01 February 2007

Growing Older (read mature) Disgracefully


I was surprised at the interest shown in my last post on the kids going back to school. After I had written it I thought, how boring...me going on about the grandchildren. But I couldn't think of anything else to post about and anyway, it sort of wrote itself, I just hit the keyboard. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.


Anyway, thank you all for your comments which I found most interesting to read, especially the ones from those of you in the Northern Hemisphere. We cannot imagine our kids starting the school year in the middle of the year. It's differences like these that make us interesting to each other.

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Cooper came to visit today and his mum and I were talking about how fast he is growing. Then I suddenly realised she had made me a grandmother at the age she is now...41. Twenty years later I have another grandchild after I was thinking that the next baby along will be my great-grandchild.

After Toni had gone home, I was thinking about this getting older phenomenon and remembered a short story competition I won a couple of years ago. It was the year I turned 60 which made me, in the eyes of the Government, a "senior". I saw this competition for a short story on "Growing Old Gracefully", in 250 words or less, for seniors only and realised that I was now eligible to enter, so I did...and to my delight, won.

Here is the story. I hope you enjoy it.


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“Growing old gracefully.” Well, I don’t believe in growing old gracefully, but I sure do believe in growing old disgracefully!

Ok, we’ve all got wrinkles, and have we earned them, or what? They represent our wisdom and foolishness, our hopes and fears, our joy and sadness-and we wear them with pride. They are our badge of honour.

Arthritis? What arthritis?

Grandkids. Aaah, now there is a subject dear to our hearts. These beautiful children are our heritage, just as we are theirs. We see ourselves in our grandchildren and there is no generation gap to divide us. My Nanny’s cool-a great compliment indeed from a beloved fifteen year old granddaughter.

Still working? And why not? We are valued for our stability and wisdom in the workplace. There are lots of us working grandparents out there and we are the backbone of the work force. We don’t take sickies, we don’t have the worries and responsibilities outside the work place that can sometimes plague younger workers. We are Grey Power!

We are the Baby Boomers and we wear jeans and joggers, we streak our hair, we listen to cool music, we like a glass of Chardonnay or a good hearty red. We travel, we dance, we laugh, we enjoy! If the situation calls for it, we go on dates. We still have an eye for sexy buns or an awesome pair of boobs.

Aging? Bring it on. We have the confidence and panache to carry it off. You bet!

12 comments:

rel said...

Robyn,
Good job girl. Ain't it the truth...we've rejected the idea that after a "certain" age you must turn into a turnip in the root cellar.
rel

Merle said...

Hi Robyn ~~ Great post again and
congrats on winning a writing competition. All too true, but just
because we reach a certain age, we are not done yet. You can be old at 40 and young at 70. It all depends on your positive attitude to life and how we handle any problems. One of my
grandsons used to call me his Techno Grandma because I can use a computer.
Thanks for your e mail Robyn, Blogger can be very contrary. The 4 Dads joke was a good one. Take care,Love, Merle.

Lee said...

You betcha, Robyn! I'm with you, kiddo!

Great post....great short story...there is no doubting why you won the competition! Congratulations. :)

I'm definitely a disgrace...um...I mean....growing old disgracefully!

Peter said...

Robyn, that's a disgraceful article... Errr I mean that's a good article on a disgraceful subject... no that's not it either... Bloody good article!!!!

DellaB said...

It's a very good article Robyn, you did well to get all of that into 250 words, very polished and a deserved win, I reckon.

I am in two minds about reaching sixty - I still have the 'youthful' thing going for me, working with a lot of young people keeps me on my toes in that regard, but, you know, some days I just want to let go - slump, and hang about the house with my teeth out - I'm looking forward to that, and intend to make the most of it...

:-(
Della

TJ said...

No wonder you won!! That was awesome!!
:-D
PS...I'm also glad wrinkles don't hurt...lol!!

Puss-in-Boots said...

Rel: Yep, 60 is the new 50, according to "them". You're only as old as the man that you feel... oops, sorry...as you feel.

Merle: Thank you for your kind comment. I agree, I've seen people old at 40 and have felt very smug because I know I don't look like that!

Lee: Thank you. It's so much fun being a disgrace, especially around the young ones who think they invented outrageous behaviour!

Peter: Thanks and let's all be a bloody disgrace...altogether now, one, two, three...

Della: Hang about the house with your teeth out...lol! I love the picture that sends me. Thank you for your kind words, Della.

Tammy: Thank you and no, wrinkles are pretty painless, it's how we get them that hurts.

Unknown said...

I concur: we baby boomers do have the confidence and panache to age elegantly. Now, if I could just find a way to ignore the aches and pains.

Carole Burant said...

It's no wonder you won Roby, that truly was an awesome entry! I'm going to be 50 this year and it's kind of bothering me but then I still feel so young...now I understand what my mom said about turning 75 and not being able to believe it cuz that just seemed so old compared to how she felt! lol I guess we all earned our grey hairs and our wrinkles...may as well enjoy them! Hugs xoxo

Puss-in-Boots said...

Nick: Try some alcohol, works wonders and you have the added benefit of being pickled...er...preserved.

Carole: Yeah, you're right. I still feel in my prime...in my mind...the body is lagging behind a bit, lol!

TorAa said...

I'll sign this one.
Have seen and met so many "Young and know everything guys", I'm sick of them. They grew really old long before us 1940's generation.

The other day, when I had trouble with my broadband connections, the two spesialists, did they fix the problems? Nope, they just looked at the colour of my hair, and started to pick upon me. Everything my fault.
I sent the vendor a picture of my office, and explained what were where. They at once gave me a credit of USD 100.

Puss-in-Boots said...

TorAa: I know what you mean...grey hair equals dumb! We not us little bunnies, we're right up there with the know-it-alls. Good that you got a $100 refund though. Well done!