Geriatric Club

[Gilthalion]

When I saw the "Middle Age Club" I thought, "Oh, boy! Finally a club for me!"

Then I saw posts from folk not even out of their tweens (that dangerous age of the twenties between teen age and coming of age at 33)! I soon realized it was not what it the deceptive title of the topic promised.

So here it is, a topic for those of us who are out of their tweens, whether you have been a long time reader of LORD OF THE RINGS or not! The superior wisdom of your advanced age will be appreciated (and understood) here, as you post your sage observations without fear of age discrimination in a culture that panders to the folly of youth. smilies/biggrin.gif

So let's hear from you geriatrics out there!

[ February 08, 2003: Message edited by: Gilthalion ]

[Raefindel]

So, How old are you talking?

[Birdland]

Wow! Member number 6. You must be really old! smilies/biggrin.gif

So how old do you have to be to be here? I'm pushing 50, but my brain is carrying around the One Ring, so mentally, I'm barely out of my tweens.

[Raefindel]

Ya know, I'm not so sure I want to belong to a "geriatric club"! smilies/tongue.gif

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Awww, Gilthalion, you didn't see the Tolkien Coming of Age Club (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=14&t=000840)?? That's just the place you're looking for - geezers galore! The "coming of age" refers to the length of our acquaintanceship with Tolkien's works, but we do make exceptions to the rule that members should have read his works at least 18 years ago. Have a look, and join us!

[Gilthalion]

I'll surely take a look at the Coming of Age Club! Thanks!

If you have to ask if you're old enough for the Geriatric Club, you're not old enough!

You're as young as you feel you know!

