Sixties versus Sixty!

Who would have thunk! Me in my sixties….why do people consider this decade as old age? Am I really considered old? I know the world classifies me that way. I signed up to participate in surveys and focus groups on line. I have only been offered one focus group that even cares what “my age thinks” and after filling out the questionnaire to see if I even qualify to participate in the survey, I was told no; thank you anyway. The world must really not care what I think at all.

In the 1960’s, I was in high school and college; in fact, it was in the sixties that I married. I basically lived life the same as I do now. I am busy helping plan a forty-five year reunion for my high school class. I think I will pose the question to them, “Do you basically live your life the way you always have?”

I don’t think of myself as old. I am reconnecting with friends back when I was a teenager. They are all happy and vibrant adults. They still do the things we did when we were younger… dance, go to ball games, have an occasional cocktail, go out to eat and generally live their life and have a good time just like always. The day I brought home a sports car to drive, my children commented that maybe I was too old to be driving such a fast and snazzy car! My answer was, “you are only as old as you feel” I enjoy driving that car now, just as much as I would have if I were in my twenties. In fact, I have wanted that car since my twenties! The perception that the world has that an older person shouldn’t enjoy certain parts of life anymore is screwy!

OK, the only thing that is objectionable to me is that the body does not look like it used to. When I look in the mirror, my face shows a tiredness it never used to have and lines that don’t go away. Only recently did I notice circles under my eyes every day, instead of occasionally. I look at an old picture of me that shows a perfect figure and a flawless face. I realize, I didn’t feel any different then, than I do now…I just look different! I know what my limitations are now. I can’t wear a lot of the clothes, I used to wear….inappropriate for my age. I get it! I understand! I can’t run as fast as I used too, but so what! Do you get my drift?

The grocery store, the movie theatre and the cruise lines have been giving me discounts for seven years already and all because I reached that magical golden senior stage. Of course, I realize it is a marketing tool, but somehow I think it cast a negative spin on the age group. OK, we don’t have babies anymore, so don’t send us coupons for baby food, but seriously….we live everyday just like every age….we look forward to things, we dream, we live……one day at a time!