More and more often in the literature I read, I am finding that men and women at the age of seventy years and upwards are being portrayed as elderly and feeble, fast approaching or very near the end of their lives.
Who made the rule that anyone over seventy is no longer vital or full of pi** and vinegar, as the old saying goes?
Why are people sixty-five years or older in books (and movies) almost consistently portrayed as aged, precariously tottering on the downhill slope of life?
Are all books and movie scripts being written by the younger generations who look upon those of us over sixty (some way over -- ahem) as worthless, about ready to kick-the-bucket, no longer healthy or maintaining any vim, vigor or vitality?
Even in audio books I listen to, the voice of the reader takes on a quavery, weakened intonation when reading the dialogue of people in their sixties and especially seventies.
Ticks me off, it does. The book I'm currently reading has just written of the demise of a 70-year old woman and attributed her death not to any disease or accident but to natural causes. Or in other words, old age. What?!
Maybe I'm particularly sensitive because next month I will be entering the latter part of my seventh decade, and I don't feel old and doddering in the least.
Grumpity-grump-grump-grump!
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17 comments:
I do believe that age is in part of a state of mind, and you and Papa Pea AREN'T OLD! On the other hand, I follow a blogger who I think is around your age who seems truly depressed at the shortness of the time she thinks is ahead of her, and her mindset breaks my heart.
Michelle - Oh my goodness, yes! It sounds as if she's already beginning to shut down because she thinks the end is definitely looming on her horizon. So sad.
And thank you so much for saying our state of mind is good. Or maybe sound. Or maybe positive. Or maybe we're playing ostrich. ;o)
I have said since 50 age is only important if one is a wine or a cheese.
I will be entering my 70’s in less than two weeks and what will I be doing on that occasion?
Take your pick 1. In unloading a ten bale load of 125 pound bales of alfalfa. 2. Armed with my new to me chainsaw (thanks honey) and starting to dispatch an overwhelming amound of fallen limbs and trees 3. Building my ideal raised beds for my garden. Oh wait there is more but I don’t want to bore you.
The thing is we are older women living in a falsely created society of when it is old or nonfunctional dump it and get a new one. If we lived in one of the so called third world countries we would be valuable as an elders with wisdom aplenty to share. If only they would listen.
To that I say “kiss my Wranglers!”
When I was young I, too, thought anything over sixty was walking dead. Now I'm 72 and taking care of my 94-yr-old Mom who still lives in her own house. It's all about perspective and most of those under 40 can't really see us.
Goatldi - The way you've chosen to remain strong and vital in your life is so admirable. If you give me a call when you're ready to unload those bales of alfalfa, I'll come help. I'll even bring my own hay hook. Yes, I will.
The younger generations who aren't interested in our knowledge, learned in the School of Hard Knocks often times (!), can't keep up with us in stamina or physical ability. We've had people 50 years younger than we are work along side us and comment on what we do . . . on a daily basis. To those that don't give a rip or think we should be signed up for the nursing home at our age, I say "Kiss my Wranglers!" (Great line!) :o}
Kris - You and I know age is a state of mind. I do feel sorry for all those people under the age of 40, and the society they live in. They've certainly lost the ability (and sense of self-responsibility) to take care of themselves both mentally and physically. I often wonder just who is going to take care of them when they reach our age. If they make it that far. Okay, that sounded very pessimistic, but the bulk of our population can't take care of themselves and don't seem interested in learning how . . . from folks who are into what the younger ones consider our "ancient" years (ha!) and are still doing it!
You're reading the wrong books and watching to wrong movies. LOL You are also teaching/talking to the wrong younger generation. There are plenty of younger folks to teach. The average age of our YouTube viewers is between 25-35. Yes, that surprised me and they question us constantly even though we haven't produced a video in almost two years. Cockeyed Jo
I agree we are older--not old!
Cockeyed Jo - Yes, there certainly are young(er) folks out there that are sane and sensible and asking those with acquired knowledge all the right questions. Many in the younger generations who are trying their darndest to learn the hands-on skills to increase their self-responsibility. But compared to the masses who have no idea where their food comes from or how to hold a face-to-face conversation or even function for 24 hours without being tied to technology, I believe the young ones you've encountered are a small, small minority. Kudos to you, though, for putting your earned knowledge out there and exposing them to it in a down-to-earth, understandable way!
