I am "old" enough to be considered "elderly" by anyone's standards, I guess. At 75, I mused, "I think I might be old now." The broken ankle shortly after my 80th aged me greatly; I forsook any sort of physical therapy and it was 3 years before I could be comfortable on uneven ground. I am still exceedingly careful - each step with mindfulness. The broken ankle never hurt much but being dependent was dreadful. Not being able to leave the house, even though I had the Rolls Royce of walkers was depressing; my house mate never "got it" that a railing really would have made a difference. Those weeks of isolation were far worse than current "stay home". The whole thing aged me unnecessarily.

Now 84, I went off and purchased enough (20) bags of "black earth" to plant the tomato plants on top of the clay in the back yard. As soon as the battery powered "weed eater" is charged, I will clear a track through the 18 inch grass so I can back up to the planting site. This is the BIG planting weekend in our part of Canada. So plant I shall! Greatly regretting the plastic bags that I am using. A gorgeous day and... Being 84 and reasonably healthy, I can easily forget I am "elderly"! Until I overdo it.

My house mate just turned 74; he feels old. But he works, physically and mentally, 7 days a week most times. High stress. He just took two days off to veg out; did not even finish installing the new bathroom sink. I mentioned it would have been nice... But he went off to work on this national holiday in far better shape.

The years have little to do with it; what we do to our bodies in those years... And how we view it all. I expected I would die at 58... Went to a Good doctor who pronounced me healthy; I trusted him.

People can call me elderly; that's their perception. Officially, I am old, elderly, whatever. I just keep muddling along.