Getting old sucks.

[Capn Flukie]

First off, I'm ok. Not starting this thread because anything particularly bad is happening, just reflecting. That said...

Getting old sucks. Of course it beats the alternative, but still...

In a couple weeks I'll be 49, just one year away from half a century. Arggh.

I know some are you are thinking, "49 is still kinda young." No, it is not, compared to someone 100 years old maybe, but no.

I'm the last of all six of my siblings. My sister Rebecca died at 31, my sister Deborah at 47, my brother Stanley at 53, my brother Charlie at 61, and my sister Rose at 63. My parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, all looong gone. Time has orphaned me, I'm just the weird old uncle to a scattering of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews. Jeebus! I've lost some of them too, along with a few friends.

My eyesight is getting worse, though it was never good to start with. I'm more susceptible to cold now. I used to be able to hike 20 miles just for fun, now the 10 minute walk to work seems like forever. Women that I would normally like and be attracted to I have to avoid, so I don't come across as some old perv, which is tough since I work at a college filled with them. I find myself getting more clumsier, and making more and more spelling and grammar mistakes (bless you edit button). The gray is really starting to show now. My sense of humor is wearing thin as well, which sucks because many believe that is my best quality.

It sounds like I'm depressed, but I'm not. I could've died many, many times from things happening in my life, but I didn't. I just think in order to move on in my life I have to acknowledge these things right now. My family is gone, but I'm alive, so I have to experience life as it comes, because they can't. I try to appreciate being able to see the sun and sky, watch my favorite show, listen to music I like, eat foods I love, laugh with people I care about, because they can't, and someday neither will I.

Getting old sucks, but death sucks harder.

Thanks for reading all this if you did.

Now, page 2...

 

[Goji]

I could try to relate, but it would be hollow considering my age. But I've known you for a few years on the board now and enjoyed a lot of it, so I wanted to show my support. At least you seem to have a healthy attitude about it. I hope you have many years ahead of you, and that they are as enjoyable as any experienced until now.

 

[Capn Flukie]

Thanks Mr. Goji.

Geez, I think I pretty much watched you grow up on this board, now I feel even older.

Relatedly, my friend Larry has a son, we used to go hiking a lot. He would often bring his son Jeremy along, but he was really little, so he rode on his dad's shoulders most of the time. I ran into Jeremy a year or two ago, and he's got a wife and two kids and a ZZTop beard. Dude, you were just four years old just a while back!

 

[Unicron]

Aging's all in the mind, Flukie. (And it's the first thing to go... )

 

[AstroSmurf]

Relatedly, my friend Larry has a son, we used to go hiking a lot. He would often bring his son Jeremy along, but he was really little, so he rode on his dad's shoulders most of the time. I ran into Jeremy a year or two ago, and he's got a wife and two kids and a ZZTop beard. Dude, you were just four years old just a while back!

My oldest nephew will be twelve this summer and is almost as tall as I am. He is so smart, articulate and funny. But it seems like yesterday I was holding him, feeding and changing diapers. I don't know where the time went.

Last week, I also realized that my both my parents were my age when I was twelve. I remember them very very clearly at that age. Now here I am catching up with my memory. And my grey is really starting to show too. If it wasn't for coloring it, you would see the two twin stripes running from the front, across the top and to my crown in the back. (I look like a bloody skunk.) My hands and knees are getting stiffer by the day too. But ten years ago I was jumping off roofs, getting drunk and dancing for six hours straight in clubs. Memories of a functioning youthful body is still fresh in my mind so things tend to look a lot more extreme than they actually are. I am quite well for a man of 35... except for the knees which are missing cartilage and working on borrowed time. I have nothing really to complain about. But the clock is ticking and I plan to make the most of it while I can.

 

[Hoser]

Aging's all in the mind, Flukie. (And it's the first thing to go... )

Actually, it's the second thing. No one remembers the first.

 

[Capn Flukie]

^ (to AstroSmurf) I'm getting the 'Reed Richards' look.

Aging's all in the mind, Flukie. (And it's the first thing to go... )

Well, I lost that a long time ago... so no worries there.

 

[AstroSmurf]

^ Lucky. At least you don't look like Pepe LePew.

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

Getting old sucks, but death sucks harder.

So true. Like AstroSmurf, I'm also 35. I wonder where my life went. I remember seeing lots of bands in my 20's. Now? I'm just lazy (and can't afford it). Thankfully the back problem I had a few years ago is gone. Death is something I try not to think about. Plus ending it is something I haven't thought in a few years. So that is good.

Now my life is messing around on the net, watching TV (and loads of DVDs). I have very little of a social life. Have no real friends here in Newcastle (besides some flatmates - but they don't count). Also have some friends on FB from high school, but don't really see much of them.

I don't really communicate with my family that much lately. I feel like I'm the black sheep of the family. Or could do what my flatmates does gets drunk and trys to forget about his problem. But I'm trying to improve my life. Getting a job will help.

Thanks for reading all this if you did.

No problem Flukie. A man-hug or an alcoholic drink? *Passes a drink to Flukie*

 

[Capn Flukie]

Cheers Elim!

 

[scotpens]

I suppose I'm fortunate in some ways. My parents were young (in their early 20s) when my brother and I were born. My mom and dad (79 and 80 years old, respectively) are still here and, God willing, will be around a bit longer. I don't miss having the athletic ability I had when I was younger, because I was never very athletic to begin with. I have one bad ear, but my eyesight is as sharp as it's ever been (except that I need reading glasses for close-up viewing, and that happens to everyone). I have high blood pressure and mild type 2 diabetes, but those conditions are under control with medication.

