COLUMN: Old is in the eye of the beholder

The world's oldest tree, known as Methuselah, is a Great Basin bristlecorn pine widely believed to be 4,855 years old, give or take a few. That is old.

The oldest living things are Antarctic glass sponges, which are believed to be 15,000 years old. Old? Yep.

The oldest object on the planet is believed to be a blue zircon crystal found near Perth, Australia. It is said to be 4.4 billion years old. OK, that is really old.

Incidentally, the real Methuselah, the biblical fellow for whom that old California tree is named, is said to have finally died at the age of 969. That's not bristlecone pine old, or Antarctic glass sponges old or even blue zircon old, but for a human being, 969 is old.

But what about people who are 60? What about 65? How about 70? Are these people old?

Your answer will likely depend upon your age.

A study published recently in the American Psychological Association's journal, Psychology and Aging, found that people in their mid-60s don't think old age begins until age 75.

The study examined data from around 14,000 people who participated in something called the German Aging Survey. The research subjects were born between 1911 and 1974 and entered the study between the ages of 40 and 85.

Those in the study reported their perceptions of old age up to eight times over the course of 25 years. Every four or five years, the study found, participants reported old age started a year later compared to the last time they were asked.

Old, then, is in the eye of the beholder, at least in Germany. Of course in this country we don't live as long as the Germans do. It must be all the beer and bratwurst. German life expectancy is around 81, while Americans' life expectancy fell from 79 in 2019 to 76 in 2021. I think I'd better go lie down.

The study also found our concept of age is affected by our gender, with women saying old age begins some 2.4 years later than men. Of course, if a man is in the habit of asking women how old they are, he is not long for this world anyway.

Old can merely be a description of someone who has been around the sun more than a few times, or it can be a pejorative term.

"Some people have such a negative view of the elderly that they don't want to be associated with them," John Rowe, a professor of health policy and aging at Columbia University, told NBC News. "So if they're 70 years old, they'll say old age begins at 75. And when they get to 75, they'll say old age begins at 80."

If that's the case, nobody will ever admit to being old, elderly, aged, up in years or long in the tooth.

As for me, I will admit only to being older. Who said, "than dirt?" That's very hurtful.

I know I am older. I must be. When I get out of a chair these days I sound like somebody just poured milk over a bowl of Rice Krispies. I have wrinkles on my wrinkles. I have gray hair, much of it growing out of my ears. Speaking of ears, I am hard of hearing. My bride and I hardly ever begin a conversation anymore with anything other than "What'd you say?" When they list the famous guests coming up on the various late-night TV talk shows, I have rarely heard of any of them.

And speaking of the late-night shows, I can't even stay up long enough to watch the 10 p.m. news anymore.

I used to hate taking naps. I would fight naps when I was a kid and never took them even as a young adult. I thought they were for old people. Now if I sit down in my recliner and lean back, it's over. I am out for at least a half hour or more.

For all you young people out there, there is nothing wrong with getting old. Sure, your body won't do some things you want it to do, and does other things you don't want it to do, but that's part of living.

Being older should be a source of pride. After all you have survived all the stupid things you did when you were younger. But as you age you have less time to do all the stupid things you still want to do, so you'd better get cracking.

One of the great ills of our society today, for people of all ages, is loneliness. And for those of us who are older, loneliness can be particularly painful. So love somebody and allow yourself to be loved. Having someone by your side makes life's journey not easier, necessarily, but more fulfilling.

Now, if you'll excuse me. It's time for my nap.

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Mullin is an award-winning writer and columnist who retired in 2017 after 41 years with the News & Eagle. Email him at janjeff2002@yahoo.com or write him in care of the Enid News & Eagle at PO Box 1192, Enid, OK, 73702.

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