Thank you for reading it. And, yep, you can get my age and my social-security number (& I yours), my address, voting record, home value, salary, etc, in a quick online search, but it didn’t seem to be the point of this wonderful questionnaire, so I focused on what to me most counts.
Great interview! I think it is not uncommon to be ambivalent about age. To love your current age, but still, find aging hard. To talk about aging, but not to reveal your age. Also, can totally relate to feeling less anxious, competitive, and judgemental than in younger years - but often being soooo tired.
I’m wondering why you’re publishing stuff ON OLDSTER about people who refuse to say how old they are. Surely the sine qua non of having something worthwhile to say about aging is being willing to state your age! What gives? And the hair dye! Saints preserve us!
I welcome all attitudes and choices, Celia. I respect people's desire not to state their age—sometimes it's because they'll face age discrimination in their fields. And even though I choose not to dye my hair, I think dying one's hair is a respectable option, too. No dictates here.
I get that. I’m a gerontologist. To refuse to acknowledge my own age (68) would invalidate anything I have to say about aging. As would dyeing my hair.
Yours are fine choices all, Celia, but I don’t refuse to acknowledge my age—it’s a public fact. It’s simply not my focus or defining of my identity. I do wonder, though, would a man’s response to this questionnaire elicit a similarly angry response?
Oh, I just don’t think the number is what matters most, C; I assume we all can get those specs on line in an instant—social security number, age, price of apartment, etc.; it’s just not what interests me, so I didn’t state it. As to the dye: I’ve dyed my hair for many reasons since I was 25, usually after a break up; I consider it seasonal plumage. But may the saints preserve us—we def need some help on that score.
I agree with E.J. Everyone should do this questionnaire periodically. The self-reflection is invaluable.
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Nice interview. She's certainly within her rights not to reveal her age, but I found it out in about 15 minutes of research online.
Thank you for reading it. And, yep, you can get my age and my social-security number (& I yours), my address, voting record, home value, salary, etc, in a quick online search, but it didn’t seem to be the point of this wonderful questionnaire, so I focused on what to me most counts.
Great interview! I think it is not uncommon to be ambivalent about age. To love your current age, but still, find aging hard. To talk about aging, but not to reveal your age. Also, can totally relate to feeling less anxious, competitive, and judgemental than in younger years - but often being soooo tired.
Thank you, Annette. That’s it exactly. 💕
This is truly wonderful --E.J. is fabulous.
Thank you, Elissa. <3
Loved this interview
It was a joy to read her responses.
Thank you—it was a revelation (for me) to complete this, a joy.
I loved this, Ej. And the brain fog of menopause does eventually clear...
Oh, thank you, Geeta. It’s really busting my chops. I miss you. <3
Is that true if us guys as well? I’m 72,….
I’m wondering why you’re publishing stuff ON OLDSTER about people who refuse to say how old they are. Surely the sine qua non of having something worthwhile to say about aging is being willing to state your age! What gives? And the hair dye! Saints preserve us!
I welcome all attitudes and choices, Celia. I respect people's desire not to state their age—sometimes it's because they'll face age discrimination in their fields. And even though I choose not to dye my hair, I think dying one's hair is a respectable option, too. No dictates here.
I get that. I’m a gerontologist. To refuse to acknowledge my own age (68) would invalidate anything I have to say about aging. As would dyeing my hair.
I hear you. But also, to each, his/her/their own! PS How cool that you are a gerontologist! Maybe I can interview you some day.
Yes, they say that aging as a gerontologist is like Kafka’s metamorphosis if you are an entomologist! How do I complete your questionnaire?
Actually, email me at sari.botton@gmail.com and I'll send it to you...
I'll email it to you...
Yours are fine choices all, Celia, but I don’t refuse to acknowledge my age—it’s a public fact. It’s simply not my focus or defining of my identity. I do wonder, though, would a man’s response to this questionnaire elicit a similarly angry response?
However, I have experienced age discrimination even in the field of gerontology!
Oh, I just don’t think the number is what matters most, C; I assume we all can get those specs on line in an instant—social security number, age, price of apartment, etc.; it’s just not what interests me, so I didn’t state it. As to the dye: I’ve dyed my hair for many reasons since I was 25, usually after a break up; I consider it seasonal plumage. But may the saints preserve us—we def need some help on that score.