Last night’s sunset.
We’re due for some snow today – probably about an inch – and a bit more tomorrow. Over the weekend, the temps are going to be frigid. Oh boy.
A couple of stories about age and the perception of age:
I had been rereading some old paperbacks that I read in the 70s. Comfort reads. In one of them, the characters kept talking about “Great Aunt Annie.” The descriptions painted a portrait of a very old woman who was eccentric and a bit batty. Almost Dickensian. Imagine my shock when the author said she was 72.
72! My age! I guess back in the 70s, which I remember well, 72 was considered ‘doddering?’ I don’t remember thinking that, but it does point out how concepts of aging have changed. I told this story to Don and he burst out laughing. Now, we aren’t as spry as we used to be, but we’re pretty darned vital and we certainly don’t think of ourselves as fragile or, to be honest, old.
Although, I am a great aunt.
And in that same vein, Don got a call from CVS the other day. He gets his prescriptions through CVS/Caremark and they’re sent through the mail. He chatted with a very polite young woman and I heard him say, “No, I’m fine, but thank you.” When I asked him about it, he said “They wanted to know if I needed someone to come to the house to check my vitals.”
Cue more laughter.
I’ve heard this from our medical insurer as well.
I feel an inner “Age is just a number!” ready to burst forth. Of course I realize that many people do need these services and I’m glad they’re available, but I do feel like some entity is hovering in the background, absolutely sure that we must be feeling a certain way because of a particular number.
Last night, we watched Miracle on 34th Street. Tonight? Meet Me in St. Louis.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
When I was a kid, my great-aunts did seem like old ladies to me! Now I realize I am older than they were back then! ;)
We have lovely snow here this morning – not too much just enough to make it look pretty and Christmas-y.
Stay cozy and safe, Claudia.
Thank you, Ellen!
Stay safe.
Beautiful sunset! The perception of age is an interesting thing. Fortunately, our technology and mindsets have advanced in the last decades. But, I too have noticed different instances where the past has placed “younger” ages in the elderly category, whatever that is. We’re having cold weather and some rain on the way. Perfect weather for bundling up and watching a good old movie. Stay warm!
Thank you, Barrie!
Stay safe.
I was lamenting about being 78 to my doctor. She laughed and told me I was one of the young ones. She has lots of patients in their 80s and 90s. Age does come with some perks. I won’t list them. Don’t want to spoil the surprise for all the young people out there, lol. Love your Santa. We have our first snowfall today. It does inspire you to feel Christmasy. Have just baked some shortbread cookies. Enjoy those movies, two of my favourite. Hugs, Elaine
Thanks so much, Elaine.
Stay safe.
Gorgeous sunset. We just got our first major snowfall of the season yesterday. About 6 inches of white fluffy snow, and it looks like it’s going to stick around for Christmas. Yay!
My paternal grandmother who lived with us, looked far different than I do at the same age. Since you brought it up I’m curious as to why? Do we just take better care of ourselves due to technologies not available way back then, or is it societal changes? Changing perspectives on aging, or all of the above? All I know is, I would rather be 73 in today’s society, than 73 in the late 60’s. It is curious to me, why we as a group of baby boomers, appear to look younger and act younger than our elders.
And on that note…enjoy your day, and your movies! ;)
Same with my grandnparents!
I don’t know why, except that the expected life span is longer now than it was. We do benefit from many technological and medical advancements that they didn’t have. But I have no real answers.
Stay safe, Donnamae.
Lovely pre Christmas post, Claudia. I was reminded of the other week when I received a call from the doctors regarding my only medication which is for blood pressure. She ran through a series of questions and asked “Have you had any falls, recently?”
I certainly haven’t but now that I am in my late sixties, I am definitely regarded as being in the ‘Elderly ‘ group!
Happy Friday
I am, too – according to them.
Stay safe, Dee Dee.
Laughing as I read this! I will be 90 in March,but I still think of myself as around50. That is , until I need to slowly and carefully get out of bed each day! xo
Good for you, Annette! So much of it is our attitude, I think.
Stay safe.
