Old people and diseases

old people talking

Today I met for lunch with some old friends, all women of my approximate age, although I’m only guessing. It’s not polite to ask, apparently.

We all share something in common: aches and pains, past and present illnesses, medications and all the paraphernalia that goes with that.

Now, there’s nothing so focused as a person with something wrong with their ageing body. And there’s nothing more targeted as someone to share it with, especially if your aches and pains are worse than the other person’s. So we spent lunch discussing nothing but.

I can’t compete. For a start I don’t have women’s bits. Breasts, uteruses and vaginas seem to cause some discomfort for the average woman over 60. Not that I’ve done a survey. I googled it. Nasty business. Admittedly, men do have their own concerns regarding men’s bits but we seem less concerned or perhaps we are less important in the scheme of things. It’s also possible to examine such things without being intrusive. A quick feel around in the shower is always warranted, even if it’s just for the sheer pleasure.

During  the conversation the subject of longevity arose. 

When I was 50 the average life expectancy of an Aussie male was 74. Almost 25 year have gone and the life expectancy of the same group is now 82. I draw some comfort in the additional years but also face some dilemmas.

Firstly, I was half expecting to drop dead at 74. My father did and it seemed reasonable for me to follow in his venerable footsteps. Now that I’m 74 (almost) I’m a little disappointed. In addition, I haven’t prepared anything for the extra years.

Secondly, if the rate of increase of life expectancy continues on this path, by the time I’m 82 I can expect to live until I’m 90 or there about. In my current state I don’t think I want to.

I am constantly being reminded that I am in the golden years, the best years, the years of wisdom and maturity, surrounded by family and friends.

What my doctor tells me is a different story. He reminds me that anything he does for me health wise is patchwork not cure. 

“Do the best with what you have left” is his catchphrase. 

So, if I consider narrowing cardiac arteries, varicose veins, osteoarthritis, weakening muscles, poor eyesight, reduced hearing, balding, slowing of thought and movement, greater impact of disease, increased sensitivity to heat, cold, slow healing, sleep deprivation, worn teeth, swollen feet and extra bowel gas, I wonder if there’s anything left to work with.

Then I do my monthly visit to the doctors surgery and take note of the people in the waiting room. They are worse off than I am, and they look downright miserable.

Then I began thinking why we want people to live so long, even if their life is less than it was. Keeping a person alive for,the simple reason that life is ‘precious’ seems quite selfish if the ‘victim’ of such treatment is just kicking stone. 

I’m not suggesting that we bump off anyone past their use by date. But we do frown upon the idea of someone making that decision for themselves. 

Surely it’s our own business what we do with our body. It doesn’t belong to anyone else. We talk constantly about freedom of choice. We say we care about the elderly yet we take away the very freedom they need to live a complete and useful life when they decide they are no longer complete and useful.

Death is not only inevitable but necessary. Surely we as individuals can decide when it happens.

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SOrry, Ray. I got sidetracked by an 8year old with a science question. She wanted to know about ballerinas and angular momentum. I had trouble putting my pumps on.

there are many versions of me out there. All or none are true. I slot into any persona that suits me at the time. I even took up a religious bent once when I was young. The catholic club at uni had nice looking chicks. Unfortunately they saw through me when I mistakenly asked one if she was on the pill. Ouch!

i went to a party and pretended I was a doctor. It’s amazing how people in with health needs will listen to absolute garbage in the home they will be cured. I didn’t offer any dangerous advice and no one died in the process. 

Ive been pretending to be a photographer for years. Again, no one has noticed. Apparently shit photos can be passed off as art in the right company.

lets see, what else. Teacher, cabinet maker, martial artist, surfer, long distance runner. The latter was tough. I had to pretend to run a marathon or two. 

So which particular aspects of my Walter Mitty character did you find out about? 

so how does negativity work? Is it not the other side of the same coin, a different way of seeing, a comparison, wearing the other persons shoe, one pole of bipolar, dark and light, good and bad, night and day..... 

Theres no reason not to experience the other version. Without knowing it exists we have nothing to be grateful for. Stuff does not always go to plan. Yang and yang and all that. You can’t have good without bad. It gives us choices. It allows for diversity. We make comparisons. We develop our own character, our laws and ethics, religion, culture, differences.

so what if I like to look at the side of the coin facing down. I’m interested to know what’s there, to experience it, have the feelings that go with it. Imagine a life without sadness, hurt, hunger, cold, weather we don’t want, ....  How dull. How utterly one sided.

so, instead of scalding the messenger, write something intelligent we can all discuss or shut the F*#@ up.

"Something intelligent?" OK, here goes.

It’s all about attitude Tom. Negativity kills creativity, think about it. Good luck.

Well dingo, you speak to my pal like that and you are no longer my NBF.

Friendship terminated.

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