To be so fascinated by old people

[Missu2]

Hi everyone I'm a long time lurker

Today I was at the shops waiting for my child to pick a sweet, when this old lady walks in now, when I say old I mean hunched back can hardly walk sort of old maybe nearly 90! And I was so amazed and I don't know why! I just had this thought "I hope I can reach that age"I tried so hard not to stare at her! but this is not the first time. And I have always had this urge to ask these old people about their lives and a childhood, so long ago it would be history.

My friends think I'm strange and to be that old would be horrible and so near death but I beg to differ, by that age I would have most likely lost most of my loved ones,mum, hubby etc. that dying would no more be scary to me, you have to really think about this lol.

I suffer from pnd my best friend thinks this is why I have an obsession of my interest in very old oaps but it is not, I have always found them inspiring to live life to the fullest and I just can't explain why!

Please someone feel the same way as me?! Or have I always been mad?!

Scared of responses but I'm honest and just want to know I'm not alone in this. oaps phobia is so strange to me, I can only hope to live so long!!

I've always got on really well with the much older generation.

Even since I was very young,a lot of the older ladies and gentleman that lived near us when I was growing up either introduced me as they're friend or they're adopted grandchild I was very lucky,I was quite young when I lost my grandparents who I was extremely close to so all the older generation that knew me all kind of decided to step in and filled that gap for me.

I was extremely lucky.

I'm lucky my Dad has told me loads about his childhood and growing up and my Grandads life growing up(my Dad's Dad)

My Grandad lied about his age so that he could join the war.This was the first world war he was only 11 years old and started out as a drummer boy,he was very very lucky to survive.He was also one of the last Soldiers at Dunkirk.He worked his way up through the ranks and became a heavily decorated soldier and he also went on to be a prize fighter(boxing)for the army.

I can remember my Dad telling me about the awful day that my poor Nan had the knock at the door informing her that her husband was missing in action,presumed dead.And the amazing day that my Grandad came walking down they're street about a year later and my poor Nan passed out because she thought it was a ghost!

He'd got separated from his troop and was seriously injured and very ill but was extremely lucky because he was found by some friendly locals and they looked after him and saved his life.

Fiveacres because I like it, Probably because it reminds me of my mum. Are you this picky in real life. You're making a big deal out of nothing. This is what the thread is about for goodness stake, or are you just stalking me?

Rose, you know full well that this is not 'stalking.' I think that to dump people over a certain age in a particular category of 'liking to hear them chatter' is patronising.

I can introduce you to some elderly people who will talk about how the UK was a better place 'without the p--is', one who talks about the beating he gave his late wife in the 1950s quite proudly and one who has been nicknamed (first name) 'kinell' because he says 'fuckin' hell' ALL the time! The rest are perfectly nice but they aren't one unit.

Ian Brady is an 'elderly man' FFS!

fiveacres I'm sorry but you're coming over a bit weird. You're nit picking, and why aren't you saying anything to the op, whose thread it is. Ffs, I've said that its nice to hear some old people talking. If you have a problem with that, I don't really care. Get off my case.

in3rd world countries, old people are seen as to wiser and often spend time raising theI'd grandchildren and other children in the area. but in the UK, that is not the case. Although, I've been lucky enough to have parents who always repecred old people and we were often place in care with our neighbours, and we had after school lessens from old lady who took an hour to come to us 3x a week, come rain or shine, to make sure we didn't fall behind at school. I'm so glad our parents held opa as a important critizen of society and utralise them to help bring us up. my children, we are doing the same. even today , when I can't think clearly enough, I go to speak to one of our adopted grandma and grandpa, and theu always have time to listen to me, and make me look at things different my. this skill they have, can only come from experience aquired through age.

I'm cracking on a bit if anyone wants to befriend me ;-)

OP: if you have time, there are several charities specifically set up to help the elderly have sombody to talk to, just as you dont have grandmothers, there are many elderly women (and men) without granddaughters or at least without one who will come visit and listen to them.

I chat with anyone, and have had lovely conversations with older ladies on the bus or even at adjoining tables in a coffee shop.

One of my best friends was a good 30 years older than me but she was such fun.
We used to laugh till the years ran down our faces and I miss her so much.

She was over 80 when she died but she was just like a young girl.

Se had had this fascinating early life. From the age of three had been brought up in Sri Lanka as her father worked for the railway out there.

