Becoming an Older Older Adult

As the years passed after retirement, there were several clear signs that I was getting deeper into aging.

After I stopped dying my hair, the gray showed up, and was quite obvious, as my natural (and dyed) hair color was a very dark brown. Over time, the gray has taken over more territory. No problem there, as that was expected.  Also, I started using hearing aids soon after retiring, and when I needed to replace them, I got the part that loops over my ear in a gray, rather than black color, to better blend in with my changing hair color.  I realized that continued aging will require some adaptations, but I was fine with these: I no longer had to spend time or money getting my hair colored, I liked the idea of feeling “natural,” and my hearing has definitely improved. But there are other reminders that aging is still an active process, and may require some adjustments.

 A few months ago I arrived at LaGuardia Airport after visiting my daughter and her family in Roanoke. As I came off the plane, there was a uniformed airport employee coming up the ramp pushing a wheelchair, apparently on his way to pick up one of the passengers. As he approached me coming down the ramp he asked – is this for you? “NO” I answered emphatically. This had never happened before, and I was surprised and thought “do I look like I need a wheelchair?” I guess to him I did. And do I look like that to others? Not much to do about that. But truthfully, given the distances one now had to walk in this newly renovated airport, and my tiredness after traveling, a wheelchair to take me to a taxi would not be a bad idea. That probably would apply to many of those getting off that plane.

I am also finding some advantages to getting older. These days I more readily get offered a seat on a bus. And when I shop in a store that is multi-level, when I ask a sales clerk for the location of a particular section, he or she is more likely to tell me where the elevator is after pointing out the location of the staircase. I appreciate this, and will usually use whichever is nearest.  But if I recently checked my iPhone step counter and haven’t taken many steps that day, I will take the stairs.

Another advantage, sort of, is that I don’t usually have to prove my age anymore to get a senior discount. I remember that after I initially retired, I bought an Amtrak ticket and when I asked for the senior discount, the clerk asked for proof of age; in recent years, they don’t ask for proof any more.

When I take domestic flights, I always liked to board with my luggage, mainly because it saves time waiting for it to be unloaded when we arrive at the destination. But I am finding that it is getting more difficult to lift the suitcase and place it in the overhead bin. When I have difficulty raising it high enough, I ask someone nearby if they can help, or more often, someone comes to my assistance. But I don’t like the feeling that I need to rely on someone to help me, and what if there is no one there or no one offers? I think I should start checking my carry-on. Or maybe I should just shlep less stuff with me when I travel, I usually don’t wear most of it anyway.

I expect to continue becoming an older older adult. I feel fortunate, as I age I don’t feel much different from year to year, except for some lowered energy. I hope to manage any changes that arise with further aging by making necessary adjustments, and being grateful I am still on the age spectrum. Perhaps the greater challenge will be to manage societal perceptions of me and make sure they don’t limit my own expectations and plans.