1) I will still be happy and my wife and kids will still love my company. 2) I will finally have time to watch all my favorite classic tv shows I have on my shelf for years now. 3) And listen to all my soundtracks I have collected over the years 4) I can hang out at McDonald's in the morning with other old people and read the paper and chat about those darn youngsters nowadays while not worrying about those calories in my biscuits. 5) Yes Adam, I can also enjoy those Little Debbie Nutty Bars. 6) And remembering this list.
...I can still hear well enough to listen to my FSM cd's.
... I'm sensible enough not to irritate those around me with long stories they don't necessarily want to hear.
... I'm interesting enough that those around me are actually interested in what I've got to say.
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Well I'm 71 (72 this year), is that considered old? My hearing seems fine (no tinnitus thank god) & I'm in reasonable health & financially secure. I'm still very much enjoying music, but not listening to so many soundtracks these days. I'm not worried about people finding me interesting. But I take nothing for granted, this could all change at any time.
A girl who looks like Penny from Big Bang Theory wants to give me lots of extremely energetic sex to try and send me to my grave and get my money.
Be very careful. The last time this happened to me it didn't end well. When we met up, it turned out that she was, in fact, my nan, earning some extra cash.
OK……let’s talk about this from the perspective of another era!
I had my 82nd Birthday in January. I suspect I may be one of the oldest people on Film Score Monthly. For many years my birth date was famous for being the birthday of Carl Sandburg, Loretta Young, and Joan of Arc, among others. Now my Birthday, January 6, has become quite infamous in US history. But at least, with all the publicity each year, I’ll be able to remember when my birthday occurs…..when I finally descend into old age.
In actual life-span years, I have now lived longer than my parents, both sets of grand-parents, all aunts and uncles, a brother, and ten of our thirteen cats over the decades. I’m always surprised when I think about that…..and I haven’t really prepared for living this long. The movies that I loved are long in the past, most of the performers I enjoyed---some of whom I worked with---are gone, the composers and other technical people whose work I always followed are gone. In the past few years many of my close personal friends have died, most at ages younger than I. That’s personally depressing and scary because you don’t want to be the last one standing.
I retired about 20 years ago after 40 years “in the business” and thought I would sit back and enjoy my final years. Unfortunately it didn’t quite work out that way. I feel like I am busy with something every single day. I am still on my feet and driving---with a perfect safety record---and most weeks I do errands to the banks, post office, grocery-drug-and D-I-Y stores, and doctor appointments. Around the house I do gardening, housekeeping, husband-and-kitty-tending, dishwashing and exterior maintenance.
Last year our house needed a little exterior “freshening-up” so I got up on the 20-foot extension ladder and primed and painted 3 sides of the house again---with a 5” brush, not a roller! (I never tell my doctor of my intent to do these maintenance kinds of things because then he screams at me, but as long as I feel I can do it, I will continue!)
I used to post on FSM on a daily basis, but haven’t for quite a few years now, although a number of posters have asked me to continue more frequently. The truth is that my days are generally so full I haven’t got the time anymore. I guess, in a way, that’s good.
Each day I wake up with a schedule in mind, get up and dressed, and prepare to launch into it. Some days I feel better than others, and have the usual old-age medical issues and aches and pains, but generally I feel pretty good and my doctor is happy with my health progression. (Many years ago I asked him what he thought the general age range of Middle-Age was. He replied, “You don’t have to worry about that, you’re way past it!”) I thought that was a pretty nasty response!
I hope that describing this true-life adventure isn’t too depressing for you all. At 82, I really have a good life and hope for more years and I wish the same for all of you. We never know when it will end, so I guess it’s important to make the most of it, in the most positive way, and the best way we can.
I am always reminded of the story told about grand old character actor, Edmund Gwenn (Miracle on 34th Street). In his last years he was ill, and eventually on his death bed, and one of his long-time friends visited Gwenn at bedside and sensing his pain, said to him, “Dying IS hard, isn’t it?” Gwenn’s sprightly response, even from bed, was, “Oh, no! Dying is easy! COMEDY is hard!”
A really great post. manderley. I'm 72 this year, but I feel like a young punk after reading your post. I remember in the fifties & sixties, that people my age (& more so yours) seemed really ancient, & all of them were ill in some way (& just plain worn out after a lifetime of physically hard work), no wonder Pete Townsend wrote the lyric; Hope I die before I get old. Happily things have changed since those dark ages. I'm lucky, I still have most of my marbles & I'm healthy & reasonably fit & still still take an interest in the world, & in six months time will be older than my dad was when he died (if I make it).
Thinking of the best year to be born last century (in the UK anyway). I was born in 1950, which is pretty good, but I think 1945 nails it, 15 years old at the start on the sixties is about right.
manderley and Rameau, thanks for the awesome posts!
I turned 67 last week and I'm still doing quite well. It's unbelievable to me how many of my school chums have already passed away. Seems my generation wasn't that good at staying in good health - many of them "enjoyed" drugs and alcohol to excess. I'm not bragging, really, but most folks are surprised when they learn my age - perhaps they're being polite, really. I'm still in decent shape, 6ft tall, 165 lbs. I've gained ~10 lbs since the start of this year and I'm the heaviest I've ever been. I think my metabolism is slowing some. I've stayed active over the years - martial arts and stuff so I think that's helped a lot. My knees do ache some nowadays, I guess from kicking and all. I don't do much kicking now, but I still love to work the punching bag and practice footwork, etc. Last weekend I was replacing ~50ft of fascia and I lost count of how many trips I made going up and down the ladder. My step counter showed >12,000 steps, and that was almost all ladder climbing and descending as it took me all day. The ol' knees were really sore after that. This weekend, I'm up on the roof of the second floor, replacing trim on the dormer windows. I think it's like they say, better to wear out than to rust out. I'm thankful for the good health I have and I'm still havin' a good time!
Well, I'm going to be 75 very soon. my health has been so, so. still like making silly videos. Space x is doing rocket engine test down the road. the whole house is shaking. I hope it's a test. If not "I'm going to die in an earthquake." I'm still here. That is all over and out.
At least I can say that I've outlived Judy Garland and Whitney Houston.
Yup, I see that I've just outlived John Wayne & Richard Harris & (just about) Leonard Bernstein. Of course it's not the years, it's the state you're in; & down to just dumb luck I still seem to be doing pretty well. Gotta stay active & keep your sense of humour.