Not to jump on the bandwagon, but there’s a lot of talk about age and memory in the news right now. I turned 60 last year, so I have a unique perspective on, and some immediate concerns about, aging. Especially aging with bipolar disorder. As I watch my generation grow older, and our parents move well into their 80s, I watch most of us get more conservative and unreasonably fearful about everything from conditions in our neighborhoods to our prospects for the future. We olds annoyingly cling to an unsupportable opinion that the “good old days” were somehow better than today, even in the face of lengthening lifespans, life-enhancing technology, expanding civil rights, and, for many, more secure material wealth.
As usual, some insightful perspective and commentary. I know you have a young daughter so it's natural that you have some of her perspective; understandable.
Still: I am in my 60's and yes I am old:
I am scared that women and girls have lost the legal right to control their bodies, if impregnated. They are dying and suffering, and being charged with murder, when 50 yrs ago, they would not have.
I am scared that the first ever American insurrection/overthrow of election results (exc. The Civil War) is not being called an insurrection nor being held accountable by the highest court in the our country, and that it isn't a steady stream of conversation. I am scared we are all supposed to say to each other that, sure, we're doing just fine, if asked.
I'm scared that the "b word," a slur for women, is now being normalized on TV and in the media -- this was not the case 30 yrs ago, it is much worse now. You would have had to go see any X/R rated movie or at least pay for HBO, to hear that word normalized.
I'm scared that men who are credibly and openly accused of raping women, & sexually harassing their employees, are on The Supreme Court, and in the White House. At least, decades ago, a prior president quit over (unrelated) criminal allegations and another prior president was impeached regarding the allegation of lying about sexual harassment -- now, it's just: "so what?" Yes, that legit creates a much more dangerous life for women and girls, nowadays.
I'm scared that mass shootings by angry white males are no longer shocking, and that children have to go through practice exercises in school. (I understand that for my parents' generation, they had bomb-drills during WWII -- but school shooting drills are not progress since MY generation.
I am scared that I cant see in my blind spot when driving, as the rear window on my car is merely decorative, due to increasingly diminutive windshields & "swooped" body shapes -- and that the car is undriveable if anything happens to that rear view camera, or the blind spot alarm.
I am scared that many of my friends are dying in their 50's and early 60's. Many of the people who grounded me, from my 20's, 30's, are gone, and mostly they died suddenly.
I am scared that I can no longer go to see a play or to an indoor gathering of any sort because covid is here to stay for the foreseeable future, and there is mass denial that wearing masks will help -- so I'm left to dangle, alone.... and I'm scared that people act like the million people didn't die, and aren't still filling emergency rooms. I'm scared that they don't seem to care or even acknowledge it. I was very ill. My friends died. I'm scared that we're pretending it didn't happen and isn't happening.
I'm scared that when I have a conversation with someone, they normalize looking at their phone, or answering any phone call, text or email, instead of looking at me. And that they're doing it while driving, and that my car was totaled over this behavior. I'm scared seeing that this has crossed over into medical care as well, while even Medicare is becoming more and more privatized so I won't have a choice of walking out on those drs. who do ignore me. I'm scared that i'm forced to sign forms at the drs' offices, agreeing that my medical information is now being shared with... anyone.. or else I am denied treatment. ("The youngs" don't even read what they're signing so they have no way of knowing this.) I'm scared that male medical professionals are still calling me sweetheart and honey and touching my knee repeatedly, when i've just met them -- and that there is no policy against this that is enforced.
I'm scared at how disposable human beings have become, to each other.... that people won't speak to each other, yet they consider a text, tweet or Facebook message, an actual conversation -- and that they refuse to do any other form of communication (outside of a very narrow circle) -- thereby engendering arguments and atrocious comments that would never be said, face to face. And I'm scared, and yes, ANNOYED, that if I don't have this implement tied to my hip 24 hrs/day, *with* a charged battery, I don't find out about a job offer, or a meeting, or even of a death of a friend. And I'm beyond annoyed that it is so damn much work to figure out how to use the right emoji or the exact words to write so that communication isn't misunderstood, whereas a 2-way live conversation would have been so much more clear, easy and time-saving -- and lead to less misunderstandings.
I'm scared that young girls are being exposed to men in their locker rooms, and women/girls now have to worry about men being in prison with us -- where we literally cannot escape. And that the Philadelphia Women's Theatre Festival is allegedly changing it's name to... what..... the People's Theatre Festival of They/Them? -- and that if a woman says ANYyhing about any of this, she is forced out of (what passes for) civil society. Civil rights for women in many ways have regressed. (Maybe you don't count women, when you made your civil rights comment?)
