Let Us Entertain You

Each month, I write an article for The Vegas Voice in my column entitled "Say What !?!"  

For those of our readers who do not get, or do not read that publication, here is my September, 2013 article that will appear in the Vegas Voice that should be in your mail boxes within the next week.

Dick Arendt

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It's Not the Aging...It's the People Who Act Old    

I don't like getting old; it beats the alternative, but it's not the aging part that bothers me, it's the having to deal with some other older people that does !

Why is it that when people reach 65, they believe that apparent magic number entitles them to do whatever they wish, say whatever they want to say, and frankly...in some ways, act as stupid and thoughtless, as so many do !

Does the senior mind lose part of its vocabulary when they attain that age?

Have the words,  "please", "thank you", or "excuse me" now been replaced with some new facial expression or sign language that appears to mean, "you owe me" ?

That's bothered me a lot lately, because I didn't grow up that way.

I was taught something that appears to be disappearing in a number of us seniors....manners, cordiality, a sense of humor, and just plain being nice to others...

...and if that is what's happening to us, what in the world is it going to be like for the next generation?

Gee whiz, why are so many old geezers in such bad moods? I'll never understand it.

We live in the greatest country in the world...

... live in an income tax free state...

...eat just about everything on a "buy-one...get one free" basis...

...and almost all of us are paid to do those "difficult" tasks"...

...by either the government through Social Security, private industry through pensions, or a combination of the two.

So what's the problem? 

Conversations seem to center around what surgical operations you've had,  what meds you're currently taking, and how your brother is suffering from amnesia in another state...topics that make me envy the brother !

Those topics are the best we can come up with...while playing in the weekly mah jong or poker game ??????

So...let's make September a month to pay attention to ourselves, and how we treat others.

...and here are a few suggestions in keeping with that advice.

1. Smile...it doesn't hurt, and people just might smile back at you.

2. When walking down a street, be the first to say, "Good Morning" or "Good Afternoon"; then stare at the person and see if they'll return the gesture...it feels good to say it...and even better to have it said in return.

3. If you live in a 55+ community and are in some club, make sure you welcome a newcomer and give them a sense of belonging.  Remember when you were new and how good it felt for another to welcome you?

4. If you're married or have a certain someone....try your best to make that person who's shared the ups and downs in your life, feel they are appreciated...that the blending of two lives, makes life a better experience for both of you. Take their hand while walking down a street...and give it a little squeeze now and then. It would mean more than any words you could ever speak. As all of us learned years ago, "actions speak louder than words".

5. Don't forget you should be a role model for others...no matter how old you are. 

Then at the end of the month, ask yourself a simple question?

Did I make this world a happier place? 

 If you can say, "yes" or "I tried", you qualify in the category of "adding to this world".

And I'll be the first to take my own advice.