Young Old – Middle Old – Old Old –
I just turned sixty-one, and I will retire in one year. Young old starts at 65, which makes me pre-young old. I had planned to work until 65 to get more social security, but after looking at my aging Mom, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins who are in their mid seventies and eighties (middle old), I realized that it’s only a matter of time before my body starts to slow down.
It’s more urgent to me to have enjoyable meaningful experiences to reflect on when I’m ninety (old old), than to get a couple more dollars to pay for geriatric care (if Black Jesus spares my life).
How Can I Not Get Old?
My Mom tells me not to get old, and she says that a lot. She’s frustrated that her 84 year old body(old-old) does not perform the same tasks she’s done for years with the same ease. Hurting knees, high blood pressure, and diabetes are daily companions, but she still rakes the yard, gets on the riding mower, and walks up and down stairs 100 times a day.
Mom refuses to get internet so we can monitor her with cameras, she won’t carry a cell phone, and she has told me that she is not afraid to die.
I don’t know how to not get old, except to stop being alive. But I do know how to enjoy being alive because I know what makes me happy.
I know I can affect my physical body by exercising and eating decent.
I know I can affect my mental body by learning new things and ways of doing stuff. I know I can affect my emotional body by paying attention to my feelings, and doing more of what makes me feel good, like listening to music, and less of what’s makes me feel stressed, like watching the news. I know I can affect my spiritual body by closing my eyes, placing my hand on my heart and knowing that I AM.
Born Fi’ Dead
The end game is the same of every single human. No one gets out alive. The World Health Organization reports that the worlds population over the age of 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22% by 2050. But No One Knows How Much Time They Get On The Planet.
My vegetarian, working out sister died at fifty-seven from cancer. We thought we would be old ladies sitting on the porch, looking after our parents. I take solace in the fact that she did retire early, even though I didn’t think it was a good idea, and that she traveled and enjoyed her life on this side. Maybe instead of waiting until we reach some magic age, weight, status or income, we should live each day as if it were one of our last five days on earth.
It’s Not for Sissies
I don’t feel old but younger people have been Yes ma’aming me and calling me Miss Regenna for some time. I go to bed really early. I don’t understand why I should pay the cost of a washer and dryer for an iPhone. My friends and I talk about aging a lot. My knees get stiff when I take a six hour drive to Mom’s. It’s harder than ever to lose 10 pounds. It takes longer to heal injuries. The language of young folks makes my head hurt at times, and I feel like I’m in a different world, (because of course I am).
In spite of aging, I’m determined to not become an old grouchy bored boring senior citizen. I’m still working on gender-neutral pronouns, and to understand why “bonnets” are such a hot topic. I believe our young folks learn more about life at an earlier age than we did, and with this knowledge, they will enjoy more of life. Although lots of mainstream music irritates my vagus nerve, I’ve discovered music by Jhené Aiko, HER and Snoh Aalegra, all artist that my 16 year old great niece and I enjoy, that allows us to connect and that makes me feel “younger”.
There’s Ash on the mountain top but the fire is still burning.
I remember turning 60 and feeling that 62 would be forever getting here, but now it’s only eleven months away and I know that time will fly by. This realization forces me to FOCUS on how I DESIRE to spend my days after retirement, and what I should do NOW to get THERE from HERE.
I tell you I’m excited. I believe the Universe will deliver my innermost desires. I can’t wait to see how life turns out.
