Golden Years?

[Ohio Buckeye]

I was thinking last night about the term "golden years". I don't know
how this myth came about.  It must have been some 21 yr. old person
looking forward to retirement.  As I reflect back, the "golden years" were
the younger years, when my husband was still alive, when I still had my
health, and we were both working, camping, fishing, traveling and enjoying
life.  As you get older, you usally end up losing a spouse, health, job
or all of it.  These are not the "golden years".  Growing old is not what
is cut out to be.  So enjoy your life as much as you can now, don't
wait for the golden years.  They may already be here.
Just my opinion for what it's worth.

[paris]

I think my 30's were Golden years.  Life was good, children growing, careers still good, traveling alot, and parents, siblings were still alive and healthy.  The 50's are not much fun.   Grown children have adult problems that I can't solve, sibllings are fighting cancer, people dying, body isn't working like it should--  BUT I am grateful to be at this point. How can I really complain when there are so many young people dealing with the same issues. My life is good, my children love me and my grandchildren think "Nana" is the best thing ever.  They help me remember how to see the world with innocent eyes.  I still think I am 20 something and then I look in the mirror and see my Mother.  How did that happen?  Time marches on- - - - - - - and I am still here.

[Sluff]

I'm not feeling sorry for myself but I think I missed my Golden years.

[Ohio Buckeye]

I think we don't recognize them at the time.

[angela515]

I don't know if I had my golden years yet or not... like Sluff, if they appen when your young, I missed mine also. I have two kids... maybe the 2 years they were born were mine... I don't know yet, I'm only 28... I haven't been married yet... dunno ifI ever will be the way things are heading in my personal life. 

[jbeany]

It's not gold, it's rust.

My 90 year old gram has the same opinion - the best times of her life were when she was young, too poor to even rent the proverbial pot to pee in, just married, and having a ball.

[KT0930]

I love the saying, "Growing old ain't for sissies".

I never really think about the Golden Years and if they're still to come or if they've passed. Since I just got married a year ago, I'd like to think they're still to come, but aside from my health, things are going really well for our family right now, so maybe they're now.

[goofynina]

Now that i think about it, i entered my Golden Years on July 18, 1986, that is the day i met my one and only true love, Sam    He has supported me and loved me through health and now through my sickness, although it has been rough, i wouldnt trade it (or him) for the world 

[Sluff]

Now that i think about it, i entered my Golden Years on July 18, 1986, that is the day i met my one and only true love, Sam    He has supported me and loved me through health and now through my sickness, although it has been rough, i wouldnt trade it (or him) for the world 

yada yada yada...     just kidding...  I'm glad you have the one person in your life that can keep you under control..  

[Joe Paul]

The "Golden years" to me was back when Mom & Dad were alive and paid for everything including month long vacations in Florida. Another example was growing up in the 70's - all them good bands & concerts. Kids today do not know what they missed!

[keefer51]

I'm still waiting. The only way i could describe my life so far is this, These are my "brown" years!!! If you know what i mean

[KT0930]

Another example was growing up in the 70's - all them good bands & concerts. Kids today do not know what they missed!

The Allman Brothers are playing an outdoor concert in Atlanta tonight, alongside Dave Matthews Band. There was a great article in the paper this morning about when they were just starting out and the free concerts they used to do for around 100 people at the same park - they're expecting 50,000+ tonight.

[BigSteve]

  "The Golden Years have come at least,
    The Golden Years can kiss my ass." 
    Truest words said on the subject, Steve, just turned 69

[Falkenbach]

I'm not sure if I've had the golden years, or if they're yet to come.

I hate what I'm going through now, although I'm a lot luckier than many of you here, but even with what I've been going through with the transplant and related medication problems etc, I'm thinking I might possibly be facing better times now than I have in the past - because I appreciate the times better, perhaps?

I'm only 32, and I'm bitter that I don't have the health that my friends have. I used to keep fit for as long as I could - medications, fluid retention etc are preventing me from doing any of that now, and it's very distressing. But wanting that fitness back has given me a passion to appreciate life better, I suppose. It has, if anything, had a positive effect on my lifelong crippling depression which ruined my teens and 20s.

So perhaps these will be my golden years coming up, if we can get some of the medication side-effects under control and my transplant continues to be successful, and I can start getting a bit fitter again.

Great topic, btw, buckeye