Poll: what's the worst part of getting old?

Worst thing is probably losing the habit of enthusiasm or wonder. Look at the kids on the subway who are so excited to just be looking out the window, and are fully present.

Or age spots, those are pretty stupid too.

― Virginia Plain, Tuesday, May 10, 2011 11:43 AM Bookmark

This especially. Think about how intense childhood memories are because it's the first time that you experienced anything. I remember going to see movies at the old Breckenridge Theatre, and being dazzled just by the little lights going down into the dark on either side of the aisle. Now, I'd be all w/e, just lights leading the way to the fire exit.

I don't think there's much you can do to recapture any of that wonder. I recently saw a YouTube video taken from the International Space Station, and about halfway through it, realized, boy, I'd get really fucking bored of that shit after a week.

Those of you concerned about memory loss, what sort of memory do you have in mind? Like, where did I put my keys, or the loss of old cherished memories, or what? I guess I'm in denial because that's not really a concern of mine. I'm not much of a pictures/nostalgia guy though so that may be part of it.

I think the worst thing would be having a small moment of forgetfulness and thinking "is this the first step on the way to years of drooling screaming dementia?"

haha PP otm

i think i've been maxine since like fourth grade

My grandmother also, more often than not, thinks that my uncle -- her 69-year-old son -- is my late grandfather. As a result, she also can't understand why he lives in a different house with a different woman, and often refers to her as "that whore of your grandfather's."

lol maxine

My grandmother slightly lost her mind towards the end of her life, thinking Mexicans down the street were cutting her phone lines and electrocuting her cat through the floorboards. It really upset my dad to see it all slowly unfold.

But now, when he sends me screencaptures of "Lost" and asks in amazement if this really came from the Air France crash, I wonder to myself, when do I grab the reins away from this guy?

Hopefully, my kids will be out of grade school by the time they have to pull power of attorney on me.

I think the worst thing would be having a small moment of forgetfulness and thinking "is this the first step on the way to years of drooling screaming dementia?"

^^^this

my mom got rid of all her aluminum cookware because of ^^^that. That was 15-20 years ago. She is nowhere near drooling screaming dementia.

increased sense of perspective that leads to an understanding that everything valued throughout youth is merely a series of distractions from a short and insignificant existence

I do sort of like the increasing disinterest in owning physical objects.

No "Not being able to take care of oneself," no credibility.

The real worst part of getting old: Getting old alone.

― Back up the lesbian canoe (Laurel), dinsdag 10 mei 2011 17:44 (56 seconds ago) Bookmark

Among my many reasons for trying to save as much money as I can for retirement: In my dotage I hope to marry some old indie rocker who spent his prime earning years garnering more rave reviews than dollars, and regards my assets as outclassing other women's beauty and charm.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XdhjVARVFqI/SpN1MDEpDNI/AAAAAAAAACI/DO2rg-Hjync/S240/harold-and-maude.jpg

I dunno I'm 31 next month and people still usually think I'm 19-23. Just not aging much! Out of all the stuff on that list I'd think hemorrhoids would be the most annoying so I voted that.

Hemorrhoids aren't so bad because, hey, at least it's not colorectal cancer.

I voted eyesight, as i'm hoping photography will keep me sane when i retire.

I'm not thinking about the rest of it yet.

I keep seeing this thread title and singing:

The worst part of getting old

Is dentures in your cup

I do sort of like the increasing disinterest in owning physical objects.

Hahahahaha as if. Grandma is OBSESSED with knowing where all her shit is at all times. Of late, she's convinced that someone is trying to steal her milk glass collection. She told my aunt that a girl broke into the house the other day to take some and she had to rip it out of her hands.

This especially. Think about how intense childhood memories are because it's the first time that you experienced anything. I remember going to see movies at the old Breckenridge Theatre, and being dazzled just by the little lights going down into the dark on either side of the aisle. Now, I'd be all w/e, just lights leading the way to the fire exit.

I don't think there's much you can do to recapture any of that wonder. I recently saw a YouTube video taken from the International Space Station, and about halfway through it, realized, boy, I'd get really fucking bored of that shit after a week.

OTM

I feel like there are a lot of people attempting to do this online with pictures and posts about the beauty and wonderment to be found in the little things (like on blogs/tumblr etc.). Of course it's true that there is and I try to appreciate these things as much as possible but sometimes when adults try too hard at this I find it obnoxiously cutsey and phoney because no matter how great and beautiful they are most leaves (or whatever) are still just leaves that you've seen thousands of times before. IDK. That probably doesn't make much sense.

I feel like there are a lot of people attempting to do this online with pictures and posts - by "this" I meant attempting to recapture that wonder.

