Golden Age? Humbug

 Being a "senior citizen", a kindly word for aged, is certainly not golden. Gold is a beautiful expensive substance that is proudly displayed. Why the word "gold" is used to describe what it's like to be old is ridiculous. There is little "beautiful" in terms of the present day meaning of "beautiful",  nor is age proudly displayed other than the thought of achieving a long life. Being of the so-called Golden Age is actually a time that is, for most people, uncomfortable. Aging brings challenges. If you are a woman, you either give up or you try too hard. Out comes either wearing the give-up and be granny dress or else the spa memberships, diets, hair dye, the "procedures" in an attempt to look younger.  None of them work unless  you like fooling yourself. Nor has everyone the money to do it. And for some, aging it is a painful, lonely experience they never thought they would suffer. Our society worships young. Sure, we all lie about how great it is to build "all your wonderful memories".  Really? When the door is shut, it's another tale. In some cultures, old age is respected and even revered. The young of those groups listen to the aged for their own benefit. In most Western cultures, age is ignored, ridiculed and/or feared. I am being honest here, and it is uncomfortable to be honest. Truth hurts. The endless jokes about aging begin age fortyish with receiving cute emails listing all the ho ho ho about it.  They're cute. And "cute" is not necessarily a word for pretty. You wake up one day and say to yourself, oh oh, I'm an an oldie. My my back, my knees, my whole body tells me. My hair is thinning, falling out, turning white. The way people treat me is as  a fragile, mindless wreck to moan and coo at. They "help" you when you didn't ask for it. I see movies with duded up old guys paired with women younger  than their daughters, while the old female actors are either not hired or relegated to roles as the witchy bosses. And if the female actors are seen with younger men, they're called the name of a dangerous animal. So what to do about the aging state? One solution is to believe that younger people hee hee, are going to be where  you are shortly, if that's your comfort. It isn't mine. Or, you can ignore the ignorant comments and mores that don't see you as what you truly are wrinkles and sags notwithstanding.  You have experience that younger people have yet to earn. Theirs will be different, but experience is what built our human history. We learn from each other. Do not give up the importance of your contribution. Be steadfast and hold your head high to blast through all that silliness and be You. You are still you with all you've lived no matter what is going on with your wearing down body. Even if sometimes forgetful or slower or don't hear or see as well, you remain everything you did before you found yourself "old". You experienced what no one else has or ever will, and that's what makes you, you. What others say about memories is absolutely true.  You are a naturally aging human being who has enjoyed the beautiful, precious gift of life on earth. That's the gold.