It happened the day I was offered a buyout to retire from my job. The company was downsizing and offered its older workers a buyout. In some instances when this happens, a company is pressuring the older workers to leave the payroll and health insurance program. But in my case, it was a staff reduction and only a select few were offered buyouts. The offer was voluntary, but it was not hard to predict that there would be no budget or work a few months later. None-the-less, the shock was real: I was nearing the end of my professional life because I had gotten old, and the job market at that time was nil for workers of my age group.

When I was in my prime and the kids were little we'd go hiking. It was frustating because I'm the kind of guy that always wants to see what's over the next hill or what's around the next bend in the river and the kids would get tired out long before me. Now, they out hike me and are waiting for the "old man" to catch up. I'm still trying to figure out when our abilities were equal. It must have been one rainy weekend in November and I missed it.

Ron

I'm not ???? :(

Last semester when one of the graduate students in the class I was helping teach told me, "Wow, you are almost as old as my parents!". LOL

"What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?"

When we installed a new sink (we had to lay under the counter) and we both had to crawl to a chair to get up.

I looked down at my hands one time, and they looked just like my mother's. I don't notice it so much now tho. Now, they just look like my hands again.

OMGosh marilyn c the same thing happened to me! I was driving, looked down and saw my Mothers hands on the wheel....shocking!
I just don't look at them anymore....LOL

When the kids at preschool stopped accidentally calling me Mom and started calling me Grandma.

I was in my early 30's and seeing a dermatologist at the Army base near my home. He looked like he was 17 years old and made the mistake of saying something like ... "as we get older our skin ... "

When a co-worker asked me if I had any grandchildren yet. WHAT? ME?

When a restaurant asked me if I would like the senior discount. WHAT? ME?

When we were talking about the moon landing, and I realized my co-worker wasn't even born when it happened! And I remember it like yesterday! LOL!

Recently? This morning...when on Facebook a friend asked, "do you remember where you were 35 years ago today? Today is Jeremy's birthday. He is 35." I felt really old! LOL

Boy! I must be smart, cause I caught on a lot sooner then most of you!
I knew I was an adult when the man at the door(salesman) no longer asked if my mother was home.

Because of my heart troubles, I became old at a younger age than most, but at least I have been feeling about the same for over 20 years.

When I turned 50 I knew I was no longer "young". I live in a highrise in downtown Chicago. The last several years I kept saying to the other residents, "this building is getting so young". One day it dawned on me, the building wasn't getting younger, I was getting older. That revelation struck me like a bolt of lightening.
I have a bad habit of calling myself old. It's weird being "old" because I still feel like I'm a hot chick, that is until I catch myself in a mirror.
I don't mind getting old that much. It's kind of a relief not to have to worry about every line and wrinkle anymore.
Donna

IDK... while I AM old, I certainly do not feel in the least bit old.

In fact, I feel better and younger today than I did 10 years ago...

When a younger cousin said to me "You have grandma's hands".

I am NOT old !! I am still a young sexy, vibrant woman with a lot of go power. Just because I get Social Security means absolutely nothing. It is just a mistake is all. It is my mother that gets SS, not me, right? But why does her check have my name on it. Oh well, that's the guvmint fer ya.

Helen

When I looked at a pair of my underwear and realized I could use them to parachute off the deck in the event of an emergency. Talk about granny panties! *Sigh*

Kim

I don't feel old, approaching 70 in a couple of weeks.

BUT turning 70 is going to be a hard birthday!

Chisue, the same way it happened to you, when somebody called me Ma'am instead of Miss. Ouch!

That was a long time ago. Now that I'm over 55 I qualify for some senior discounts and keep getting those mailers from elder hostile, er, um, I mean Elderhostel. (sigh!)

I started to feel old when I turned 60. Each year since I have felt older. Now that surgeon is talking about surgery on my back, I really feel old! :o(

I knew I was getting older when, watching a baseball game on TV, thinking about the players as I would as a mother....and now grandmother....instead of thinking it would be fun to go out with him if I was married kind of thinking.
Or, maybe when a young man at the grocery said to me "Maam, could you help me pick out a chicken." I had been having a really bad day so I told him he could just figure out how to pick out his own darned chicken.

LOL Carol, you meanie. Joan around here when we have to do something that is down low we first try to figure who could get up off the floor afterward before we attempt it and make sure a sturdy chair is near to crawl up.

Turning 60 was kind of rough. I've got good genes though and nobody ever believes my age. Some of my female relatives got all happy at a family reunion a couple years ago because I finally was starting to get some grey. LOL.

I do get reminded frequently these days when a lot of people I know online talk about how old their parents are and I'm a lot older... chuckling.

I knew I was getting older when I was getting dressed for the day and it took me longer to take my pills, put on my prescribed ointments, and lotions than to actually get my clothes and shoes on.

I don't mind getting older - sure beats the alternative!!

