www.businessinsider.com/what-we-learned-...s-80-over-80-2025-11
The two-minute exchange at the cash register came in the middle of a yearlong reporting effort. I had wanted to find out why so many people 80 and older work long past retirement age.
Along the way, I found out a lot about myself, too.
That day at the grocery store, other customers waited impatiently behind me, so our conversation was brief. She told me she was working because costs everywhere were rising so quickly.
As I walked out the door, she said something that stuck with me. It only strengthened my resolve to keep writing:
No one ever wants to know about us, she said.
EXACTLY ONE MINUTE LATER,WE ALL WILL BE STEPPING INTO ANOTHER YEAR OF AGING. HERE' R SOME STORIES ABOUT HOW AGE
IN AMERICA IS VIEWED.
I WRITE THIS, BECAUSE I WILL BE 79 IN MAY....BUT, STILL SEEMS LIKE OLD AGE IS ALWAYS 15 YEARS OLDER THAN I AM....
MY FRIG HAS A REALLY CRAZY COOL CARTOON STRIP TAPED TO IT.
IMAGE THIS...TWO OLD LADIES SITTING ON A BENCH IN THE PARK...U KNOW THE ROLLED DOWN NYLONS AND STOCKY BLACK HEELED SHOES,SAGGY"GIRLS' WITHIN THE TOPS OF THEIR DRESSES....ONE SAYS TO THE OTHER ..I DON'T WANT TO BE THAT LITTLE OLD
THEY SAY'' ISN'T SHE SWEET '' ...I WANT 'EM SAYING OH, CRAP...WHAT SHE UP TO NOW?
SO-O-O...I AM ON THE ETHICS COMMITTEE AT THE HOSPITAL,, I AM A P.I.T.A. IN THE CITY GOV....THE CITY MANAGER AND I HAVE A RUNNING DIALOGUE ABOUT HOW $$$$$ IS FRIVOLOUSLY FINDING IT'S WAY TO SPECIAL PROJECTS,WHEN THEY CAN'T EVEN KEEP A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR 6 MONTHS....I HAVE GONE HEAD TO HEAD WITH THIS ISSUES AND FINALLY HAD THEM ADMIT THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND 2025/26 THEY RE ORGED SOME PERSONNEL(MY TOTAL TAX LEVEL .8.9...A LITLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM BAILEY
WHEN I SEE OTHERS MY AGE,I SEE MORE BROKEN DOWN BODIES,MORE 'RODE HARD AND PUT AWAY WET' AND IT STUNS ME...WHEN I HAVE ALL THE BACK AND NECK ISSUE AND THE WEATHER IMPACTS ME.....THEN I REALIZE I'M OLD....OTHERWISE I'M OUT "CHAOS GARDENING,ROCK SCAPING,WEEDING...WE HAVE A VACANT 1/4 ACE AND TUMBLEWEEDS,IF U LET THEM GROW,BECOME A NIGHTMARE......THERE IS TWO SPEEDS FOR ME...GO AND STOP.....HOWEVER, THAT LITTLE HABIT IS NOT' WORKING SO WELL...THEN I REALIZE I'M OLD...
'
JUST SOME WORDS OF WISDOM FROM A 'WOW'...WISER OLDER WOMAN
