Katharine Whitehorn on what it means to be 80
"Not so long ago, you were doing well if you reached three score years and 10. But many of us now live full and active lives well beyond that. So what does it mean today to be 80? Katharine Whitehorn, who's not there yet, considers our changing understanding of old age."I read this yesterday (maybe I'm reflecting on aging as my 40th birthday approaches) - the piece is insightful and makes some good points and theres some nice humerous touches.As people of my generation contemplate the ageing of our parents' generation, and mainstream celebrity obsessed media deals so foolishly with ageing (or attempting to postpone or deny it). Talk of "pension crises" and stories about "the support burden" for younger people caring for the older generation seem to me to be very negative and lack the imagination necessary to see what a blessing it is to have grandparents for our children.