I don't really think of myself as old as much as I don't think of myself being as young as I used to be.

I look at others my age, with their problems, and the shape so many are in, and consider myself very fortunate. I can do a lot of things at my age that a lot of younger women can't do.

When a 15 YO grocery bag boy offered to carry out my groceries and called me "M'AM". I was only 26!!!!!

But even at 57 I don't usually feel that old, except when I am physically exhausted from trying to do too much. I can't do what I use to and pay for it with aches and pains and exhaustion. But in my head I still feel young.
Clare

Along this same line...

I was always pleased to be flexible: I can easily put my palms on the floor from a standing position without bending my knees.

Would you believe that I was 65 before I realized that -- duh! -- my legs are relatively *short*, compared to my torso! I discovered that sometimes I can buy 'petite' size slacks and jeans.

I can't wear petite tops or dresses because I am long-waisted -- although that seems to be changing as my spine compresses.

I still haven't completely accepted it. I'm not sure if I want to either. As the old saying goes, you're only as old as you think you are (or something like that).

I realized I was older the first time I couldn't smile my way out of a traffic ticket.

That broke my heart.

Quite a while ago, but it is all physical because of the aches and pains that have slowed me down. Among my friends I'm still the life of the party.

I saw my GP yesterday for a routine check up. She said she always has to look at the birth date on my chart to remind her of my age. I had my 85th birthday 3 weeks ago, and she insists I don't look it. Other people tell me that too, but I don't agree with them.

I appreciate those kind remarks, but also know that the body doesn't care what I look like! It has a mind of its own.

In fact I think I am that old woman you all find around your house so often.

Sue

I'm not sure I've gotten older...it's just that they started letting grade school kids be doctors.

At the grocery store this week, a little boy of about 4 or 5 needed to move past me, and he said, "Excuse me, old lady."

That one will be hard to forget.

:-(

Young? as in how what? I've been young for a long time it doesn't matter how many times I've been around the sun.

Waiters still say to my son I hope you and your wife had a nice meal. He hates it but I love it

Hi Ron,

Congrats on having kept your inquiring mind intact ... and the muscles more or less so.
_______________

Had it in mind, when I saw the topic, to reply, "Not yet!".

But then I remembered that about seven? years ago son was going to help a friend move and I planned to visit a cousin while he was doing so, but the guy had a lot of stuff (including banana boxes largely filled with books) and I stayed to help for a while.

After climbing 19 steps carrying a fairly heavy load ...

... one could swear that someone was pulling steps off of the bottom and adding them to the top of that danged stair!

I stayed for some time, and didn't have serious trouble carrying the loads ... and when I did, I'd quite for bit.

Recently, when we were helping another friend move ... quite a few steps up to second story in a commercial area (don't remember exactly how many), after a few such trips (and, if I recall, carrying lighter stuff), my knees told me that this was not a pleasant activity.

And recently, at the investment group a young, curious, vivacious lady appeared, and, early on, asked me to give her a hug.

I found her rather attractive ... and, on relating the story to son, was told to "Go for it", but have been playing it cool.

On a recent visit, after sharing an account of some recent relational heartbreak ...

... she told me that I remind me of her grandfather ... and earlier, on seeing me when I was wearing my falsies (teeth, that is), she said that it made me look ten years younger.

Oh, well.

Have a great weekend.

I have some tomatoes that are growing like crazy ... needed staking last week (if not earlier). And weeds that need hoeing/pulling. And beans/peas that need picking ... but may leave that till morning, to take to church fresher ... but that darned church starts at 10 rather than 10:30, in summer!

Is it true that as we get older we tend to procrastinate?

ole joyful

"they started letting grade school kids be doctors"

It's worse than that;
the police, firefighters, lawyers, & judges are 12 years old,
the FBI agents on tv are 12 years old, &, uh,....
have y'all looked at our new president?

I first realized I was no longer "young" when I was on an elevator with a petite young woman who was about 9 months pregnant.
She had a baby on one hip & a diaper bag balanced on the other shoulder, & she was leading a toddler by the hand.

When the elevator stopped & the doors opened...
she held the doors open for me!

The upcoming 70th birthday is something I have been dwelling on.

Birthday's have never bothered me, but this one, I know I am OLD!

So NOW is my answer,

in 1991, when my father in law died. It was a very trying and tough few days/weeks.

Since then, I mostly just am, and don't think about my age.

Moni

When I requested the installer for our new satellite dish to please block MTV. He looked at me and asked,
"How old are you?"
I was 34!

I've always appeared to be younger than I actually am, so didn't deal with the age-thing for a long time. Then a few months ago I noticed an arthritis bump on my pinkie finger -- that did it :-( I managed to ignore the SS benefit.

I haven't figured that out yet...even though there are a lot of years.

Age is just numbers...I sure don't feel or act like a lot of same agers.

when my kids started looking down at me (all are taller) and then suddenly i had 7 grands...