Here I am in my 64th year and thinking ahead to what a significant year for me will be when I turn 65. In New Zealand the age when you qualify for Superannuation is 65 years and so I will finally have some income coming in. I will be officially a “Pensioner”.
I’m not quite sure about how I feel about this milestone in my life. I don’t really feel old enough to receive a pension most of the time, but at times I feel easily old enough. There’s nothing like a few health issues that cause you pain to make you feel your age and then some!
While acknowledging the reality of becoming a pensioner next year, I am also realising a few things about myself and those I have around me. When I go to my morning exercises in our local pool, I meet up with a number of ladies who are there to keep some form of mobility, recovering from an operation, or preparing for one. We all swap stories about our various maladies and share tips about what works for us at times. At the bowing club I mix predominantly with a group of ladies who come to the social ladies bowls on a Tuesday morning. Last time we gathered together I looked around the table and realised that I was the young one at that table. I think every woman there was 70+ and even some 80+. It’s not often I get to feel like the youngster in a group!
The thing is, I am often surprised to learn the ages of my fellow bowlers and swimmers. They certainly don’t conform to the stereotypes of little old ladies who sit and knit and doze off in their chairs. Hmmmm. I just described myself, other than I crochet rather than knit!
Each and every one of them is doing their best to keep mobile and to keep socialising. Many of them volunteer in various ways and continue to contribute to their community. They may not be up to full blown aqua aerobics, but they are at least keeping moving and keeping their joints exercised gently in the pool. It is very social this group of ladies and I admit that I try to go early so I can do some proper exercises before the bulk of the ladies arrive. So, the first half of my morning is reasonably focussed on exercise with the second half more social but still doing what I can in between chats.
If the ‘pool ladies’ are inspiring, then some of the bowlers – both ladies and men – are incredibly inspirational. There are bowlers who are aged 80+ of both genders who still play a great game of bowls and play several times a week and can still play in all day tournaments. Some might need a special stick – greenkeeper approved – so as not to damage the green. Others might need a bowling arm if they can’t bend down to deliver their bowl. The main thing is they continue to play and find ways to continue doing so for as long as they can. There is a feeling of camaraderie in the club, with many gathering after a game or two of bowls for a drink in the club house and much ribbing and laughter can be heard. It is a warm and welcoming feeling being amongst them all and I feel grateful that I have this opportunity. I hope that I can emulate their longevity and bowl into my 80’s too. That would be awesome.
These 70 and 80 year old folk that I mix with at swimming and at bowls are certainly not ready to stop doing what they love. Their age does not give a picture of the determination of them all to keep being active and social. I hope that I can learn from their example and do these things for many years to come.
So, age really is just a number.
I’ve seen teenagers with less ‘get up an go’ than these elders have. Many teenagers I would say ‘their get up and go, got up and went’ if it were ever there in the first place. I can see this inactive screen addicted youth of today becoming old at 50, because their bodies have had years of inactivity.
I hope to continue to swim and bowl and be inspired by my more life experienced friends. For they are inspirational indeed.
My journey with Parkinsons 