Randy Voorhees - Old Age Is Always 15 Years Older Than I Am

Old Age Is Always 15 Years Older Than I Am
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Ruth Winters, my Nanny Ruth.
No one with her energy, spirit,
and love can ever be old. Introduction I chose old age as a subject because there doesnt seem to be any consensus on exactly what old is, and that fascinates me.

We all have our own definition, and it often changes according to the contexta term of endearment for a spouse of many years, a pejorative describing the driver of the slow-moving car in front of us. In my Websters Desk Dictionary the word old is defined as far advanced in years or life. I think that definition could be made better by adding five words at the end: but not necessarily in both. What I mean is that you can be old in years but young in life, or old in life but young in years. When I was twenty-five I was young in years, but, man, my body was well lived in. I was already old in life.

My father is sixty-three, an age believed by many to be old, but hes just now enjoying retirement after forty-plus years of supporting a family, so hes young in life, and anxious to catch up. Im forty-two now, not an age that most people regard as old. If I were to die tomorrow people would say that I had died young. I dont think so. My life has been spectacularly full, and though I hope to live another forty years, Im already old in life. The bottom line is that everyone has a choice as to how to define what old is.

No one can label you without your permission. Im sure that many of the quotations in this book will have you nodding, and just as many will have you shaking your head in disagreement. What I really hope is that youll find something that will give you pause. And maybe, just maybe, something will make you change your own definition of old. My favorite is by John Wayne, uttered before Congress when the actor was asked to testify about aging in America. The Duke said, Which of you is going to step up and put me out to pasture? I think Mr.

Wayne speaks for most of us. Randy Voorhees Princeton, New Jersey To me, old age is always fifteen years older than I am. Bernard Baruch, U.S. business executive Old elephants limp off to the hills to die; old Americans go out to the highway and drive themselves to death with huge cars. Hunter S. author I think all this talk about age is foolish. author I think all this talk about age is foolish.

Every time Im one year older, everyone else is too. Gloria Swanson, U.S. actress The excitement of learning separates youth from old age. As long as you are learning youre not old. Rosalyn Sussman Yalow, U.S. medical physicist If wrinkles must be written upon our brows, let them not be written upon the heart.

The spirit should never grow old. James A. Garfield, U.S. president Old age is not a disease; it is a strength and survivorship, triumph over all kinds of vicissitudes and disappointments, trials and illnesses. Maggie Kuhn, U.S. activist and social worker Old age is like everything else.

To make a success of it, youve got to start young. Fred Astaire, U.S. dancer and actor Outwardly I am eighty-three, but inwardly I am every age, with the emotions and experience of each period. Elizabeth Coatsworth, U.S. poet and childrens author Old age is like climbing a mountain. You climb from ledge to ledge.

The higher you get, the more tired and breathless you become, but your views become more extensive. Ingrid Bergman, Swedish actress Old age is no place for sissies. Bette Davis, U.S. actress Age is a question of mind over matter. If you dont mind, it doesnt matter. baseball player Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen. baseball player Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen.

Mark Twain, U.S. writer and humorist By the time weve made it, weve had it. Malcolm Forbes, U.S. publisher You cant help getting older, but you dont have to get old. George Burns, U.S. comedian and actor Just remember, once youve over the hill, you begin to pick up speed.

Charles Schulz, U.S. cartoonist Its a mere moment in a mans life between an All-Star game and an old-timers game. Vin Scully, U.S. sportscaster Dont worry about senility, my grandfather used to say. When it hits you, you wont know it. comedian, actor, and author The man who views the world at fifty the same as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life. comedian, actor, and author The man who views the world at fifty the same as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.

Muhammad Ali, U.S. heavyweight boxer Youre not too old until it takes longer to rest up than it does to get tired. Phog Allen, U.S. college basketball coach When I was forty, my doctor advised me that a man in his forties shouldnt play tennis. I heeded his advice carefully and could hardly wait until I reached fifty to start again. Hugo Black, U.S.

Supreme Court justice Perhaps one has to be very old before one learns how to be amused rather than shocked. Pearl S. Buck, U.S. author