My late mother-in-law Ruby Phillips never looked her age, she was young at heart too. I asked her once what her secret was, she told me to never look in the mirror that was the only time she ever felt old.
Sometimes I’m like Ruby and I don’t feel old, but then I roll out of bed and my knees squeak or I look in the mirror.
Recently this age thing slapped me in the face. Jilda and I were attending a writer’s conference and she had booked us at a great hotel.
We hauled more stuff than we usually do, of course there was baggage, guitars and Jilda’s make-up bag, but then there was the camera bag, laptop and a box of my books to sign at the conference.
We arrived at the hotel and a bellhop promptly loaded our stuff onto his cart and we headed for our room. I was walking behind checking my e-mail on my phone and Jilda and the bellhop were a few steps ahead, chatting.
I heard him say, “ I see you brought your dad with you.” He wasn’t trying to score points with Jilda, he was serious and this was not my first incident of being mistaken for her father. I was looking at the back of his neck wishing that I could cause serious damage with my blazing anger.
He unloaded the bags and I thought there would be a cure for all known diseases and stupidity before I give you a tip. But Jilda stepped up and gave him a tip that brought a smile across his face as if he had won the lottery.
When the door closed, she didn’t say word, just smiled and began unpacking our bags. I was in a snit.
She has always looked young for her age; her ID was checked until she was almost 40.
Once when we went to the state fair, there was a guy there guessing ages. He was sizing Jilda up, when I stepped beside her. He looked at me, then her and nailed her age. He told me as she was walking away that he would never have guessed her age had I not walked up.
I have come to believe that age has more to do with how you think, act and care for your body than the number of years you have lived on earth.
I have met 20-somethings that looked and acted as old as fossils. But then I have met 90 year olds who radiated energy and vitality. These people usually expect the best out of life and it shows.
I interviewed a 90-year-old woman; she still lived alone, had an active social life, and drove a convertible. I asked her secret, she smiled and said:
“Do things that excite you, laugh, spend time outside, don’t over eat and take care of your knees because you will miss them when they are gone.”
