The Ages of Man

35 Replies

It was my birthday recently. Last year I moved from being “late 50s” to “nearly 60” and this year I entered my 60th year. At least, that was what I thought, but it seems to be worse than that. According to a newspaper article I just read they can call you elderly when you are 64.

Elderly is, according to the dictionary, a polite word for old.

I’m only just beginning to accept being middle-aged, so can’t help thinking that “elderly” is pushing it a bit. I just looked up “middle age” and found it is defined as the period between the end of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance. Clearly I need to concentrate more. The difference between “age” and “ages” is quite significant. I’ve also just noted there are two ways to spell ageing, (or aging). I didn’t know that, I just thought one was wrong.

Middle age, it appears, lasts from 45 to 65, so I appear to have squandered my middle years without noticing them. An article on the internet suggests that you are only middle-aged when you hit certain milestones rather than an age. They suggest 53 – 55, which still makes me middle-aged. As I hit most of the milestones I’m irretrievably middle-aged, regardless of the number of years I have lived.

I’m not going to admit to anything specific, but examination of previous posts will reveal that I have thinning hair, creaky joints, hirsute orifices, membership of the National Trust, inappropriate sleep habits and a deep distrust of technology, modern music and young people. I do not, however, own travel sweets, a sports car or bed socks.

Though my feet have been feeling cold in bed recently…

Meanwhile, I’ve had a letter from the hospital and learned a new word. The word is cystolitholapaxy. I just looked it up.

Sometimes you are better not knowing…

35 thoughts on “The Ages of Man”

    1. quercuscommunity

      Yes, I’d agree with that.

      I’ve reached the age where bladders take up a great deal of my thinking time, and the snapping of rubber gloves behind my back makes me flinch.

      Reply ↓
      1. Forward thinking dad

        I hear you. It’s getting close to the time for me to decide which flavor packet I want to put in the empty gallon of milk container before the docs run a hose with a camera through me.

    1. quercuscommunity

      They are two of the indicators used in the article, along with the youth of policemen, the inability to use modern technology and total ignorance of the contents of the music charts.

      Reply ↓
  5. Clare Pooley

    I am approaching 59 and often feel old and tired but I’d rather not be classed as elderly just yet! I wouldn’t be without my bedsocks though! Best of luck with the impending surgery 🙂

    Reply ↓
  7. Laurie Graves

    Happy birthday to you! I’ll be 60 this year, too. Edging to elderly. I’m blessed with friends and acquaintances who have charged into their elderly years with zest and creativity. Not that there aren’t aches and pains and, ahem, procedures to deal with. Oh, there are. And we have to go to bed earlier and don’t get as much done during the day. But still so much to learn and read and discover!

    Reply ↓
      1. Laurie Graves

        You’ve had quite the time, but the day will come when you are back to your old self.

Leave a Reply