But I would say that one must surely be out of one's tweens!


~~~

YOU MAY BELONG TO THE GERIATRIC CLUB IF:

1) If your health is a topic of daily concern or conversation...

2) If you have stopped counting gray hairs...

3) If you have lost touch with the music that the young folk listen to...

4) If the music you listened to is called "Classic"...

5) If you find the clothing of today's youth impractical or otherwise of low standard...

6) If you can name more than six recent presidents in order...

7) If you find that young folk call you Ma'am or Sir...

8) If you find the daily news more interesting each year...

9) If you vote...

10) And what was the other one?

[ February 10, 2003: Message edited by: Gilthalion ]

[Mithadan]

I am not a "geezer", Esty! *cough, wheeze*

WB, Gilthalion! I scored a 6/9 on your test. But I do think that you might prefer The Coming of Age Club, at least as a matter of nomenclature...

P.S. Remember when the initials "WB" didn't mean a cable channel?

[Gilthalion]

6 out of 9! Welcome to the club!

Hmmm. I had meant to put 10. Must've slipped my mind...


10) If recent matters slip your mind, but you remember matters from years before with crystaline clarity...

[Lush]

Aw, come on Gilthalion, your definition could use some broadening. There are rockin' grandpas out there who dare ask me for dates, and here you are with your "losing touch" and judging young people's clothing. Get with the program. Har har. smilies/biggrin.gif

[Diamond18]

If another tweener may sneak in and give her two cents worth, I got 6 out of 10, so your system is seriously flawed, Sir Gilthalion. Perhaps an "only if all these fit you" statement might be in order. smilies/biggrin.gif

[ February 10, 2003: Message edited by: Diamond18 ]

[Mithadan]

Yeah! See? I'm not a geezer!

[Maikadilwen]

6 out of 10..... And I'm "only" 25... *weeps*

Psychiatric or Geriatric ward? smilies/biggrin.gif

Myabe not a geezer, dearest Mith, but surely we could come up with something else! smilies/evil.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

[ February 10, 2003: Message edited by: Maikadilwen ]

[Gandalf_theGrey]

Hail Gilthalion,

* bows a greeting *

I suppose I qualify for your guild of elders.

YOU MAY BELONG TO THE GERIATRIC CLUB IF:

1) If your health is a topic of daily concern or conversation...

MY REPLY:

Though I've been known to lean upon a staff whilst I walk, the passage of years has taken but a light toll ... though the years have passed, all the same. Is it conceivable then that I might be considered younger than a tweenager in ill health? * ponders, lights a fresh bowl of Old Toby *

2) If you have stopped counting gray hairs...

MY REPLY:

What would I be, if not Grey? * laughs heartily *

3) If you have lost touch with the music that the young folk listen to...

MY REPLY:

Indeed, and what music would that be? Don't they still dance the springle-ring in the Shire?

4) If the music you listened to is called "Classic"...

MY REPLY:

"The Music." Instant Classic, right from the start! smilies/smile.gif * longs for the West *

5) If you find the clothing of today's youth impractical or otherwise of low standard...

MY REPLY:

Nothing beats my trusty cloak for warmth and durability, thank you!

6) If you can name more than six recent presidents in order...

MY REPLY:

* nods *

7) If you find that young folk call you Ma'am or Sir...

MY REPLY:

And if in turn I find myself calling them "young whippersnappers?" * good-natured grin *

8) If you find the daily news more interesting each year...

MY REPLY:

Having always maintained curiosity for tidings from every far-flung corner of Arda, indeed I happily wish to still consider myself an eager student of this lore.

9) If you vote...

MY REPLY:

For what it's been worth, I've put forth my views before the White Council.

10) And what was the other one?

MY REPLY:

Whatever it was, this was not it! Go ask an Ent, if you seek a quicker answer. * grins with gentle mischief *

At your Service,

Gandalf the Grey

[Rosseiliantiel]

Uh oh, serious problem alert with the Geezer-o-meter!

1) Yes, my health is a leading topic with family and friends, for reasons which I will not go into unless you have a few years of spare time.
2) Due to stress, I currently have 5, so no.
3) In my little world, I have become rather isolated from the whole popular scene.
4) Some of my music could be termed as such.
5) If a higher % of your body is covered by make-up then clothes, as seems to be the look, you must have problems.
6)I live in Canada, eh? What's a pre-si-dent? How bout prime minister? I can do that.
7) No, but they'll call me Ma'am when I rule the world!
8) One needs to be informed.
9) Nope

Ok, that's 6/9, and I'm thirteen. Problem.

[Mithadan]

Feeling younger by the minute! smilies/biggrin.gif

[Raefindel]

I claim the 5th!

[Birdland]

Grey hair?
Birdie makes note to call her hairdresser tomorrow.

Doesn't understand the clothing of younger generations?
Birdie checks out her black, peg-leg jeans and is thankful that "retro-bell-bottoms" were just a phase

Music is called "classic"?
Clutches her White Stripes CD. Wonders if Black Flag is considered "classic".

Talks about her health?
Only when she is calling in "sick".

Birdie forgets what the other six were. So that's five! smilies/biggrin.gif

[Gorwingel]

Way too young for this club, but I do have an old soul, sometimes too old for the club for younger people.
Though (starts bragging) I just happen to know the names of the last 6 presidents, Clinton, Bush Sr., Reagan, Carter, Ford, and Nixton (and No I did not look those up to impress you smilies/biggrin.gif ) so there.

[Bêthberry]

Pushing 50 what, Birdie?

*ducks*

Bethberry

[Gilthalion]

"Eee hee hee hee," the old hobbit cackled.

Remember this: IT IS LATER THAN YOU THINK! smilies/biggrin.gif

Looks like a whole bunch of geezers and geezers-in-training and apprentice-geezers to me!

[Greycloak]

Hmmm, I'm not sure if I wnat to belong either.

1) If your health is a topic of daily concern or conversation...NOT YET!

2) If you have stopped counting gray hairs...Raefindel gave up counting them for me ages ago.

3) If you have lost touch with the music that the young folk listen to...That's a big YES.

4) If the music you listened to is called "Classic"... YES AGAIN.

