I read in the paper today that Angela Landsbury is going to play the part in Driving Miss Daisy when it comes out here to Australia. She's 86 young and looking forward to playing this wonderful part which everyone loved as a movie all those years ago.
However, in last Sundays' paper, she was asked the question if she could handle learning all those lines for a 90 minute play at her age. She told the interviewer that 'learning lines is my business'; but it could have gone a totally different direction.
Why is it that age makes all the difference? It shouldn't. For me, I've found that my age has made things a little hard for me. I have been treated younger than I am; which drove me to distraction when I was a teenager, but now, it's good. However, there are some days where I wonder why people treat the older generation as though they haven't got a brain between their ears; when really they'd have a lot to offer.
When I was growing up, it was considered rude to treat anyone older than me as though they were dumb, useless or without any sense. The reason being was that my parents socialised me with people my Grandparents age on a regular basis and my brother and I found these people were lovely and full of funny stories you wouldn't hear now about times gone by. The older generation can pass on old skills that aren't taught by schools now - like knitting and crocheting. I should know, as my Grandmother taught me to knit when I was 12 and the next year, when I was in high school, my home economics teacher asked our class who could knit and I remember putting my hand up. Now, I know how to knit and have been known to knit a variety of things for people from scarves to baby bonnets for my friends who are expecting their first baby soon, as well as little blankets and a tiny scarf for their baby too. Most nights, I knit in front of the television just to keep my hands busy.
So, why do some people think that old people should be locked away in retirement homes once they hit a certain age? Is it because of the way they've been brought up or are they just uncomfortable around the older generation? I've never been uncomfortable around older people; but I guess it's how I've grown up. What do you think? Is ageism something we should be aware of? Is it right for people to be locked away in retirement homes that are so out of reach of their relatives they seem like prisons? Personally, I don't like the idea of people being in a retirement home where they don't feel safe and where they can't come and go as they please; or see relatives. I don't think there should be anything against people who are old. These people are founts of knowledge, wisdom and full of great stories which are going to be gone soon of times that will no longer be around. And we have to remember, that the young people of today, are the old people of tomorrow. Our memories and stories of today are going to be treated like nothing by the youth of tomorrow... I don't want to be treated like this when I'm older and am full of stories about the 1980's when computers were just coming of age, turntables were my choice of how to play my music as were cassette tapes and the VCR was the biggest thing to have - not the XBox360 or iPod or any other hand-held computer. Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.
However, in last Sundays' paper, she was asked the question if she could handle learning all those lines for a 90 minute play at her age. She told the interviewer that 'learning lines is my business'; but it could have gone a totally different direction.
Why is it that age makes all the difference? It shouldn't. For me, I've found that my age has made things a little hard for me. I have been treated younger than I am; which drove me to distraction when I was a teenager, but now, it's good. However, there are some days where I wonder why people treat the older generation as though they haven't got a brain between their ears; when really they'd have a lot to offer.
When I was growing up, it was considered rude to treat anyone older than me as though they were dumb, useless or without any sense. The reason being was that my parents socialised me with people my Grandparents age on a regular basis and my brother and I found these people were lovely and full of funny stories you wouldn't hear now about times gone by. The older generation can pass on old skills that aren't taught by schools now - like knitting and crocheting. I should know, as my Grandmother taught me to knit when I was 12 and the next year, when I was in high school, my home economics teacher asked our class who could knit and I remember putting my hand up. Now, I know how to knit and have been known to knit a variety of things for people from scarves to baby bonnets for my friends who are expecting their first baby soon, as well as little blankets and a tiny scarf for their baby too. Most nights, I knit in front of the television just to keep my hands busy.
So, why do some people think that old people should be locked away in retirement homes once they hit a certain age? Is it because of the way they've been brought up or are they just uncomfortable around the older generation? I've never been uncomfortable around older people; but I guess it's how I've grown up. What do you think? Is ageism something we should be aware of? Is it right for people to be locked away in retirement homes that are so out of reach of their relatives they seem like prisons? Personally, I don't like the idea of people being in a retirement home where they don't feel safe and where they can't come and go as they please; or see relatives. I don't think there should be anything against people who are old. These people are founts of knowledge, wisdom and full of great stories which are going to be gone soon of times that will no longer be around. And we have to remember, that the young people of today, are the old people of tomorrow. Our memories and stories of today are going to be treated like nothing by the youth of tomorrow... I don't want to be treated like this when I'm older and am full of stories about the 1980's when computers were just coming of age, turntables were my choice of how to play my music as were cassette tapes and the VCR was the biggest thing to have - not the XBox360 or iPod or any other hand-held computer. Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.
By the time I hit those precious senior years I probably wouldn't even remember what life was like at the age I am at now.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to forget my younger years as I become older... these are the years that keep us young at heart.
Delete