Image by Richard Burlton on Unsplash.
Today I got an email from a fellow marketer I admire a great deal. He opened with a line that made my heart sing. It was about getting older and dealing with the political scene, all at the same time.
I totally get it. When my doctor asked how I was doing (he’s young and incredibly nice) I said, “It’s hard to have this milestone birthday and deal with the election all in the same month.” He got it, too.
But then this article goes on to refer to old age as “forgetting why you came into a room” or “misplacing your reading glasses.”
And he says, “We’re getting creakier.”
Well, as usual, I say, “Speak for yourself.”
I’ve been misplacing things since I was six. I am actually better now because as an adult, I learned from my friends how to organize my possessions.
I do have some physical conditions that are late in life. I don’t accept them cheerfully. I do work out faithfully. When I get to the point I can’t be mobile or live alone, I want to be gone. I wish every state offered generous provisions for assisted dying. When the time comes
I’d love to have access to a cyanide pill or a mafia hitman (so my survivors wouldn’t have to feel guilty–“you know someone’s always getting shot on South Street.”)
But I am appalled at the stereotypes in this article. Not everyone gets forgetful. Not everyone gets “creakier.” And if you do, it’s not especially funny. I want to “rage against the dying of the light.”
The problem with using stereotypes is that it encourages people to talk down to older people. When someone calls me “sweetheart” or “sweetie,” I can be very rude.
I sometimes call my cat “sweetie.” She doesn’t mind. I respect her independence but she’ll never be truly on her own.. And forget the stereotypes about cats. Mine never gets temperamental or demanding and she’s very, very affectionate.
