My point is that 56 is not very far from the age that many people shuffle off this mortal coil. 61, 66, 68...not so far away at all.
To me, it seems that the British attitude toward age 56 is a realistic one. In reality, at age 56, you've got 20 years or so left of spryness, if you're one of the lucky ones. After age 76, most people inevitably become frail and experience significant declines in areas such as eyesight and reaction time.
From where I stand, it's the American denial of aging that's deluded. I like the attitude of Brits like the Up cast who are more accepting of where they stand in life's cycle. It's hard to imagine Suzy, or any of the other Up women for that matter, getting plastic surgery and running around in teenage fashions.
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supergran
11 years ago
I like your posts, Flora.
I'm a Brit who's turning 58 next month. Although a basically happy person, I certainly feel in that wilderness between middle-age and old-age.
56 Up aired in Britain well over a year ago and I've forgotten a lot of the details, but it was filmed in the middle of a bad recession that we are experiencing over here (of course, we're not alone in that). It's affected everyone's mood. I know that many of my peers are worried for the future of their children and help them financially whenever they can. That leaves them with less money to spend on themselves. Then, turning to more mundane matters, the weather's lousy! In the last two years, we've probably only had three months or so of sunshine. So people end up living a mainly indoorsy life. When we do venture out, we have to pay £1.40 a litre for our petrol, just to sit in traffic jams on our crowded little island! No wonder we're miserable!
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Stirchley
11 years ago
turning to more mundane matters, the weather's lousy! In the last two years, we've probably only had three months or so of sunshine. So people end up living a mainly indoorsy life. When we do venture out, we have to pay £1.40 a litre for our petrol, just to sit in traffic jams on our crowded little island! No wonder we're miserable!
As a Brit living in America, I can tell you that this is a hard country to live in if one is old and sick. Personally, I will be fine, but many others are less comfortable financially. Be grateful you have the NHS for all its faults.
I hated British weather when I lived there. One thing I really like about America is that we
always have a summer.
Why sit in traffic jams? As you say, your island is very crowded. Why not walk? I have never learned to drive a car.
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supergran
11 years ago
Why sit in traffic jams? As you say, your island is very crowded. Why not walk?
Hadn't thought of that.
Wenn ist das Nunstück git und Slotermeyer? Ja! Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput!
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Stirchley
11 years ago
it's the American denial of aging that's deluded.
I don't think Americans are in denial about aging. We are fully aware that we are all eventually going to die, but we don't dwell on it unnecessarily.
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daddie0
11 years ago
I live in the US and am just a generation or so behind the "Up" crew. I must say that I've enjoyed the process of seeing the folks age. I only recently heard of the Up films, and this last installment was a bit shocking to me. You see, I'm still in that deluded age of thinking I'm not aging yet, but as the producers kept intercutting clips of interviews from 42 & 49 Up into the 56 Up interviews I couldn't help but be shocked by the amount of aging they all displayed.
I think there is something to it--and it's not a very fun thing to consider--but it effects all of us no matter on which side of the pond we live! This series is exceptional.
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Stirchley
11 years ago
After age 76, most people inevitably become frail and experience significant declines in areas such as eyesight and reaction time.
Heavens, I'd better get my husband doing stuff around the house before he turns 76 in two years' time.
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