BS: What makes you feel old?

Subject: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 05:08 AM

previous thread... Am I really that old???  

~~~~~~~~~~~
What makes you feel old?
Reading an article like
"5 Traditional Musical Instruments from Ireland
Irish Bouzouki
Adapted from a Greek instrument and brought to Ireland in the 1960s, ..."
http://www.ireland.com/en-gb/articles/whats-available/instant/five-traditional-musical-instruments-graphic 


~~~~~~~~
Drop down boxes on web forms when to find my birth year I scroll down, then down a bit more, then down a lot more...

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: gnu
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 06:40 AM

Being awake.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 06:56 AM

Memory lapses, my catheter and sundry other romantic details. Good job I've still got a sense of humour and, I hope, the nous to know I'm a lucky man in comparison to others.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 07:08 AM

Late last century we had a probationary police officer who looked like he was wearing his dad's hat & gun. He was a tall skinny, baby-faced kid, but would have been at least 20 & would definitely have been asked for ID when out of uniform.

The trainee Doctors in the emergency Dept who were born in Southeast Asian. They also looked like young teenagers, how could they be Doctors?

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Senoufou
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 07:11 AM

Freddy, that scrolling down thing is awful isn't it? I worry it might not go down far enough for my D.O.B.
My problem is, I don't feel old inside, I really should start to grow up a bit. When I catch sight of myself reflected in a shop window, I'm horrified to see this dumpy, white-haired old hag. I still think I'm 'me in the 1960's', slim with very long dark hair. I just don't recognise what I look like now.

I also hate getting so tired so quickly and having to 'give up and go home' when out on a jaunt. I miss my energy and vim.

And seeing those retro designs on furniture and curtain materials popular at the moment. It's 'second time around' for people of my era!

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Senoufou
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 07:29 AM

Sandra, it's true! Our neighbours across the road had to have the doctor recently, and out of the car got this little boy of about twelve, carrying his doctor's bag. He looked as if he was truanting from school.
And my lovely optician is a little girl of about ten!

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 07:30 AM

When you can no longer tick that box at the end of surveys that says "55 to 64."

Mind you, I let an old lady go in front of me at Morrisons the other day and she said to me "Thank you, that's very kind of you, young man!" I proposed, of course.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 07:45 AM

When you even have to explain who the Beatles were.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: mkebenn
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 08:03 AM

When I recall something from 20yrs ago, only to realize it was 40. Happens all the time. Mike

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 08:43 AM

Foggy eyes in the morning.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Ed T
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 09:50 AM

When a young girl remarks to another, about something you said or did, "isn't he cute".

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 09:57 AM

When I write the date, and realise I've put down 1916 instead of 2016.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 12:54 PM

My powers of denial are such that I never *feel* old, but things that make me realize that *intellectually* include -

*Calculating that if I did get a college teaching job again, my degree would be older than many of my students.

*Remembering that I've taken passenger ships that weren't cruise ships, before planes were the only way to cross oceans.

*And, yes, scrolling downer and downer to find my birth year on dropdowns.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 12:56 PM

I should have said, those are things that have brought it to my mind lately.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 01:50 PM

Joe Heaney once told us it was when it takes you all night to do what you used to do all night
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 02:08 PM

When I surf the TV and think I found the Home Shopping Network it is really a Presidential function with Ivanka selling bracelets.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: LLB
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 02:15 PM

Oh, so many things.
Sleep pattern not like it was when I was young.
Not the energy I used to have.
Not feeling comfortable driving at night anymore.
People in their mid-40's who don't even know who Donovan or Joan Baez is.
Going to restaurants and 75 % of patrons appear to be younger then 50.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Gurney
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 03:00 PM

Wrinkly, paunchy mirrors.    Being unable to crouch, and having to kneel, and then getting back on my feet again.    Washing my feet in the shower.   Cheeky babies of 20 who call "HO HO HO" at this time of year. (I have a beard.)

Her Indoors says 'Not being able to run through gaps in the traffic.'

Knowing that this is permanent.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: DMcG
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 03:08 PM

When I think of great events from history - maybe The battle of Hastings, or the English Civil war - and realise they are now quite a small multiple of my age ago...

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Senoufou
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 03:10 PM

(On a more positive note) Watching younger ladies in shops asking, "Does my bum look big in this?" and knowing my bum certainly would, and not caring a fig!

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: frogprince
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 08:05 PM

Encountering the adult children of people you saw in diapers when you were 20-something.

