What Makes Old People so Cantankerous?
Because we can be.
Why can we
be cantankerous?
Well, old
people have no boss, we are retired. What
are you going to do, fire us?
Old people
can stand up to younger, stronger people.
How? What are you going to do, rough us up? Maybe, but then you’d be guilty of elder
abuse and most people would be shamed…or just maybe I could whip your butt,
maybe I know stuff. Do you want to take
a chance? Getting a beat down from an
old person would really be embarrassing. Some of us can do things with a cane or walker
that a ninja would admire.
We are
cantankerous as we are not patient. Old
people do not have enough time to be patient, do not make us wait. Not having time also makes old people
tougher. Threats to ruin my life do not
carry the same weight as they do to a young person. Ruin my life?
That window is closing fast.
We are
cantankerous, deal with it, you don’t scare us.
Old people
do not have to do or have anything.
“You have
to have an I-pad.” No, I don’t, I've done pretty well all this
time without one.
“You have
to see this movie or read this book.” No, I don’t!
“You must
visit sometime.” No, I mustn’t.
We don’t have
time for politeness…we are OLD!
Do not mess
with an old person’s routine. We turn in
for the night at a certain time. We wake
up at a certain time. We eat at a certain
time. We poop at a certain time. If our times do not fit into your schedule…adjust;
we ain’t changing.
Stop telling
us we already did something. We are just
going to do it again anyway.
“You just
locked the door a minute ago.”
“Well I’m
going to lock it again.”
“You
turned the lights out an hour ago.”
"I still want to be sure."
We’re going
to do it again anyway, why tell us we already did it? We need to be sure and we don’t trust anyone.
When we don’t
want to do something, it may be for a reason that is embarrassing. Don’t argue.
Don’t push it.
Maybe I don’t
want to go on a long trip because I have to make a restroom stop every two
hours.
Maybe I don’t
like password protection because I can’t remember passwords.
Maybe I take
the long way to the supermarket because I always get lost taking the short cut.
If our
cantankerousness confuses you, let it be.
We are cantankerous because we can be, and it has taken years to earn
the privilege.
I was going to comment, but it's time for me to poop!
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I am my own boss and like it that way... if only I could remember what things I have to do! The cat has a better memory than me.
ReplyDeleteAlso, we are too tired to care! (I don't consider myself old, but I'm getting there)
ReplyDeleteoh this is scary and funny at same time dear Joe!
ReplyDeletesuddenly i remembered things from past ,My maternal grandma would say often that one should get married during his late teens because this age has flexibility and easy to adjust with stranger (partner) otherwise it is hard to plow when land is dry
i agree that we earn this privilege as we get old :)
I always figured it was because we earned the right. All of your reasons too. I love being a pain in the rear now and then. It's grand fun.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day, Joe. 😎
and all you have to do is twinkle just a bit and you can say almost anything, they think you're teasing. You know you mean it. =)
DeleteMaybe we aren't cantankerous. Maybe we can finally just be ourselves and not have to worry or care what others think of us.
ReplyDeletebetty
I do not think being honest and outspoken is cantankerous. We have only so many days on this planet and we are going to live them our way at last!
ReplyDeleteLoved "maybe I know stuff." That should be food for thought for any one considering attacking us. I am pretty patient with people but have no use for an electronic gadget that makes me wait. Hey, the sands in the hour glass keep dribbling away.
ReplyDeleteAnd get the he!! off my lawn!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHow i hate when i hit enter when i don't mean to and mess up.
DeleteAnyway, once you earn a privilege, you certainly do not give it up!
For a minute, I thought you might change your name to The Cantankerous Old Man. I'm not sure I'd have the patience to read the extra letters. It seems like everything takes SOOOO LONG! Sometimes I plan what I might cook for supper, but then decide it's not worth all the preparation and cleanup time, when it will be eaten in 10 minutes.
ReplyDeleteThing is, we can get away with stuff that younger people can't. 'Cause we're old and a little scary. If I don't want to go on a three mile hike I say, my legs are bothering me today, or my balance is a bit off, and they suddenly get this image of an old lady tumbling down a hill.
ReplyDeleteIf I don't want to climb on the roof to shovel snow, I use the same excuse. Works every time. Then again, if I do, I get extra points. It's a win win, every time.
I think we're cantankerous because of the young people who "know everything".
ReplyDeleteWE used to be the ones that knew everything and sometimes it's hard to accept that we no longer do know everything because everything has changed so fast.
I find myself saying all kinds of things to the docs or folks I work with that I never would have said when I was younger. My last name is Starkey but some call me "Starcasm".
ReplyDeletePlus, I got all the time in the world. So if you think I'm not going to take the time to call and "get my money back" or get my "senior discount" that you promised but didn't deliver, or whatever it is you think you can get away with. Think again.
ReplyDeleteOne word comment: Yup
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine what my cantankerous self will be like. It's frightening to think about. :)
ReplyDelete