A lot of good points made Claudia,and I agree with them. I remember on my 25th birthday going to work and crying when I got there because a quarter century seemed so old.Of course the rest of the staff in their 30’s/40’s thought this was hilarious! Yesterday mu husband and I went to make our will at the solicitors ofice only to be met by a lovely lady who looked all of 14…the other side of the coin for me,doctors,policemen etc all look just too young to know what they are doing. I was 77 last week.
I think older women from our youth looked that way because they had no technologies to mke housework easier, it was really hard then,and they often had more children to give birth to and then look after. Happy Christmas everyone from unsnowy Wales…sigh.
I love snow that stays for a week! Megan
We have about a half inch of snow on the ground and it’s going to be really cold this weekend. It should last through Monday, but I doubt there will be anything left by Christmas.
Stay safe, Megan.
Is that one of Crystals? I love it!
The age thing cracks me up because I’ve felt that, too. I noticed it in England when on the tube, people far younger than I would offer their seats to me (and usually, given my bad balance on shaking trains, I graciously accepted!). And, how I viewed my grandparents and hope that Carson and Cam don’t look at us the same way! But it goes both ways. A week ago I went to a Men of Orpheus holiday concert that a friend was singing in. All these guys came out and — well, they were old! They looked old, and I thought, ‘They look like my dad did before he died.” And then I realized, somewhat shockingly, that most of them were probably anywhere from seven to ten years older than I am. That used to see like a huge age range but two of my best friends are 78 and 81 respectively and I have trouble keeping up with them!
Guys I went to high school with always look much older than me. At least I think they do!
Stay safe, Jeanie.
Age (ing) is very strange. It blows my mind when someone is referred to as a elderly person and they are 60!! My joints and old injuries let me know I am getting older..not elderly!
Another comment about George C. Scott’s as Scrooge. Scott’s physicality and voice made Scrooge more of menace One could see how others would be intimidated by him. Plus, he is not a bad looking man making Scrooge more real. I also like the music. But, I too like Alastair Sim, it would not be a proper Christmas if I did not see that version of ” A Christmas Carol.”
Beautiful sunset.
Take Care,
Kaye
I like that – “getting older…not elderly.”
In the George C. Scott version, my favorite actor is Edward Woodward as the Ghost of Christmas Present. He’s wonderful!
Stay safe, Kaye.
Love that sunset. I am always playing mind games about age. I’m going through boxes of my parents’ photos and putting together a collage of them interacting with our boys when they were very small. I’ll mentally count and go, “OMG, dad was only 68 in that picture,” or “why did mom seem so much older than 70 then?” I can remember shopping as a kid with my maternal grandma (who died on her 99th birthday!) and in those days they actually had what I called “old lady” departments where she would buy her house dresses, as she called them. House dress. Can you imagine?
We wound up getting around 6 inches and now it’s getting frigid so it’ll be around for Christmas .
Stay warm,
Kay
I remember house dresses! It seems impossible now, but they were the thing in those days.
Very frigid here, as well. Hopefully, the two inches or so will stick around through Christmas. Fingers crossed!
Stay safe, Kay.
We are so lucky to be healthy. When some minor health issues starts to annoy me I try to remember that.
I remember when it seemed like our grandmothers were old. Of course they did kind of dress old. Never wore pants. But the truth is they were very active. Cooking, cleaning, yard work, crafts and walking most places. I wish I had their energy!
Oh, I know! My grandmother always seemed old, but she was painting her porch in her late eighties.
Stay safe, Kay,
Hi Claudia, I was just scrolling through your blog and got a chuckle out of this post. I subscribe to “Oldster” on Substack and get email newsletters highlighting interviews with people mostly in their 70’s. I love reading that most people in their 70’s feel much younger. And the people are always so interesting and entertaining. I could easily see you and/or Don being interviewed for this publication!
Glad to read that you and Don had a peaceful holiday. Same here for me and Brian. We had dinner at my mom’s house on Christmas Eve, then it was just the two of us on Christmas. I made a breakfast casserole and we also indulged in our once-a-year almond Kringle. We exchanged a few gifts and just enjoyed the relaxing day. Later in the day, we had a 3-hour video chat with Tim!
xoxo
I might have to subscribe to that, Melanie! It sounds intriguing. Thank you.
Love to you and Brian (and Tim).
Stay safe.