surprising old people
Posted by: Rasher on 02 January 2004
I don't know if this is so unusual, but my uncle at 88, has been to a conference in san fransisco just before chistmas, and has just got back from a return visit there again this week. Buggers off to Honolulu every year for a holiday, otherwise its full time work. Walks to work across london every single day. My aunt, at 84 has just emailed me to try out her new laptop that she treated herself to this chistmas.
Ain't it great to know you just don't have to get to be an old sod if you don't want to.
I'm proud of them.
Ain't it great to know you just don't have to get to be an old sod if you don't want to.
I'm proud of them.
quote:
the other thing I have observed over the years is that fit elderly people also tend to be quite slim, but not thin.
Which could possibly imply that correct nutrition and a balanced diet is important as well - now where's me bananas?
David
PS: Another good way of 'surprising old people' is to creep up behind them and then clap your hands really loud
quote:
Originally posted by David Stewart:
PS: Another good way of 'surprising old people' is to creep up behind them and then clap your hands really loud
Works on all ages.
The old Jack Benny joke comes to mind (who was a smoker). When he reached 100 he said "If I'd have known I was going to live so long, I would have looked after myself better"
Ludwig, Dicky Millhouse did OK ?
Between autumn 97 through to spring 99 I worked
as a social worker (anti in some
peoples minds) looking after old people in their own homes. On average I had
about 10 regular folk to see, some twice a day, some once a week, etc. All were
German and pretty middle class, non of who'm I would say had financial worries,
though not rich as such. Being male, in contrast to 95% of my colleagues I was
quite sort after strangely enough, as well as being the unusual Engländer
amongst them all.
They averaged between 80 - 99 and were generally really nice
folk, once they trusted me etc, the War did naturally arise often. One old girl
did constantly get on my tits regarding the bombing of Dresden, but my offering
to help her write a letter to my own Grandmother (similar age) soon shut her up,
I have to point out this was a well educated Academic Widow, who's boredome and
frustration with life was generated at me, or so she thought.
Not being fully
trained in the field I had to learn fast, and was often given bribes in my
direction (of varying nature) which I refused naturally (was paid OK) and had
good mentors to ask advice upon, as they wanted to buy my favour as it were. I
did attend many funerals during this time, as well as having to talk to complete
strangers that were their families from all over (most of who'm I despised to be
honest, through their hypocracy).
General checking things out, going for walks
(with & without wheelchair) docs visit, operations, shopping. cleaning, etc,
etc, had to clean em up once or twice, which didn't disturb me, but annoyed me
for being put in that position, shitting myself being left with terminally ill
people in their beds for hours on end, while their (real loved ones) could get
at least a few hours fresh air and freedom to be themselves before cracking up,
church services were a laugh (plenty of snoring there). Give em this or that if
this and that happens,(medication) like fuck, well scarey, worse than milk
bottle alley, innit.
My best buddy Willy (born 1902 in Posnan-Poland) what a
star, Dad was a Master Bee Keeper (apierist innit ?) got plenty of hunny
regular, got shot in 1919 by a Polish geezer, hit Berlin in 1923, after his
apprenticeship, became a so called 12 year soldier, married, in the 30's became
a fireman in Berlin, right through the War (Grandad & Uncle Albert ain't got
nuffin on this guy) what stories, though very matter of fact and not conceited
in any way whatsover. I won't mention him further, but he died aged 99 2 years
back, with almost a state funeral, he was the poorest and lowest ranking (so to
speak) of all my ex-people, also the only one I cared to see after I'd left the
job for other reasons (basically stress, and no control over my colleagues,
who's actions I had to be responsible for) Catch 22, fuck em, I'm off, starngely
enough everybody understood, except my firm ?
That's enuff, I reckon, Churchill
drank good Champagne, smoked cigars, did no excercise, and hardly slept, lived
till gone 90, and won the Nobel prize for literature in the 50's, an exception
maybe, but it's all in the mind, and the will to be happy, you can be as fit as
fuck but what's the point if you're from Depressionville³, Illness is naturally
another part of the game of luck innit.
Fritz Von Gettinthathunnydownbigstyle
NB We are all different of course, and material wealth really has no bearing on
the matter, Will, Happiness, and love of making other people happy do though, or
so it seems to me ?
NBB: The Children of many of these people (my own parents age) seem younger than
me, and I'm a goat !
Kids are great, I went to school with them !!!
Between autumn 97 through to spring 99 I worked
as a social worker (anti in some
peoples minds) looking after old people in their own homes. On average I had
about 10 regular folk to see, some twice a day, some once a week, etc. All were
German and pretty middle class, non of who'm I would say had financial worries,
though not rich as such. Being male, in contrast to 95% of my colleagues I was
quite sort after strangely enough, as well as being the unusual Engländer
amongst them all.
They averaged between 80 - 99 and were generally really nice
folk, once they trusted me etc, the War did naturally arise often. One old girl
did constantly get on my tits regarding the bombing of Dresden, but my offering
to help her write a letter to my own Grandmother (similar age) soon shut her up,
I have to point out this was a well educated Academic Widow, who's boredome and
frustration with life was generated at me, or so she thought.
Not being fully
trained in the field I had to learn fast, and was often given bribes in my
direction (of varying nature) which I refused naturally (was paid OK) and had
good mentors to ask advice upon, as they wanted to buy my favour as it were. I
did attend many funerals during this time, as well as having to talk to complete
strangers that were their families from all over (most of who'm I despised to be
honest, through their hypocracy).
