Ahhh - the Golden Years! Yeah, right.
l. I'm cold all the time. I am a person who was never cold. Others in the office wanted the thermostat pushed up. I was dying of the heat. Even as a kid, my mother was always telling me to wear a sweater, and I thought she was crazy. I loved the snow. Now I dread it. Pretty to look at when it first falls - then that's enough! I want it to go away. I wear socks 24 hours a day now. I wear layers of clothing.
2. Authority figures have become younger and younger. Disturbing.
3. Doctors have become so young! I don't mind that so much except that, being so young, they frequently display character traits I remember well from when my children were young and they and their friends could be thoroughly obnoxious. I find myself wanting to correct the doctor. Not a good idea.
4. Pills. Way too many. I never used to take a pill. Don't like them.
5. Forgetfulness. I know - we all forget things. But I can't even remember what I had for breakfast. Hell, I can't even remember if I ate breakfast. - And names. I can't remember names. Even for people I love.
6. Words escape me. I love words. Language is a beautiful thing. I was never at a loss for words. I might not have spoken them out loud, but they were there, in my brain, and I enjoyed finding just the right word. And I could always write them down. But now I grope for them, and people often help me by suggesting what it is I'm trying to say - and they're usually wrong, and that's annoying.
7. I'm so tired.
8. Nothing is new under the sun. I'm not the first to make that observation. But it's so true. And I've heard, seen, done, or refused to do, it all. I know how the story will end. I do understand because I've been there and back. I've heard all the jokes too. They are still funny. I can still laugh at them. (I've probably forgotten the punch line anyway.) And I can enjoy your pleasure in them.
9. Being misunderstood. Or doubted - that's even worse. People make assumptions about the elderly. Strangers do it. My children do it. Doctors do it. I think my son does it more than most. I hear, "Sure, Mom" in that tone of voice, and I know he doesn't believe what I'm saying. It just couldn't be possible that Mom could know what she's talking about. And then there is that tone of complete surprise when he discovers that I did know after all. That's even more annoying.
10. Waiting for people. I've always been one to decide what I want to do and just doing it. Now I decide what I want to do and wait for someone else to help me do it or take me there or do it for me. That is so hard! No wonder some old people get cranky and crotchety. (Not me of course)
I suppose, in all fairness, I should now do a post on ten things I like about being old. Well, I'm tired. Maybe another day - the Good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise.
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And don't forget Margaret and Helen's blog. It's funny.
And it makes sense too.
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MEANTIME - GET OUT THERE AND VOTE TOMORROW !!!
