I’ve said quite often and heard others say the same thing. “Getting old is the pits!”
I find this season of my life very interesting, and I have observed a pattern among my friends: the phases of senior adulthood.
Phase 1–Senior Adult Discounts: This phase occurs when we start telling our friends where to find senior discounts. We become almost giddy when we learn that most Goodwill stores give us between 15-25 percent off on Tuesdays.
The 10 percent discounts at IHOP, Waffle House, Arby’s and Burger King are our staples. Did you know you can get up to 20 percent off at Jack-in-the-Box? Yes, you can find a covey of senior adults flocking to any one of these locations on the appropriate day at the appropriate time.
Phase 2–Reruns: The next level of senior adulthood is watching your favorite TV shows from the past. You start out with old color TV shows such as “Happy Days” or “The Carol Burnett Show.” Later, you shift to black-and-white programming: “Gunsmoke,” “Perry Mason” “I Love Lucy” “Bewitched” and my favorite “The Andy Griffith Show.”
This is also the stage of life where you quit watching the Oscars because you don’t recognize any actors or movies receiving awards. And you certainly don’t watch any of the music awards because you have no idea who any of the rappers are or you don’t know their music — at least that’s what they call it. I told my youngest son, “There won’t be a golden oldie Rap station in 30 years.”
I lived in arguably the greatest era of music in the 60’s which also includes the cars during the 50’s and 60’s. You used to be able to identify a car driving down the street. Today — good luck!
Phase 3–Birdwatching: Outside of my office window I have a bird bath and a small bird feeder that I put bird food out for my feathered friends. They arrive on the edge of the bird bath and bathe themselves and then drop on the bird feeder bowl to fill their little bodies. They are not bashful about running off the squirrels who try to steal their food and water.
Brazoria County has some of the largest species of birds in the state and the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Sparrows, etc. are most welcome visitors to eat, drink, and bathe in my little sanctuary.
Phase 4–Obituary Watching: I’m now of the age when I get the email or call asking if I knew that so-and-so had passed away?” I never hear from a high school classmate until they send out an email that a classmate has died.
This past week I received notice that one of my former football college teammates had passed away. He was two years younger that me which really gets my attention.
Phase 5–Labeling Everything: I hear as we get older, we will put names on these items to indicate which person gets what when we pass away. For the last several years, my kids have made it clear that they have no desire to get the China, the every day dishes, furniture, etc. This is a different generation so they would rather not be included in getting that stuff.
Phase 6–Discussion of Prescriptions: Getting older involves discusses of the latest pills we are taking with our friends. We compare ailments, medications, and general aches and pains due to getting older. I told someone that “I am officially old because I have a small dog and I take pills.”
I will admit that getting older beats the alternative. So I guess I’ll continue to enjoy whatever “state” I’m in physically and mentally and hope for the best each day.
Old friend Robert said, “Not everyone understands that old age simply means your body looks old, but your soul is still that vibrant young twenty something.”
E-mail: drdaviddavis@yahoo.com
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