tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post6608954425598332303..comments2024-03-28T12:01:31.049-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: When Did I Become Old?Jim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-69449185492894141952017-03-17T15:37:52.582-04:002017-03-17T15:37:52.582-04:00Thank you, B.K. Yes, acne was a big problem for me...Thank you, B.K. Yes, acne was a big problem for me, too. I remember my best friend at the time as we were getting ready to go to the prom and waiting for our dates, said, "You look nice. It's too bad your acne is worse tonight." That ruined my evening. And yes, I'm not grading papers every evening or working on lesson plans, either. I hope to see you at Malice.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-38900778134710805362017-03-17T11:34:07.963-04:002017-03-17T11:34:07.963-04:00Gloria, I'm amazed at all the physical challen...Gloria, I'm amazed at all the physical challenges you take on--I don't think I could have done all that even when I was a teenager! But I think every age has both its rewards and its problems. At least I don't have to worry about acne any more! And I'm no longer grading essays every night and every weekend, and my grandchildren are certainly adding a lot of life to my "certain age." Enjoyed your column!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17673578800047888317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-85851002503126371502017-03-16T18:56:19.427-04:002017-03-16T18:56:19.427-04:00Sasser, you have such a positive attitude, I'm...Sasser, you have such a positive attitude, I'm betting you live far longer than you think you will. And look how many good things are happening for you. Congratulations on the two book deal. I think even more better things are in our future. By the way my sister-in-law, who is only one year younger than me, is engaged to a man in his mid 80s who is quite active. She was lonely for years after my brother died, and now is happy again and active and totally enjoying life. Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-89638516014123762532017-03-16T18:01:35.821-04:002017-03-16T18:01:35.821-04:00Of course I worry about getting older. I worry abo...Of course I worry about getting older. I worry about my husband who just turned 70. I worry about myself who has lymphoma, a lousy back, and somehow turned 65. I must say, however, that Medicare is terrific!!<br />Selling the huge historic home in Maryland and moving to a one story, down sized home in lovely Aiken, SC was the best thing I ever did. No snow, no ice, and at last sidewalks, a two car garage, and a covered breezeway to the kitchen door. I landed a two-book deal with St. Martins, wrote two books, a novella, and am working on a third novel since moving, so life is good. I feel like now that I am older, my priorities are finally straight. I've learned not to waste time on people I have nothing in common with and to not feel guilty about it. Who has time? At this age, I know life is SHORT.Sasscer Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05855348330942561488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-2580204401930155932017-03-16T15:30:03.670-04:002017-03-16T15:30:03.670-04:00E.B. You're right we know more about how to ma...E.B. You're right we know more about how to maintain good health now. Unfortunately, not everyone adheres to eating healthy and exercising, too. Even though the sun on a beach may not be good for you, it's so much better than sitting in a chair watching TV all day long. I've<br />gone to every high school reunion but one when I was expecting baby #4. Some age better than others, but I'm finding a lot haven't and more and more are deceased with each new reunion.<br /><br />Laura, go ahead and eat that ice cream. You'll wear it off as the day progresses. It's better than eating it at night and then going to bed.<br /><br />Warren, you are so right! :-)<br /><br />K.M. That's a good way to look at it. I think each year of my life gets better, too, not necessarily in energy, but in the good things in life.<br /><br />Thanks, Mary!<br /><br />Shari, hopefully he'll go gray soon so you don't have to keep doing that. Actually, I get more positive comments on my hair now than when I was coloring it. Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-83366922915605126532017-03-16T15:28:06.299-04:002017-03-16T15:28:06.299-04:00old age is a mindset. Who's got time to think ...old age is a mindset. Who's got time to think about it when it's almost time to start weeding, deadheading, and fertilizing?Margaret S. Hamiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07979191318652199350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-53063353361822560992017-03-16T11:51:56.130-04:002017-03-16T11:51:56.130-04:00Sign me up for the breakfast ice cream!
