What is it that makes YOU feel that you have reached old age?

When I had just passed my driving test and was all long blonde hair and lipstick.... as soon as I got to a junction in my Mini, a nice gentleman would smile and let me go first.... now I appear to be absolutely invisible. Which is odd, since I'm a lot bigger and you would think, easier to spot !

When I'm watching a quiz programme and under the heading of a 'History' round I can remember it happening!!!

It seems we Gransnetters are, on the whole, enthusiastic for life! I think feeling old - or not - is in the mind and being busy and feeling wanted. This is obviously affected by poor health. Realising we are old is another matter! Loads things make me feel old if I think about it - especially a lot of the rubbish on TV and in newspapers and magazines!
I am lucky to have good health, loving children and grandchildren, my disabled DH still manages to cook most of the time! I am very involved with school governors although in my eighties.
I think many Gransnetters follow my dear Mum's maxim - Count your blessings!

Yesterday I stood at counter in shop just a couple of feet from sales assistant and was ignored for several minutes while she tapped away at something. Did someone say that people over a certain age become invisible? I was already a short person but with age/osteoporosis I certainly feel I have shrunk in recent years.

Getting coffee/snack and water for self and friend the other day, I pulled the old lady card and asked for someone to carry tray to our table.... they seemed a bit surprised at my request.

Shanma thanks for the laugh, love anything that makes me laugh out loud. I'm only 61 so don't feel old although I have mobility problems so readily accept offer of help/ask for help when travelling by train (lifting case on/off).

I'm not allowed to be old a as DM is 87, or as my DGS says "she's really old" bless him

Who are all these "Celebrities" who crop up on programmes - I haven't a clue & as for modern pop music.........

Can't stand to put underwear on & haven't done so for many years - any idea how many accidents in the home are caused by underwear/ trousers - the mind boggles (don't want to explain that to Ambulance crew)

When I stop wearing black and replace it with beige I'll be "old" mind you I do say a loud "oohff" when a comfy chair swallows me up.

When I stopped plucking my eyebrows and started plucking my chin.

1. My white hair, which I do not notice so much when I look in a mirror. I notice when I see a photo of myself in a group – at a wedding or party – and I think "who is that old ...? OMG, it's me!"

2. When even young girls usher me in front of them on to the bus. How old must I look to them?!!!

Sue01 you made my day

Jenn, that's so awful isn't it! I'm not old until I catch sight of myself in a shop window or any mirror!?

My friend's young son was asked to find out how his parents generation had lived. He didn't bother to ask her so she was astonished at parents evening to find that as a child she had apparently eaten meals that her mother/his granny had cooked over an open fire in the middle of a hut. My friend must be...ooohh....at least 50 years old now!

Aches and pains; not having to do anything I don't want to do; wearing comfortable clothes (including wearing PJs and slippers all day if I'm not intending to go out and can't be bothered); being able to be me, say or do whatever I wish and not pretend otherwise!

I'm still 24 in my head so I don't feel old. I remember going into a large shop a few years ago and commenting to my friend (we were both over 60) that they looked like "grannie clothes" - the startled look we got from the teenage assistant nearby made us laugh all the way out of the store.

Juney64

When Rachel and the rest of the cast in Friends look oldfashioned to my daughter but they look fine to me. Likewise any music from the early 80's such as Culture Club or Spandau Ballet still makes me smile but makes her cringe!

I feel old when I have to get GS to fix my computer/tablet. The youngsters these days grow up with all this technology and take to it like ducks to water. Us 'oldies' have to make more effort and call for support when things go wrong.

When a nice young man offered me his seat on the underground, I thanked him, sat down and looked around and realised I probably was older than anybody else in the carriage by miles .I've always worn an apron round the house, my next door neighbour asked me if I always wore it! it makes me get on with things, then I take it off and have a nice cuppa.

SueDonim your post about cooking in the middle of the room on an open fire made me laugh. My GS also has this mischievious sense of humour and told the class once that his parents had made him stand on the roof adjusting the tv aerial. Never happened! Maybe he is taking after me because whenever I was asked to write about what we did in the holidays I always, always made something up. I thought they were being nosey!

Changing the beds. Not so quick and changing the duvet now. Puff puff

radicalnan people never used to call me sweetheart or darling until I reached 60! I hate it especially when they pat your hand. Hubby gets 'My Prince' from the lady in the chip shop, he has many old ladies who always like to chat in the supermarket. Drives me mad when I want to get on with the shopping! We both get 'You Guys' from waiters or shop assistants.

Hoping there will be a nice fit young man to help me down the step of the TGV which are really really high up from the platform ....better still when I broke my femur and had a zimmer frame ...nice young men used to carry my bags ! there are benefits !! Not too happy when the train is a simple local one and the step is even to the platform ! bah humbug !

Not being able to see to drive in the dark any more ...very restrictive when living in rural France ...no transport and taxis 60 euros to local town and back ......mind you, husband 15 years older than me at 84 can no longer hear very well ...bought a hearing aid cost him 3,000 euros ...refuses to use it as 'it makes me look old'........say no more ..

When someone asks me if I want help to cross the road when I'm standing there waiting for my taxi!?

big knickers

My daughter (40) said she bought her first "mummy coat" when she had her little girl. It was an anorak type of thing and it made her feel old. For me, it was wanting to wear flat shoes, even with a skirt.

The driver of a very large wagon, which was parked on the pavement, was very apologetic and called me "queen" as he quickly moved the fence so that I could walk past!