Who Wants To Be 80?

I want to be old enough for my youngest to graduate college and have her feet under her at the start of her career, so that there is minimal trauma for her during such a crucial time. Anything beyond that is stoppage time and it won’t bother me if my number is up.

 

Save my ass!

That exact rant went through my head when I started reading this thread.

My mother-in-law is 82. She has had cancer for years. They took part of a lung and put her on a drug that made it chronic. She started having pains in her back about six weeks ago, which led to a new set of scans. The drug stopped working. The cancer is progressing again. Her mind is still there. Until about three weeks ago, she was still very active, though the last few weeks have been rough. Most of the time, she talks as if she is ready for it to end. Her husband is long gone. Her brothers are gone. So many of her friends. But yeah, I think she wants to keep going. I only hope that if we are coming up to the end, she feels some peace with it.

This would be a good point to mention that I got very lucky in the mother-in-law department. I'm going to miss her a great deal when she does go, but that's not my primary thought. Given how my wife reacted when she lost her father, I don't even want to think about what will happen when her mother goes. It will not be good.

In response to the OP, yes, I want to be 80. And 90. Hell, if my body wants to keep going and my mind works, 100 sounds good to me, too. I'm also fighting a losing battle with genetics. My father was just a couple of years older than I am now when he died from cancer. My mother made it to 69. None of my grandparents made it to 80. My older brother died at 49, though that was more of a freak thing.

I can't remember where I read or heard this, but to paraphrase, I want to see what's next. I want to be there for my wife, who will likely outlive me despite being a few years older. I want to be there for my daughter. I want to meet my grandchildren and be there for as many of their milestones as possible. I want to watch one more sporting event. Read one more book. Watch one more movie. Play one more game. Engage in one more conversation. Get one more hug.

Yeah, doc. Save my ass.

 

I’m 56 — two years younger than my maternal grandmother was when she dropped dead of a heart attack.

My maternal grandfather died at 60 of a heart attack.

Both of them were heavy smokers.

My dad’s mom had a series of heart attacks and however many bypasses you can have, she had them. But she was way too stubborn to die of that. She died at 82 of complications after breaking her hip. My dad’s dad made it to 87. They both quit smoking in their early 70s and it was like they aged in reverse for several years; was amazing to watch how much more alert and active they were after they quit.

Neither of my parents smoked and neither have had heart issues. I don’t smoke, but I’m acutely aware of the genetics and I unfortunately can’t stop eating French fries fast enough to outrun them. (I’m not overweight, and that’s probably bad, because if I was, maybe just maybe I’d eat better.)

There aren’t many things I can’t do at 56 that I could do at 25, other than binge drink. I’ve stayed active and kept moving, and I expect that’ll pull me through until I maybe retire at 70.

I have no interest in being old, but I do want to stick around as long as I’m useful and having fun.

 

We have been caring for my 87 year old aunt since early May after her hip surgery (after a setback, she’s now in a rehab facility). It’s shorter to list the ailments which doesn’t have and medicines which she doesn’t take. Mentally, she’s still very sharp for her age but man her quality of life is just so poor.

 

I was under the perhaps false understanding that maladies skipped generations. Except for alcoholism, of course.

 

I'm really sorry to hear about your unfair genetics and your mother-in-law's battle. I also hit the jackpot with my mother-in-law and miss her terribly, but of course it's nothing compared to how my wife feels. Hoping your mother-in-law's condition stabilizes or improves.

 

My dad died when he was 32 and I was five.
I'll be 48 this year. I'm kicking ass.
That said, given how our society is trending, I don't know if I want to see where this world is in the next 32 years.

 

The lawn-ja-tivity means nothing if a decade is spent in the supine position.

 

For the record, I had my 80th birthday last December. My life is not nearly as exciting as it was even 10 years ago - - but I am comfortable, in good health and ambulatory.

Aging can be a gentle process - - if you win the genetic lottery.

 

I Regret to Inform You That We Will All Grow Old, Infirm, and Unattractive

 

I will be 53 this year and am in good health as far as I know. I have my annual physical next month. I eat pretty decently and exercise daily. I don't smoke and have never touched drugs even once. I do drink a lot of beer. I'm talking a metric shit ton of beer. Otherwise, I'm pretty wholesome.
I have an absolute lust for life. I find wonder and amazement at every sun rise, squirrel in a tree, or leaf floating on the breeze. Every day I'm happy to be alive.
Therefore, I expect to die early or outlive all my friends in some sort of debilitated state that robs me of enjoying the outdoors. I have told my great nieces that if I get that way, put me on my boat with a case a beer at dawn and tell me to keep going until I reach the horizon.