This all so incredibly, utterly relatable. When I started my job, everyone around me seemed so lold. I'm older now than they were then. Every once in awhile one of my coworkers will remind me that I was hired before they were born. Usually, it's lower grade (and good natured) teasing like saying the music I'm playing reminds them of being in their parent's car. Ack. I also tried to explain how we used to seek out internet cafes when landing somewhere new on a trip. You can imagine how that went.
P.S. Not sure if we're talking about the same chain, but there are still Perkins restaurants here in WI.
I think there's one left in Cincinnati but the old one was the hub for awhile! Of course this was pre Starbucks which is already hard enough to imagine haha!!
We had Oldies stations and Nick-at-Nite, which were all curated for us to know what we should know. Now that everything is available (YouTube, Spotify etc.), you have to already KNOW what you want to know in order TO know. And kids don't.
LOL! I see you are living the same nightmare I am. Each instance you discussed is something my husband and I laugh about happening to us. He's on 65 and still working for that big retirement party at 70. I'm 74, checking the obits regularly and sighing to read yet another one of my high school classmates has "moved on." Reading about your musical tastes made me remember I haven't listen to popular music since 1980. My God, I'm a fogie! That's also about the time I entered the digital age after Jeff and I married. My dad gave us a big fat check at the wedding and one of the things we (he) purchased was an Apple II computer. Apparently the home market was just opening to the household computer. Heck, I was still making coffee in a stovetop percolator. And someone gave us a drip coffeemaker. So, I guess that makes me a true luddite. Groovy!
So I’m just going to say: Same. And I’m 20 years older than you - just imagine! I appreciate you putting my thoughts and feelings in black and white… you know, like newspaper articles. 🙂
Jodie, such fluent writing and quick reaching around while you move the narrative forward at the same time. Just solid good stuff.
My wife and I just spoke to our older son, it's his birthday today, he's 33. I told him to listen to "Good Time Charley's Got The Blues". Our younger son at 31 is with us here in Mexico, hanging out, so life is pretty dang good, even if I'm 65 but I don't look a day over 70. Most importantly, I'm writing solid poems and decent essays and I adore my wife more than when we fell in love in 1984.
Love this. My husband and I have been talking about the next stages - if I could be writing poetry in Mexico with my grown children, talking about music, I'll be A-OK. I'll give that one a listen!
The driving thing is crazy - what we used to do!! I try to think about the joy of freedom I had when I could drive and being glad for that. You do so much but you have so much energy and you'll find people who need you!! Look at you and your mom- you still have each other!! I have loved becoming friends with my mom now that I'm older. You'll always have each other.
So much this of late. Like a lot. I've been volunteering a ton of hours for both my kids, and wondering in the back of my head the other day if it will help me on a job app or NHS?
I'm almost 52. My mom turns 82 this month (and still works full time when she isn't sick from something). My 15 is almost a 16 yo and she's learning to drive....which brings back both memories and old fears (I can't believe how far we were allowed to drive with a classmate in Junior year of HS when we didn't even know WTF).
I am having a very hard time.
The kids are almost out. They will be away. Then where does my last strings of youth go? No more HS chaperoning, no more whining about orthodontist appointments, just
This all so incredibly, utterly relatable. When I started my job, everyone around me seemed so lold. I'm older now than they were then. Every once in awhile one of my coworkers will remind me that I was hired before they were born. Usually, it's lower grade (and good natured) teasing like saying the music I'm playing reminds them of being in their parent's car. Ack. I also tried to explain how we used to seek out internet cafes when landing somewhere new on a trip. You can imagine how that went.
P.S. Not sure if we're talking about the same chain, but there are still Perkins restaurants here in WI.
I think there's one left in Cincinnati but the old one was the hub for awhile! Of course this was pre Starbucks which is already hard enough to imagine haha!!
We had Oldies stations and Nick-at-Nite, which were all curated for us to know what we should know. Now that everything is available (YouTube, Spotify etc.), you have to already KNOW what you want to know in order TO know. And kids don't.
Curating one's life is a great subject on its own!
Very much enjoyed reading this and related to so much of your experiences. Thank you for sharing, made my day and put a smile on my face.
Thanks for reading!
LOL! I see you are living the same nightmare I am. Each instance you discussed is something my husband and I laugh about happening to us. He's on 65 and still working for that big retirement party at 70. I'm 74, checking the obits regularly and sighing to read yet another one of my high school classmates has "moved on." Reading about your musical tastes made me remember I haven't listen to popular music since 1980. My God, I'm a fogie! That's also about the time I entered the digital age after Jeff and I married. My dad gave us a big fat check at the wedding and one of the things we (he) purchased was an Apple II computer. Apparently the home market was just opening to the household computer. Heck, I was still making coffee in a stovetop percolator. And someone gave us a drip coffeemaker. So, I guess that makes me a true luddite. Groovy!
Your first drip coffee maker! Good one!!
Yup! That was back in 1982, but still ...!
So I’m just going to say: Same. And I’m 20 years older than you - just imagine! I appreciate you putting my thoughts and feelings in black and white… you know, like newspaper articles. 🙂
Jodie, such fluent writing and quick reaching around while you move the narrative forward at the same time. Just solid good stuff.
My wife and I just spoke to our older son, it's his birthday today, he's 33. I told him to listen to "Good Time Charley's Got The Blues". Our younger son at 31 is with us here in Mexico, hanging out, so life is pretty dang good, even if I'm 65 but I don't look a day over 70. Most importantly, I'm writing solid poems and decent essays and I adore my wife more than when we fell in love in 1984.
Love this. My husband and I have been talking about the next stages - if I could be writing poetry in Mexico with my grown children, talking about music, I'll be A-OK. I'll give that one a listen!
By the way, I published a poem today about whacking my finger as a carpenter but it started out as an essay and got shortened.
The driving thing is crazy - what we used to do!! I try to think about the joy of freedom I had when I could drive and being glad for that. You do so much but you have so much energy and you'll find people who need you!! Look at you and your mom- you still have each other!! I have loved becoming friends with my mom now that I'm older. You'll always have each other.
And Maude (Bea Arthur) found out she was pregnant at 47.
So much this of late. Like a lot. I've been volunteering a ton of hours for both my kids, and wondering in the back of my head the other day if it will help me on a job app or NHS?
I'm almost 52. My mom turns 82 this month (and still works full time when she isn't sick from something). My 15 is almost a 16 yo and she's learning to drive....which brings back both memories and old fears (I can't believe how far we were allowed to drive with a classmate in Junior year of HS when we didn't even know WTF).
I am having a very hard time.
The kids are almost out. They will be away. Then where does my last strings of youth go? No more HS chaperoning, no more whining about orthodontist appointments, just
Loneliness.