Watching people cruise in, or admire, "classic" cars manufactured after you finished graduate school.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 16 Nov 16 - 10:40 PM

My kids had never heard of Mad Magazine. So not only am I old, I am a failure as a parent.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Nov 16 - 03:03 AM

What makes me feel old? Mostly, my mirror.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Mr Red
Date: 17 Nov 16 - 04:33 AM

the mess my house is in.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: banjoman
Date: 17 Nov 16 - 06:18 AM

Having to renew my driving licence every three years and listening to items in the news where its reported that "An elderly driver of 70 was involved in an accident" much younger than me. At heart I'm still 25 but the body says otherwise

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Senoufou
Date: 17 Nov 16 - 07:43 AM

Dusting my dozens and dozens of daft little porcelain ornaments, Toby jugs, china horses and pottery animals. I do it every day, but I'm beginning to see it's typical 'old biddy' clutter.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 17 Nov 16 - 08:10 AM

Going onto a Nottingham Forest on line Forum and asking whether any of the members (some 15k of them) had ever seen Brian Clough in his playing days and only receiving three replies (each saying that they hadn't).

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Nov 16 - 09:04 AM

Threads that ask me what makes me feel old.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Nov 16 - 09:09 AM

Clicking on threads that ask me what makes me feel old.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: JHW
Date: 17 Nov 16 - 03:16 PM

I saw West Side Story in Middlesbrough last night. Extremely well staged and performed, by young people, as it should be. It made me think of all they have (we hope) before them.
But I'm aware of time slipping away for 'Something coming that's gonna be great'. Should I be panicking?

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: akenaton
Date: 17 Nov 16 - 03:27 PM

Falling off a ladder for the first time in my life...yesterday :0(

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Senoufou
Date: 17 Nov 16 - 04:19 PM

Crumbs akenaton, I hope you're okay? I seem to be hearing of several falls from ladders lately. Our lovely window cleaner fell last month and smashed his elbow. He says he'll be unable to work until at least January.
Please take care.
Eliza

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Joe_F
Date: 17 Nov 16 - 05:45 PM

I catch myself thinking of graduate students as "kids".

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: akenaton
Date: 17 Nov 16 - 07:40 PM

Thank you Eliza, just bruises, but I'm quite used to them!! :0)

Seriously, I've seen two workmates killed in ladder falls over the years, Its always about going for that extra inch.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: meself
Date: 17 Nov 16 - 10:32 PM

And they say your reach should exceed your grasp - hmmph!

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 18 Nov 16 - 03:51 AM

Sorry folks, I can't remember anything making me feel old.

Maybe that's the problem,

I can't remember anything!



Only joking.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 18 Nov 16 - 09:40 AM

Nigel - priceless!

Things that were "the other day" are now 20, no, 30, wait, fuck, really? years ago...

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: leeneia
Date: 18 Nov 16 - 10:18 AM

I (awkward, with a bad knee) was at the breakfast buffet in a hotel. I heard a man abt 30 snap at his little daughter, "Stop it, Britt!" That was all he said to her. But he established that they speak English.

I dropped my little package of jelly, and I saw that little Britt had an older sister, maybe six. I asked them, "Would one of you little girls pick that up for me?"

Before they could process the request or be big girls and help, their father whipped down, grabbed the jelly and plopped it into my plate, dirty side down. He seemed angry. Perhaps in his worldview, kindly adults should not speak to lonely little children.

I said "Thank you." He didn't reply. Britt (who looked to be three years old) said "Uggle wooga mop fred." Something wrong there.

Not surprisingly, in his 30 years of staring at screens and operating joysticks, this man failed to learn how we teach children to speak or think. I see this kind of thing more often than I'd like.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Senoufou
Date: 18 Nov 16 - 12:01 PM

That is so sad leeneia. I had something rather similar happen in front of me. My elderly friend wanted to go to a fireworks display in her local area (not a very salubrious district I have to say) We were watching some lovely coloured effects and brilliant rockets etc when I became aware of a darling little mite beside me pointing and smiling with delight. Suddenly, her mother screamed nearly in my ear at the poor child, "Put yer f****** coat on, yer little c***!" (Those exact words, I shall never forget them) My friend and I turned in horror but the woman merely grabbed the child by the scruff of the neck and moved off.
In our day, we'd never heard those words, ever. Not in public, not in private. The worst thing my father ever said was 'blasted'. That little girl will grow up to speak like that to her children and so on.
My friend and I felt like a pair of Victorians, shocked to the core.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: leeneia
Date: 18 Nov 16 - 10:04 PM

That is a terrible shame, Senoufou. I hope that little girl learns from others how normal people are supposed to behave.

