People I Hate (Episode 1)

So this is going to be the first post of many that describes the type of people that make me want to poke my own eye out with a fork.

The first group of people are old people. Unfortunately, I don't really classify people as 'old' by their age alone. There are some 65+ folks that have remained active and healthy and are able to talk and walk around without appearing to be completely handicapped...I am ok with them. When I say old, I am referring to these people who can't function in normal society. Those folks who take 30 seconds or more to comtemplate stepping down a 6" curb because if they take a bad step they could break a hip. Or the ones who walk so slowly that I could lap them while crab-walking. Or the ones who's reaction times have slowed so dramatically that they take forever to step on the gas or brake pedal and scare the hell out of me with their concept of 'lane boundaries'.

About a month or so ago, I watched an older woman at a gas station have to be helped to do everything. She couldn't get the gas cap off or the gas pump into the tank. She couldn't swipe her credit card fast enough to have the card reader recognize it. Basically, she could not function. The reason I sat and watched (and did not help myself) was because there was a gas attendent who was nice enough to help her with all of this. At first, I was really sad watching this woman. I felt bad for her. However, the longer I watched and the more helpless I saw her to be, the angrier I got. WHY IS THIS WOMEN DRIVING? She can barely function outside of her car, how the hell is she capable of driving?? And why is she so helpless? Does she have unavoidable health issues or has she aged so terribly because she didn't remain active? Most of the 'health issues' that American society has today are completely preventable by eating healthfully and remaining active. I said MOST, not ALL. And almost all are somehow related to how we take care of our bodies. So I find it difficult to feel bad for someone who basically threw their own health away. Why should I care if you didn't?

Then just yesterday, I nearly watched an accident (me in the middle) because this old hag decided to cross the street when she didn't have the walking signal and we had the left turn arrow causing us all to slam to a dead stop mid-intersection to let her waddle slowly across the road. (This brings up yet another group of people I hate, those who feel the rules should apply to everyone but them, but that discussion is for another time.) I was truly amazed by how slowly she moved. I wanted to get out and smack her. Walking is what our bodies were made to do. That is why we are upright and our ancestors were not. It's called evolution. Our bodies actually changed to allow us to walk and run with ease. I am blown away by how lazy our society has become. People will do almost anything to avoid walking. (Once again, this is a topic better left for a later date.) The old saying, "Use it or lose it," is very applicable. If you do nothing but sit all day, that's what your body gets used to. You have to get up and move around regularly. Retirement does not equate to immobile. At least, it shouldn't.

I think perhaps my dislike of old people stems from my fear of what typical aging entails. I'm not afraid to get older. In fact, at this point in my life, I feel like I'm still on the upward side of the aging hill. I know I will peak and then start to decline, but I hope that by maintaining a healthy lifestyle I can slow that decline somewhat. I don't want to be THAT sort of old person. I want to be the fun one that still travels and explores and isn't afraid of change. Here's to hoping I don't become what I hate...