Wednesday 20 April 2022

How The Hell Did I Get Here?


2022 will be a real "rite of passage" for me. I turn 65 this year, which in Canada means that the government will now officially classify me as a "senior citizen" and I'll start receiving the Old Age Pension. THE OLD AGE PENSION! Yes, that's what it's actually called in this country.

It's a lot to wrap my head around. My body, not so much. It knows exactly how old it is.










51 comments:

Old Lurker said...

Oh Debra. There is no need for cocaine. You could also go with crystal meth.

Also let's not forget the immortal (and possibly apocryphal) words of Groucho Marx: you're only as old as the women you feel.

Sue Bursztynski said...

Hi Debra! You are middle aged, not old, but if they want to give you a pension, fine. I have a mother in her nineties, so I put it into perspective!

I do like the quote about covers of people you haven’t heard of, sung by people you also haven’t heard of.

Frank said...

Been there. Worse is when you look in the mirror and don't recognize who is looking back at you.

Boud said...

Oh, Debra, wait till 85 draws near.. ask me how I know this. People assume you've been gone for years.

Bob said...

I can't believe they call it The Old Age Pension!

Carlos and I had an early morning errand yesterday and were back home at 10AM and I was back in flannel pants, t-shirt and socks by 10:05!

Travel said...

Growing older, beats the alternative. Old is about 20 years older than we are, until we reach the point that there is no one 20 years older than we are.

Marie Smith said...

Getting up off the floor is the hardest. Our friends, both in the eighties practised it daily to be able to do it efficiently in case of emergency. I’d like to eventually get off the floor.

Val Ewing said...

These are wonderful! Thanks for the laughter! I've just passed that age and am moving on to the next 66! :)

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

You are the same age as my brother who turned 65 on Groundhog day this year. He still doesn't quite believe it and doesn't "feel" 65. True, also, how our bodies and our heads are not always the same age! -Jenn

Sassybear said...

If your personality is any indication, you will be thriving well beyond your sixties. Congrats on the landmark birthday. Every meme you posted is 100% true for me, too.

BootsandBraids said...

You're crossing that threshold, LOL. Welcome to the club.

Moving with Mitchell said...

My photography student cousin asked if she could take candid photos of me for a portrait project she’s working on. The photos she showed me are exceptional, but I asked her who the hell the old guy was who took my place. Horrifying.

Lady M said...

Yowser - No where to go but forward and embrace the golden years.

DVArtist said...

Old age sucks. That's the truth. The golden years? Yeah fuck that. There is nothing golden or good about getting old. I turn 70 next week.

Ol'Buzzard said...

Welcome aboard.
the Ol'Buzzard

Dunstan Skinner said...

Every single one of these are spot on... only I'm just a spry 60, albeit with arthritis. But the funniest one was the one about not sitting on the floor without a plan. Oh yes, I was there yesterday. Thought I'd break or maybe flip the furniture trying to get back up. ...and that was how it went WITH a plan.

Your blog is so great. Thank you.

Deedles said...

I turned 66 in March, and I can identify with every one of these! I can live with being old(er), it's my kids being 45 and 44 that I have a problem dealing with. I have middle aged kids and teenage grandkids, for fig's sake. I am not middle aged because who lives to be 132? Oh well, it is what it is, make the most of it that you can. I've stayed off of floors for about 10 years now.

Leanna said...

I wish I had known you were doing a post on growing old. I would have sent you the meme that says "Hello darkness my old friend, I stood up to fast again..." It's my favorite and so close to my daily activities.

e said...

The memes are absolutely spot on! Between laughing and nodding along I started to become lightheaded. Good thing I was already sitting down.

I'm just a couple of years behind you, D. As far as the pension goes, who cares what they call it - take the money and run! Or walk mindfully away.

Bruce.desertrat said...

Oh yeah I"m turning 65 this year as well! '57 was a good year for chamagne and Chevrolets :-)

And yes, DO NOT get down on the floor without a plan!

Parnassus said...

Hello Debra, Old is when you go into an antiques shop and see things that you bought new or had as a kid.
--Jim

Mike said...

They are all mostly true except for the 9pm sleep time. I've never been able to go to bed that early.

Rosemary said...

I recall my brother calling my parents the OAPs when they reached their sixties. Howeve, people in their Sixties are not considered old today with so many people living on to be in their late eighties and ninties.

DB Stewart said...

Haha, although I'm younger, I can relate to it all. In fact, I felt hungover this morning, but in fact I just "slept wrong." Sigh.

Have you written a post about being a member of the "boomer" generation? I would love to hear your thoughts on that, haha.

Sixpence Notthewiser said...

