Ramblin’ Road: Should old folks get out of the way?

There was a time when our plans for watching fireworks meant we headed toward town about an hour before sunset, found a spot to park as close as as possible and walked 15 blocks to the beach where South Haven held its annual display.

As we age, battling traffic, walking miles and miles and being in crowds simply is not that appealing. So this year we tried something different.

King and I got up early so we could find a parking space near the beach. I drove the PT Cruiser and he followed in the Toyota. At 7 a.m. there were those who had already found their spot along the bluff overlooking the lake — some were in motorhomes and tents — obviously having spent the night. But I found a perfect spot, parked the car and left it there for the day.

We took full advantage of the spot and came back later in the afternoon to go swimming while our granddaughter hung out with friends, trying her best to pretend she didn’t know us. Somehow during the past year and a half we have become an embarrassment to her. It is as if she suddenly realized we were, well, old.

King is not one for crowds or traffic and opted to skip the fireworks this year. So after spending several hours on the beach just relaxing,  we went home for dinner and later in the evening he dropped us off at the car again so we could watch the fireworks. He has given up dealing with people .. . I have not reached that point… yet.

Dad was in his 80s when he gave up.  The last time he went to the fireworks in Grand Haven was the year some idiot (and I don’t use that term loosely) made a disparaging remark to him as they were trying to make their way through the throngs of people converging on the waterfront. Dad was angry, hurt and offended. And he never went back.

I am amazed at the number of people who make fun of older adults. In fact, it makes me downright mad as hell.

I had a co-worker tell me how much she didn’t like old people because they were old, slow, and in the way. The unfortunate thing is, there are many who feel the same way.

Old, slow and in the way? Excuse me? Sorry folks, we are all headed that way. Older adults have been there and done that. They have lived full lives.

Those who are left from my father’s generation stormed the beaches at Normandy.  It wasn’t a romantic scene from a John Wayne movie. They swam ashore pushing bodies of those who fell before them out of the way. And now we make fun of them.