JoAnn - Of course, the standard retort to that is: Older than what? (Hee-hee.) :o}
I've never even thought of being old. You just have to keepgoing to keep yourself fit. Grant you there are some times I get tired ,but who doesn't. Yes, it dose get my goat when I hear people think after seventy is old. My Mom was ninety six when she passed and never thought she was old, but to her the people around her were old. So go figure!! I guess if you feel old your old.
Oh Mama Pea...I agree with you. Alex and I watch TONS of movies and even the over 50 female crowd is featured as hum-drum, overweight, gray-haired old ditties... lol...I feel like I'm 30 years old. It's such a stereotype. I'm happier in my 50th year than I ever was the first 50 and I NEVER intend on walking around with a cane saying things like "kids these days" lol! ;)
Who writes these books?
Different people age differently. Just like some people are big boned and some are medium boned and some can paint and some can do crafts and some can cook marvelously and some don't really want to try to and... And.... And....
Generalities 'stink'! Every teen is this way. Every young adult is that way. Every mid life person is thus and so. Every 50 year old, 60 year old, 70 year old, 80 years old, 90 year old, is.........
Individuals vary. Why should fiction, fit people into neat boxes?
Complain, ding-dang-it! Email the authors and give them a "piece of your mind"!!! Maybe they'll learn. For sure, you will feel better. >,-))))
LYNNE
"...but to her the people around her were old"<----Your mom thought this!!!!
I love it!!!! Because I am always referring to other people, just talking to my husband of course, as "those old people."
The kicker is... I am nearly 82 and he is going on 85! And we are still seeing others, as old.
Your mom would have approved!!!!!! :-)))))
Ohhh Mama Pea ... today I feel old. The cold weather aggravates the arthritis in my hands and I have trouble doing anything without pain ... but I push forward and do what I can. Then Spring and Summer roll around and I feel like I'm 40 (I'll be 72 in June) I clean the yard and have to return the gravel (driveway) to it's real place instead of piles along the sides ... I try to get it done before M.U.D. season arrives, Not always easy, but I fight to get it in the general area where it belongs ... I love my friend for plowing me out, but he rearranges my driveway every year and I have to fix it so I can level my camper before a trip ... LOL ...
Lynne - I think your mom proved that you are only as old as you feel! And let's face it, some people ARE old at 50 while others, like your mother, still aren't old in their 90s!
Rain - Our bodies may change as we move on in years, but if we take care of them and most importantly, I think, keep our mental attitudes positive . . . well, why do we ever have to think of ourselves as old?
wisps of words - So true that different people age differently. I can't help but think it has a lot to do with their environment and feelings about their life. Even how they were raised has an influence.
The author Rita Mae Brown writes a series of books with "Sister Jane" as the lead female character. Sister Jane is in her 70s, is a master horsewoman still very actively riding, has a live-in lover, many younger friends and an extremely full life. Ms. Brown is one author I have absolutely no beef with!
Matters not if you are nearly 82 or 92, I don't think you'll ever be "old!" I think a person can be wrinkled as a prune (you're certainly not!) and still have a vital, healthy, interesting life.
I'll be 65 in August and know I'm in much better shape, both physically and mentally, than much younger people I know. The mind plays tricks on us, and we have to be equal to the tricks. I'd like to challenge the average twenty or thirty-something to keep up with the work you, your husband, or I do every day, and just see who comes out ahead at about 5 o'clock every afternoon! Phil/Eagle Bend
Phil - Yay for you! And others who have chosen to live healthy, fulfilling lives for all the days we are here! Even though we may feel "tired" at 5 o'clock in the evening, it's a good tired that satisfies both mind and body. After all, neither mind nor body will stay in good shape if we don't use them, and most often in combination!
You tell 'em girlfriend! Every time I go the local grocery store in in town they ask me if I need help carrying it.....there were 3 little things in the bag! I finally asked her if I looked like I needed help? I don't limp, I have no walker, in fact I have more energy than some of those workin gin the store! And I think I'm slow. I attributed it to the gray hair. Once they see gray or white you are automatically old...as in dottering old fool. It's profiling!!!
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