Aging Gracefully

Aging gracefully--whatever that’s supposed to mean. I think it means getting old without making a fuss or embarrassing your children too much. Like the time I was camping on the Oregon coast with my son and his wife and we went to Newport for a little shopping and lunch. I spotted a storefront with a donut machine churning out mini donuts. “Mini donuts” I shouted gleefully and proceeded to trip over the curb and fall flat on my face. I remember that we had lunch after I got up off the sidewalk and brushed myself off but I can’t recall whether I got any of those tempting mini donuts. It really is a shame how this little waterfront area can’t afford proper curbs and have these super tall ones that trip seniors. It’s a wonder they haven’t been sued. Or maybe it’s the mini donut people who should be sued for their tempting fragrance and the allure of the contraption that pumps out donuts by the dozen. Or maybe little old ladies shouldn’t be running for donuts. Nah, that can’t be it. So, what is “old” anyway? Anna Quindlen says, “Old is whatever you haven’t gotten to yet.” I think that’s usually about 15 years from where ever I am. Gerontologists say that now there is “young-old” (55-74) and “old-old” (75 and older). That might have seemed fair to me some years ago although I don’t think I ever thought “old age” began before 65. But now—now that I’m pushing 72, I resist the thought of being two years away from “old-old” age. My friend Vera is in her 80’s and is the furthest thing from elderly you could imagine. She drives almost two hours each way to get her hair done in Florence and then stops off at the casino for a little R & R. She defies definition. I shoud be more like her. Why should this aging business bother me in the least? Why should I care if I get automatic senior discounts and people yield their seats to me on a bus? If I slump a little and move slowly, almost nothing is expected of me. No one knows I’m 36 inside. Maybe it’s better for all of us if I take the discount and the seat and just smile.