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Archive through March 20, 2006

The TVClubHouse: General Discussion ARCHIVES: 2006 Mar. ~ 2006 May: Baby Boomers, Living Alone, Changing Habits (ARCHIVES): Archive through March 20, 2006 users admin

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Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 10:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
As negative as it is (pardon me for saying that Newman) I kind of see where Newman is coming from (at least partly). One problem many people see more of as they get older is health issues. There are lots of things they can do to overcome this (stay in shape, eat healthy, look after yourself), but it does take more effort as you get older.

I won’t bother mentioning the positives as I think a few people have already named quite a few of them.

Kearie
Member

07-21-2005

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 10:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kearie a private message Print Post    
I'm with Newman on the health issues.

Here I am 40 with degenerative disc disease, arthritis, sciatica. What fun is that and it will get worse. I also must say it's often difficult to stay jolly when pain is constant.

In some ways 20 years ago was better...in other ways not better.

Oh, but the sex is way better. I think that's a gender difference in most cases.

Hey Newman, let's go smell some roses.

Marysafan
Member

08-07-2000

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 10:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Marysafan a private message Print Post    
I think there is a point where things change. From what I can tell, that seems to happen about age 55, but it can be sooner or later. I remember when I had gone back to school back in the 80's, my micro-biology instructor was also the head of the Douglas County Health Department. He was discussing flu shots one day, saying how important they were for the elderly. He said that everyone 55 and over should get a flu shot and then added..."Try convincing someone that is 55 that they are elderly." lol!

There are physical changes to the body that take place. Body organs have aged and don't function as well. You no longer have the strength or the stamina that you had just a few years before. It takes more effort to do the things that you did with ease not so long ago. Things that used to come naturally, might need some help now.

Mental skills seem to diminish as well. Memory lapses become more frequent, it's harder to concentrate for extended periods, and you don't seem to be able to handle as much multi-tasking.

In addition to that, you enter a different "life stage". Children are grown and gone. You have probably reached your highest career goal. Co-worker friends that were with you for years, are retiring and being replaced by younger people that you can't relate to.

I have had several recent conversations with people in their 50's who are somewhat frustrated by the fact that they don't seem to be able to perform their jobs as well as they used to. They are aware that they aren't able to keep up with younger workers. Those that are able are considering early retirement. Some are worried about being fired.

Things that you used to enjoy don't have the same effect. There seems to be some sort of boredom factor that sets in. I know scores of baby boomer NASCAR fans that aren't enjoying the sport as much as they used to. They are blaming NASCAR, but I see the same thing happening with baseball fans, football fans, and hockey fans. So something must be going on there. I know many folks that have set aside hobbies that they were involved in. People that were collectors for decades seem to want to "simplify", by selling off or giving away their collections. If I haven't seen someone in while and I ask if they are still involved in whatever they had been involved in...the answer more often than not...seens to be "No. I gave it up."

I live in a community with a high percentage of eldery. Many of them are my friends. Most of them have told me that they wouldn't want to be 20 again, but they sure wouldn't mind being 40. Not one of them have told me that being in their 60's or 70's is the best time of their lives. Quite frankly, most of them have said, "It sucks to get old."

When you have been the caregiver all your life, it is very difficult to imagine yourself being the one who has to be taken care of. But we are transitioning into that phase. I am reminded of the frigid winter day, when were advised to check on the elderly in our neighborhoods. We were taking a mental inventory of our neighbors and realized that the elderly ones were no longer there, but had sold their homes to younger couples. We were stunned to realize that in our neighborhood, WE were the elderly. Even more so, when our phone started ringing and people were checking on us! Just yesterday, with this snowstorm coming, one of the young men stopped by to tell us not to worry about snow removal. That he would be here to plow us out.

The kindness is much appreciated, but it would be nice if you could do those things for yourself like you used to do. Before shoveling snow was just a pain in the butt, now shoveling snow can be lethal! And don't even get me started on the aches and pains! lol!

I just had a serious discussion with my sister yesterday, where I told her that I wasn't in any competition to be the last man standing. I have lived my life in such a way, that I have enjoyed each and every phase of it. If my life ended tomorrow, I would die a very happy women. It is the quality not the quantity of it that matters most to me. I have no desire to extend my life just because medical technology says we can.

