Too Young To Know

Young writers seem to be in a panic that elderly people are lonely. You see article after article about this epidemic of loneliness in the elderly. To that I say 'hog wash.'

I'm very tired of reading what the young think seniors are thinking, they have not a clue. I believe our bodies prepare us for this time in life and the young have yet to experience this phenomenon.

Bob's original family was ten children, plus two half siblings, plus one step sibling for a total of thirteen. Now there's only a half sister, himself, and an 88 year old sister. I am an only child and much younger than my cousins. I'm now totally without family. By this time in life many of our friends and acquaintances have died. I believe all this prepares us for our own eventual passing.

When I was thirty death would have been a frightening thing. I had young children, my parents, a husband, and friends. Now my children are grown, my parents are gone, and I have only my husband. Death is not so frightening these days. Then why do we have thirty year olds writing about what the elderly are experiencing?

It's apparently never occurred to them seniors are no longer fighting life. At this age most of the struggles we experienced in our youth are over and we're at peace with life. We enjoy our own company. We have memories to keep us company.

I'm excited to read what young writers have to say in just about any other field but not about aging. It's impossible to gain enough experience on this subject to be an expert without living it. Book learnin don't count.

When I look for books to read about aging I look to see the age of the author, particularly if it has anything to do with emotional well being.

This is my opinion and I'm sticking to it. What is your opinion?