Seniors/Grandparents

» Janienne Jennrich - Who's Mad about Getting Older?

Boy, sometimes I get so mad about aging. I can't see the little numbers on my watch timer anymore, my knees aren't cooperating when I try to stand back up, and my granny close-up glasses make me dizzy. Argh. Aging gracefully? I don't know about it.

One month from the time my grandfather turned 100 years old he said "Getting old stinks!" He died a week later. An elderly lady for whom I was a caregiver said "This is just disgusting" at not being able to do something she was trying to do. I heard one in-law of mine stated firmly that "Getting old sucks."

It's funny to me that at the same time so many of us gripe about the little (and sometimes bigger) annoyances of aging, we all strive to live longer as a society. I suppose it is a survival instinct. We want to grow old to see out grandchildren and our great grandchildren.

How do you feel about aging? Who's got the answer to aging gracefully?

My grandfather, who I quoted above, was a wonderful person who affected many lives. Up until that last week, he loved to tell stories and quote poetry from memory.

Getting older may, indeed, stink at times. But it has its advantages as well.

What do you think?

Janienne

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