Time
The shower is an awesome place for deep thinking. It's often where I do some of my best thinking, and come up with some of my best ideas and brainstorms.
Yesterday, it brought to light something I hadn't really put much thought into it. It hit me that my father is almost 70. I'm nearing 40, so that shouldn't be a surprise, but still. In my mind's eye, I don't see him as seventy. I see him as "my father". He does a lot of hard work around the house; he plays with his grandkids; he does almost all of his own automobile maintenance. He's not a spry, young man, no. But, he's not . . . old. Even today, my mind's eye associates "70" with "old", but that doesn't seem to apply to the mental image of my father.
He doesn't act old. He doesn't use a walker. He isn't frail. He's doesn't ramble on about "back in my day". In other words, he doesn't fit the stereotype for "old". Which is probably why it hit me all of a sudden.
To be fair, my mother is 62, and my maternal grandmother is still alive. So, perhaps that skews my perspective some. But, I'm no longer a child so the gulf between 40 and 70 doesn't seem so large any more. I mean, isn't 70 that time when you're supposed to start considering nursing homes or assisted living arrangements for your parents? And yet, they don't need it.
I wonder if I will fair as well in 30 years.
I wonder if my kids will have the same perspective about me.
Yesterday, it brought to light something I hadn't really put much thought into it. It hit me that my father is almost 70. I'm nearing 40, so that shouldn't be a surprise, but still. In my mind's eye, I don't see him as seventy. I see him as "my father". He does a lot of hard work around the house; he plays with his grandkids; he does almost all of his own automobile maintenance. He's not a spry, young man, no. But, he's not . . . old. Even today, my mind's eye associates "70" with "old", but that doesn't seem to apply to the mental image of my father.
He doesn't act old. He doesn't use a walker. He isn't frail. He's doesn't ramble on about "back in my day". In other words, he doesn't fit the stereotype for "old". Which is probably why it hit me all of a sudden.
To be fair, my mother is 62, and my maternal grandmother is still alive. So, perhaps that skews my perspective some. But, I'm no longer a child so the gulf between 40 and 70 doesn't seem so large any more. I mean, isn't 70 that time when you're supposed to start considering nursing homes or assisted living arrangements for your parents? And yet, they don't need it.
I wonder if I will fair as well in 30 years.
I wonder if my kids will have the same perspective about me.