As I have previously said (hence the “again” above), getting older isn’t exactly fun. You can’t (at least as easily) do the stuff you used to do without even thinking about them. It’s not uncommon for us “olders” have various sorts of health “issues.” We get to hear about (sometimes even watch) friends and acquaintances losing their health and/or passing away. (NOTE: Far too many funerals are such unhappy occasions. They really should be CELEBRATIONS of a person’s life.) And, much of the time, society tends to just write us off as some sort of “old Fogies,” or “old geezers,” who are of little value to anybody and should probably just get out of the way of the “important” (that is, young) people. That’s NEVER actually SAID, of course, but it certainly IS implied with some frequency in popular thinking and the media. Apparently, somewhere along the way, we, as a society, seem to have lost the notion that our “elders” MIGHT, in fact, be considered a valuable resource for the rest of us. That idea does seem to be pretty common among many of those “primitive” communities, societies, and other groups which we are so quick to put down as just being foolish, out-of-date, and rather amusing.
Now I’m NOT going to suggest that advancing years automatically makes one superior in any real way, shape, or form. But, I will suggest that a lifetime of experiences can provide one with a considerable supply of information about what has led to a desirable outcome in the past and, may also tend to encourage the “elder” to have a more complete view of the various options which might enhance the likelihood of success of current ventures. This is not ALWAYS a common behavior among the young. Elders CAN be of interest in other ways, as well. I confess to being quite fond of Agatha Christie’s character, Jane Marple, who is described (on www.agathachristie.com) as “… an attractive, thin, old lady, with a twinkle in her blue eyes, who’s understanding of human nature and wickedness comes from her careful observance of village life and, at times, becoming a busybody.”
She (Miss Marple) has been quoted as saying:
Now I’m NOT going to suggest that advancing years automatically makes one superior in any real way, shape, or form. But, I will suggest that a lifetime of experiences can provide one with a considerable supply of information about what has led to a desirable outcome in the past and, may also tend to encourage the “elder” to have a more complete view of the various options which might enhance the likelihood of success of current ventures. This is not ALWAYS a common behavior among the young. Elders CAN be of interest in other ways, as well. I confess to being quite fond of Agatha Christie’s character, Jane Marple, who is described (on www.agathachristie.com) as “… an attractive, thin, old lady, with a twinkle in her blue eyes, who’s understanding of human nature and wickedness comes from her careful observance of village life and, at times, becoming a busybody.”
She (Miss Marple) has been quoted as saying:
On the other hand, Miss Marple has learned not to be too much of an optimist, but to expect that the worst is possible from everything and everyone. This, of course, COULD just be an outgrowth of her many encounters with various forms of human wickedness. She is, after all, known, primarily, as a detective. And, I hasten to add, fictional detectives do NOT appear to be generally known for their great optimism. While it’s not from the “official” Holmesian “Canon,” Rick Boyer’s Holmes story, The Giant Rat of Sumatra, contains a similar sentiment when Holmes reminds Watson that “It doesn’t pay to be too optimistic, Watson. Remember; pessimists are surprised as often as optimists, but always pleasantly.” An observation which I quite enjoy.
That notion, is one of the things I believe at least tends towards being a truth. I don’t think it means that one should ever refuse to do one’s best work, just that one can quite often profit from anticipating problems, challenges, and difficulties. After all, that IS how one tends to avoid disaster on those frequent occasions when something doesn’t work out exactly as one had planned, as theatrical Technical Directors quickly learn.
But that’s enough “seriousness,” for this post. Let’s look at some funnies…
Perhaps a good place to begin is with the notion that, like me, you MAY be approaching being considered “old” when someone (probably some “youngster”) decides to present you with a “funny” coffee mug like, say, THIS one.
That notion, is one of the things I believe at least tends towards being a truth. I don’t think it means that one should ever refuse to do one’s best work, just that one can quite often profit from anticipating problems, challenges, and difficulties. After all, that IS how one tends to avoid disaster on those frequent occasions when something doesn’t work out exactly as one had planned, as theatrical Technical Directors quickly learn.
