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As a stereotypical college student, I usually have an adverse reaction to any sort of remorse or guilt thrust upon me by people of the elderly persuasion. However, old people have stopped talking and started showing me that youth is wasted on the young by accomplishing things I never thought possible.
In past generations, the elderly tended to shrink into senility and out of the public eye, but recent events have shown me that older people are fighting harder than ever to stay in the spotlight and I‘m trying to figure out what I can learn from their achievements. I have even found examples of this in Chico.
A 65-year-old dentist from Chico finished the Ironman Triathlon in June. It took Bill Moon 14 hours and 29 seconds to finish the 140.6 miles of swimming, biking and running. It only took me 1.3 seconds to hang my head in shame. This is all good for Bill Moon, but the evening news might as well have said, “Local man makes young people feel like crap in record time. More at 11.”
I think younger people tend to discount those who are older than them. This is especially true for us as technology widens the generation gap every day. But, apparently, there is something to be said about the wisdom of age because it seems to be making me feel like a bum more often than normal.
Dara Torres, the 41-year-old Olympic swimmer, beat the American 50-meter freestyle record, which she set at the age of 15. Not only did she show up her younger self in the pool, she did so just about a year after having a baby and she looks like she’s in the best shape of her life.
Susan Boyle won the hearts of intercontinental couch potatoes by singing her heart out on “Britain’s Got Talent” at the ripe age of 48. Even though she ended up losing the competition, she’s become a household name.
I can barely find the motivation to run to the supermarket — let alone run a marathon —and something about the number of beer cans and red cups in my neighbors’ yards tells me I’m not the only one. And when it comes to musical talent, I’m guessing “Rock Band” doesn’t count.
As if we didn’t feel bad enough about not visiting our grandparents more often, now we have to worry that they’re going to one-up us at the family reunion? There is something to be said for getting older — or at least its accomplishments.
Like most people in college, I am an adult, but feel no desire to behave like one. This — unfortunately — coincides with every old person’s desire to rediscover his or her childhood.
Hearing things about people such as Moon, Boyle and Torres gives me hope. I used to think I should get my kicks now because when I got old I would be left with a mortgage and a minivan. Thanks to people like them, I don’t have to feel bad about being lazy now because I can expect to achieve something great past middle age.
So perhaps the thing to be learned from people such as Moon and Boyle isn’t to work hard while we still can. If anything, they have taught me I can have fun and not have to think I’m wasting my life. Now I see that being young is just one part of a long and productive life.
Joanna Hass can be reached at
jhass@theorion.com
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