Skip to main content

The Relativity of Youth and Old Age

Sounds scientific, doesn't it? Really...that's not what this post is about. It's about how the age we consider old changes the older we get ourselves. Take, for example, my four year-old nephew's conversation with my mother-in-law. Out of curiosity, he asked his nana how old she was. When she said fifty-five," he promptly replied, "You should be dead by now!"

NICE.

Fifty-five must seem impossibly old to a four-year old child. Just like, every few years or so, I too, raise the bar when it comes to the concept of what old is. At this point, I think ninety is officially old. If you can make it to ninety, well then by God, do whatever you want. You've earned it. Eat two pounds of bacon a day. Watch TV all day while eating nothing but doritos and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (yes, this is MY dream).

So I'm 30 now. By my nephew's standards, I should be dead in only 25 more years. I can't wait!

Comments

Dr.Jeeeol said…
Mmmm Doritoes and peanut butter. I know what I am havin for dinner now!
Jennifer said…
I agree that defining old can be a tricky thing. My boyfriend is turning 30 in 2 weeks and he thinks he's over-the-hill. It seems that 30 is now a type of threshold for people on the slow or fast decline into oldness. There is even a country song about "My Next 30 Years." (Leave it to the country folk, I love 'em) My boyfriend has a great aunt that is still kicking over 90. She works her garden everyday, makes homemade bread on a wood stove, and cooks breakfast for the farmers. No tv and doritos for this woman. She's going to live 'til she dies. And I really mean live!
Jennifer Smith

Popular posts from this blog

Digital History: First Impressions

I've spent the last few days reading articles and essays about what digital history is, how it has evolved, and where it might take us in the future. I typically place what I consume as a student in the context of three things: Education - how does this content affect educators and students, and as a sideline item, what aspects of it might affect what I do as an academic advisor? Genealogy - are there ways that I can apply this thinking, or technology, to family history? History - as my academic discipline, how do I incorporate what I'm learning into my historical research; are there new directions and connections I am making? Each of the websites we reviewed -  the Center for History and New Media , Digital History: University of Houston , the Virginia Center for Digital History , and Digital History - University of Nebraska - all include some element of what it means to teach and learn about history in the digital age. These web projects include numerous resources for ...

While I enjoy my morning coffee, why not reminisce a little?

When I was small, my Grandma Sullivan would fix me coffee. I don't know if she offered it to me first, or I begged to have it. Probably the latter, since I saw it was something most people in my family enjoyed. It was coffee for a child - mostly milk and sugar, and a little coffee - enough to taste it. I loved it! Grandma would serve the coffee in a special mug. I remember it made of orange plastic, but I think it was really something like melamine. It was durable and made to serve hot and cold beverages, with a pedestal at the bottom. The mug had an alligator on it with the words, "Florida, the Sunshine State." That was my favorite mug, and I wish I knew what happened to it! Mental note - ask Grandma about this later. Little did I know then that Florida was where my husband was growing up, with the alligators and all that sunshine. As I got older, coffee continued to be a staple in our home, but I didn't begin drinking it regularly until roughly my eighth grade ye...

10 Things I Miss About Florida

Most of the time, I am happy to be out of Florida. It's hot, humid, and way too built up for me. However, I did spend the first seven years of my adult life there, and I do have a few things that I really miss. 10. TREES Seems like a silly thing to miss, but I love trees, and there are a few in Florida that you don't see in either of the other two places I've lived - NY and NC. The golden rain trees, which apparently, aren't even supposed to be planted in Florida - and all those tall pine trees. I just love how they sound with the wind blowing through them. 9. SUNSETS Florida sunsets are waaaaay more beautiful than anywhere else. 8. WJRR/RealRock101one 7. GATORS DOCKSIDE I love wings and this place makes 'em GOOD. Hot garlic and the teriyaki are both great. 6. Mt. Dora A cute, charming place in Lake County. Always reminded me of where I grew up in NY. Lots of antique shops, B&Bs...my favorite place to go and just walk around. 5. PUBLIX The best supermarket EVER...