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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsTomorrow I am Going to be 60
Last edited Sat Jan 10, 2015, 10:39 PM - Edit history (1)
I made some informal resolutions to keep when I am old. Now that I will be 60 (that seemed old when I made these) I look back and think I have kept (more or less) them. Here they are, with some illuminative stories
1: I will not regard everybody younger than me as put on this planet to be my servant. This annoyed me when I was younger, and I resolved not to do it. I haven't and don't.
2: I will not say 'When I was your age' and follow it with how much better I was than the person I'm talking to. In those days we answered 'When I was your age' with 'When you were my age people walked on four legs.'
3: I will speak respectfully to younger people so long as they speak respectfully to me. I remember once going into a restaurant when I was 19 to get a coffee and a bowl of soup. I had filed my copy and was taking time before a city council meeting. An elderly woman fixed me with a glare and said "Young man!" in a stern voice. I ignored her, I didn't know her and had no idea why she would be addressing me. She snapped "Young Man!" again. I looked up from my soup and she snapped "I have a dirty fork!"
I shrugged. I didn't work there, It wasn't my problem. I said, "It's not my concern." Before I finish what she was saying, she snapped "You're very rude, boy. I'm going to call the manager." She did, the manager explained I did not work there. She should stop bothering the other customers. She snorted at me and stalked out.
Since then when I approach somebody younger it's 'Mister, Sir, Ma'am, Mizz' never "young man, young lady, boy, girl, kid, sonny boy' or something disrespectful like that.
4: I will not blather on about how music, people, movies, theater, food, and so on were better when I was younger. These are matters of taste. And It was not easier to get a job. I had the oil shock, stagflation and the Reagan Depression to deal with. I had a job during the first two, but constantly worried about losing it. And beer is much better now.
5: I will not say stupid things like 'I'm older and wiser.' Robert Heinlein was right when he had Lazarus Long say, "Age does not bring wisdom. Often it merely changes simple stupidity into arrogant conceit. "
6: I will not make stupid threats. Especially I will not threaten to whip, spank, tan the hide, warm the bottom or other battery of someone younger. I remember hearing a friend's aunt say, 'You're not too big to spank, boy.' to him. He responded, 'And neither are you, and you'll find that out if you try it." You do not threaten to spank a paratrooper in the US Army.
7: I will not whine about my ailments. Actually I'm very healthy for my age. Active physical jobs, not smoking, and fighting with the rapier and tweehander have kept me so.
8: I will not fool myself into thinking very young women especially desire me.
Wolf
TuxedoKat
(3,818 posts)Great rules to live by. I follow all of those myself. Hope you have a wonderful, memorable day.
Suich
(10,642 posts)the world would be a better place, Wolf!
Congratulations on another successful trip around the sun!
orleans
(33,949 posts)benld74
(9,881 posts)I'm 58 and close on your heels,,,,,,
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,181 posts)And I greatly respect your resolutions. They are excellent.
I wish you many more happy years!
handmade34
(22,753 posts)Joe Shlabotnik
(5,604 posts)Very considerate and thoughtful resolutions.
shenmue
(38,497 posts)Have lots of cake!
KMOD
(7,906 posts)Your not 60, you're 25 with 35 years of experience.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)Enjoy!
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Maybe yesterday's music wasn't better back then. But it's still good to hear once in a while.
AwakeAtLast
(14,109 posts)These are wonderful words for anyone to live by. I will refer to this often.
Have a great one!
irisblue
(32,794 posts)and I am going to adopt your list.
sarge43
(28,935 posts)I'll be 72 tomorrow.
A couple more to add to your excellent advice.
1. The days are dwindling down so live each one fully
2. Don't dwell on the past. Done is done.
3. Old dogs can learn new tricks, so keep interested in what's going on and try something new.
4. Wear something purple and a red hat. It's liberating.
Wolf Frankula
(3,595 posts)May you have many more.
Wolf
oberliner
(58,724 posts)My question is - do you especially desire very young women?
Wolf Frankula
(3,595 posts)But I've seen men my age make damned fools of themselves over young women.
And one I forgot.
9: If you really want to do it, do it today, do it now. There is NO next time and some day never comes.
Wolf
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)On Jan. 18, I will be 76. I don't consider myself old, but others do. I am just happy to have made it to this age. I just hope to make it to 80.
steve2470
(37,455 posts)magical thyme
(14,881 posts)I made it to the big 6-0 just over year ago! Welcome to the next decade
Mr.Bill
(24,031 posts)It's 61 when you begin to realize it's an irreversible trend.
Phentex
(16,329 posts)Hope you enjoy yourself today.
BeyondGeography
(39,226 posts)60 is my official plug-removed-from-wall-except-for-the-stuff-I-care-about age. I have five years to go and I don't know if I can make it without doing same right now.
Your post #16 tells me I'm on the right track.
panader0
(25,816 posts)The thing about being "over the hill" is that as you start going downhill, you pick up speed.
chknltl
(10,558 posts)I was glad to see that one listed, high on my own list was that I would NOT turn into the 'Creepy Old Guy'.
Speaking of which: Old Guy goes up to an Old Lady and says: "Say there hot stuff, would you like some super sex? She looks him over and says: "I'll take the soup....definitely the soup!"
Happy 60th Wolf Frankula
Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)From now on, I'm going to have to say "great" instead of "super"
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)K&R
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