called ma’am.

    Reply to Connie

27. A car almost hit me as I walked in a parking lot, as I quickly moved I heard the wife yelling “oh my God slow down , you almost hit that Old Lady”. I was devastated although I know I’m old and have been for years.

    Reply to Adel. Lawson

28. When I checked Ticketmaster for upcoming concerts and didn’t recognize many names. Also it was a wake up call when I went to a Chicago concert and no one in the audience was standing and most couldn’t carry a tune or clap in time to the music. So sad.

    Reply to AlisonD

29. I feel very old when I mention I rode trains on the Third Avenue elevated line and no one knows what I am talking about

    Reply to J L G

30. I first felt old when the topics being studied in high school history class were things I remembered.

    Reply to Sharon Altus

31. I need to rest after I stand up!

    Reply to Babs

32. I saw a picture of an ophthalmologist my friend was being referred to and I was sure he was about 12 years old.

    Reply to Chris

33. I saw the albums I had as a teenager in a museum display about the 60’s

    Reply to Linda Hunt

34. When the nurse at the doctors office called me little lady as she put a Fall Risk bracelet on me

    Reply to Kathy

35. I said, “God, I’m old” the first time someone called me “ma’am.”

    Reply to Alyda Morosco

36. An instrumental version of “Stairway to Heaven” was being played as background music in the supermarket. When did my music become Musak?

    Reply to joyce deming

    1. Just keep dancing to the music in the grocery store

       Reply to Anne Culver

    2. That is actually a tribute to the longevity and the legacy of Boomer-era music. We’re still hearing the sounds of our youth, in elevators and on the radio, fifty years out. In 1971, nobody was playing the Charleston on the radio! Our songs have become CLASSICS!

       Reply to Hollis Wagenstein-Hurturk

37. I knew I was old when I went into two different stores selling electronics and asked if they had any transistor radios. The salesperson looked at me as if I was from another planet and had to describe what a transistor radio is. While each person sort of laughed, I told them both that when the next blackout hits, I’ll be the only one to know what’s going on!

    Reply to Diane B Schacht

38. I don’t know …, maybe it was once the following started happening that I knew I was OLD! The gale force wind out of nowhere? The category 5 sneezes which cause my glasses to fly off my face? The sudden stiffness and joint pain where I never realized before that there were joints? The lank, dull wisps of hair where once were lustrous, glossy tresses? The rank, stinky body odour which had never, ever been an issue before? The number of times a day I now say “Huh?” whenever someone asks me anything? Or perhaps its the 200 times a night I now wake up to go to the bathroom? And that is before I leave the house. The fact that there are actual people walking around old enough to vote who have never heard of Elvis Presley or the Beatles ….. pick any of the above. Everything reminds me that I am OLD.

    Reply to Mona-Lisa W

    1. I was having body odor problems. I tried Japanese persimmon soap. Mirai clinical body wash was the one I tried. It cuts back on the odor. It isn’t a deodorant, and doesn’t have much of a scent. But after you use it, your sweat starts smelling more normal.

       Reply to Alison D

       1. Thank you Alison! This was one of the grossest indecencies of the aging process, IMO. I try to always buy cruelty-free but their antiperspirants selection is very limited (lots of deodorant, not so much re the antiperspirants!) so I have had to buy the clinical strength stuff that burns my skin and apply it before bed so I an still apply the regular extra maximum odour control ones in the mornings before I go to work. Absolutely appalling! I will try your suggestions, thank you!!!!

          Now, what can do about jowls?! That is another shocker in the bathroom mirror, my jowls!!!! Help!

39. …an old lady offered me her seat on the subway.

    Reply to Fay Halberstam

    1. Happened to ma too. And I took it.

       Reply to Alisond

40. I was walking through Greenwich Village after the Halloween parade and enjoying all the incredible costumes. Later, I told my niece I saw a great Janis Joplin costume and she said “Who
    is Janis Joplin?”

    Reply to Kate Walter

41. When a new employee used the word “Ma’am” to address me. I assumed it was b/c I was old (in his eyes), but then learned it was a cultural expression. And now I also know that being old beats dying young hands down.

    Reply to Ruby in Manhattan

42. Feel old when I mistake a twenty-five year old something for a teenager

    Reply to Snow Queen

43. The drug store line stalled because neither of the clerks knew how to take a check as payment.

    Reply to Pat Sullivan

    1. My husband was 20 yrs older. He made me feel young. When he passed at 87, I was 67, and suddenly old.

       Reply to Rebecca Gross

    2. Did you really push it and try to write the check for twenty bucks over to get the cash back…that really would’ve thrown them for a loop

       Reply to Chelie