I'm scared that men -- even those who "identify" as men and were born male -- can go to The Women's Center and get a free attorney, when their wives and girlfriends charge them with domestic violence. There is then no free attorney for the actual victim -- convenient, huh.
I could go on, but.... THATS what's wrong with The Olds. So you know.
"Olds"... Star Trek reference?
As usual, some insightful perspective and commentary. I know you have a young daughter so it's natural that you have some of her perspective; understandable.
Still: I am in my 60's and yes I am old:
I am scared that women and girls have lost the legal right to control their bodies, if impregnated. They are dying and suffering, and being charged with murder, when 50 yrs ago, they would not have.
I am scared that the first ever American insurrection/overthrow of election results (exc. The Civil War) is not being called an insurrection nor being held accountable by the highest court in the our country, and that it isn't a steady stream of conversation. I am scared we are all supposed to say to each other that, sure, we're doing just fine, if asked.
I'm scared that the "b word," a slur for women, is now being normalized on TV and in the media -- this was not the case 30 yrs ago, it is much worse now. You would have had to go see any X/R rated movie or at least pay for HBO, to hear that word normalized.
I'm scared that men who are credibly and openly accused of raping women, & sexually harassing their employees, are on The Supreme Court, and in the White House. At least, decades ago, a prior president quit over (unrelated) criminal allegations and another prior president was impeached regarding the allegation of lying about sexual harassment -- now, it's just: "so what?" Yes, that legit creates a much more dangerous life for women and girls, nowadays.
I'm scared that mass shootings by angry white males are no longer shocking, and that children have to go through practice exercises in school. (I understand that for my parents' generation, they had bomb-drills during WWII -- but school shooting drills are not progress since MY generation.
I am scared that I cant see in my blind spot when driving, as the rear window on my car is merely decorative, due to increasingly diminutive windshields & "swooped" body shapes -- and that the car is undriveable if anything happens to that rear view camera, or the blind spot alarm.
I am scared that many of my friends are dying in their 50's and early 60's. Many of the people who grounded me, from my 20's, 30's, are gone, and mostly they died suddenly.
I am scared that I can no longer go to see a play or to an indoor gathering of any sort because covid is here to stay for the foreseeable future, and there is mass denial that wearing masks will help -- so I'm left to dangle, alone.... and I'm scared that people act like the million people didn't die, and aren't still filling emergency rooms. I'm scared that they don't seem to care or even acknowledge it. I was very ill. My friends died. I'm scared that we're pretending it didn't happen and isn't happening.
I'm scared that when I have a conversation with someone, they normalize looking at their phone, or answering any phone call, text or email, instead of looking at me. And that they're doing it while driving, and that my car was totaled over this behavior. I'm scared seeing that this has crossed over into medical care as well, while even Medicare is becoming more and more privatized so I won't have a choice of walking out on those drs. who do ignore me. I'm scared that i'm forced to sign forms at the drs' offices, agreeing that my medical information is now being shared with... anyone.. or else I am denied treatment. ("The youngs" don't even read what they're signing so they have no way of knowing this.) I'm scared that male medical professionals are still calling me sweetheart and honey and touching my knee repeatedly, when i've just met them -- and that there is no policy against this that is enforced.
I'm scared at how disposable human beings have become, to each other.... that people won't speak to each other, yet they consider a text, tweet or Facebook message, an actual conversation -- and that they refuse to do any other form of communication (outside of a very narrow circle) -- thereby engendering arguments and atrocious comments that would never be said, face to face. And I'm scared, and yes, ANNOYED, that if I don't have this implement tied to my hip 24 hrs/day, *with* a charged battery, I don't find out about a job offer, or a meeting, or even of a death of a friend. And I'm beyond annoyed that it is so damn much work to figure out how to use the right emoji or the exact words to write so that communication isn't misunderstood, whereas a 2-way live conversation would have been so much more clear, easy and time-saving -- and lead to less misunderstandings.
I'm scared that young girls are being exposed to men in their locker rooms, and women/girls now have to worry about men being in prison with us -- where we literally cannot escape. And that the Philadelphia Women's Theatre Festival is allegedly changing it's name to... what..... the People's Theatre Festival of They/Them? -- and that if a woman says ANYyhing about any of this, she is forced out of (what passes for) civil society. Civil rights for women in many ways have regressed. (Maybe you don't count women, when you made your civil rights comment?)
I'm scared that men -- even those who "identify" as men and were born male -- can go to The Women's Center and get a free attorney, when their wives and girlfriends charge them with domestic violence. There is then no free attorney for the actual victim -- convenient, huh.
I could go on, but.... THATS what's wrong with The Olds. So you know.