How old are you?

I shall be 99 next month. Lost my beloved husband 34 years ago. Have been alone since. Travelled abroad alone until my early 80s. Live alone with an hour’s help each morning Do my own cooking. Had cancer twice, Mobility problems because of osteoarthritis in knees.

I am 66 and working on my thirty year plan!! Luckily I am healthy, active and eat well and feel about 40. I have got a problem hip (bursitis) which flares often and makes me feel a bit older but other than that nothing to moan about.
I see lives in third and recognise that this is the last third, so am determined to make every minute count. Worked very hard from 16 to 62 so determined that this bit of life is mine!
I have a friend who’s husband has just died very suddenly in his early seventies and it has made me even more determined to seize every day.

I’m 74 and have just said goodbye to my son and his family who have been staying with us and are flying back to the USA today. It’s always sad to say goodbye but the older I get I wonder if it will be the last time that we see each other. I know I shouldn’t think like that but I can’t help it.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202204/medium-325642-35ecb12b-1565-4982-8937-8d7f799d27cc.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202204/medium-348248-6faf4cb1-38e9-4549-b778-59fead65ebd6.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202204/medium-236576-bc2a1dd3-ef64-4461-b6b3-2c2679a4e034.jpeg

Have just had my 70th and am speechless by all that my 3AC and partners have arranged. Had a long weekend at a Cotswolds farmhouse with the entire family, we partied, swam, tennis, personal chef etc Then I was whisked off to Jersey for a week with son no2 where he lives. Back home late last night and my DD has arranged another party/egg hunt for tomorrow for all the family. I feel one very spoilt mum/Nan and feel so loved. I’ve sent my 70th thoughts out to all my friends .....

I found this thread interesting as i often feel i must be one of the real oldies. Ilost my husband nearly 14 years ago and i still miss him so much. I will be 88 soon and as my mother died at 50 i think i have been lucky. I live with my son on a lovely island in the Caribbean but now i have the task of going back to UK with him to pack my home up and sell it. Since Christmas i have had 4 falls and the last ine was serious and i was in hospital. I am still recovering and am black and blue with a huge haematoma on my forehead. I have three children with 2 in their late 60s and we are a close family. I have two old rescue dogs that i love and am well looked after. I am almost 88 and have lived a long and interesting life. I know i am fortunate but feel i have lost a large degree of my independence. I have two grandsons doing fine and the older one has two lovely children. We are on a family whatsapp group and chat together and i see lots of photos of my 2 great grandchildren. When i had a cracked skull all i was worried about was making sure i had not lost brain power! So far so good. I am dreading the trip back to UK because it marks the rnd of my real independence . I am not afraid of death and have a strong religious faith. I cannot attend church but have friends on the island. I cannot grumble because i know i am fortunate to have a caring family. The other teo children will fly out for a family reunion and as one son lives in Australia he is coming a long way for us all to be together. As oldies we are lucky to have instant communication and i talk to my two children not here every week on Whatsapp. I am an active networker for dogs in shrlters looking for rescue or adoption. I think i lead a good life and am
thankful. Chronic illness has not stopped me and must stay positive. I am struck with the way in which you all seem to get on with life. Mustn't grumble is the feeling i get here! Good luck everyone.

nipsmum

I will be 81 on Monday. in the past 8 weeks I've lost 2 close friends and my Sister. I am probably not the most joyful person at the moment but at an age when we just have to get on with what life is left to us. I've always felt that death is inevitable at any age. I was a nurse most of my working life so learned that at about 18 when I started training.

The loss of friends and family is certainly a down side to ageing. I had two dear friends from the age of 10, the three of us were inseparable. The youngest of us died before reaching 70 and the middle one died two and a half years ago. I was the oldest but I am still here and so miss being able to talk about a very happy period of time in my life which only they were part of.

I am 71...fairly fit. I went through a faze thinking about how long I had left but have moved on from that now...was quite depressing really. I will continue to keep myself as fit and healthy as I can....

I'm 75 very soon. I'm still very fit and healthy but I do worry about death quite a lot. The years seem to slip by so quickly and when I think about the inevitable I have a feeling of dread!

Just been reading all the messages. I too get a bit concerned bout how fast life is going. My mother will be 102 on 3 June very aware even enjoys dancing in her care home plus the odd tipple in the evening with the residents! Went for my 4th vaccination on Monday as over 75 a huge mile long queue outside local town hall all over 75s all chattering away. Making the most of everything as much as I can. Happy Easter everyone

Nearly 73, feeling at least 10 years younger. My body and I are friends, some times more than others. We’d be even better friends if I managed to lose 10 kilos. I made peace with death as the logical consequence of living. My beloved mil called it ‘ she/he joined the great majority’. I like that a lot; it’s all inclusive. Rather curious, actually.
Please don’t waste time and energy fighting time. She always wins. Count your blessings instead. Be happy.

Coming up to 66. Don't feel old as such, though my creaky knees are loudly trying to tell me otherwise. However I am now trying to make sure that I get on with things and enjoying activities while I still can. Not particularly looking forward to getting a free bus pass, as I'll still be riding my motorbike as long as I can - a much nicer (and more socially distanced!) method of travel?
My user name says it all - I'm growing old as disgracefully as I can.

I will be 81 on Monday. in the past 8 weeks I've lost 2 close friends and my Sister. I am probably not the most joyful person at the moment but at an age when we just have to get on with what life is left to us. I've always felt that death is inevitable at any age. I was a nurse most of my working life so learned that at about 18 when I started training.

