70 is the new 90, what is going on?

I took mom in for her blood work and I was holding the door for a woman who was walking in with a cane. I said to her, I wish my mother would use one of those. She said, “I’m trying to get off it. I have just recovered from breast cancer and now I have bursitis. Truth is, it’s kicking my butt.”

I said well, you look pretty good for having gone through all that.

Then she said, “Well, I’m 74.”

Again, I was shocked. I guess I’m maybe clueless but I’m surprised at how old 73 looks on my mother, how old 74 looked on this woman, and I’m scratching my head because I know women in their 80s and even 90s that are swifter and more energetic – my two grandmothers were in their nineties and still cooking for a crowd.

Very disconcerting and the reason why having missed my yoga class, I’m headed there right now.

Leave a Reply