Have mimeograph will travel
A friend recently announced at a gathering that he was unemployable. The reason he stated was because, being born in 1930, his eightieth birthday was coming up soon. The man tried to joke away his discomfort by saying that if anyone owned a mimeograph, he had tons of experience with that piece of equipment and hoped he could remember the details of operating it. Under other circumstances the statement would have been funny.
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Truth is many of those over 65 believe their experiences are devalued with age. How sad. Maybe it’s because this friend is moving into a different age group, one that carries with it the perception of being old. At some point in live each person becomes old. The trick is to not reach old age until you believe you’ve arrived. It doesn’t matter what others say.
With the boomers starting to turn 65, as of the first of this year, many of them will be thinking about when they will actually be considered old. Surveys show that boomers peg 72 as the threshold of old age. Of course, those in this group also believe they look and feel years younger than their actual age. So, the 72 year old milestone may simply be a way to separate attaining 65 from old age which is somewhere down the road. Chances are this age will move up as the newest New Seniors get closer to it.
What is the problem with aging? Consider the alterative. As long as you are breathing in and out there is something or someone you can help through the experience gained by spending more years on earth then others. Over the years, New Seniors had to face personal as well as business financial crises, relationship problems, health issues and more. Yet we made it through the storms and emerged on the other side, wiser and more grateful for having made it to the other side.
People younger than you have little or no idea about what to do when situations arrive that they have not experienced before. Of course, if their parents, teachers and other responsible for providing leadership as they grew up did their jobs, these folks would realize they have the tools to handle such situations with grace and ease.
Nonetheless, having mature mentors to help people of all ages is part of what New Seniors can provide to their families, friends and communities. This can be on a formal or casual basis. The important thing is that New Seniors must let it be known that they are ready and willing to help without interfering. By the same token, it’s up to those that need help to recognize the need and accept the help. The key to making this happen is for folks of all ages to connect with those who are both older and younger.
So where does this leave my friend with the mimeograph experience. He may find work refurbishing these machines. Perhaps he might want to teach a class on the evolution of the printed word. Or, possibly he might offer his services to computer users when their equipment crashes. Whatever he decides, his ad campaign would be, “Have mimeograph will travel.” And that might be good for people of all ages.
Family vacations may be a nightmare. We all remember the automobile loaded with kids and an overabundance of luggage. The fighting, Dad yelling and slamming on the brakes until everyone quieted down, arguments over who gets to sleep in middle at the motel, and the folks just trying to keep track of everyone had been all undoubtedly ingredients for a family fiasco. Yet, as one ages, those memories are well-remembered along with the topic of countless humorous, late night conversations.