Personal Thoughts: An Open Diary On Getting Older

                Have you ever thought you’re getting older, but then shrug it off because you just don’t qualify- - in your mind.

                To help you to know where you are in life, consider the following:

                You have already lived many years, when…

                …Your younger siblings move into a retirement community.

                …You begin to walk, not for pleasure, but to stay healthy.

                …You buy a cane- -and probably don’t use it. (Vanity)

                …You’re on the fringe of (if not out of) conversations pertaining to iPhones, social media, IPods- -and Internet banking.

                …Your formerly called “beauty spots” are now referred to as “age spots”.

                …In renewing magazine subscription special offers to buy for three years, you order only for one year.

                …You stop going to Eagles and Phillies games because the walk from parking plus the climbing of steps, plus the loud noise levels, are just too much to endure.

                …You prefer foreign films at the movies- -because they have captions in English you can read. Any hearing problem is not a problem.

                …You get up in the middle of a night’s sleep because your bladder demands attention.

                …Your intake of pills, vitamins and prescriptions, greatly exceeds your intake of chocolates, cookies, and donuts.

                …You pay more to the barber- -and he has less to do.

                …You wear socks at night in bed, to keep your feet warm.

                …When driving at night, the roads you have traversed for many years, don’t seem familiar.

                …When you talk to teens, people in their twenties, they have no knowledge of Philadelphia Mayors James Tate or Mayor Barney Samuels, Rita Hayworth, Pixanne, Inchon , Normandy Beach, Guadalcanal… or Horn & Hardart…hucksters…live carp for gefilte fish…rationing…Perry Como, Red Skelton, Milton Berle, Jack Benny…air raid sirens... “Wibbage”… WFIL’s “Boss Chicks” promotion girls…getting under school desks in case of an atomic bomb attack.

                …The suits and shoes in your closet are greater in number then the days of the week.

                …You don’t wear a tie to the office- -because no one else does.

                …When you ask your grandchildren what was written on their classroom blackboard, and they don’t know what a blackboard is.

                …People you have known in business are no longer around, because they are retired, some permanently.

                …You read the obituaries before reading the sports pages.

                …You can now read your daily newspaper  in minutes, instead of hours.

                …When people call you, as in my case, “MR. Ball,” instead of “Joe.”

                …Former co-workers, going through town, call and ask is “(your name) still there?”

                …Your children retire- -but you are still working.

                …Ladies offer to give up their seats- -to you.

                …You still enjoy a pet dog- -so long as it lives at someone else’s house.

                …You visit neighborhood restaurants and look on the menu for “Senior Citizen” specials.

                …You push the carts at the supermarkets, to keep your balance.

                …It’s quicker to fall asleep taking an afternoon nap, then falling asleep for the night.

                …Walking becomes more difficult because of- -your shoes.

Looking Forward- -Always

                The above is not to be interpreted as a longing…

                I always plan for the day I’m in- -and think of activities for the future.

                Plus, I received a good feeling recently, from of all places, West Laurel Hill Cemetery.

                I called the Director of Marketing at West Laurel Hill Cemetery several times to get information on how they handle cremations. (Not for me!)

                She never called me back.

                She knows me.

Probably figured I wasn’t yet a prospect.

                Now that’s Good News.

                                        #             #             #

Joe Ball founded his businesses in 1956- -over 57 years ago. He is still first one in the office & last to leave. He can be reached at E-Mail: adcomtimes@aol.com, 29 Bala Ave., Ste. 114, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. See www.PhillyBizMedia.com.