That wonder is the best thing about hanging out with little kids imo.

Wonder is a thing that it's better if u talk about it less, imo.

I feel like there are a lot of people attempting to do this online with pictures and posts - by "this" I meant attempting to recapture that wonder.

You know who does this? OLD PEOPLE.

voted for "deteriorating hearing" - it was between that & "Longer times to recover from injury or exercise," which I experienced hardcore when I took a knee at Deathfest a few years back and the bruise didn't go away for a fuckin month and a half & still experience when exercising, etc- but honestly I do not hang w/the "aging sucks" crowd. I'm smarter than I used to be; the tools I needed to accomplish what I want to accomplish aesthetically (breadth of knowledge, insight, technical skills) I now have; I have a clearer understanding of the things I value and greater empathy/understanding regarding the values of others; I'm less likely to fly off the handle IRL (I am still an asshole on political threads). I value the things I value with a full sense of what they're worth to me, a 360-degree sense of how and why they mean what they mean to me. That feels tremendous. I do wish my ears weren't showing signs of wear, and it's painful to learn that my body's ability to absorb punishment must be respected, and I wish I could pull all-nighters with nothing but adrenaline & hormones. But the world becomes more wonderful for me, not less, every day. Having been around longer, I've had longer to count up more of the wonderful things: I can name them, describe them. I survived all those years when I hoped to die young and had to pose like I knew stuff; now I know stuff and wouldn't waste a minute worrying about whether it's apt to die and this age or that. Growing older is a sign that in the lifelong battle between dumber me & smarter me, smarter me can claim at least this one victory.

x-post - lol, yes

x-post

Well, there are ways to recapture some of that openness, such as yoga or meditation, but it's a lot of work just to try to get back to a sort of "natural" state, whereas, yea, just hanging out with kids is a good way to experience it vicariously.

aero OTM

voted for the wide-ranging "Reduced energy levels"

I don't think the lack of wonder is because we're adults. Most of us grew up in a generation where you were encouraged to learn/become familiar with everything as quickly as possible to not appear stupid because that's really the worst thing that could happen. This will get you well jaded long before adulthood IMO. My mom didn't grow up like that and she is still fascinated and delighted by new people and places. She: 'Everybody has a story to tell!' Me: 'Ugh. TMI!' She: 'Look at the magnificence of that view!' Me: 'I'm pretty sure I could improve it in Photoshop.' etc

xposts ahoy

also my greatest fear - too much time to reflect and contemplate. fuck that! I set my life up very carefully so my brain will never be unoccupied for long enough to contemplate or reflect on anything.

The real worst part of getting old: Getting old alone.

― Back up the lesbian canoe (Laurel), dinsdag 10 mei 2011 17:44 (56 seconds ago) Bookmark

And this: don't you think that everyone gets old alone, whether you do it alone alone, or next to someone else?

Well, "getting old alone" is just shorthand. My sadness is rly about not having someone else who is a co-repository for memories of younger days. Friends and family, yeah, but not for the more intimate stuff, plus friends and family all have their OWN lives and you can't take them everywhere you go over the years like you basically do to your spouse/partner, to remind you who you are in all kinds of environments where you don't have normal reference points.

Hmm, can't you be your own repository? Isn't the alternative staying with someone while growing apart?

saddest ilx thread ever?

Like more and more years of my life are happening w no one to witness them except me, and I am an unreliable narrator, I guess, and not enough for myself to feel anchored to anything. I fear spending my whole life this way! It will be like I never existed anywhere except in my own thoughts!

Who needs to be a repository?

voted for 'Deteriorating hearing' -- i feel like i could at least theoretically deal with a lot of the other things fine if i'm still able to sit around and listen to music as much as i want, without that a lot of life would be less tolerable

hmm, maybe if i get alzheimer's, hipsters will pay me a lot of money to be a demented old folk artist. i can design sufjan stevens album covers.

over the last 5/10 years i have experienced most of these in varying degrees except dental problems, reduced libido and hair loss. I've thinned on top but there's so little grey I can't complain. The libido thing is a problem cause women my age can lose interest in sex before men (an MD told me that).

anyway voting: awareness of mortality

my nails haven't thickened or turned yellow, either. thank god

what, no complimentary BEST part of getting old poll?

"outliving your enemies"

"pants up to HERE"

"able to get away with saying just about anything you want in public"

"senior discounts"

"yelling 'get off my lawn' at young whippersnappers'

"getting drunk after one beer"

"sex without birth control"

"grandchildren"

Whre is the "all of the above" options :(

Laurel, I will be your Boswell.