tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657406150025287334.post1125117543397026..comments2023-07-09T05:17:05.831-07:00Comments on The Critical Thinker's Speakeasy: On the roadLauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14036898253383221436noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657406150025287334.post-83755479387402653692008-08-16T08:37:00.000-07:002008-08-16T08:37:00.000-07:00Great posts, Laurie.I saw a movie on TV a while ba...Great posts, Laurie.<BR/><BR/>I saw a movie on TV a while back, can't remember what it is called now.<BR/><BR/>The story is about a poet returning to his native Spain after decades of exile in the U.S. because of the Fascist took over in Spain.<BR/><BR/>The guys was 65 years old. <BR/><BR/>When he returned to Spain, he hooked up with his highschool sweetheart, who was by then a widowed grandmother.<BR/><BR/>The two old lovers rekindled their old flame. For the rest of the movie they giggled and fucked like silly, horny teenagers. <BR/><BR/>At one point, the old guy summed it up thus. " I used to think that passion is the privilege of youth, now I realize that you only become old when you stop lusting for life." I think it was beautifully put.<BR/><BR/>At the risk of sounding like a POMO, I think age is just a state of mind (provided you are healthy, of course) <BR/><BR/>Everyday my roomate has lunch at exactly 12pm and dinner exactly at 5pm. He has to be in bed by 11:30pm or midnight even though he doesn't have to work. You can't get him to deviate from his routine even if WWIII breaks out.When we go out for drinks, he would insist on leaving shortly before midnight, almost like Cinderella. <BR/><BR/>He wouldn't go for camping or God forbids, long distance travel. The difference in time zone would kill him. Yes, he is old and gray, even though he is only 24.<BR/><BR/>Coming from a different culture I am keenly aware of how aging is perceived differently in the East and West.<BR/><BR/>In Asia, people are slotted into boxes. People tend to only mingle with those in their own age groups, and there is a definite social expectation for people to "act their age". By "acting" I mean it literally. When my uncle turned 60, I realized he suddenly took on the demeanor of an old man, he walked slower, he started talking in that long whinny, exaggerated old man voice. I think he faked it just to play the role. Too much pressure to conform.<BR/><BR/>My mother now hangs out with fellow senior citizens (she is 67)and takes hobby classes with them. The strange thing is, I think she is actually quite youthful and healthy, whereas people in her groups are in their mid 70s to mid 80s. Sometimes I think perhaps she can only hang out with the really old people because they put her in that box. In contrast, I have friends here who are around my mom's age and they are very active and mingle freely with younger people in outdoor trips and other recreation activities.<BR/><BR/>Now we often hear about "aging demographic" in Western countries. I think perhaps this is an exaggeration of the alarmists. It is not really how old you are, not even how much you can do,--I don't think there is a sharp, rapid decline in mental ability when you get older unless you suffer from dementia,--but how much you are willing to do and are allowed to do.<BR/><BR/>In Asia the population is overall younger, but they also seem to age faster. Life is laid out like a straight line, there are expectations to fill and goals to meet at each sign post, once you reach a certain stage in your life, they put you in a box. Some people praise it and call it "respect for the senior", but I find it very oppressive and limiting. It can also be exploitative because now your grown children may expect you to look after the grandchildren for them.Bonzaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11526546994333723971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657406150025287334.post-43326018960405449082008-08-14T22:40:00.000-07:002008-08-14T22:40:00.000-07:00Right on Laurie.That's exactly something I would d...Right on Laurie.<BR/><BR/>That's <I>exactly</I> something I would do.<BR/><BR/>Ap,<BR/><BR/>Yuh-uh, you just pretend the other cars aren't there.TheWhitePearlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02125654466362194036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657406150025287334.post-53654334021774790592008-08-14T08:38:00.000-07:002008-08-14T08:38:00.000-07:00You've got to collect these into a book. Very ente...You've got to collect these into a book. Very entertaining.Sharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07225568690830099124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4657406150025287334.post-31348021411282218192008-08-14T06:21:00.000-07:002008-08-14T06:21:00.000-07:00Haha - Love it! Wouldn't have happened if you were...Haha - Love it! <BR/>Wouldn't have happened if you were in a caravan though.....Apathy Personifiedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12472573053528091752noreply@blogger.com