At 50 you begin to wonder if you could do it all over again, what would you change.  You start to worry about the retirement plans that you put off making before.  You wonder about your accomplishments -- your children, your career, your possesions, and your family. Mid life crisis, job stress, empty nest -- will it ever let up?

At 60 your are too old to get promoted and too expensive to keep.  You lose some things that seemed real important just 10 years ago -- your eyesight, your vitality, your respect, your worth, your hair, your good looks, your things that someone else keeps moving, and that spring in your step.  Every mistake you make is attributed to your age rather than the fact that you are the only one in the organization that is still trying new things.  You get asked why you don't do things like those with less experience do.  And you don't quite qualify for all of the senior benefits yet.

At 70 people are mad at you for everything.   Your kids are mad because you didn't raise them right or will not give them money any more.  They are mad because you spend more time with the grand children than you did with them.  Of course you are an obstacle on the road and take too much from the tax system through social security and senior services.  At 70 they expect you to retire to a house in Florida and complain about your arthritis (remember lumbago?) and ask everybody to stop mumbling because you can't understand them.  If you don't, they get mad all over again.

At 80 you have a perfect excuse no matter what you do.  Once you reach 80, everyone wants to carry your baggage and help you up the steps.  If you act foolishly, it is your second childhood.  If you forget your name or anybody else's name, an appointment, your own telephone number, or how many grandchildren you have, or promise to be three places at the same time, you need only to explain that you are 80.  If you survive until you are 80, people are surprised that you can walk and talk.  Actually they seem surprised that you are still alive.   They treat you with respect just for having lived so long (remember respect?) and forgive you for everything, and even forget all the mistakes you ever made. ---  So, please, folks, try to make it to 80.  It is the best time of life.

See also Generations, Survivors and How Old Are You ?