I'll be 69 in a few months and do not consider myself an "oldster." I'm active, involved in life, appreciate new technology, continue to follow science and medical advances, enjoy art, music, continue to learn, teach, see beauty all around me and offer thanks each day for what I have and who I am.
Granted, I'm not as agile as I was in my younger days, but I wasn't as agile in my 50's as I was in my 30's. Age is also a state of mind as well as years living in our bodies.
My grandparents came from Italy and Portugal. Both Grandfathers passed relatively young, but Grandmothers lived longer lives....one died in her mid eighties, the other in her late 90's. Father was in his late 90's when he died, Mom, 88.
Maybe my attitude about aging is related to where I've lived for so many years....in warm climates. Grew up in New England and winters have a way of aging a body and it's spirit. Southern California and Florida have lots of bright, sunny days, relatively warm compared to days with wind chill factors below freezing and cold white snow. I remember my Grandmothers even looking old in their mid 60's.....their clothing, their attitudes, their lifestyles. Grandmas here are NOT the Grandmas we grew up with....
