Age is a Social Construct: The Weekly Hodgepodge

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Come on over to 

From This Side of the Pond 

for the Hodgepodge link-up!

 

How would you define 'old'? At what age is someone old? 

I have my mother's philosophy on aging.  My mom was asked when she was in her early 70s what age did she consider old.  Her answer?  Dead.  She said, "Age ain't nothin' but a number.  You don't start gettin' old until you sit around and don't do nothin'."  My mother lived to be 87, so I'd say she's onto something.  Psalm 91:16 (ESV) says, "With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”  I want to be like my mom and live a long, active life.

One of my favorite "old" people is Ernestine Shepherd (pictured here).  Miss Ernestine became the world's oldest competitive female body builder in her 70s.  She turned 85 this summer and is still going strong.  Try to tell Miss Ernie she's old.  She'll choke slam you.

A place you've been that's old? Tell us something about your visit there. 

I think the most recent old place I've visited was the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.  My friend Joan is from there and we took a drive down there this past May. Even though it was raining cats and dogs part of the time, the scenery was still beautiful.  The red rocks remind me of the red clay soils of the South.  I hope to get to go back for a more extensive (and rain free) tour sometime.

Something you miss about the 'good old days'? When were they anyway? 

Musicians and singers with talent, people who weren't famous for doing nothing, people who knew how to have a grown up conversation where everyone didn't have to agree, and the absence of social media.  Maybe all these are connected.  Though I participate in social media and have made and kept up with many friends, I almost wish I'd never signed up for a social media account.  I said almost.  I gave myself some peace recently by dropping toxic people from my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. 

When were the "good ol' days"?  The 80s were pretty great, but I'm hoping for plenty of "good new days."  I don't in any way believe that my best days are behind me.  Yes, there are some people who believe that once I turn 50 next year I should start picking out my nursing home.  Those people need to find something else to do.  Even when I reach retirement age --which industry invented and the government latched onto -- Lord willing, I'm not retreating to my house, sitting on the porch in my rocking chair, and yelling at kids to get out of my yard.  I want to still be going strong.

In what way are you a 'chip off the old block'? Or if you'd rather, in what way is your child a 'chip off the old block'? 

• I look like my dad but my mom also said that when I wear hats, I look just like my granny (her mother).
• I drive like my dad (when he was sober).  I still loathe the interstate and will drive a car until the wheels fall off.
• I have my parents' work ethic.  Though we were poor, my parents were never lazy and worked up until they couldn't anymore.  My dad became too sick to work in his late 40s/ early 50s and my mom pretty much had to be convinced to stop working in her 80s.
• The joke is that older people have no filter, but my parents NEVER had a filter.  I really don't have a filter either--at least in my mind.  Sometimes I have to bite my tongue until blood comes out my nose to keep from saying everything I think.
  

Old fashioned, Old Testament, old timer, same old same old, old glory, good old boy, old wives tale...choose an 'old' phrase that relates to something in your life or the wider world currently and explain. 

Old fashioned, but in a good way.  A podcast I occasionally listen to decided to make September "Sex-tember" and that's where they lost me until they talk about something else. I'm no prude, but one of the saddest things I saw when people were commenting on it on social media was their disdain for the "purity culture."  I'm supposing the podcast did the same since everyone was so giddy.  Why is this sad?  I never thought I would see a time when staying sexually pure until marriage and valuing yourself enough not to give your body and soul over to every fool who comes along and says "I love you" was a negative.  What's even sadder is that the Christian community is starting to believe this crap.  Yes, I know I don't have a dog in the fight since hanging on to my purity isn't a struggle anymore (I know, it's easy to stay pure when no one wants you).  And yes, I know I sound like an old fart, but I've seen a lot more heartache from people who didn't wait than from those who did.  One of the ministries I support is Colorado Family Life Center, a pro-life crisis pregnancy center, plus I volunteered for Sav-A-Life HOPE back home in Alabama.  Along with the sweet babies who have been wanted, born, and loved, there are also the stories that break your heart (and sometimes make you mad).  Women have to deal with the fear of the consequences of an unwanted pregnancy, a man who puts the burden of birth control and parenting on the women he sleeps with and fathers children with, and the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases (men have to deal with this also).  At one point, we had a woman ready to take her own life because she got pregnant by someone who turned out to not be who she thought.  But the problem is "purity culture"?  Give me a break!

Insert your own random thought here.

I know it's been a hot minute since I posted a hodgepodge (or anything else for that matter).  I started my first block of adjunct teaching at CCU.  I'm enjoying it, but still trying to get into the rhythm of teaching along with my full-time job.  Hopefully I'll get back to consistent posting.  If not, you know where I am; at my computer working on reports or grading a stack of papers.

In case you missed it:  

*My last Hodgepodge post, "Fourth Down," is here.
*My latest Five Minute Friday post "From," is here.
*My latest Simple Woman's Daybook "A Buggy Full of Lemons," is here.
*My latest Auntie's Workshop post "Finishing and Fixing III," is here.
*My latest 2021 Flip and Sip Reading Challenge review of Love Does, is here.