The one co...Sign me up for the breakfast ice cream!<br />The one concession I make to aging is coloring my hair, since my husband has almost no gray hair! If I let myself go natural, people think he's my son taking his mama out for dinner. So until he starts getting more gray, it's off to the hairdresser I go.Shari Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425493627354028820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-34464657316868283502017-03-16T11:41:54.908-04:002017-03-16T11:41:54.908-04:00You rock Mom! Your my hero!!You rock Mom! Your my hero!!Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04218393567042160182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-23462821821432821292017-03-16T10:50:14.491-04:002017-03-16T10:50:14.491-04:00I don't worry about getting older--what would ...I don't worry about getting older--what would be the point of that? While I am younger than you,Gloria, I am not in as good health. I have learned to listen more to my body, rather than expectations from other people about what I should or shouldn't do. Once I realized (in my 60's) I have a serious heart defect, all kinds of past things that puzzled me for my entire life fell into place. <br /><br />That aside, I find that, with very few exceptions, each year of my life is better than the last one.KM Rockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973749764907859829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-34293090777414203512017-03-16T10:46:48.637-04:002017-03-16T10:46:48.637-04:00Sometimes I worry about getting older, but then I ...Sometimes I worry about getting older, but then I think about the alternative.Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-62929775854146299142017-03-16T08:49:06.284-04:002017-03-16T08:49:06.284-04:00Hi Gloria, I used to say I was middle-aged too un...Hi Gloria, I used to say I was middle-aged too until I realized for that to be true I'd expect to live to be 116. I love everything about growing older except the occasional physical pain or necessary surgery. You are waaaaay more energetic than I am and much better at self discipline. I'm one of those who lag behind when we walk. You are far ahead of me chatting away and I can't even hear you. LOL But you are a delightful inspiration. Looking forward to my older-older years. Thanks for the good example. AND the idea about eating ice cream in the morning! LOL -- LaurieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-26121801745451251742017-03-16T08:01:59.151-04:002017-03-16T08:01:59.151-04:00We know so much more about good health than we use...We know so much more about good health than we used to and that information has helped people ward off the symptoms of old age. Being mentally and physically active and having spiritual faith helps everyone no matter the age. <br /><br />I agree with Jim--I knew people in high school who acted and looked middle age. I've often wondered if they stayed the same as they aged and grew into their looks and demeanor. Maybe they got older and older and now look 90 even though we are in our early 60s. I don't keep up with my high school class, so I'll probably never know, but at our 20th reunion, the last I attended, they looked the same as they had in high school. In general, the women looked better than the men, but then I think women have been raised on the notion that looks count so spruce themselves up more. <br /><br />Beach chicks don't age well since we've been out in the elements, but I'd rather be natural than go get a facelift, even if I'd be a great candidate. Just call me droopy! E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-61756060962164551742017-03-16T07:41:51.151-04:002017-03-16T07:41:51.151-04:00Jim, I agree with you that's it's what we ...Jim, I agree with you that's it's what we do to keep active both physically and mentally, and our outlook on life. I always said I was going to live to be a hundred? Will I? Who knows.<br /><br />Ann, sixty is not old anymore. You can stop teasing him. Like I believed when I was in my<br />sixties, it's only upper middle aged now.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-37929101166532352952017-03-16T07:25:13.746-04:002017-03-16T07:25:13.746-04:00I've been teasing my husband Ryan a lot lately...<br />I've been teasing my husband Ryan a lot lately as he's about to turn sixty. But sixty doesn't seem anything like as old as it did when we were young. I don't think that's entirely because we were young - my dad was 52 when he died, and looking back, he seemed much older than many sixty or seventy year olds do now. <br /><br />But maybe that's about Jim's point - maybe he was always old in that way. <br /><br />Ryan always looked young for his age - we'd been married ten years when a door to door salesman knocked and asked to speak to his mum! <br /><br />Ann Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09729843278653034798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-1411587304619781362017-03-16T02:45:52.385-04:002017-03-16T02:45:52.385-04:00Gloria -- there are young people at any age and ol...Gloria -- there are young people at any age and old people at any age. I figure you will always be young for your age (and that's a compliment).<br /><br />I don't worry about getting old. It happens without any effort on my part. I don't do anything special to ward off age, but I do keep myself physically and mentally active.<br /><br />~ JimJim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.com