70
- 22 hours ago
- 6 min read
There are advantages and disadvantages to getting into your 70's.
I shall be 71 in a couple of weeks, in mid April, and I thought I would share with you some of the things about getting old, sent to me by you guys over the years and I have kept until now.
I am sure you can add to these lists, so please do.
If you find yourself in a not too happy place, CHANGE YOUR MINDSET and if you don't know how, come visit Hamilton Hall and we can share some things with you ...
THINGS I HATE ABOUT BEING OLDER.
I am invisible to many. I am not seen as a sexual being.
I am seen more as an old fart, an annoyance, someone to ' put up with.'
I am more scared these days than I ever was.
I rarely go out, the modern world scares me a bit.
I shop daily so I meet and chat with people,even if just the girl on the till.
I am lonely.
I was an important person in the Armed Forces with respect and worth, since retiring, I feel useless.
Since the kids left home, my wife and I have no conversation and nothing holding us together, the glue that bound us together all these years - has moved out.
My Diary is no longer full of parties and fun events, it is now full of blood tests, X ray appointments, hospital visits etc
When I was 20, I looked 15. I hated it. Now I am 70, I look late 50's and I love it.
I am sad I cannot do what I use to do physically.
I can no longer maintain an erection and this really saddens me.
My body, once all toned from regular gym visits, has gone to pot.
So many foods give me problems that was never the case decades ago.
It takes me 3 or 4 days to recover from a heavy drinking Saturday night whereas , it took me just a nights sleep decades ago. So now I don't have those late night parties as my body cannot cope.
I am nervous when driving my car as everyone seems in such a hurry these days.
I am completely confused with moble phones, computers etc.
I fall asleep in the middle of a movie. ( that is sooooo my Mother )
Not into gay bars any more. I am nudged out of the way and seen as just an old fool BUT when I get my dick out, I can still be centre stage.
Aps. WTF ? A different App for ever place I want to park my car - so confusing and simply ridiculous.
Where have the police gone. Not seen one on the road patrolling in decades and no wonder there is so much crime, police of today haven't a clue what the fuck they are doing.
Lots of modern music leaves me cold.
In modern movies actors mumble and I cannot keep up.
There is no such thing as A GAY COMMUNITY. It is a mixture of bars, clubs and hotels who never get on and just fight amongst themselves. There is no community.
There are a lot of bitchy fucked up resentful people on the gay scene.
We may have hundreds of TV Channels, but there is still bugger all worth watching.
I would love to be 30 again.
THINGS I LOVE ABOUT BEING OLDER.
I have given up caring a shit what others think of me.
Fuck 'em.
I know what I want and I know what I don't want.
I own my own home and have an income besides my pension and I have never been so rich.
I do not stand for unprofessional people in business.
I am NOT afraid to speak up and speak out.
I do not tollerate fools;- in other words, I read it as it is.
I am less and more tollerant, dependong on the circumstances, but these days I don't jump when something happens. I love an afternoon nap.
I can sit in the garden every single day when the sun shines.
Being a gay man who has been 'out' for over 55 years, I have seen the gay scene grow and evolve.
I thoroughly enjoy TV programmes I wouldn't have watcheed 30 years ago... I have matured.
I don't need a partner.
I do need friends.
Many gay men will stab you in the back.
I don't dress for fashion, I dress for comfort.
At 17 years of age I watched the movie ' Death In Venice' & thought it was crap. Watched it 35 years later and cried my eyes out. I seem very intelligent compared to so many young people I meet who - quite simply - seem not to have a clue about much at all.
I sit and my mind just drifts off sometimes and I haven't a clue what happened watching the movie or whatever... I just zone out.
I recognise bullshit when I hear it and am not afraid to call it for what it is.
Took an LGBT Cruise and the one person EVERYONE wanted to know, throughout the trip, only had eyes for me ( I found out on the last day ) even though I was amongst only half a dozen people over middle age... it was a very youthful crowd.
I have more confidence if and when entering a strange place filled with strange people who all stare when you walk in. I simply don't give a flying fuck what they think.
I give thanks I made it this far and HIV Negative, and considering the scores of funerals I went to in the 80's and 90's - all friends who died from HIV / AIDS,
Someone stole my identity, and I was flattered they thought me worthy enough.
People offer a different kind of resepct when you age, from 20 - 30 - 70... each decade the value and respect slightly changes.
Old people still get in my way.
Every time I shop in Aldi / Tesco etc. I buy some flowers to give to a random elderly women in the car park after as a gesture of kindness, and I have never yet been refused and it makes my day to brighten theirs.
As an older man, I am seen as harmless - little do they know.... lol
I buy clothes for comfort not fashion. ( Charity shops )
I am not one of those sad old men who rush out and buy a sports car that screams MID LIFE CRISIS and TINY PECKER...
People come to me all the time for advice and input on family / work issues.
I may be wealthy, but I do not lend money, especially to family. I may offer it - but do not ask or expect.
Now I can afford the world cruise, I haven't the energy any more.
Old friends die off and while you make new ones, they don't know you from old and that - does count for something.
When people give me attitude, I am perfct as putting them in their place and making them feel small. Don't even go there...
Saturday nights I remember back 35 years ago as being some of the best times.
Life has been a struggle but I would do it all again if given the chance.
I still miss my Mother even though its been many years.
Irrespective which list you recognise with the more, be aware, YOU ONLY GET ONE LIFE AT A TIME - so stop moaning, stop pulling everything apart, stop winging and see you life for what it is - YOU ARE STILL ALIVE and as long as you can - ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF IT - whether it's watching a movie or takng that world cruise. You are not dead yet, so brighten up and ONLY YOU can help yourself HAVE A NICE DAY.
It's all a frame of mind.
John Bellamy
You make, and take, from the news that which you wish to see and hear. You observe what you want and comment of things that affect you personally. If you don't like something, do not read it and move on but do not shy away from what IS going on in the world of which - you are a part. World news is so easy to find these days and differing opinions not hard to find. Having an opinion is vital and being a ' don't care' person helps no one. So open your mind - open your heart - open your awareness and ALWAYS be open to new ideas.
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