Think we all have fleeting thoughts bout how long will I be here when we get older...I'm 64, reasonably fit and have such a lovely peaceful life.....I just push away negative thoughts and think I'll be here till my times up...

I’m 58 and time is passing so quickly it feels a bit like a rollercoaster ride to death! ? My main worry is my youngest son, he’s 30 and has ASD. I tell myself I have a good couple of decades yet and hope for a miracle, that he will suddenly become self sufficient! I try not to dwell on it though.

I'm 65 and up to now have been generally pretty healthy apart from arthritis and IBS.

Had a knee replaced in 2019 very successfully but NHS pressures in my area followed by Covid meant the second one wasn't done until late last year, and it hasn't been as good so far - though I think it's beginning to improve at last.

Meantime I started alendronic acid for osteoporosis in January but had a bad reaction to it - I was horribly ill for a week. So I've definitely felt my age for the past few months.

That being said, I'm definitely perking up now. Hopefully back dancing next month (Ceroc, Northern Soul...) Have a few kilos to shift but nothing too awful. Would like to wear higher heels but that will have to wait until the current plantar fasciitis flare subsides.

I retire next year (hooray) and my plan is to concentrate on the creative textiles stuff I love to do but also to pick up what I can in temporary work to provide the jam on the bread and butter.

I'm 69 just signed up for cosmetic surgery face and neck lift might have a few years with a new face who knows

"Eighteen months younger than me" that should have been. Oh for an edit button, Gransnet.

BlueSapphire I am the same as you, 77 next week. Like others, I find it hard to believe. Both my parents died at 68, which is another thing I find hard to get my head round, that I have already outlived them by so much. They seemed much older than I feel now. I think it's other people's attitudes towards age that are the problem; for me it's just a number. I still work freelance, have a lovely husband who is eighteen months young, three daughters and five grandchildren. My health is not bad, apart from insomnia. Had breast cancer diagnosed and treated last year. Have had a fear of death since childhood, when my older sister died at 19 (I was 8 and in the same bedroom) and my aunt at 30 a few months earlier. But I am learning to live with it. I am so sorry for those of you who have lost your life partners and some so young.

I'm 60 in summer, and feel like I'm falling to bits at the moment, middle ear infection so dizzyness. Constantly tired, having a ct body and brain scan and a double endoscopy. For stomach problens next week.

Hopefully all will cone to nothing or something like IBS, and i can get back to planning breaks away, and meeting friends my favourite things.

Mum had a diagnosis for dementia 2 years ago at 77 but just her short term memory afected so far, she lives independently with a daily visit from one of us to get meds out abd to take her for her heavy shopping and to the "no nay never cafe" for people with dementia . We play dominoes, have a quiz, sance etc.

Both grandma's lived independently till two weeks short of 95 and two weeks short of 93. My dad is 83 and been ill for many years but always seems to bounce back.

Only relative I know who passed young was my paternal grandad who was in his 40s and smoked like a trouper and think he died of lung cancer a couple of years before I was born.

I don't dwell on mortality, the years do seem to pass quicker, but having a 24 year old daughter keeps me in touch with what is going on fir the younger ones.

Take care everyone and have a good Easter, Ramadam or just a good April.

I am 71 but I simply do not have time to dwell upon my own demise, too much going on, I run a Local History Group, I have a very active collection of grandchildren who need entertaining,advising and nagging. I have a wife who regularly nags me, I am a musician so daily or action cue us essential, I read, live, shop, listen to music. So much to do, possibly so little time but too busy to worry about it.

I am 73 and have shitty health - it really exasperates me being in pain as there is so much that I want to do before I die. Not mad exciting things - just walks, holidays, concerts etc.

My OH died two years ago and that was a moment for thinking about mortality. It frankly seems perfectly ridiculous that the man I spent my life with has simply gone, as well as being sad of course.

I am not afraid of being dead - it was fine before I lived and will be fine afterwards. I feel my last task will be to die as well as I can so as not to cause too much distress to my loved ones. I have absolute faith in my DDs that they will fight for the best care for me if I deteriorate - you should have seen them fighting for the best for their Dad (along with me) - like a pack of tigers!!!

I am 74, I've had cancer twice and got through it. I have all sorts of other medical issues but the thing that always occurs to me about dying is, what if I'm in the middle of a good book but don't get to finish it. Daft I know, but I hate the thought of missing out on a good book.

I'm 75 and my mother is just 102 so I expect I'll probably live quite a bit longer. That's fine and I hope my partner does too. Hear, hear for voluntary euthanasia: it's a disgrace that it's not available in the UK and that people have to drag themselves to Switzerland with the risk their loved ones might be prosecuted for helping.

I’m not so much fixating about death but before that, the likelihood of me getting Dementia/ Alzheimer’s
I was persuaded to do a genetic test and it said I had an increased risk. I also have suffered head injuries and chronic migraine so which also increases the chances. I find myself googling how to off myself as soon as I start to get symptoms.
I’ve always had a terrible short term memory due to head injuries so I’m not sure,, it may be starting already.

.

I'll be 70 next Tuesday. I'm in reasonable health but could do with loosing a few pounds to stop my knees and hips and sometimes ankles telling me to slowdown at Zumba class. I didn't think much about death until I lost my husband early in 2021 from Covid. He wasn't particularly healthy but not that ill. I try to keep myself busy but I also enjoy doing nothing on occasion. My mother's female side if the family have lived to their late 80's so fingers crossed. I'm hoping to go on holiday but the current situation still makes me a little nervous. I had Covid-19 back in October but never really felt ill with it.