But that’s enough “seriousness,” for this post. Let’s look at some funnies…
Perhaps a good place to begin is with the notion that, like me, you MAY be approaching being considered “old” when someone (probably some “youngster”) decides to present you with a “funny” coffee mug like, say, THIS one.
It should also probably be obvious to anyone that, if you encounter a group of signs like these along a road, you are almost certainly entering an area in which you are likely to find a significant number of “elders.”
Now, he said, there’s nothing basically bad about getting older. As I have been known to suggest, “It beats the hell out of the alternative.” On the other hand, getting older isn’t really a heap of fun. Much of the time, it just means that one finds one’s self being considered “out of step” with youngsters who, think that because they are “with it,” or “cool,” or “hip,” they are therefore superior to us “olders.” I would suggest, that’s yet to be proven. After all, as the tee shirt says:
Now, I’m not going to even consider suggesting that I don’t choose to take advantage of current technology to deal with many of the day to day challenges of life (including math) but I CAN still (I think!) write in cursive (Well, I can read my writing, most of the time!), I CAN do basic math without an “adding machine,” and I CAN read a non-digital clock. (So, there, all you young whipper-snappers!)
There actually MAY well even be some (few) advantages to getting older, as Earl points out in this Pickles comic strip, in spite of Opal’s disapproval:
There actually MAY well even be some (few) advantages to getting older, as Earl points out in this Pickles comic strip, in spite of Opal’s disapproval:
Still, “youngsters” will carry on about how old, feeble, and useless we “olders” are. Why should that change? It’s been common practice for a VERY long time. (Back to the Greeks?) So we, on occasion, DO have to put up with situations like this from Zits. (NOTE: Naps can be GOOD, sometimes!)
Still, as previously suggested, there actually are (occasional) real advantages to getting older. Now it might be that this particular example tends to apply to “older” women more than to men, but even men may be amused (or annoyed) when it occurs to them (as it has to me!).
This is NOT to suggest that getting older is all fun and games. No, it does have its disadvantages. For example, I now find it much easier to understand “the Perfessor” from Shoe in the following strip than I might have just a few years ago….
And, I confess that I do, occasionally, find myself in a situation where THIS sign MIGHT be considered appropriate, especially since I retired (almost 11 years ago? *&!). I guess I AM getting older, although it doesn’t always seem that way to me!
And, while I have never have spent much time hanging around in bars, I can understand (and even sympathize) with the sentiment behind this cartoon from Non Sequitur.
Still, the Wheels of Time DO seem to have a way of catching up with one. I must confess, however, that when I encountered the sign below, I was amused to think of how much it would please me if someone followed this suggestion immediately after any “Memorial Service” held for me (which, I hope, will still, be a good while off).
I MAY be getting older, but I’m still having fun most of the time, so I have no plans to encourage a change of my “astral plain,” or whatever is the currently “fashionable” phrase for “passing on” these days.
In any case, I expect (and plan) to be back in a couple of weeks, probably about May 28, as that would get me back to my usual schedule. That, of course, assumes that recovery from my “minor surgical procedure” will proceed as expected, but that DOES seem reasonably likely. My expectation is that I’ll just be a bit older, probably not really any wiser, but still kickin’. Exactly what I’ll come up with to fuss about at that point, I don’t know, but I’m working on it. Maybe, you’ll come back to find out.
🖖🏼 LLAP,
Dr. B
In any case, I expect (and plan) to be back in a couple of weeks, probably about May 28, as that would get me back to my usual schedule. That, of course, assumes that recovery from my “minor surgical procedure” will proceed as expected, but that DOES seem reasonably likely. My expectation is that I’ll just be a bit older, probably not really any wiser, but still kickin’. Exactly what I’ll come up with to fuss about at that point, I don’t know, but I’m working on it. Maybe, you’ll come back to find out.
🖖🏼 LLAP,
Dr. B
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