“Youthfulness is about how you live not when you were born.”
I should have done something illegal so I could count all these days inside as house arrest. This morning I gave the day a chance but it failed. I opened doors and windows but the house got warm far too quickly; however, the paper’s weather prediction does offer some hope: a late-night thunderstorm and another one tomorrow. Thursday and Friday will drop to the 70’s during the day and the mid 60’s at night. I can hardly wait. Today looks lovely from the window view. The sun is bright and there is a breeze. What you can’t see is the humidity hanging in the air.
I look at the obits, not all of them, just the headlines. Fame is relative so I don’t know most of the people highlighted who were well-known on the Cape. They all seem to have lasted a long time. 80+ is the average. The only obits I notice in the Globe are those of famous people. Cilla Black died yesterday. She was 72. My first thought was how young she was, a reaction which has to do with my age and thinking of myself as still young.
My generation sees age very differently than previous generations. One of my friends will be 70 this year. When my grandparents were 70, I thought them quite old. They looked old and dressed old. I couldn’t imagine being 70. I wondered how it felt and whether or not it was scary. I believed it was limiting as my grandparents hardly did anything. They stayed home mostly, and we went to them.
My mother cracked the mold. She never dressed 70, and she traveled. Our last trip together was to Italy. I wanted to be just like her.
In my head I am still quite young though word retrieval is a problem and hints to my being older. I don’t think of limitations though I’m stuck with a bad back which curtails my walking. I dress exactly as I have all of my life though far more casually every day than when I worked. I don’t stop to think sometimes when I carry stuff. I forget I’m not 25 or even 55. I used to haul 50 pounds of cat litter into the house. Now I find 20 pounds a burden which leave my back aching. I am a bit surprised at that being so young and all.
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
August 3, 2015 at 1:21 pm
Very nice weather here today and is anyone surprised? Of colurse not because I started to work after my vacation today 🙂 Tomorrow will be just as nice but Wednesday will be worse, heavy showers and thunderstorms they say.
I do wonder sometimes what happened and how I became that 51 year old man when I look in the mirror 🙂 I really shouldn’t be surpriused since my bodu aches everywhere 🙂 🙂 But like You I don’t dress much different than I did before. My grandfather (on my mothers side) looked old, already as young 🙂 so he’s easy to recognise in old photos.
The radiators are turned off again and I’ll have my bedroom window open again tonight, it’s best to enjoy this nice weather for as long as it hangs around.
Have a great day!
Christer.
August 3, 2015 at 5:30 pm
Christer,
Isn’t it always that way? It seems the weekends get hit as well. Mother Nature must get a chuckle from doing that. Speaking of Motjer Nature, she is going wild. California has wildfires eating up homes and acres of woods. Hail and tornados in the Chicago area. Thunderstorms electrifying the rest of the mid-west. Those storms are supposed to be making their way here. I’m a doubter.
I live my life comfortably. I figure after all the years of working I deserve it.
51? You’re still a baby!!
August 4, 2015 at 11:54 am
I watched the live time lightning map a few times today and it looked like You got a nasty thunderstorm at least close to You. Over 196 lightnings every minute when I looked!
August 4, 2015 at 1:03 pm
Christer,
I didn’t even notice the lightning. I went right back to sleep. I have to say, though, the thunder was quite loud.
August 3, 2015 at 4:37 pm
Hi Kat,
I’m right with you on this post. Who’s old? Me? Nah. I’m only old when it works to my advantage. And I’m not above playing that card at times. 🙂
It’s rather hot and sticky up here. The house was fairly comfortable until 2PM and then that wicked old sun blasted full in the west windows and all the coolth fled away. Even the dogs are limp. In about 3 hours it will be comfortable again when the sun gets low. I can probably hold out that long. Forget it. I’m turning on the AC.
Enjoy the day.
August 3, 2015 at 5:37 pm
Hi Caryn,
I’ll take the discount thank you very much and that seat if you’re courteous enough, but that’s about it.
They said on the 5 0’clock weather that the morning was nice but the humidity has rolled in as rain is coming. I gave the day a bit of a chance but the AC went right back on. I refuse to be uncomfortable.
Have a cool evening!
August 3, 2015 at 6:17 pm
Old age in my mind is always ten years older than I am now. 🙂 My grandparents also looked, dressed and acted very old when I was a kid. My paternal grand father died at 78 and the other three lived into their late 80s. They were immigrants from Eastern Europe who came here around 1905. I’m amazed that they lived long healthy lives before antibiotics, X-rays, vaccines or any modern medicine.
Today we hit 101 degrees again under cloudless skies. My sister in Tampa has had three straight weeks of rain. Here having AC becomes a health issue during the dog days of August.
August 3, 2015 at 6:42 pm
Bob,
My grandmother was 92 and one of my grandfathers was also in his 90’s. None of then saw doctors yet they survived. I think they were not so sensitive to germs and whatever else was hanging around. They didn’t live the hygienic lives we do now.
We have still had no rain though we may have some tonight and tomorrow-thunderstorms. I really hope so. Everything is so dry.
August 6, 2015 at 12:42 am
Ah, growing older… what an odd feeling . I feel 25 mentally, though my body is definitely a well-worn 68, Several of my golf-friends have crossed that 70 threshold. One buddy from Buffalo is 76, and he could still clean out a bar with one hand tied behind his back. Another is 73, and he’s on the go every day and most nights; he just re-married. My pal from Bennington is 81 and just got married (to a frisky 76-year old). The lady friend I’m dining with tomorrow is 72, and still hot as a pistol!!
I used to think 70 was so old. Not any more! Besides… 70 for golfers means… senior tees! Two more years!!
August 6, 2015 at 5:38 pm
Jay,
I know exactly what you mean. There is no way that old lady in the mirror is me. One of my friends will be 70 this fall. He is the first among us. I find it difficult to believe I have a friend who will be 70.
90 is old at least for now!