quietdesperation

it is a funny thing how we all think that the times we live in or grow up in are so different from that of our parents and those of a prior generation. this wheel goes 'round and 'round. i thought my dad was goofy about things and he just didn't understand how the world was different. as my life has progressed i realize how wrong i was and that so many important things remain the same for all human beings no matter when they move through the phases of life. i have been blessed with friends who have been many decades older than me and friends that have been much younger than me. i have met many people for whom age "really" didn't matter. however, for so many people, old people seem "yuckky". we cannot relate to people who are our parents age or older. some years ago i had a good friend who was very much older than me die. he was 98. he drove his car until 94. took french lessons at 90 and computer classes at 92. he was more attractive human than many people i know who are in there 20's and 30's. there are so many wonderful things about being young just like being smart or beautiful. however these are things that we just have and have not earned. wisdom should come with age, but often doesn't. it does come with effort and is something to feel some sense of happiness when it is in our possession. we live in a youth oriented culture and this is a youth oriented site. where are the women over 30? they are at the margins. the arrogance of youth marginalizes everyone at the time they truely begin to live.....it is so true that in many cases youth is indeed wasted on the young.