I'm suddenly feeling old!!

For those annoyed with a nurse asking them to ie pop onto their side as she prepares to clean their backside, ask yourself, which role would you chose in that scenario? And that is only one situation she has to deal with on a day on the ward.

My younger brother always let's me know I will always be older than him. This week he emailed me this:
Being over 50 has it's advantages
Kidnappers are not very interested in you.
In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
People call at 9pm and say, "did I wake you?"
People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
There's nothing left to learn the hard way.
Things you buy now won't wear out.
You can live without sex (but not without glasses).
You enjoy hearing about other people's operations.
You have a party and the neighbours don't even realise it.
You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks in the room.
You sing along with elevator music.
Your investment in health insurance is beginning to pay off.
Your joints are more reliable meteorologists than the weather bureau.
Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.
Your supply of brain cells is down to a manageable size.
You can't remember who sent you this.

Very apt!

I wholeheartedly agree with Nonnie, I am happy to accept va seat on a bus etc, and equally would offer my seat to someone who I felt needed it more than me.

'va seat'? Oops......

No, not everybody does decline or accept politely. I have witnessed several incidences of blatant rudeness from older folks.

wanders off wondering if I'm allowed to mention this without having my head bitten off???

Faye Things you buy now won't wear out.

My friend's mother always used to say when she had something new:

'This will see me out'

The trouble is, I'm actually beginning to think a bit that way myself...

I have learnt a lesson in that regard.
Friends I know are a couple in their early eighties. About 18 months ago, they were wondering whether it was worth the bother of updating their well worn kitchen. And appeared to have decided the answer is no.
But they are still healthy and functioning.
I have decided, that if I get to their age, that the answer is yes, update.

The rest of Faye's list. Yes!

When we updated our kitchen about three years ago, the salesman said, "it'll see you out"! It hasn't. The paint is cracking.

soontobe my old-fashioned but very good kitchen needs updating - but it could see me out. What to do?

You say yours is very good. Some people just change the doors apparently. But update.

Cheeky salesman you had there, jingl!

Been reading some of the comments about not feeling old at 60 or whatever. How do people do that? I just feel the age I am. I always have so it's no different now from how it was when I was nine or twenty-nine instead of fifty-nine.

Clearly, I'm less old than lots of other people but I feel my age because I've experienced all those years. If someone wants to think I'm old as in "an old person", it doesn't bother me because I know how old I am and what my body and mind and spirit can do/think/feel and what someone else thinks simply doesn't matter. It never has mattered and, so far as I can tell, it never will.

I do not feel any other age inside than I simply am. I don't think I'd actually want to feel, say, nineteen. I had a lot of naivety and unsureness of myself back then which I'm glad to be rid of. I find the idea of feeling how I felt ten, twenty, thirty, forty years ago quite unpleasant. I'm the age I am and I feel the age I am and that's all there is to it.

Just thought I'd try and describe it because I don't get it when people of my age say they feel a different age inside. I do not mind that I lack this skill and, given the apparent distress such feelings cause, I'm really rather glad.

Any time anyone wants to offer me a seat or assistance with heavy luggage, please feel free

Me too, with help.
I always accept whatever help I am offered. With anything.

I completely agree, bags! I am what I am now, though a little vanity does creep in sometimes, and having had to use a walking stick (bright pink, though) for about six months, it has been interesting to note people's reaction, which has been concerned and helpful.

Me too. I gratefully accept every bit of help. But - hangs head in shame - I don't like my saggy jawline which I don't see in the mirror but do see in photos. Shouldn't be concerned at my age.

That's what I meant, MiceElf!

Well, I seem to have opened a bit of a can of worms with this particular topic. I am, however, somewhat surprised and disappointed that the assumption seems to be my refusal is ungracious and/or ill mannered when no-one actually knows me. I can assure you that my manners are impeccable and any refusal of help is done with a smile and 'thanks for the offer but I'm fine/doing ok....thanks for asking" I'm not some grumpy old sod that snarls at people and puts them off asking anyone ever again. And yes, I do feel old, my body tells me, my children and grandchildren getting older tells me, being a village worthy tells me, but you know what? I don't have to like it. I'm not going to arrive at the end having not 'fought the good fight', I'm going "...... to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”
― Hunter S. Thompson

I'm another one in agreement with you b.

Accepting the 'I am' works in other areas of one's life as well. I find it clarifying.

kate I read your OP as being lighthearted ... ageist bastards who patronise us

One can do that skidding sideways thing without minding if someone offers one a seat or some other kind of assistance. It's because you seemed to mind that the offer of help was made, that you seemed to mind that someone else might think you in need of assistance, that I have spoken the way I have.

I don't 'get' the minding or why offers of assistance would make any difference to how one felt about oneself.

Good for you, Katek! I was surprised at the assumption that all those who expressed reservations about offers of help are rude and aggressive when they decline those offers.

Nothing could be further from the truth in my own case, either. Some of us mentioned how uncomfortable certain scenarios make us feel, that's all.