The only thing that really bothers me about getting older is that it keeps getting easier to put on weight and harder to take it off. When you're 19 or 20, you can eat and eat and not gain an ounce. It's like having two assholes and the metabolism of a shrew.

As for women, frankly I prefer a more mature female to some airheaded young thing who's never used a typewriter and can't remember a time when cars didn't have seat belts -- but they had plenty of ashtrays.

And you say you're starting to feel old at 49? Shit, dude, I'm six years older than you and I feel . . . well, not like a teenager, maybe, but hardly like I have one foot in the grave!

PARTY ON, GARTH!

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Go ahead and be the "old perv", you gotta have some fun.

 

[Jetfire]

Today I am 32...and yes getting old sucks. I have nothing to show for my 32 years on this earth and no one cares I am alive.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

You're back!

Happy birthday, Jetfire.

 

[Jetfire]

^

I still don't have the energy to post as much as I want to...

Thanks!

 

[Bloodwhiner]

Dude, I'm only a year behind you - turning 48 in a few weeks.

Yeah some things suck and some parts don't work as well anymore. I'm in bifocals, two times a night now means trips to the bathroom each night, Pizza = heartburn, hangovers are NOT an option (especially since they make 2x a night into 4x).

But grab ahold and get in shape.. push that walk until your not winded, exercise, join a martial arts class to get both a workout and some balance. Take care of yourself and you may be surprised that not all girls will think your a perv.

Just because all your family died young doesn't mean you will (okay, allowed it is a warning sign). But enjoy everyday since you won't ever get to repeat any. Figure out some goals and then work to make them come true. Get active with friends, both longtime and new ones.

Or sit back, scoff and complain - I guarantee that will make your prophecy self-fulfilling, at least until you die young and no one cares.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I refuse to grow old. I refuse to die. I shake my fist at entropy.

Of course, I'm a full five weeks younger than Old Man Flukie, so I can afford to be cavalier.

Folks, it's all about attitude. As long as the sunrises are beautiful and the honeysuckle smells good, there's no reason to despair.

Today I am 32...and yes getting old sucks. I have nothing to show for my 32 years on this earth and no one cares I am alive.

Not true! It's good to see you. And Happy Birthday.

 

[Deks]

Dude, I'm only a year behind you - turning 48 in a few weeks.

Yeah some things suck and some parts don't work as well anymore. I'm in bifocals, two times a night now means trips to the bathroom each night, Pizza = heartburn, hangovers are NOT an option (especially since they make 2x a night into 4x).

But grab ahold and get in shape.. push that walk until your not winded, exercise, join a martial arts class to get both a workout and some balance. Take care of yourself and you may be surprised that not all girls will think your a perv.

Just because all your family died young doesn't mean you will (okay, allowed it is a warning sign). But enjoy everyday since you won't ever get to repeat any. Figure out some goals and then work to make them come true. Get active with friends, both longtime and new ones.

Or sit back, scoff and complain - I guarantee that will make your prophecy self-fulfilling, at least until you die young and no one cares.

Seconded.

I will agree with the premise that family might be an indication on your general health, or perhaps even when you might die ... however, it's also not all part of genetics.
Individuals have a tendency 'breaking the mould' if they set their cerebral cortex to it (and you'd be surprised what one can accomplish).

Ageing will certainly bring with it some medical difficulties ... but a lot of those can be avoided, if not delayed with some physical activity (that translates into good exercise that has an impact on your body) and a different outlook on things.

Bottom line is, it's up to you how you decide to live your life.
You can certainly mope around things as 'Bloodwhiner' mentioned - which could most definitely result in what happened to your family ... or, you can try doing something about it and see if you can hit (or maybe surpass) that 100 mark (if you want to).

 

[KimMH]

I'm kind of in the middle here - 43. We have a 21yr old son who is a great joy to us and an 11 yr old who is severely disabled. We have a mortgage, car payments, and typical bills, but we have each other and pretty good jobs and a dog and a cat and extended noisy families. Our lives are very banal and ordinary but we are too busy to be sad about our lives or lack of distinguishing moments or accomplishments. My husband teaches and I volunteer at our church a couple times a month.

I firmly believe once you start focusing on helping other people your own problems seem less burdensome. When you no longer focus on finding your own happiness and try to make it for others; God, Karma, the Universe rewards you with some of your own.

The physical aspects are hard to deal with - I can't run as long or fast as I used to and I will have to start using a Hoya lift/sling to lift my child about - he weighs half as much as me and this gets harder and harder. Core training and yoga are helping to combat those issues.

The biggest issue sounds like being alone. It would be hypocritical of me to say you should not feel lonely - I had three brothers growing up, married young and did a lot of putting up and shutting up to stay married and keep things together in thick and some very thin times. I've always been surrounded by a swirl of people but the ones who mean the most to me are the ones who have depended on me for love and daily care. I wish you luck in finding someone who needs you and who you may find you also need.

 

[Finn]

I'm 30 and working toward my second BA degree. Most of my classmates were in grade school the first time I started college. Many of my old friends from high school and the first time in college have families of their own. I know my first kid may be just a few years away from existence but it seems so far off at this point, while I'm busy with heavy course load, being with my fiancee and all.


Not to mention the school I attended for 12 years, where I grew up with a lot if kids, knew many of the same faculty and staff over the years...It has been 12 years since I left....enough time for a kid to enter first grade AFTER I left, and start college this coming fall.