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Posted: 05-09-2013 22:22 Post subject:

When you realise you were born in what are now Olden Times.

Posted: 06-09-2013 00:22 Post subject:

Posted: 06-09-2013 06:04 Post subject:

You know you're old when you can remember black and white tv, where you were when both Kennedy's were shot, the moon landing taking place and pre-decimalisation - thankfully, all those happened before I was born!

So, I am not such an Old Fart after all!

Posted: 06-09-2013 06:42 Post subject:

If you remember the arrival of mass-market stereo audio (excluding movie theaters), you're old ...

You're definitely of a mature age if you remember the Apollo XI moon landing. If you remember going outside to look for Sputnik I a dozen years earlier, you're old.

You can reasonably believe you're getting old when you are familiar with a greater number of lifetime achievement award winners than current performers / entertainers.

There's no question you're getting old when you can regularly recall the first appearance of each year's new lifetime achievement award winners.

Posted: 06-09-2013 07:04 Post subject:

You know you're old when you're entitled to a Senior bus pass!
And I AM old, but I try not to (a) grumble or (b) reminisce all the time. Smile

Posted: 06-09-2013 08:04 Post subject:

There's a saying, 'You're as old as you feel.' Having spent many years looking after elderly people, I know 'old' to be a state of mind.

Most elderly people still have spirit and a sense of humour. Thay are thankful for what mobility they have and show grace and dignity in their dealings with others.

Some are miserable and cynical. You don't have to be old to think like this though. I suspect that most of the bitter old bastards I met had always been like that, having pushed people away all their lives until there was nobody left.

There are people who are already old before their first grey hair. You know the ones. When they laugh it is only at others' misfortune, while they demand attention for their own problems. Nobody else matters, especially if they're not white or straight or male or gainfully employed.

You can be of a certain age and still young, if you are not cynical, if you can believe in your fellow humans, even when the odd one lets you down. We're not perfect and we can't expect anyone else to be.

I hope to model myself in my old age on some of the superb elderly people I've met over the years.
Nobody will ever find themselves turning away from me shaking their heads and muttering 'What a miserable old git!'

It's all about dignity. Wink

Posted: 06-09-2013 13:37 Post subject:

When people make sterotypes, such as "Old people wear cardigans", they are really giving away their own age. At one time, many old people might have favoured cardigans, but a lot of old folk nowadays wear more modern gear.

I expect in years to come some people will be saying "Old people wear jeans and trainers, and T-shirts with silly slogans on them..." Twisted Evil

Posted: 06-09-2013 17:32 Post subject:

I felt old recently when I had to have a bone density scan to check for osteoporosis and got told I had the start of a cataract all in the same day Sad

People don't believe me when I tell them I remember old money, watching news footage of the Vietnam war on TV etc.
I remember when you could only get Shloer in delicatessens, does that count?

Posted: 06-09-2013 17:55 Post subject:

It's reasonable to be down about your health failing as you get older (sorry to hear that, Marion), but there are benefits, all those good memories and useful experience as well as the bad times which might spring to mind. There's always new stuff to be interested in, too, if that appeals, and you can look at it through the lens of your experience. You don't need to let your mind gather dust.

Posted: 06-09-2013 18:54 Post subject:

Posted: 06-09-2013 19:54 Post subject:

I'm a long term vegetarian, lifelong non-smoker, very moderate drinker and mild fitness-obsessive. My health is excellent.

Even so, I've had two operations (for different problems, both cured now) over the last couple of years. As you get older, yes, the decrepitude kicks in, but hey ho, mustn't grumble! Wink

Posted: 06-09-2013 20:10 Post subject:

...when you make a small sighing noise every time you sit down.

When looking at the advertising for the computer game Diablo III, and read that Diablo II came out 20 years ago, and you still think that II is quite a modern game.

When I go to visit my mum I take a DVD with me that she may like to watch. She always asks "are you putting that video on."

Posted: 06-09-2013 20:58 Post subject:

Posted: 06-09-2013 22:02 Post subject:

Posted: 06-09-2013 22:22 Post subject: