How old are you?

68 and usually fit and healthy ,had a couple of scares the past year and lost 4 friends my own age since January
.I feel sad and depressed and weepy .
My GP did offer me pills but I dont think grief needs pills it just needs time
.It has brought home to me that we might have 20 years if we're lucky ,my female line are all long lived male line all died before 70 .I worry about my OH as hes had heart attacks and his male line all died before 70.
He's like a previous poster he thinks hes invincible and does more physical work now than in his whole life .he's always volunteering to lay someones flooring or redo their bathroom ,help them move home etc etc .in all honesty if he goes first I just want to go with him .

I am 72 , soon to be 73 and sometimes wonder where the years have gone.
As the youngest of 7, I've always relished in the feeling that I could be last in our family to do everything, I suppose that includes getting married, having children and dare I say it getting to the end of life.
Now we are down to 4, one brother and we three girls. My oldest sister is 82 and in reasonably good health, although she lives in an assisted living setting.
I've had a good life so far, in pretty good health; have 3 wonderful sons and 3 lovely DGC, who I feel keep me on my toes while they're here.
Still got DH, 45 years coming up so all in all, life has been good.
I've never really thought about death too much, am not religious anymore, so don't believe in life after death. I think I would opt for a green burial though haven't really researched into it yet.

I'm 66, can't really believe I'm that old. I feel the same as I did 40 years ago. I don't really dwell on death, I just take each day as it comes. I think people think they will go on for ever until something happens to make them aware of their own mortality. I have a Christian faith so that helps I suppose. I love the Anthony Hopkins quote Hiraeth - you must be Welsh with a username like that btw ?

Newatthis

Don’t think about dying, get on and enjoy life. None of us can predict the future- we can live until we are 100+ or fall over and dye this afternoon. Enjoy each moment.

This.
What's the point of dwelling on it.
Life is a gift, so get on with enjoying it.
Treat every day like it's your last.

I'm late 60s.

I am 66 and have had a big health scare over the last year with a cancer diagnosis and treatment. My husband also has some chronic health issues. It has made me very aware of trying to do the things I really enjoy and just enjoying each other’s company. I would love to see my grandchildren growing up. My Mum and aunts lived into their 90’s but suffered terribly with Alzheimer’s in their last years and I don’t think I would like my children having to care for me through that.

I had to laugh the other day while I was at my daughters.
She called me from another room so off I went. She asked me to help her move a large sideboard type of thing.
My 16 yr old grandson was in his bedroom so I asked why he couldn’t help. Your stronger than him came the reply ?
Im 76.

Don’t think about dying, get on and enjoy life. None of us can predict the future- we can live until we are 100+ or fall over and dye this afternoon. Enjoy each moment.

I turned 67 in January and yes, I do think about my death, in particular (like others), the manner of it. I've outlived my dad by 10 years already so feel lucky to have got this far. I passively 'smoked' 100 cigarettes a day (mother and father 60 and 40 apiece) and do have asthma but it's reasonably under control. I have other conditions and am vulnerable but, like Marydoll, you wouldn't know it to look at me. I keep fit through walking and yoga but it is a struggle to keep my mobility up. I've decluttered (well, ongoing) for same reasons as others and am trying to train DH to do all the things I do in case I pop off first (he is reluctant). DH also recently diagnosed with cancer for 2nd time, so it does make you think. We are trying to stay positive, creative and young at heart and enjoying our 2 year old GD with another GC on the way! Hoping that our endings are quick and we get a bit of time to see our children develop and GC grow up.

At 67 I do sometimes realise that time is running out.
I still work, have a family of six at home, am constantly making plans, but recently I wonder if they will all come to fruition.
Mostly I’m sad about leaving my children and grandchildren, naturally I’m very close to the ones who live with us, and my relationship with the oldest one is very close.
I also feel really sad thinking about my children getting older, and the problems and sadness they’ll face.
My mother is still alive, but my dad is long gone, so I guess I just hope for the best.

How did I get to be the same age as old people?

70 this year, , I feel a bit of a wobble that we lost the 2 Covid years, I certainly feel older now after all that. We had so many plans, but with the recession, war in Ukraine and family illnesses we have lost the will to travel very far.
Apart from acknowledging that I have fewer years in front of me than behind me, I try not to think about it, sometimes it’s good just to get through the week!
Although I now think twice about climbing a ladder or standing on a chair to fix things and when I wanted to sort out a loose roof tile on our Bungalow you should have heard the fuss, I did it all until MrOops retired! Now I’m treated like someone who has to be careful all of the time, which is a pain.
Live for today.

I’m just 69 and feel a bit like you at times. I’m not looking forward to being 70 next year. It sounds so old.

I'm 76, happily married, lots of friends, busy social life. The only thing I'd change is that I'd like my young knees back, please!

I will be 86 next month, just become a great grandma1 I cannot believe my luck. I have a lovely husband and family.
Keep planning ahead like we are going to be here forever. Thank God every day

Like I am 83, just older than henetha and it seems that 60 is the age of worrying about it. It no longer bothers me.
My mother lived to be 100 and I don't want that. The human body doesn't seem to be designed to last that long, I can almost feel bits of me 'wearing out' now. Mum used to sigh and say 'all my friends are dead' and I think she was very lonely.
I just pray I don't loose my mind.

Espee, thank you to you too! That's the problem, no-one believes I am so unwell! To look at me, you would thing I was a fraud. I think the fact that I am thrawn like my mother helps to keep me going! ?
?
I too, thought all the Glasgow grans looked great. We need to be thinking of organising another meet up! I really enjoyed the last one.

I am 79 in September and DH is 79 in May. DH never thinks about dying and won’t discuss it although he has said that our current 4 year old car will be our last. I do think about death and have made sure everything that our sons would need to know when the inevitable happens is written down along with copies of our wills and that they know where it is all located. I have also begun to declutter the house and loft, the garage is a different story as it is full of things that DH thinks might come in useful. Our two youngest grandchildren are 12 (a boy) and 13 (a girl) and I often wonder how much of their adult life we might see. I am very much a realist and my DH’s head is more in the clouds and I think it shows in our attitudes to death.

Marydoll

*Esspee*, having I met you, I would never have guessed your age! You look so young!!

Thank you so much Marydoll. I must say you looked far younger than I expected (you are guilty of giving me a ‘bum steer’ when describing yourself) and may I say you looked a picture of health. I was expecting an elderly and infirm Marydoll.
Frankly everyone at the Glesga meet looked young and vibrant.

I was 63 last weekend. Having survived Covid, being on a ventilator for 2 weeks, suffering a stroke (all last July) and being in hospital (bedridden) for 6 weeks, I'm afraid of being in hospital not dying

Echt I echo what’s been said you don’t have to be a grandparent to be here. Allsorts I am sorry you don’t see your daughter I know of a few here who don’t see their children. I know if it was me I would be heartbroken but make the best of life.

I am 66 this year but mentally I feel still young but just a little forgetful! I have long term blood pressure kidney disease but the most troublesome is osteoarthritis it’s everywhere. It slows me down and once a strong woman I lack stamina.

My husband is six years older than me a type 2 diabetic but we both just plod along. We have a lovely family and three little grandchildren who are everything to us. I don’t think of death I have looked after our older family members dying of cancer. It was on each occasion totally heart breaking. If my husband becomes ill I intend if I can to look after him myself. I have seen enough suffering I just hope when our time comes it’s quick.

Bluebelle and Franbern ??

I’m glad you are not depressed
, I’m 20 years older than you and hope for a while yet , I never thought I’d see my Grandsons grow up , but they are now nearly out of there teens and still a joy , I’m looking forward ( with trepidation ) on going on holiday with my youngest DD and her girls plus the dog !

GrandMattie ?

I am 76, 77 next week, but only 24 in my head!

Have realised time is running down, but no point in dwelling on it. Just concentrate on the here and now and try to get the most out of every day. Am very lucky to have a good family nearby.

I try to plan plenty to look forward to, and do lots of activities I enjoy, and have made new friends at these activities. I have a cruise booked for August, and have just booked another for July next year to Iceland. No use the money sitting in the bank , I can't take it with me and the kids will have the house. As a favourite radio presenter of mine says "You don't see a hearse with a roof rack!"

Health is fairly good, and still doing all the jobs around the house and garden.

What will be will be.

Thank you, LaCrespuscule… and also Franbern for the positive post. I too wish I was religious (rest of family are/were) - love your question about the afterlife!

Thanks for starting such an interesting post, and sharing your fears. You are not alone… x

LaCrepescule

You are so right Henetha. I’m a born worrier though so should work on that. I’m definitely not depressed aggie and feel RoseeLee has got it spot on; I’m facing up to my mortality. Lovely post from Franbern, so positive.

I do sometimes wish I was religious (brought up in a strict Catholic household) and could come back to my faith. There are so many people on this earth who believe in an afterlife; are they all deluded?

I believe in an afterlife and it comforts me. But does it matter if you do or don’t? Does it matter if they are deluded? The only way to find out is to die!

I’m a very healthy 74 but finding nursing my terminally I’ll DH a bit hard at the moment. He is very serene about being dead, but finds getting there difficult.

I have the same problem - I don’t want to be demented, I don’t want pain, I don’t want to be dependent p, but unfortunately suicide is not fair on my two surviving children. So I shall have to bear my journey towards death with fortitude