All that said, how you react to the changes, and how you adapt to them, will make a big difference in the quality of the remainder of your life.

Kearie
Member

07-21-2005

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 10:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kearie a private message Print Post    
Marys---Amen to that.

Vacanick
Member

07-12-2004

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 11:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vacanick a private message Print Post    
I still want Newman to elaborate ... "Sex was way better." How so or why do you say that?

Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 11:48 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Maris a private message Print Post    
Maybe he was just getting it more often Vacanick.

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 11:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
That's one way of making it mo' better.

Max
Moderator

08-12-2000

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 12:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Max a private message Print Post    
There is no glass.

Springer
Member

03-12-2004

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 5:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Springer a private message Print Post    
You have a good job.
You can afford a new computer.
You have a car.
You have food to eat.
You have your limbs.
You don't have cancer.
You can have sex.
You have survived this long.

And so it goes......

Baby
Member

01-08-2006

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 5:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Baby a private message Print Post    
Springer..AMEN to that!!!

Baby
Member

01-08-2006

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 5:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Baby a private message Print Post    
Newman, when reading this thread, I keep thinking to myself, why doesn't Newman take the time and energy he uses in thinking about the negatives in his life and what he doesn't have, and use that to do something positive for himself and others? I really wish you would try that, Newman. I bet you just might be surprised how things may change for you! I am not saying I am right or I am wrong but I think it is worth a shot!

Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 5:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Maris a private message Print Post    
Springer, help me out. What book was "And so it goes" from? was it Portnoy's complaint? I remember reading a book many years ago that ended chapters and episodes with And so it goes.

Springer
Member

03-12-2004

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 5:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Springer a private message Print Post    
Maris,
I don't know. I was just quoting Newman.

Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 5:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Maris a private message Print Post    
It is a famous line from a book. I remember it appearing all through the book, whenever something died.

Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 6:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Maris a private message Print Post    
I googled it, it is from Slaughterhouse five, by Kurt Vonnegut.

Baby
Member

01-08-2006

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 6:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Baby a private message Print Post    
Maris, I am not sure but I think maybe you are thinking of Linda Ellerbee? She says "And so it goes" all of the time and I think she may have written a book by that title also! Not sure, though.

Baby
Member

01-08-2006

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 6:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Baby a private message Print Post    
Sorry Maris..wrong person!

Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 6:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Maris a private message Print Post    
Baby I remember Linda Ellerbee's show "news overnight" one of the greatest news shows and she ended every show with and so it goes.

Baby
Member

01-08-2006

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 6:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Baby a private message Print Post    
I know, Maris. I have always liked her. She is a mighty strong woman and great with kids, too! I love to listen to her!

She has had a pretty hard life in some ways.

Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 6:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Maris a private message Print Post    
Linda Ellerbee's show News Overnight was the precurser for the Jon Stewart show. It was on at 1 in the morning and this was in the early days of the vcr, so you know how far back that goes and we used to tape that show every night. They even demonstrated ib front of NBC when the show was cancelled. Had a cult following.

Baby
Member

01-08-2006

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 6:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Baby a private message Print Post    
I know. I watched her show "News Overnight," not faithfully, though. I also have watched some of the shows she has done with children, for children. Thought those were great, too! She is definitely one of a kind!

Now, Jon Stewart, I honestly have to say I have never watched his show.

Kearie
Member

07-21-2005

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 6:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kearie a private message Print Post    
Ohhhh Baby you are missing out. I love the man's humor. I even went out and bought his book.

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 7:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
People keep wanting Newman to explain his statement that "sex was way better". I may be wrong but I suspect that most of the people asking this are women.

My impression is that sex is somewhat different for men and women. I don't know if that answers your question. Let me add that it is not true for every man and every woman as we are all individuals. I know lots of "older" guys who have great sex lives.

Glenn
Member

07-05-2003

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 7:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Glenn a private message Print Post    
Me too Jimmer

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Monday, March 20, 2006 - 7:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
I ain't touchin that...