Phil Penne Creations

#39 - The Senior

 

 

        “I’m sorry…?” 

        You fiddle with the hearing aid in your right ear and lean towards your daughter to listen for the reply. She smiles, and repeats herself, just a bit louder than before. 

        “Lunch, mom. Did you want to go out to lunch this afternoon?” 

        You pull the hearing aid out of your ear and fish around in your purse for the pack of spare batteries. “Sure, lunch would be fine. Stupid batteries always die at the worst times. I won’t be able to stay out too long – I’m going to have to get home and do some laundry.” 

        “Mom, Cheryl can do your laundry tomorrow. You won’t have to bother.” 

        You explain patiently that you don’t mind doing your own laundry or cooking for yourself. Just because you’re over eighty doesn’t mean you’ve completely lost the ability to do the simplest tasks. 

       “No, mom, it’s not that. Sure, you’re capable of doing it, but why bother when someone else is willing to do it for you?” 

        You finally condescend, deciding that you’re time and energy ahead just doing as she asks. Geeze, what do they figure they’re going to be like when they get old... 

 

 

 

Everybody refers to you as "old". You prefer to think of yourself as "experienced"... and won't they be surprised when they find out what an experienced person is capable of.