Elderly? What's That?

Apparently, one is a Senior around the age fifty-something and in the newspaper, "elderly" is an age number, not one's condition. I have always assumed that an elderly person is someone who, through no fault of their own, is in poor health and has trouble getting around. They take on the "elderly" look. Unlike general incorrect opinions, it has really nothing to do with grey hair, a stoop or wearing something unfashionably outdated. (The latter could be as a result of trying to live on a pension that allows nothing more fashionable than canned tuna fish and macaroni or the big M. On a good day.)  It riles me to see someone referred to as "elderly" when they are more active than most forty year olds. And anyway, it's an attitude toward life that denotes young or elderly. While a person's years may be beyond fifty, sixty or even seventy, some can't, fairly, be called "elderly". Then again, I do know certain people my age, who adore being elderly. They work very hard at whining about their ills and troubles and the "state of the world today" and how much better it was when they were "young". Often times, they fall into the laps of their families because they are simply lonely. Being alone can be a boon. It doesn't mean being lonely. I know too many individuals who are living with others and complain that they always feel "lonely".  Living alone is what we did when we were young folk just out into the world making a living. We loved our small apartments or rooms and had fun doing them up the way we liked them. We valued our independence. Being older might mean you no longer have your former mate with you but it can become a learning experience. You learn how to do the things your mate did and find it a revelation that you can, indeed, cook, clean, use repair tools and deal with business matters quite well all by yourself. You find ways to get around and to enjoy the new kind of life that you are so fortunate to be living. But when, after all that you have strived to do and did accomplish, you are called "elderly", it sucks. Yes, let's use that term. It's one of the new words you hear and you think privately, now that's a good way to describe it! While I don't advise one to be running around in a mini skirt and six inch heels when you are over the hill a bit, you also don't need to give up on life and collapse into a soggy heap. Your family will congratulate you on working at your independence and you will feel very successful and personally rewarded for your efforts. You are not "elderly" until you decide to be. Maybe never!