Hahahaha Love them!
I was just talking to someone about Franz Ferdinand and Kelis and they were like, 'Oh yeah, from the 2000s'. And I stopped for a second to think that Milkshake by Kelis came out in 2002.
Damn!

XOXO

Miss Val's Creations said...

Haha! I just watched the remake of West Side Story and was saying to myself "those kids are not Tony and Maria". I have no idea who these actors are. My husband is only 4 years away from collecting social security. We are getting old too fast!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ DB Stewart -- That's a good idea, DB! I'll put it down on my list of topics!

Martha said...

HAHAHA! These were hilarious, Debra. You are one year older than my husband. He'll be getting his "old age" pension next year. But if you ask me, he's not only the most amazing man in the world, he's also the sexiest...at any age. LOL

Joanne Noragon said...

I was 79 this year. I intend to get older.

Tundra Bunny said...

A great line-up of LOLs! I'm only 58, but I also feel like the chihuahua most mornings!

Richard said...

Yes. I am getting old. I didn't learn anything. I still consider myself to be a traditional person who didn't learn anything .
I have my excuses all lined up in row, like easter ducklings.
I am still angry about some things.

It would be better if we didn't have to do these ceremonies just to help this.
I know that you understand grief. I appreciate that you understand the ceremonies. It would just be better if people would be more serious sometimes.
So for these reasons, i do not celebrate chocolate Easter Bunnies.
The eggs are fine, we still do that.

River said...

It's called The Old Age Pension in Australia too, and I'm fine with that. I know I'm old, my birth certificate says so. (70 in August)
But sometimes I wonder where the last forty years got to.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

You'll appreciate the extra income. Getting old is not all bad!

Busy Bee Suz said...

OLD AGE PENSION? That is downright insulting!
You're only as young as you feel.
I know that doesn't help much does it. 🫠

pam nash said...

65?? Still a kid! I'll be 75 and that's a big number. The biggest problem with getting older is the brain still thinks it's 55 and the body keeps screaming hysterically - no no no!

This N That said...

Good ones..sad but true..AND IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER!!!..Most celebrities are unknown to me..probably a good thing!!!

yellowdoggranny said...

the only old age number I have found funny was when I turned 69.........now I' 78 and fuck that..

Fundy Blue said...

65? Try 72! I can so relate to these funnies. "How the hell did I get here?" Spot on! I hope you're having a good week, my Younger friend!

Guillaume said...

You mean I still have 20 yearsto go? Wo hoo! I felt so old already at 45. And my forties are going so quickly.

Liz Hinds said...

Evening events? I mean seriously, did we ever do them?

Adam said...

Happy birthday

Polly said...

ha, ha, "Don't sit on the floor" that's classic, I would add, don't kneel down either!! Welcome to the OAP club :-)

Yvonne said...

You're so funny! I'm still laughing. Too bad it's all so true :(

Laura Morrigan said...

I am heading into the second half of my thirties and most of those already apply to me if that makes you feel any better!

baili said...

hahahahahahahahaa

you made me laugh hard rockstar :)))

so true all but the body in pieces hahaha even truer lol

i have started to experience at fifty what you are at sixty five so i share the grief ? no grief ,just enjoy the show Debra no matter what seat you hold next moment :)

Rommy said...

The AARP is courting me by putting the classic arcade games of my youth on their website. My husband signed up when he turned 50. And I recognize the people on the cover of their membership magazine much more easily than I recognize the folks on People.

Barbara said...

The good thing about growing older, at least for me, is that you become more comfortable with the aches and pains of aging. Can't get up and down anymore - no problem. In bed early - no problem. In bed late and sleeping late next morning - no problem. It is all part of a new lifestyle you just slide into.

Panty Buns said...

I ask myself the question that the title of this post asks relatively often (I am a bit older than you are).
These graphics are spot on - I'm loving the ironic humour!

Ur-spo said...

I very much enjoyed the memes and more so the comments.
I too often wonder how the hell did I get here? then I try to laugh at the triumph and absurdities that I did so.

Rhiannon Rising said...

Ok so I've been reading this blog for awhile and I would NEVER have guessed your age. I'm 40 and I thought you were younger than me! I don't mean this in a bad way - your blog is just young and fun and wonderful and bright and I swear to god you're only as old as you feel. I don't know how your body feels, but your blog feels young.

Old Age Pension is money though, so that's cool.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Rhiannon Rising -- Well, thank you, young friend! When I was young, I was soooooooo serious, driven, responsible and old beyond my years. But now I am indeed simply a big adolescent! So either I am aging backwards mentally, emotionally and psychologically (but not physically, worse luck) or perhaps I just don't have any fucks left to give, I don't know, LOL!