My husband once told me, getting older is like being in an onion. Each row protects the rows below, and you rotate outwards as you get older. Right now I have only two people older than me- my own Mother (86) and my husband's Godmother (87). Fortunately both are doing pretty well. But when they're gone, I'll be on the outside edge.

Great analogy Jannie. I am one row from the edge and I don't like it one bit.

When I first read your post title I read, "How many here are enjoyingspring?" haha! I used to take an older friend of my parents to lunch on Sundays. She really looked forward to it and gave me this little bit of wisdom. "Damn, I hate growing old. It's hell!" She was quite a character. She read the Wall Street Journal every day and had the mind of a 30-year old. She had no one left except a daughter-in-law in Kentucky.

Not me,i still have 5 sisters,our own 4 kids,6 grands,and 3 GGK'S,plus hundreds of nieces,nephews,,1st,2nd & 3rd cousins.I'm # 10 of 12 kids,and both my parents come from large families.We had a family reunion in 2004 and there was over 300 of us there and that didn't include all of us.A whole lot of us stay in touch with each other.Reunions are a BLAST!!

I've always felt sorry for people that are an only child,and one of my GD's is one of those and she hates it.
Kathi

I hope not to be alone with 3 adult kids, grandkids etc. But then I like being a "loner" as my hobbies etc are not the same as others in this town.. I have done so much volunteer work and even now do some, I enjoy quietness especially when working on a project. But I sure would miss DH, and those son in laws to fix what I seem to break.

I like your analogy jannie. I had always thought of it as a ladder. As our family members age and leave, those below move up another rung on the ladder. When you get to the top, you go on up! I guess I'm about half way up. I hope it's a long extension ladder! LOL

When you are alone, that's all the more reason to try to get out and be social, if possible. When the time comes that you can't get out, then you'll have people that can come to you.

Yes, I understand. After losing my dad eight years ago, my DMIL nine years ago and my exDFIL in October and my exDMIL last night - except for my mom WE are the next generation to go.

There are two generations coming up behind me - my kids and my grandkids.

I think when you have children/grandchildren, etc. you have even more a feeling of moving on up the ladder (or becoming the outside onion peel, or whatever.

"I've always felt sorry for people that are an only child,and one of my GD's is one of those and she hates it."

Please don't assume everyone who is an only child "hates it". And don't feel sorry for us, either. I'm an only child and I can tell you from experience that there is nothing to hate about it unless you convince yourself there is LOL. I have a very dear friend (and know of many others) who has three siblings and they're basically all estranged from one or the other. It can make for some very dicey situations. Just because you have siblings doesn't mean you're close.
As the old saying goes...you can pick you friends but you can't pick your family.

My sister and a couple cousins decided to plan a family gathering for this summer. We are the oldest generation in the family already, and we are only in our 50's and 60's! After thinking it over for a while I realized that "I" will be the oldest lady there! Oh, that hurts! I'm only 64.
(It wasn't very long ago that I wouldn't consider putting and "only" in front of 64!)

I am "alone" generationally, both of my parents are alive but my only sibling died five years ago (next month) - I have a broken rung on my ladder.

Mrsmarv - thank you. My son is an only child and I am now an only surviving child. I am fortunate to have the support of cousins on both sides of the family who will help me or my son with my parents when the time comes. Having siblings does not guarantee you will not be alone.

I know the feeling,my mother and mothernlaw died 10 days apart,that year we had 5 deaths in family,besides the 5.fathernlaw commited suicide,my father died about 2 years ago...1 brothernlaw died about 4 years and another brothernlaw last year.

I had 4 older sisters and 4 older brothers. I was the youngest, now I am the only one left. We were a close family, no "fussin' and fightin'" among us. I miss them each individually, and I miss those times when as adults we could be together for visits and holidays.

Now I am 85 years old. My dear husband died 27 years ago, and I have lived alone since then, by choice. I have many of the problems that come with age; two knee replacements, spinal problems, vision problems, slight hearing loss, constant pain.

My DS lives a day's drive from here and gets home occasionally; my DD live 7 miles away. She comes by every Sunday afternoon, although with the weather we've had she has only been here once since Christmas. I miss those visits! That is my weekly bright spot. Of course we call and email.

I still drive, and do everything for myself. I have gotten accustomed to living alone, but even after all these years, I haven't gotten accustomed to not having my husband.

My DS's DD lives about 40 minutes away, with her DH and 2 boys. This morning she called to see if I would be home this evening. The 8 year old is getting good at Scrabble and wanted to come down and play. They came and brought a complete home cooked dinner, and we played Scrabble. DGGS is good at it.

So I still have family that cares about me and wants to be with me. What more can I ask for?

Old friends have passed on or some not able to be out and about much anymore. I miss the good times that we used to have. My close friend who is 83 has the beginning of Dementia or Alzheimer's. She calls me very often and tells me the same things over and over. At first I was losing my patience with her, then I realized that might be me in the not too distant future.

Tomorrow I'm going to a birthday party for a neighbor. It is her 90th birthday, and she is still going strong.

I am, under the circumstances, still a happy person.

I plan to live to be a hundred.

Sue

No, I am not alone. Our four children all live very close, no more than maybe 6 miles away and the closest is a half mile from us. We have a Granddaughter that lives 25 miles from us. I still have my sister, even though she isn't in the state much and then there are her four children, their spouses and their children that total 11. My Mother is still living although she is in a nursing home, she is 96. My husband still works 6 days a week and I try to keep busy every day. So I don't really think about being alone, although I like spending time by myself. I am blessed.

Sue

I've lived alone for over 40 years but one of my DS's has been close or at least within telephone and email.
I don't think I could have someone underfoot anymore. Cats are bad enough !!!