Monday 25 November 2013

Silver Line launches today.

After my blog a few days ago - or rather my rant - about the article in The Times on the elderly, I was interested to see that Silver Line opened today.   For anyone who doesn't know, it is a telephone call centre for the elderly to ring if they are lonely so that they can be put in touch with someone who will chat to them.

We were shown volunteers speaking to callers but we were also shown groups of elderly folk sitting in drop-in centres chatting to one another, having a cup of tea and generally enjoying themselves.

What struck me about them was that they all looked so old!  My immediate reaction was, "OMG, do I look like that?"   The answer is, of course, that I probably do.   It's just that when I look in the mirror I don't see it that way.  I think to ourselves we are eternally young.   I certainly do not feel any different inside, or if I do the transformation has happened so slowly that I have not noticed it.

Long may it continue like that!!

15 comments:

Crafty Green Poet said...

It sounds like a much needed service!

I think most people do think of themselves as eternally young, at least on the inside,

angryparsnip said...

A much need service.
I think myself very young inside but the outside has aged quite a lot in the last few years.

cheers, parsnip

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

I've discovered that it's my glasses that make me look old; when I take them off the wrinkles just disappear!

Mary said...

What a great idea for a meaningful way of using the phone...........they are so abused these days as smart phones are really nothing more than little computers/cameras/GPS! My family members, other than DH, never actually call me and talk anymore, it's always a text, and I dislike texting big time!

As for the mirror thing - why do I look like someone else close up in the mirror these days? Even worse is seeing myself in photos - surely that isn't me!

Thanks Pat for the Xmas pud recipe offer. I do have several, including Mum's and Delia's, also some from UK Country Living, so will be OK if I decide to try one.....but thanks for the heads up on veg. suet - I'd definitely look for that in our Whole Foods store.

Hugs - Mary

Reader Wil said...

Your post is so true. I always regard other people of my age as being really old, but when I look in the mirror, I see a very old person. Well as long as we enjoy life and are reaonally healthy, we can be grateful.
Today my daughter and her four children arrived from Oz. I am so happy!

Frances said...

I read your previous post, and thought of a comment, yet did not post it.

I suspect that you and I might be about the same age. You live in the country, I live in a very big city, aka NYC. I still work. My maternal grandmother also worked well into her "senior citizen" years, although that term was not yet invented when she was still an employed nurse.

Generation skipping perhaps meant that my mom did not work very long past her marriage. It might explain why she still, at 95, wonders why I do work.

Yet.

Let me pause here, before I start running down a line of sentences that I cannot stop.

What I wanted to say is that there are so many people alive today at ages that not so long ago would have described their "aliveness" in a very different way.

Let's do a little rejoicing (and even Thanksgiving in advance of our USA holiday) that living can be a joy. Every day that we wake up presents us with so many possibilities. And challenges, too.

Let's toast life, curiosity, understanding, and enthusiasm.

Your posts are lovely!

Midlife Roadtripper said...

I know when I look in the mirror, I can convince myself I'm skinny. Perhaps I need to stop doing that.

Edwina said...

I know just what you mean.... you see other folk your age and either feel a bit peeved that they look so good, or amazed that they look Old. You know how you feel inside and it certainly isn't Old, on a good day anyway. But other people see you differently of course, they don't see the fun, light-hearted, daft side of you, the essential You. Just the outside packaging, and let's face it, it's beginning to look like it's been recycled a few times!

Edwina said...

I know just what you mean.... you see other folk your age and either feel a bit peeved that they look so good, or amazed that they look Old. You know how you feel inside and it certainly isn't Old, on a good day anyway. But other people see you differently of course, they don't see the fun, light-hearted, daft side of you, the essential You. Just the outside packaging, and let's face it, it's beginning to look like it's been recycled a few times!

Heather said...

We have a pensioners' drop in centre run by volunteers, which serves refreshments daily and it is always busy.
I don't feel old until I look in the mirror!! I remember an aunt of mine who was very ill but couldn't understand why she felt so awful. We reminded her that she was 79 and had just had a serious operation. She replied: 'I know, but I still feel only 27 on the inside'.

MarmaladeRose said...

Hi Weaver
I think Silverline is a great idea. Yes I met your friends at the weekend and we had a lovely chat. x

Elizabeth said...

My mother used to catch sight of herself unexpectedly in shop windows and think; "Who is that horrid old woman?…..!" then laugh.

The two smartest ( stylish + intelligent!) women in our book group are 89 and 83.

The only sad thing is when the brain goes…

I think I would be rather a good "Silverline" phone volunteer. I love talking and try very hard to listen too.

MorningAJ said...

Can I reassure you that no, you don't look that old. I'm still having trouble believing your age.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Love John's answer to the problem - I shall try and advise all my friends to do it.

Bovey Belle said...

I still feel about 30 inside too - though hopefully a bit wiser than I was then!

I make sure I am always the one behind the camera these days, as I hate seeing photos of myself. Surely that can't really be ME?!