Who are these old folks, really?

 

I met Truett Baker through a grief group I joined after losing Jody. We connected quickly—both of us were mourning the loss of long-time spouses, and both of us shared a love for writing.

Truett is an extraordinary man. At 90 years old, he’s still dreaming big—he’s even considering pursuing a doctoral degree.

He recently shared an article he wrote several years ago with me, and I asked if I could pass it along to you. It offers a fresh perspective on what it means to grow older and invites us to rethink our assumptions about aging.

Thank you, Truett, for your light, your wisdom, and your friendship.

 

Who are these old folks, really?

Being in my mid-eighties, I consider myself somewhat an expert on “old people”. I know, the politically correct term is “Senior citizens.” That is another attempt in modern culture to deny reality and we are good at that. But that’s another story.

My wife and I recently moved into a retirement center in Scottsdale, Arizona. That was a cultural shock and made me want to be a ‘senior citizen’ instead of an old person. I could walk straight and even climb stairs. I wasn’t particularly wrinkled and I can see well. Hearing is another matter. I don’t pick over every piece of fruit in the dining room before deciding on one. And these people are slower than molasses. I could go on but you get the picture.

I’m not a social butterfly like my wife and it takes me a while to get acquainted with people, but I’ll have to say, these old people are friendly and anxious to talk to others. As I got to know them, I no longer saw them as “old people.” I saw past their age, their slowness, their wrinkles. I saw teachers who touched the lives of countless others; I saw architects who designed our buildings, I saw veterans who protected our nation and some still wore the scars; I saw nurses who tended to and comforted countless numbers of people; I saw entertainers who brought laughter and joy to multitudes; I saw ministers who brought hope and a better way of life to many; I saw social workers, salespeople, construction workers, accountants, librarians, policemen, firemen, farmers, engineers and technicians of all varieties and the list could go on.

I live among the builders of America. I live among heroes. I am a debtor to this generation of men and women who built America, raised families, protected us and led us to a better tomorrow.

I am proud to be among the “old folks.”