You remind me. The last time I went to the fireworks, a family with two adorable boys, twins about five years old, sat next to me. The twins loved the fireworks, making many exclamations about how beautiful they were. Not one person in the family spoke a word to them during the entire show.

But they want me to pay more tax money for early childhood education. In my opinion, the best early childhood education comes from a loving family.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: SqueezeMe
Date: 19 Nov 16 - 12:33 AM

Recalling to mind friends who have gone before from "natural causes" at a much younger age than me.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Mooh
Date: 19 Nov 16 - 08:41 AM

Not making it through the night without a visit to the toilet.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: frogprince
Date: 19 Nov 16 - 11:23 AM

This morning it was putting a zipper-bag cover on a double bed mattress, and wondering what I would have done if it had been a queen size, let alone a king size.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Senoufou
Date: 19 Nov 16 - 05:05 PM

I have to get my strong and able-bodied husband to turn our double mattress every month, it weighs a blooming ton. I used to do it years ago, but nowadays I'd be crushed underneath it and never seen again.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: SqueezeMe
Date: 20 Nov 16 - 02:19 AM

I felt old when I overheard a couple of kids at a garage sale looking at a typewriter and one said to the other "It's what they had before computers, back in the olden times".

When I was their age, I would have considered "the olden times" somewhere before the Middle Ages, maybe even back to Biblical days, not a mere half a lifetime.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Senoufou
Date: 20 Nov 16 - 03:25 AM

My classes of schoolchildren used to gape with horror and pity when I told them that no-one in our street owned a TV. None of us had central heating, just one coal fire. And earthenware hot water bottles in our beds, because the ice used to form on the inside of our bedroom windows it was so cold upstairs. No washing machines or dishwashers. And our father actually made our radio, valves and all. It had to be given time to heat up before you could hear the programme.
I used to feel positively medieval when I saw their amazement.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: JHW
Date: 22 Nov 16 - 05:34 AM

Disappearing people and places from my youth.
Prompted today by the RIP of William Trevor who's William Trevor Story was regular listening way back when.
And right now the substantial Catterick A1 dual carriageway bypass which I saw built is being replaced without trace by Motorway.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Senoufou
Date: 22 Nov 16 - 07:06 AM

We visited Edinburgh (my old Uni city) two years ago. I hadn't been back for fifty years. My goodness, it's superb. We particularly loved the trams, and the new business developments in Corstorphine. I did feel very, very old though, as I remembered how it was all those years ago. And thought of that daft hippy girl I was then, in my long maxi dress, crocheted full-length waistcoat, massive 3ft long plaits with scarves woven in, a Hiawatha band round my head with a flower stuck in it and Jesus sandals. I must have looked a right dolly...sigh... :)


('dolly' is Norfolk for 'a ridiculous sight')

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Joe_F
Date: 22 Nov 16 - 07:00 PM

Reading *history* & being able to think where I was at the time.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: PHJim
Date: 23 Nov 16 - 12:26 AM

* When someone says, Jim is XX years young," I feel really old.
* When adults call me "Sir".
* The elementary school that was brand new when I attended it in grade five was torn down last year.
* The high school that was brand new when I attended it in grade 10 has closed and they are planning on tearing it down.
* I no longer look at the books on the bottom two shelves in the library.
* Cashiers no longer ask me if I qualify for the senior's discount. They just give it to me.
* The Maple Leaf Champions Jug Band was introduced at the Greenbank Folk Club with, "This group has a 45 year age span." Guess which end of that span I was on.


On the other hand, I do have a lot of fun playing music with musicians half my age or younger.
An advantage to being an old fart is having seen Joni Anderson (Mitchell), Rev Gary Davis, Skip James, Dave Van Ronk, Don Reno, The Greenbriar Boys, Flatt & Scruggs, John Hartford, Miles Davis, Oscar Pedterson, Barney Kessel, Nina Simone, Herb Ellis, Dizzy Gillespy, Muddy Waters, Pete Seeger, Yank Rachell, The Velvet Underground, Guy Clark and a pile of other great artists perform live.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 23 Nov 16 - 08:57 PM

Having just one sore finger (middle of left hand): pain grossly out of proportion to size of digit, and worrying that my playing days might be numbered if it gets worse/ affects other digits.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: PHJim
Date: 23 Nov 16 - 09:13 PM

I forgot to mention Mississippi John Hurt.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Nov 16 - 09:26 PM

I have stopped saying, "Well, maybe next year    (I will do/get it done...) The energy level is getting lower and shorter. My eyes don't see as well, night vision is diminishing, sometimes I am wobbly. I do NOT go on ladders.

