How Old Are You?

What's your age group?

  • 80+

    Votes: 9 3.8%
  • 70-79

    Votes: 34 14.5%
  • 60-69

    Votes: 62 26.4%
  • 50-59

    Votes: 57 24.3%
  • 40-49

    Votes: 34 14.5%
  • 30-39

    Votes: 35 14.9%
  • 20-29

    Votes: 3 1.3%
  • Under 20

    Votes: 1 0.4%

  • Total voters
    235
I'll be 65 in May.

I'm contemplating age and mortality a lot more in recent years, having lost Dad 7 years ago (88), Mom 2-1/2 years ago (89), and one of my sisters unexpectedly passing a year and a half ago at 64. Really makes you think about things.

It doesn't get any better. As you age, at least for me, you become much more aware of your increasing mortality. When you've outlived most of your friends, and a great deal of family, and you realize that you've passed the national average age for mortality a few years ago, you treat every morning like a minor miracle. You wake up, see the light coming in past the shutters, and think, "Wow, I've made it to another day!" with a sense of wonder. You think of the big guy in black with the big sickle, and think "Not today, pal."

On the other hand, theres a definite sense of a new freedom from being this old. Everything you buy has a potential life time warrantee. You don't worry about who's gonna get what when you go, you've already given away your stuff to the kids, grandkids, and friends. Being aware of having a limited number of wake ups coming to you is very liberating in a weird way. My wife of more than a half a century and I have a fairly carefree existence now. No worries about the small 'stuff' and the big 'stuff' will take care of itself. Just live each day to have fun, until you can't.
 
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