When I get older losing my hair
Many years from now
Will you still be sending me a Valentine
Birthday greetings bottle of wine? If I’d been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I’m sixty-four
First of all, for what it’s worth, I’m only 62.
If you don’t recognize these wonderful lyrics then my little blog post is probably not going to resonate with you. But if you do…..
Let’s talk.
Teaching kept me young. Well, at least aware. I tried to keep up with popular music, fashion, trends… I’m sure I was still the “grandmother” figure to most of my students but I did put effort into being the “cool grandmother”… who knows if that worked. I enjoyed the respect given me by my younger colleagues and looked forward to helping them when asked.
In addition to surrounding myself with 12-14 year olds, I was required to learn how to use technology for everything… grading, discipline, teaching methods…..(took me twice as long as the average 30 year old) however I was proud to say that I could accomplish most of what was required….. with the assistance of great tech people and equipment anyway..
Getting my National Board Certification in 2008 was a matter of writing, recording, testing and self evaluation. You did it, printed it all out and popped it in a BOX in the mail. Fast forward to the renewal process just a few years later. ALL online. Upload, download, attach sound files, attach video files…etcetera! Yes, I managed to do it… but I’ll admit I asked a much younger colleague to help me submit because I was beside myself with “tech anxiety”…. If I remember correctly it took her 10 minutes and she ate a candy bar while doing it, while I stood behind her having a complete breakdown. (Yes, I passed.)
But let’s talk about the average senior? The ones without computers. The ones without grandchildren to help them navigate the tech world? Or the grandparents struggling to raise their grandchildren and do online school for heaven’s sake!! Can you even imagine the stress? I know I can’t. I know it’s difficult to believe but not everyone in the world has 1) a smart phone 2) a computer or laptop and 3) they don’t want one and shouldn’t have to have one
Again, if you don’t recognize the lyrics below….just ignore, or google them, whatever.
People try to put us d-down (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
Just because we get around (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
I hope I die before I get old (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
Think about this for a second…
- Seriously. Can you believe some folks can’t even get a newspaper anymore… just an online version with a free IPAD nobody wants to use?
- Church and community newsletters are things of the past because after all, you can get all your information online. If you’re online. Talk about isolation!
- Customer service is now reduced to an online form. Good luck with those responses folks…and if you call? Well, all lines are busy at this time.
- Telemedicine, telebanking…and TV? What the heck! I have 4 remotes….4. I own a smart tv. Apparently much smarter than me.
Now we have commercials telling us how “not to be like your parents”… I know, I know, they are hysterical. Mostly because I can relate so closely to them.
- The guy making noises as he gets up from the chair (that’s me)
- The staring at the blue hair
- The desire to give feedback when it’s not requested (again, me)
- hashtags..(ha, don’t even)
- pronouncing Quinoa (my favorite)
- Printing a map (Jack for sure)
And honestly, what about those Facebook ads….
- 10 hairstyles older women should avoid
- Fashion mistakes women over 50 continue to make
- Decorating mistakes people over 50 make.
For the record, you’ll have to pry my red lipstick out of my hands when I die, and I don’t care
And have you counted the pharmaceutical ads during the news?
- Take this pill and you’ll enjoy a bathtub in the forest with your spouse
- This one will help you roller skate with your grandchildren
- This one turns you into a great Salsa dancer!
What I need to know is which one helps you drag you old tail out of bed?
In all seriousness…
The virus has been incredibly difficult for the older generation. Not only did many ignore the virus because “young people” weren’t as susceptible, it was almost like losing Grandma and Grandpa was the price we had to pay to get back to “normal”. Be honest. Don’t you believe that if the virus only attacked 15-40 year olds the initial reaction might have been a little different?
I wonder.
I have recently become aware than many elderly folks (those without local family and still living at home) have had issues with getting the vaccinations. My dear college friend lives in LA (Los Angeles, not lower Arkansas) and she’s had a heck of a time getting help for her 90 year old father who lives (independently) in Missouri. Thank goodness we are finally recognizing these issues and trying to rectify….
As I sit here this morning at my desk (just a messy table in the sunroom) I let my mind ramble. I think about wisdom and experience, humor and inevitable loss….about dignity and respect for those more “seasoned” like me.
We are here. We are full of ideas and thoughts we want to share. We’re not always CRANKY (oops) or depressed about our lack of a current hairstyle, ha. Please don’t discount our wisdom or our love. Listen to us. You might learn something. We might be able to help.
The great prophet Willie Nelson once said “It’s true. I’m old. And if you’re really lucky, you’ll get to be old too”….. Gotta love my man Willie.
And if Willie doesn’t convince you then perhaps the good book will.
Job 12:12
Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.
Talkin’ ’bout my generation……
Walking Home 
So enjoyed at 71 years
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I commented to Charles just the other day about signing up for the vaccine. You had to go on line find the link for the sign up, then it asked you to upload a picture of your medical card. So I had to take a picture, save it to photos and then upload. Then it asked you to print out some forms to bring. I am pretty sure lots of seniors couldn’t do all that!
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