How old is OLD?

Occasionally I think of myself as being 'OLD'. But, I don't believe I do that very much. Yeah, I am 78 and yeah I have things that make me feel old, but am I suppose to slow down and act old? Hell no!! I had a bad shoulder, got that fixed. I had a little foot problems, got that fixed. I had a back problem, got that fixed too.  I had a heart thing, well, that is a on going fix. And then there is that Cancer thing, OK,  that I am dealing with that too.  Getting old does mean you start having more aches and pains than you did at 20 or 25 years old. But it does not you have to roll over and wait for death to come knocking. It does come with consequences as time marches on. I never thought I'd join AARP or get Social Security when I was 25. Or a lifetime membership to Silver Slippers gym card, but like other seniors, I did.

Now I see my children getting into their 50s, WHAT HAPPENED THERE? Now my daughter is dying her hair so she does not look old. But my grandkids want to grow faster and get to that age where their parents don't have the command over them. I remember that too. And when I was on my own, I called home and ask how to start a checking account and should I get a credit card  or "Can I come home a stay a few days" because I was home sick. I did not do that, but I did ask for advice from not only my parents but other OLD PEOPLE.

Get out on you own is a nature thing that even animals do and want.. Our nearest genetic evolutionary  relative, the Chimpanzee, does that too. Until the parent gets tried of them and literally boots them out of the home tree or nest. But coming back for a visit is also what they do. Did your kids come home and stayed for a while after they left? And when they see their old room was turned into a workout room or home office they got mad. "Does this mean this is not my room anymore Mom?" As Mom and Dad looks at each other and shrug their shoulders, with a smile. I remember when our late son moving out,  then in a months moved back in and we told him, :"You remember our rules, right?" He looked at us and replied, "But I am over 18 now." Yes, but it IS our house and those are the rules."  A month or so, he moved out again after finding his own house, which we gracefully helped him find.

Getting old is NOT what some commercials crack it up to be. "AGE IS JUST A NUMBER" Retirement is good, but, not like being young and physically fit with no pain as you roll out of bed in the morning. Going out most nights with friends partying until 1 or 2 AM, as now you are in bed by 9:30 PM, and falling  asleep at 7.I always crack-up when I hear the phrase, "The Golden Years"  Right? The retirement years are good, but I would much rather crawl under cars at age 20 years old than at 78 years old, eventho I still do it. The good thing about retirement is I don't have to answer to a boss, well, maybe the wife, and the dog is starting to get that way too. But I can come and go, without dragging the kids around, or start work when I want, stop to get a smoothie without asking for an advance on my allowance. Nancy and I do follow the fire house rules of  if she cooks, I wash the dishes. And If I cook, I wash the dishes. Did I get that right? Well anyway, I have a dish washer.

I do love retirement and I except aging and getting old. There are benefits like people getting up to offer their seats, people smile and greet you differently, and there is the AARP discount at a lot of restaurants if you go earlier than 6 PM.  Either way, aging isn't all that bad. I do stop by a firehouse to see how many people don't remember me anymore and tell them how it was when I joined the department. But they just smile respectfully, think I just came in to get my blood pressure taken as a senior citizen.

I read today in 2034, seniors on Social Security will surpass the number of 16 years old. Doesn't matter, I'll be gone by then anyway. JOKE!  JOKE!

Have a painless day, take care and stay safe. Follow me and leave your description of getting old, or not, but leave comments. I WILL answer, if you leave your name.