I’m in my late 30’s and still feel weird that I’m the same age as all these parents, teachers, lawyers, doctors, and other successful happy people that have adulted way better than me.
I had an aunt who survived the holocaust as the only one in her direct family. She was interviewed on TV when she turned 100 and asked if she had spent a lot of time grieving and mourning. She said literally: "it was only when I turned 80 that I found myself sufficiently mature and grown-up to look back and mourn what I lost".
When we used to visit her (she only passed away a few years ago at almost 106!!) I asked her once how it felt to be so old and she gave it some thought, a pause, and then answered: "I don't really know. I've never been so old before".
Physically she declined in her last few years but she tracked politics on TV, was an registered and active member of the social-democrats read 3 newspapers until the end and read almost any new book within a few months of it being released (and we had better keep up because we were quizzed on new literature).
She was one hell of a lady, my hero forever and her wisdoms still resonate around the house on a daily basis. She may not be alive in the flesh, but she is with us all the time making us smile in memory of a life that knew so much hardship but yet succeeded in bringing joy and smiles to all who knew her.
lastraordinaria on August 22nd, 2020 at 20:50 UTC »
My grandfather is 85 and he still refuses to go to the town senior center. "There are old people there!"
nightmaresabin on August 22nd, 2020 at 20:52 UTC »
I’m in my late 30’s and still feel weird that I’m the same age as all these parents, teachers, lawyers, doctors, and other successful happy people that have adulted way better than me.
newmikey on August 22nd, 2020 at 23:05 UTC »
I had an aunt who survived the holocaust as the only one in her direct family. She was interviewed on TV when she turned 100 and asked if she had spent a lot of time grieving and mourning. She said literally: "it was only when I turned 80 that I found myself sufficiently mature and grown-up to look back and mourn what I lost".
When we used to visit her (she only passed away a few years ago at almost 106!!) I asked her once how it felt to be so old and she gave it some thought, a pause, and then answered: "I don't really know. I've never been so old before".
Physically she declined in her last few years but she tracked politics on TV, was an registered and active member of the social-democrats read 3 newspapers until the end and read almost any new book within a few months of it being released (and we had better keep up because we were quizzed on new literature).
She was one hell of a lady, my hero forever and her wisdoms still resonate around the house on a daily basis. She may not be alive in the flesh, but she is with us all the time making us smile in memory of a life that knew so much hardship but yet succeeded in bringing joy and smiles to all who knew her.