Aging Perception, Movie Reviews

Not a day goes by that I don’t get into some kind of conversation about age and aging.  Fact is it is mostly about my age and aging!  For some reason I am the target of those who have a perception of what someone should look or act like at a certain age.  The remarks are, “you sure do not look your age” or “aging has been nice to you” or “how does it feel to be 73?” or “I bet you whip up on your fellow age groupers when you race!”  My response is fairly simple and honest with thank you for the kind words and I am flattered.  In response to the question how does it feel the answer is great!  But, I do remind them that if they look around them they will see very few things that are 73 and everyone one of my moving parts are that old.  The appliances in the house are not that old, your auto and its’ components are not that old, most of your friends are not that old, and even most of the trees are not that old.  So, I guess that covers it all except for whipping up on my fellow age groupers.  Fact of the matter is I do not whip up on them and the ones that I raced against when we were younger that beat me then, are still beating me now, if they are still seriously racing.   

Now what has motivated me to write about this sordid subject, that just never seems to go away, is an article I read the other day about Tom Osborne, the retiring athletic director at the University of Nebraska.  While he spent his younger days as one of the most successful major college coaches at Nebraska he came back as the athletic director at the age of 70.  The program had gone south due to bad leaderships, etc., so he was ask to come in and work his magic.  This he did and brought the Huskers back to its’ winning ways during his watch.  Now what really drew my attention to the article was what he said as the reason for retiring from this position at 75.  He says, and I quote, “At some point, whether you’re able to function or not, just the perception that you’re getting old can get in the way.” Osborne said, “I don’t want to be one of those guys everybody is walking around wringing their hands trying to figure out what are we going to do with him?”  Funny thing is he has no health issues and considers himself healthier than when he was elected to Congress after his coaching days.  So, here we go again, out to pasture with plenty of energy to graze.  While I have experienced similar feelings and treatment I blame it all on our youth obsessed society and real lack of respect for the Seniors of our country.  When I Googled, “what world countries respected their elders the United States came in last, and the Asian, Native American cultures were first.”  Well here is the deal with me, as long as I can function I am going head on strong into the world.  While I know what I can do and can’t do I will maximize all of my efforts to what I can do.  When I go into that giant triathlon event in the sky I hope everyone says, “man that guy was so busy when he left he must be resting now and I wonder how many projects were left on his desk?”  Go figure!!

Movie Reviews:  

“Lawless”, ***,  This film is about the seemingly indestructible real-life Bondurant brothers who made and bootlegged “white lightening” during the prohibition days of the early 1930’s.  The state was Virginia and the story is based on a true story of these brothers and their successful business.  Shia LaBeouf is the younger Bondurant and he plays the part very well and does a great job.  Guy Pearce as the fastidious federal agent is a dandy dan with a real cruel streak in him.  Rated R for strong bloody violence, language and some sexuality/nudity(not to mention lots of drinking the white lightening).

“Trouble with the Curve,” ****, Clint Eastwood plays an aging(here we go again) professional baseball scout, and despite his efforts to hide it they are not working.  Since his eye sight is going he is having trouble seeing the pitched ball, not to mention driving.   The young guys in the organization are questioning his abilities and his single attorney daughter is coming to visit him and tries to help.  But, there is a long family history here that comes to light in the story line.  Then a young baseball scout comes into the story played by Justin Timberlake.  So, now we have two forms of drama concerning aging and love sparks between the daughter and Timberlake.  An excellent movie and a go see for sure! Rated PG-13 for language, sexual references, some thematic material and smoking.  

EA, SH.........:)!

greerman