getting older not what you think

Went for my flu jab today. The pharmacist asked if I was eligible for a free jab as I needed to be over 65. I was very pleased as I am 71 ? Don't tell me he needed his eyes testing.

Nanarose, I understand your point that sometimes it is a polite enquiry about someone's capacity to do things, and also that these things have to be investigated but I think the thread is really about how we feel when we are asked these things! It can come as a bit of a surprise when we realise how we appear to others .

Some years ago my mother opened the door to find several small children with their teacher who presented her with a home made harvest festival hamper. She graciously accepted it with thanks then phoned me as her DGDs both attended the said school.
On questioning my DDs, it transpired DD aged 7 had nominated them after an appeal to help the "Elderly, poor and needy of the parish".
Mum and Dad were both in their mid fifties, in excellent health and certainly not poor.

DH and me are 71 and 68 respectively. We still go out and and enjoy ourselves regularly. We are not ready for cocoa and slippeers yet. A few months ago we had a taxi back from a night out and the driver said 'shouldn't you be tucked up in bed at this time at your age?' It was 9.30. what a cheek.

It is sometimes, of course, the tone of voice, but I have no problem in being asked if I can manage stairs, or abnormal clasp, or anything similar.
I see that as a neutral, helpful question. More polite than directing someone who might have difficulties via stairs, or automatically fitting a fiddly clasp.
I worked in a field where it was normal for me to check if people could read, could see signs, and so on, so I see such questions as helpful, not as making assumptions.
Regarding looking online, the proper question would have been something like ' are you OK to look this up online? '

Just on the very odd occasion it would be nice if they rembered that I am just a wee bit older now & may be just ever so slightly not as on the ball as I was, but that's because I am always on the go, distributing myself between elderly parents , grandchildren, other family members, etc etc,we will get the sympathy we all deserve when they become us, hopefully I will still be around to remind them!!

My H was asked once, during a cold call, if he had trouble climbing the stairs - he replied that he usually ran up two at a time!! I would like to see it happen though!!

I have always been such a coper and dealt with everything, that now I am 80 my family still treat me as though I can and will.
I would love a bit of TLC but it's not happening

My daughter came with me to the opticians to help me chose new glasses because I wanted a change of look. The optician talked to her and not me: "You see, mum's eyes are getting a little bit long-sighted now so she'll need stronger glasses.........."
I'm afraid we got the giggles.

I had to take DH to hospital and it was obvious that I wasn't going to get away till the early hours. I had to field a whole lot of texts from DD and DS who were trying to work out ways of getting me home without me having to drive. I managed to fend them off and had a lovely drive home at 2.30am. Empty roads, no hold ups brilliant!

We wake up about 5.30 so it's no surprise we go to bed early!

I was talking to someone about a necklace I wanted to have rethreaded with a new clasp put on. She asked if I could still manage a normal sort of clasp. I was polite.

I went to London last week and was in a large department store and asked an assistant where I could get some tights. She directed me and then said ‘can you manage the stairs’ ? I thought I was looking rather chipper and walking well, obviously not . I thought of some very rude words in reply but just stopped myself in time.

I've never been a party animal (a bit Aspergery) and I'm so extremely a lark that I get up ridiculously early. I rarely go out in the evening and go to bed early but I've done several hours work before any of my family gets up.
It's funny that we are all fit enough to look after our grandchildren all day but too feeble for days out and always at risk of broken hips and subsequent death every time we step off a kerb.

A few years ago, in M&S I was looking for a dressing gown for DGS but the kind he wanted wasn't in stock. An assistant asked me if I had someone who could find it on the net for me. I may say that I gave her short shrift for equating white hair with computer illiteracy.

I was asked in a shop if I had a DS or DD who could help me search their online shop for the product I wanted

I like the way shops etc often ask "Do you have the internet, at all?" as in, "I can see you're a bit old, so I'll be tactful here."

Some people are owls and some are larks. I've always been an owl so - party on!

I've recently been on a weeks holiday abroad, and was out until about midnight most evenings. Won't say my age but I reached the biblical life span last year.
yet at home I often go to bed about 10 30.

I have to say that I am not good at staying up late these days. When we went to Oxford earlier this year with DS and DiL, there were a couple of nights when we were not only out beyond the witching hour, but ate late and that really did knock me off my perch. Part pooper, me!

FarNorth at least she sounds considerate they are cheeky beggars aren't they!

fair enough kitty. Maybe I should tell my daughter I want to go clubbing, just to see the look on her face . As it is, it will be a nice evening in the local pub. And I shall stay awake throughout!

My DD thinks it's highly amusing that I can claim senior citizen concession rate, on a lot of things.
She makes sure to ask if my frail, old legs are holding out, if I'd like a nice sit down, if I can see the other side of the road before we cross etc.

As long as I can be back for 9 pm for cocoa and putting my
Tartan furry slippers on, then that’s ok! ?

That makes more sense Kitty ?