I am always grateful when people send me some feedback about my weekly ramblings or inspire me to write about new subjects. Last week, a friend named Danielle mailed me a link about an interesting story published in the New Yorker.
It is about 2 people, Natalie K. Levant and George Saltz who, after their spouses passed away, started to do standup comedy… while in their eighties. Their schticks are often about old age and how they feel and deal with it. It is rather uncommon… and in my opinion, laudable.
When I write about a certain subject, I am in the habit of looking up quotations by famous people, and I found out that more has been written about old age than about Jesus Christ and the Apostles. So, I will use a few of them to buttress my case.
A few years ago, we had a club member (already in his eighties) who used to say with a straight face, “I don’t play with old people.” He was probably influenced by Victor Hugo who wrote:
“I believe that old age comes through the eyes and that you age faster by always seeing old people!”
This might explain why many old people don’t like retirement institutions crawling with living dead. It is certainly not inspiring. To keep your élan, you must mingle with young, pretty things.
Another quotation that rings true:
« La vieillesse serait vraiment trop triste si le rose essaim des pensées polissonnes ne venait parfois la consoler. » Anatole France
“Old age would be really too sad if the pink swarm of naughty thoughts did not sometimes come to console it. »
Naughty thoughts we must have and keep.
We all get old (except Jane Fonda) and we must deal with it the best we can. The best antidote against melancholy so far is a good sense of humor. If you laugh, you will keep going a little longer. And as far as I know, nobody crossed the Styx laughing… So, regardless of your age, keep thinking young and dirty.
“Old age is not bearable without an ideal or a vice.” Antoine de Rivarol
True Antoine. At my age, I don’t care much for ideals anymore… I am just looking for a good solid vice to sustain me for a little while longer. Any suggestions?
Alain
“It has been my experience that those with no vices
have very few virtues.” Lincoln