She had to come home when war broke out when she was 17. It was horrendous going from the land of sunshine and fruit trees in the garden with elephants being led down the street to a grim, grey northern town.

When she was 14 she was sat on her verandah with her parents. Still in school uniform and a young seaman aged nearly 20 , a Londoner had called to see her father.

At the time there was an old Sri lankan man telling fortunes and he looked up and said, she will marry him!

They had only just met. She didn't know where to put herself for the embarrassment but she did marry him.

It meant coming back to the uk and him going up north to find her during his leave ...but he did.
lovely stories of a different era.

The DC helped me with the care of their DGGP when they were young.

DD now works in a dementia care home, although she trained as a PT instructor. She loves it. Those who are still in early stages tell her all about their earlier lives. Many have led interesting lives and she loves being with them.

even the old men swho think they are 20 year old romeos and try it on

On mumsnet, old people are either grumpy old biddies who are horrible to children, mad old bints who touch babies with their dirty old crone fingers, or the fucking History Channel. God it makes me angry.

Hak

We do separate the generations out a bit too much. One advantage of the housing crisis and lack of state funds to support families might be more coming together of 3 and 4 generations - a silver lining in the cloud.

On mumsnet, old people are either grumpy old biddies who are horrible to children, mad old bints who touch babies with their dirty old crone fingers, or the fucking History Channel. God it makes me angry

Me too.

Mind you, I'm 68 - maybe I'm just jealous. I don't seem to be acquiring any of that mesmerising wisdom-dispensing stuff. Younger people behave as though I was just another person

For the record, I know older (than me) people who are wonderful. I know some who are shits. I know a few who are fascinating. I know a lot who aren't. A bit like people everywhere.

On mumsnet, old people are either grumpy old biddies who are horrible to children, mad old bints who touch babies with their dirty old crone fingers, or the fucking History Channel. God it makes me angry

Me too.

Mind you, I'm 68 - maybe I'm just jealous. I don't seem to be acquiring any of that mesmerising wisdom-dispensing stuff. Younger people behave as though I was just another person

For the record, I know older (than me) people who are wonderful. I know some who are shits. I know a few who are fascinating. I know a lot who aren't. A bit like people everywhere.

Bugger. Posted twice. That's what I get for being sarky

Ooh, baby- you're so cute when you swear! I love when "oldies" do that- I could listen to you all day!

Endearing, isn't it?

Ah, but has it been interesting 1944 girl.

If not ? Why not? Lol?

Never too old to go backpacking Lund Australia lol

Lund? Wtf?

Around ffs!

Do they still have Age Concern, that's a bit insulting isn't it, categorising all them old uns together.

What do you see, nurses, what do you see?
What are you thinking when you're looking at me?
A crabby old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice, "I do wish you'd try!"
Who seems not to notice the things that you do, and
Forever is losing a stocking or shoe.....
Who, resisting or not, lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill....
Is that what you're thinking?
Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse; you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of ten ....with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters, who love one another.
A young girl of sixteen, with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet.
A bride soon at twenty -- my heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.
At twenty-five now, I have young of my own,
Who need me to guide and a secure happy home.
A woman of thirty, my young now grown fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last.
At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me to see I don't mourn.
At fifty once more, babies play round my knee,
Again we know children, my loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead;
I look at the future, I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing young of their own,
And I think of the years and the love that I've known.
I'm now an old woman ...and nature is cruel;
'Tis jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles, grace and vigour depart,
There is now a stone where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells,
And now and again, my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys, I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living life over again.
I think of the years ....all too few, gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people, open and see,
Not a crabby old woman; look closer ...see ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an old person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within.
We will one day be there, too.

I find this thread quite icky. The idea that old people are some homogenous group and great entertainment is weird. They are just people. Some are lovely, some interesting and some are horrible or rude... like other people are.

Agree.

I have a friend who talks of kind little old ladies. I think she wrongly assumes that once you reach 80, you automatically become kinder!
Not true.
A horrible young person generally turns into a horrible old person.
And vice verse.

Erm - we won't 'all be there one day'! I'm unlikely to reach my 70s

Mind you, my years stalking will wear me out so I'll probably look ancient in my 60s so people can sit behind me on the bus and listen to me chatter.

Sorry to be soooooooo politically incorrect fiveacres - I'll ask the publishers to change "we will one day be there" to "some of us will one day be there" shall I? FFS