Life, Age and Electric Blankets: Observations from Wally, a reluctant senior
One of the premises when I retired years ago was that sometimes I would write columns, and sometimes they would be about aging.
Not every column, of course. I do have other things on my mind.
I mean, everybody ages, but I’m old-aging. I’m well past middle age.
As Victor Hugo said, “Forty is the old age of youth; fifty the youth of old age.” He never got around to saying what 70 is.
But even as I approach 74, sometimes it doesn’t seem real. Sure, I’m slower—mentally and physically—but I was never that fast to begin with. I missed a lot of things in my life. I’m not good with subtlety, and I miss a lot of the tiny tells that other people have to explain to me.
But you do notice some things you do differently. I turn the temperature up on the electric blanket now. Before, I never even used one. I can remember my age, but only after performing some complicated math.
Things that I never even used to think about—like running to the store—take some planning now.
“Don’t stay out after dark” is what you used to tell your kids. “Get home before it gets too dark” is what your kids now tell you. Because darkness is now an effective curfew when you’re driving.
Conversations that used to revolve around matching stories now revolve around matching medical procedures. Someone always has a more gruesome one than you do.
I never used to plan much, but now I have a calendar full of intricate medical appointments.
It is a challenge to figure out what you can do versus what you no longer can do—and sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. Until you hurt yourself.
I don’t remember ever being too tired to do anything when I was younger. Of course, that might be my failing memory. But now, if I have to think about doing something, I’m probably too tired to do it.
I didn’t realize that when I was younger. “The exhaustion of old age is something people who are younger don’t fully appreciate.” That comes from Tony Benn, an English politician.
“Wisdom doesn’t necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up by itself,” according to Tom Wilson.
Age is gradual. It is sneaky. It’s inevitable—unless you die young.
“Age is a matter of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter,” said Mark Twain.
To a certain extent, that is true. Fight as long as you can.
And never forget those medical appointments.