General checking things out, going for walks
(with & without wheelchair) docs visit, operations, shopping. cleaning, etc,
etc, had to clean em up once or twice, which didn't disturb me, but annoyed me
for being put in that position, shitting myself being left with terminally ill
people in their beds for hours on end, while their (real loved ones) could get
at least a few hours fresh air and freedom to be themselves before cracking up,
church services were a laugh (plenty of snoring there). Give em this or that if
this and that happens,(medication) like fuck, well scarey, worse than milk
bottle alley, innit.
My best buddy Willy (born 1902 in Posnan-Poland) what a
star, Dad was a Master Bee Keeper (apierist innit ?) got plenty of hunny
regular, got shot in 1919 by a Polish geezer, hit Berlin in 1923, after his
apprenticeship, became a so called 12 year soldier, married, in the 30's became
a fireman in Berlin, right through the War (Grandad & Uncle Albert ain't got
nuffin on this guy) what stories, though very matter of fact and not conceited
in any way whatsover. I won't mention him further, but he died aged 99 2 years
back, with almost a state funeral, he was the poorest and lowest ranking (so to
speak) of all my ex-people, also the only one I cared to see after I'd left the
job for other reasons (basically stress, and no control over my colleagues,
who's actions I had to be responsible for) Catch 22, fuck em, I'm off, starngely
enough everybody understood, except my firm ?
That's enuff, I reckon, Churchill
drank good Champagne, smoked cigars, did no excercise, and hardly slept, lived
till gone 90, and won the Nobel prize for literature in the 50's, an exception
maybe, but it's all in the mind, and the will to be happy, you can be as fit as
fuck but what's the point if you're from Depressionville³, Illness is naturally
another part of the game of luck innit.
Fritz Von Gettinthathunnydownbigstyle
NB We are all different of course, and material wealth really has no bearing on
the matter, Will, Happiness, and love of making other people happy do though, or
so it seems to me ?
NBB: The Children of many of these people (my own parents age) seem younger than
me, and I'm a goat !
Kids are great, I went to school with them !!!
I noticed a major theme amongst many of the people I happened to get to know during that period was the very strong desire to remain in ones own home, even when alone, often in great pain, and discomfort, but adamant that losing that independence and ending up in an old folks home is a slow cruel death sentence, especially psychologically for the more mentally active ones, irrespective of how convenient it may be for their siblings practically and financially. Lonelyness comes with that territory too, but affects all ages naturally, but is the price often that has to be paid to maintain that freedom.
Being a person as a youngster that would actually eat second helpings of our beloved school dinners, that may well have killed off many of my compatriots over the years, especially that lumpy custard, I was set at an early age to survive anything. Good health is naturally a luck thing as well as doing as much as one can using information acquired from older people along the way, many forgetting of course that they have experienced generally far more than we have, and that one is born with some semblence of intelligence, though not education (Prince Charles)comes to mind, as good a bloke as I'm sure he is? Being born to graduate from Cambridge must have been great for academic prowess ? (I digress).
So, the good old feeling of worth, and an asset to the famuily not a hindrance, in societies naturally where some worth is given to the older members & their invaluable experience. The retirement age here is likely to go up to 67 soon, and I think (job willing) most people would want to work longer, or teach the young quality skills, not short term MIckey Mouse target setting Big Discussuion crap.(Obvious innit, thanks Tom).
I draw the line at some lines of work, but judges for instance, even docs etc, should where capable be able to carry on, even in an advisory capacity. I was suprised to find recently that judges here have to retire at 65.
Anyway, I've lost my thread unsuprisingly, so I'd better stop and go and take my tablets, innit.
Fritz Von Mygrandadtoldmehewenttoschoolwithkidsoncetoo
Ps. Nature's wonderful trick with our imaginary
time is quite exquisite innit ?
N.B. "I was so much older then, I'm younger than that no ------ ooow "
Robert Allen Zimmerman, if I recall correctly ?
Of course one does have to be careful bacause sometimes "Suprising old people" can Kill em !!!
Being a person as a youngster that would actually eat second helpings of our beloved school dinners, that may well have killed off many of my compatriots over the years, especially that lumpy custard, I was set at an early age to survive anything. Good health is naturally a luck thing as well as doing as much as one can using information acquired from older people along the way, many forgetting of course that they have experienced generally far more than we have, and that one is born with some semblence of intelligence, though not education (Prince Charles)comes to mind, as good a bloke as I'm sure he is? Being born to graduate from Cambridge must have been great for academic prowess ? (I digress).
So, the good old feeling of worth, and an asset to the famuily not a hindrance, in societies naturally where some worth is given to the older members & their invaluable experience. The retirement age here is likely to go up to 67 soon, and I think (job willing) most people would want to work longer, or teach the young quality skills, not short term MIckey Mouse target setting Big Discussuion crap.(Obvious innit, thanks Tom).
I draw the line at some lines of work, but judges for instance, even docs etc, should where capable be able to carry on, even in an advisory capacity. I was suprised to find recently that judges here have to retire at 65.
Anyway, I've lost my thread unsuprisingly, so I'd better stop and go and take my tablets, innit.
Fritz Von Mygrandadtoldmehewenttoschoolwithkidsoncetoo
Ps. Nature's wonderful trick with our imaginary
time is quite exquisite innit ?
N.B. "I was so much older then, I'm younger than that no ------ ooow "
Robert Allen Zimmerman, if I recall correctly ?
Of course one does have to be careful bacause sometimes "Suprising old people" can Kill em !!!