Don’t let those tufts of hair sticking out of Grandpa’s ears fool you. He can hear a dime drop in Grand Central during rush hour. Grandpa’s lived a life. He’s cool. He’s funny. He’s got some stories.
And yet, now that we’re in a Covid-19 pandemic, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick of Texas, POTUS and others of their ilk want to send Grandpa out into the world as if life were as normal as blueberry pie. Why? Because the economy, above all else, should come first. Republican lawmakers are pushing states to loosen restrictions and re-open before the coronavirus curve has flattened. To this crew of lawmakers, if that means older parents and grandparents might catch the virus and kick the bucket, then so be it. After all, they’re old and useless, like some crazy person who tells you to inject Clorox.
Do these people really think older Americans are expendable? Do they really believe we don’t contribute to society? Don’t they know that 18 percent of the workforce are older Americans? We may have some gray hair, but so does Dr. Anthony Fauci, the only sane voice coming out of Washington these days, and he’s 79. Dr. Fauci is an infectious diseases specialist. He doesn’t roam the White House in a blue bathrobe looking for someone to change his adult diaper.
Re-opening the economy too soon, and putting older Americans at risk, is ageism, plain and simple. It’s telling people over 60 you don’t count. And then to say older Americans would happily give up their lives for the economy is totally absurd. We may have wrinkles. We may lose our hearing. But trust me, most older Americans are grateful for every day they have on this good earth, and they live vibrant, productive and meaningful lives.
Look at Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, She’s 87 and is deeply respected for her work. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi just hit the 80 mark and she clicks around the Capitol in stilettos, leading the Democratic Party with tremendous power. Pelosi is the only woman in Washington who continuously stands up to those good old boys and verbally kicks them in the badoobies.
It’s not just lawmakers who think older Americans should be sitting ducks in our Covid culture. Just the other day, my boyfriend and I took a walk when a young jogger huffed and puffed toward us forcing us to jump out of the way. I blurted, “Why aren’t you wearing a mask?” She said, “You shouldn’t be out.” That was her answer. In other words, the only time older people should be out is when someone chains them to a tree in the yard.
Older Americans may complain of aches and pains, and sometimes talk too much about the past, but even when life gets tough, they still look forward to the possibilities tomorrow brings. Life doesn’t change a person’s soul with aging. Whether you’re 17 or 70, most people still look forward to talking with friends on the phone. We still get excited when we hear our favorite rock songs on Spotify. We still feel cozy and loved watching movies on the couch with our sweethearts.
Older Americans do just about everything younger Americans do. We read, we write, we paint, we win awards, we sing, we dance, we make love on a rainy afternoon. We’re just like our younger counterparts, except we’ve been around the block a few times. We know the names of baseball players long passed. We can tell you the thrill we felt the first time we saw Michael Jackson dance the moonwalk on TV. Older Americans are a living portrait of the cycle of life in our culture. The lines on our faces reveal the pain we’ve felt, the love we’ve shared, the losses, the wins, the flaws, and the wisdom. We each have a story to tell.
So, if you think older members of your family don’t count, think back to the man who first taught you to tie your shoe and ride a bike. Think back to the woman who hugged you and made you dinner when your mom had to work late. Are you ready to see them pass away because you and your friends are in a rush to get back to a reality that doesn’t exist anymore?
Instead, why not take a breath, try a little patience, and tenderness, and give your parents and grandparents a call. Maybe, when you hear their voices, you might realize what really matters to make a great America.
See You Next Week!
Enjoying the weekly posts!
Amen to that!