New Thoughts on Old People

I've noticed, over the past year or so a curious shift in my perception.

Used to be, when I'd see an old person, and by old I mean pretty old, you know, 80 or more, and particularly if they didn't seem to be doing so well, close to passing on, I'd feel sad for them. I'd wonder at all the experience and wisdom that would go with them, and that loss would make me feel sad for us and them. Sad for us because we need the benefit of that experience and wisdom, and sad for them because I suspect that as you get closer to your departure date, you must want to share and leave behind all you can. I imagine that doing so is probably the best way to believe that what you did here with your years, had some important value - made a difference.

I'd think of all the fun important stuff they'd no longer experience with us. I'd feel sorry that they'd miss births, and birthday parties and kids growing and achieving. I'd think of good food and fishing and love and conversations and laughter and travel and friendships and books and the smell of firewood burning in the winter and the crisp bite of clean, cold morning air and the satisfaction of scratching an itch and good wine and fresh, ripe, juicy peaches - and sooooo much more.

Of late though I've noticed myself thinking, "Damn they're lucky. They're gonna get out while the gettin' is good. They're gonna get out before it all comes apart". I feel glad for them. I feel glad that they worked hard, lived long, made their contributions and could hopefully feel content. I feel grateful that they won't have to experience the feelings of futility that would come from having to stay and watch a couple of generations of unprincipled thieves, power mongering lunatics and self-indulgent brats turn all their hard work and sacrifice to rubble. So clear and sincere is this new perception that it's sometimes accompanied by a twinge of jealousy or envy.

For me, that's a new and somewhat sad set of feelings.

I see the old ones, and myself, as blessed to have lived during one of the most exceptional times in human history. The past 50 or so years in America have been years of the most outstanding wealth, security, and opportunity ever seen on planet Earth. Granted, it's not been perfect and not everyone has had the same experience, but for a larger population than ever before, it's been incredible. This window of time in America has been an anomaly though, relative to the previous short experience of human life. Even the most sincere deniers are coming to realize that this short, illusion based reality is not sustainable. The house of cards is about to cave in upon itself.

Pending challenges for those who've taken physical, emotional and spiritual refuge in this house are many. Food, water, shelter, clothing, medicine, transportation, affordable energy and virtually every other commodity that we've come to see as certain entitlements, simply are not. We may come to see the ones who've died of late as having had perfect timing. We may be grateful that loved ones who had long and wonderful lives, did not live to witness what's coming.

The crew we sail into this storm with are a couple of generations of young people who don't know how to do anything. There are of course exceptions, but largely they can't build anything - they can't fix anything - they can't grow, preserve or cook anything. They can't delay gratification, sacrifice anything or put the needs of anyone else ahead of their own. They can't use critical thinking skills to evaluate the varied dynamics of decisions today or chart the potential outcomes of their choices. They are largely unable or unwilling to do hard work (or even to work hard). Granted, there are many who can and do exercise some of the above skills to some extent. And some who are clearly outstanding exceptions on many issues. But overall, we have encouraged a multi-generational malaise of entitlement, laziness, indulgence and expectation, unlike anything before in human history. And most of us are guilty to some degree of all the same failures. We have effectively disabled both ourselves and our youth.

We have failed to exercise and teach by demonstration, common sense, conservation, reverence for the wisdom of the elders, and humility. Nor have we demonstrated the necessary skills required for cooperation, community building and rational conflict resolution. These skills have been allowed to atrophy and drift out of our daily lives.

I don't blame the young. I don't blame the media, the government, the bankers or the myriad other ignorant entities. I blame us. I blame me. No one held a gun to my head and forced me to participate in the madness that's brought us to this point. I blame myself as part of the "us". The Tao Te Ching says "When we blame others, there is no end to the blame". When I take responsibility for what I have done and not done, the buck stops here. No, I am not alone in this burden. Yes it's a "we". But, I am my very own special part of the "we". I carry my own burden of responsibility. Yes, it's my fault.

We let it happen to us and to them. We tend to isolate the "old ones" in containerized communities and deprive ourselves and our spawn of their wisdom. Man is such a slow learner that depriving ourselves and our youth of the experience and wisdom of the old will prove to be especially painful. Perhaps even as painful as the rejection, marginalization and devaluation of people who become old. Perhaps their sin is that they require more attention in their last days, than our insatiable selfishness can spare .

We have overwhelmingly succumbed to the narcotic siren song of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The assurance of eternal ease, ever increasing convenience and prosperity, just in time inventory, subsidized food and energy and god help us...... credit - were all false assurances - illusions we chose to believe.

The bible has some good advice and good admonitions on the credit subject.

Borrowing (if you will) from Proverbs 22:7 :

"The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender"

Good counsel. I believe that Good Will Shakespeare said "neither a borrower nor a lender be". Now we know why.

Debt, credit, arrogance and disregard for others and our planet, along with the attending, inherent moral and physical decay (as we all know) may have contributed more than any other elements, to our pending implosion. Enough on that topic. We all know it. I think we always knew. Perhaps we hoped we could change the rules of the universe, if we just denied it long and sincerely enough.

The proverbial shit is about to hit the proverbial fan. The self-regenerating and socially encouraged addiction to distraction and denial will be one of the most painful detoxes we'll experience.
That rehab process will be but a fraction of what we're gonna have to confront.

Sorry folks, I know it's not fun to think about. I'm in the process of kicking my own denial habit. I don't think I'm a harbinger of doom. I don't think I'm saying anything that isn't being witnessed and felt by most of us. I guess if I thought there was still time for warm, fuzzy distractions............ I could watch tv.

So yes, I see old people who seem ready to go, and sense that their timely departure will in fact, be a gift of grace. God bless em'. Thanks for all you gave us. Thanks for all you tried to teach us. Sorry we ruined it. Now we'll do our best to clean up our mess. Perhaps now we will have the humility to honor the wisdom of the elders. Perhaps now we'll honor our obligation to those who follow us. Perhaps there's hope for our redemption.

There are pockets of hope, consciousness and opportunity growing and expanding in our communities. Many people will not give up on the commitment to make the best of this situation. We must all actively contribute to the "solution" processes.

Peace Ya'll