How do you know when you’re old?
I recently had a birthday. I was born in 1937, so you can do the math. The day before my birthday I got a phone call from my oldest (not by age, by how long we’ve known each other) friend here in Houston — a woman who knows pretty much everything about me, and I, her. She wished me a Happy Birthday and we chatted awhile, then she said, “I have a question for you. How do you know when you’re old?” I said, “Uh, I don’t know. How do you know when you’re old?” She laughed. “You know you’re old when your daughter calls you and says, “Mom, the weather is really nasty out today. You’d better not go out.”
So I guess we know we’re old when the roles reverse, when instead of cautioning your children about the weather or anything else, they begin cautioning you. That kind of makes me shudder, even though when Loretta said it, we both got a good laugh out of it. Thing is, once this kind of thing starts happening, giving up the car keys can’t be far behind.
I’ve never been afraid to grow old, probably because my parents died in their sixties, and I’ve just been grateful to live longer. I still feel that way, but my body lets me know all the time that being in my late seventies is different from even five years ago when I was in my early seventies.
Discussing this age thing with one of my brothers-in-law during his happy birthday phone call, he told me about something Satchel Paige had once said. If you don’t know who Satchel Paige is, you can find out all about him in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Anyway, at one point in Paige’s career he was told he was too old to play. He didn’t feel old and began to ask people this question: If you didn’t know how old you are, how old would you think you were?
Isn’t that a great question? Truthfully, I have never really felt much older inside than I did in my twenties or thirties. Oh, I know more, and I hope I use that knowledge well, but I still feel young inside. Maybe that’s why I’ve always been ready to try new things, whether my body wants to cooperate or not. 🙂
So. How old do you think you are?
9 Comments
Kay Hudson
Posted March 9, 2014 at 2:16 pm
Pat, did you see in the Chronicle this morning that Leon Hale is retiring? He’s 92, and he wants to retire from three columns a week, but he might write one now and then. His choice to retire, not the Chronicle’s. He’s been a journalist since 1947 (the year I was born). I take all this to mean you’re as young as you want to be, and never too old to write.
Patricia Kay
Posted March 9, 2014 at 5:26 pm
Kay, I did see that article. He’s awesome, isn’t he? And yes, we writers are lucky. We can keep working as long as our brains do. 🙂
Liz Flaherty
Posted March 9, 2014 at 3:10 pm
It kind of depends on what day it is, because some days I feel–like you said–just like I did in my 20s and 30s, but there are other days when everything hurts when I get up and still hurts when I go to bed. I feel betrayed by this, but I don’t know who to blame. 🙂
Patricia Kay
Posted March 9, 2014 at 5:28 pm
There’s gotta be someone to blame, Liz. I always tell myself it could be worse. My mom had terrible arthritis and she would cry some mornings because her hips hurt so bad. Count our blessings, right?
Betsy Hennng
Posted March 9, 2014 at 4:10 pm
I love this post! Age is indeed mind over matter…if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. You, Patricia Kay, are a great inspiration and example!
Patricia Kay
Posted March 9, 2014 at 5:28 pm
Well, thank you, kind lady!
Loralee Lillibridge
Posted March 9, 2014 at 4:39 pm
Pat, you are young at heart and I believe that’s what matters most. And you are younger than me – so that should make your day. LOL
Enjoyed the post. I especially liked Satchel Paige’s question. Most of the time I think I’m a lot younger than my actual age – and then my 78 year old body laughs
and says “Get real, lady!”.
Patricia Kay
Posted March 9, 2014 at 5:29 pm
LOL, Loralee. I know the feeling.
Connie Swartz
Posted March 10, 2014 at 7:19 am
I work one week and one week off doing nursing on call. Just finished working my work week and today my body feels at least 90 years old.