By Charles E. Kraus
Mitch McConnell is 76. Elizabeth Warren is 69. Chuck Grassley is 85. Bernie is 77. Nancy is 78. Ruth is 85. The President and I are technically the same age, at least chronologically. I am 72 and can therefore write about old age from more than a theoretical perspective.
Many of us have weathered the years quite well. But without exception, endurance, memory degradation, health concerns, and general cognitive decline, are increasingly part of our balancing acts. Like cars, refrigerators, and ten-year-old computers, age takes a toll on function. All of us are dealing with built-in obsolescence.
“Where did I put my glasses?” may be the most uttered phrase of the post-fifty cohort.
We of the senior generation try to hold on to our skills and abilities. Eventually, we begin supplementing physical deficits with stronger trifocals, hearing aids, canes, walkers, pacemakers and other assorted medical devices. Who among us does not own a blood pressure monitor?
It is more difficult to compensate for failing cognitive agility.
When I watch our wise elders on television, I find myself impressed with the physical appearance of many. But I have certain suspicions about what I’m witnessing. These doubts come from personal experience. As a young man, I tried to look older, more mature. As a senior, I attempt to look and act as youthful as credulity permits. As they say, I don’t let the old man in. I do reasonably well with this deception, however, deep down I must acknowledge my charade. I’m putting my best foot forward, but that’s the foot with the gout.
I’m wondering if aging politicians are doing what I am doing — portraying a nimble mind. It is true that this duplicitous exercise can have a positive effect. My thinking, which is not as facile as it once was, improves during my impersonation of peak performance. This magic works for about twenty minutes. Thirty if I’m trying extra hard to impress those who may have reason to believe I’m no longer capable of driving, living independently, monitoring my own health, or making wise life decisions.
I’m not an ageist. As far as I’m concerned, Tony Bennett can keep performing until he’s a hundred and ten. But it is one thing to stick to your repertoire and routines, to function where the patterns and places are ingrained — in our minds, in our muscle memory, in our souls. Comfortably ensconced, we base our reactions on the storehouse of knowledge that we’ve developed over time.
It is quite another to deal with wide ranging, ever developing prospects, facts, crises, details, issues, pressures and then some, that are hurled non-stop at those who direct high-end government.
If Tony misses a note, his fans will forgive him. If government leadership fails to appreciate cyber security issues, the future may not be so forgiving.
Mandatory retirement age? Probably not. But, solid, well educated, mature, openminded, selfless, humble, worldly, caring, responsible young adults, please apply here. Before long, you’ll be taking the field.
No comments:
Post a Comment