I came across this article in the weekend papers a couple of weeks ago. I’m attracted by anything old age related now I’m seventy eight. This guy – Jared Diamond (never heard of him, I admit) – is 88 and looking pretty good I thought. The sub-heading caught my attention – writer, academic, committed to living a ‘fruitful life’, much to recommend him and what exactly does an 88 year old do? So I read on.
The last paragraph, no, gaining the knowledge didn’t come easy. The last paragraph said, I’ll be 89 next month, OK I thought no need to gloat. He starts to describe his life, ‘I’m fortunate in having good genes. But I’m interested in lots of things. I have lots of friends. I’m socially active. I work out in the gym three days a week and I show off my muscles to my wife and to my sons. I go on the exercise bike. I take two and a half mile bird walks twice a week.’
I was getting a bit dispirited at this point. If my intention was to compare my own life to Jared’s, I wasn’t doing great thus far. Good genes? Well that depends on whether I’m comparing myself to my father who died at 42 of throat cancer or my mother who died at 94 of sheer grumpiness. So the jury is out, carry on reading. Interested in lots of things? Yes I can just about scrape a positive in this one. Lots of friends? Hmm, a few after I’ve fallen out with most of them. Socially active? Ah no, not consistently but we do a few things. Still just about in the positive column.
That is until the next bit. Working out at the gym. Ha. The best I can do here is walk the dogs slowly for two twenty minute’s walk and an increasingly challenging struggle this is. As for showing off my muscles to my wife and children. Well a) I don’t have any and b) they would die of laughing if I tried. So a big no to this one. I did have an exercise bike but I gave it away along with giving up our allotment one of the happiest days of my life. Bird walks? Sadly no. Maybe not too late but currently, no.
In discussing our health Mrs Summerhouse told me her sister has just taken on a personal trainer and once again offered her services as my personal, personal trainer. She is a qualified yoga teacher, so a serious offer. But again just thinking about exercising made me feel weary. I thanked her and said no. The prospect of living to 88 or even 89 was slipping away and the benefits of reading this article similarly diminishing. But I kept reading.
I play the piano (ahh, now we’re talking) I accompany two cellists and a professional opera singer. But then again, maybe not. And at this point I was beginning to wonder if this guy was for real. So even though I have recently bought a very expensive piano, as you will know, even this category of well-being ended up in the negative column. Bugger.
And Jared wasn’t done yet, I read Italian every day. I read German every day. I babble a little Russian once a twice a week. I think by now Jared was beginning to realise that he had lost me and was trying to be self-deprecating, alas too late. I shall continue my search for a long life and fulfilling retirement elsewhere.*
*I’ve included the whole article at the top of this blog and so you can judge if I do Jared a disservice.