But due to a year of stoking a wood stove - stacking wood, carrying wood, etc - I feel stronger than I did last year and reject assistance because the exercise is good for me. But not sure how many more years....

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: leeneia
Date: 24 Nov 16 - 02:40 PM

Whoever said that about library shelves was right. My library doesn't even use the bottom shelves, and they turn the books spine-up on the next-to-the-bottom. I still can't read a thing on them, though.

My library is just a few years old. I have to ask myself why they shelf all the new books in shelves which are only waist high. None of them are at eye level?

I have a frequent plaint: "What 22-year-old designed this?" applies to

small gray writing on a black camera
waist-high library shelves
invisible boxes on web forms
websites with pale writing
sans serif writing for more than a few words
steps with no handrail
black for everything - binox, stereo, microwave, telescope

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Firecat
Date: 25 Nov 16 - 09:56 AM

I was running the pub quiz on Wednesday, and asked a question about something that happened in 1997. One of the players piped up "I don't know! I was only born in 1995!"

I was 11 in 1995. I felt really old. Mind you, it was worse for my husband - he's old enough to be that kid's Dad! He was 20 then!

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 25 Nov 16 - 10:15 AM

Being able to remember seeing Laurel & Hardy Live and the rolling Stones before they were famous

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Nov 16 - 10:40 AM

Trying to explain the phrase "number please" to a kid with a smartphone.

Being given a senior citizens discount without being asked.

Various spots on various body parts.

Realizing that I've lived under 13 presidents... and can remember the death of FDR.


A little joke I remember from many years ago.
"Junior... your report card says you got a 'D' in History! Why, when I was a kid, I always got 'A' in History!"

"Yes, but there wasn't nearly as much of it then!"

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Senoufou
Date: 25 Nov 16 - 10:55 AM

Remembering going into 'Auntie Poppy's' house down the road, the only neighbour with a TV set. It was a tiny yellowish screen about 8 inches wide in a wooden case with doors. We were there (with dozens of others squashed into their sitting room) to watch the Coronation. It was incredibly boring, but I do recall watching the actual moment the crown was put on the Queen's head. 'Auntie Poppy' had provided egg sandwiches, which were much more interesting!

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 25 Nov 16 - 11:15 AM

Well, the first thing that makes me feel old--I have attained an age by which most of my parents' generation had passed on (excepting my parents who lived until they're mid-eighties, and a couple of others.)

Second, I have far fewer years ahead of me than behind me.

Third, many of my generation have great-grandchildren, some of whom are teenagers.

Third, I remember my youth better than my fifties and sixties.

Fourth, I have more aches and pains, and less stamina than formerly.

To offset the psychology of aging, I speak of absolute dates (e.g. H.S. graduation in 1957, rather than 59 years ago.)

However the thing that absolutely makes me feel old: I can't go for a pizza at midnight after going to the movies...assuming that I could even stay up until midnight.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 25 Nov 16 - 11:17 AM

And lastly, I repeat myself--see above where I have two "third"s.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Senoufou
Date: 25 Nov 16 - 11:54 AM

Does anyone else get those weird, very long, white hairs appearing overnight on the face, especially eyebrows and chin? Whatever is all that about?

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Thompson
Date: 25 Nov 16 - 12:34 PM

Oh, yes, Senoufou, eyebrow hairs on the chin!

The sad thing about the woman screaming at her child wasn't so much that she was screaming words that we didn't know existed when we were the woman's age, as that she was screaming at her little one. Words lose their shockingness and other words replace them all the time. (Though I object strongly to "the C word" and "the F word", both words for rather nice things, being used as nasty hostile terms.)

Mrrzy, you haven't failed, you've left your kids a world of Mad to discover at an age when they'll appreciate it even more.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 25 Nov 16 - 09:12 PM

"Ah Jesus Christ I'm nearly forty
My pubic hair is turning grey
I can't cut the mustard like I used to
I think it's downhill all the way!"

(Billy Connolly, to the tune of What A Friend We Have In Jesus)

We used to go and see Chas and Dave before they got famous, on Wednesdays in the Bishop Bonner in Bethnal Green. You had to fight yo get in. It isn't even a pub any more. 😢

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 25 Nov 16 - 09:14 PM

Yo, check it out!

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: kendall
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 02:28 PM

When I sit in a rocking chair and can't make it go.
When I sink my teeth into a steak and they stay there.

Seriously, constant arthritis pain.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 02:55 PM

Oh kendall, I'm sorry you're in constant pain. That must be awful.

Subject: RE: BS: What makes you feel old?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 26 Nov 16 - 05:32 PM

Nothing!!