5) If you find the clothing of today's youth impractical or otherwise of low standard...HMMM have to think about that one, my bell bottoms are coming back around...

6) If you can name more than six recent presidents in order...I can name at least the last 9 without trying.

7) If you find that young folk call you Ma'am or Sir... I Concede, another YES.

8) If you find the daily news more interesting each year...I'm in Broadcasting, so does that count?

9) If you vote...YES

10) And what was the other one? I don't remember Either.

That's 9 outta 10 smilies/frown.gif

[Maikadilwen]

Looks like a whole bunch of geezers and geezers-in-training and apprentice-geezers to me!

As long as we have such experienced trainers! smilies/evil.gif

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

I think that making a mental note to check out the reading glasses at the drugstore to see if they help is useful criteria. Of course I always forget to by the time I get to the drug store….

[Maikadilwen]

I already have reading glasses, thank you very much! smilies/wink.gif
But honestly, I can't remember where I put them. And I'm not kidding.

[ February 18, 2003: Message edited by: Maikadilwen ]

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

I think that Mr. Bracegirdle has a pair for every room in the house and we still have to hunt them down!

I think some sort of tide rolls in at night and deposits them under the sofa cushions....

[ February 19, 2003: Message edited by: Hilde Bracegirdle ]

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

1) If your health is a topic of daily concern or conversation...
Thankfully no. It's actually pretty good for someone over the half century mark.

2) If you have stopped counting gray hairs...
I stopped counting a long time ago...now I just use hair color.

3) If you have lost touch with the music that the young folk listen to...
You mean that noise is supposed to be music?

4) If the music you listened to is called "Classic"...
I prefer to call it REAL music...

5) If you find the clothing of today's youth impractical or otherwise of low standard...
I never realized how silly I must have looked to my parents & other adults in the 60's.

6) If you can name more than six recent presidents in order...
I came up with 8 but I don't think the order was correct.

7) If you find that young folk call you Ma'am or Sir...
Only the polite ones.

8) If you find the daily news more interesting each year...
More depressing, but not necessarily interesting.

9) If you vote...
Sporadically.

10) And what was the other one?
Sorry, I can't remember.

I think that's 9 -- definitely geezer material here smilies/tongue.gif

[Eruanna]

I am definitely a "Geezer", though of the female variety....(Geezeress?)
I remember the sixties as if they were yesterday....I just can't remember what I went upstairs for, five minutes ago!
I am also very well aquainted with hair dye...haven't seen my own hair colour for years...and why does my twenty year old daughter get a fit of the giggles when she sees pictures of me in my highly fashionable and extremely colourful "loons"
(very baggy trousers for the uninitiated!!) and tank-top??
Children are always unfailingly polite too...but then I am liable to give them a detention if they are not smilies/evil.gif
Count me in!!

[Mithadan]

Welcome Eruanna, though I think you should probably check into this thread (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=14&t=000840&p=8) as well. Eight pages of we members who first read Tolkien in the 1970s or earlier.

[Lyra Greenleaf]

I don't like your test. It just told me I'm old (5 out of 9) and I'm......17! Aargh! Maybe I should start listening to, I don't know, Linkin Bizkit? Or whatever it is?
By the way, the President thing is a really silly question cos I do it in school in History. If you change it to UK Prime Ministers I can go back to 1929!
And I will vote, when I turn 18, so if that's counted it's up to 6. Nooooooo!
*Runs off to stay up all night drinking or something. I want my youth back!*

[ March 20, 2003: Message edited by: Lyra Greenleaf ]

[Faenaduial]

I was happy to join the Coming of Age Club but "Geriatric", I think not:

YOU MAY BELONG TO THE GERIATRIC CLUB IF:

1) If your health is a topic of daily concern or conversation...
I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE BORING TOPIC.

2) If you have stopped counting gray hairs...
THANKFULLY I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH GRAY TO WORRY ABOUT.

3) If you have lost touch with the music that the young folk listen to...
I HAVE A 13 YEAR OLD THAT KEEPS ME IN TOUCH AND I LIKE TODAY'S MUSIC.

4) If the music you listened to is called "Classic"...
IF YOU LIVE LONG ENOUGH SOME OF IT IS BOUND TO BE TERMED CLASSIC.

5) If you find the clothing of today's youth impractical or otherwise of low standard...
I THINK IT LOOKS JUST LIKE WHAT WE WORE IN THE 60'S & 70'S.

6) If you can name more than six recent presidents in order...
NO PROBLEM.

7) If you find that young folk call you Ma'am or Sir...
I HATE BEING CALLED MA'AM.

8) If you find the daily news more interesting each year...
NO, NO AND NO.

9) If you vote...
YES, BUT NOT ALL OLD PEOPLE VOTE.

10) And what was the other one?
MY MEMORY IS FINE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I may be old but that is no reason to join a club with such boring standards. Thank you, but no thank you. smilies/evil.gif

[Raefindel]

I have a 13 year old, too. smilies/smile.gif They are very good at keeping you up on things.

[ March 20, 2003: Message edited by: Raefindel ]

[Birdland]

I have a 13 year old, too. They are very good at keeping you up on things.
Yes, Rae, but it's always accompanied by that eye-roll thing. smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

I may be old but that is no reason to join a club with such boring standards. Thank you, but no thank you.

I think we've been snubbed!

I have a 10 year old who keeps me from lagging too far behind the times. (Complete with the eye thing and plenty of " WHATEVER!") But I was born a geezer at heart and dang proud of too!

[mark12_30]

Gil, I probably qualify. But I'm in complete denial and I refuse to write out my answers to the test. See you in the Coming Of Age club!

And by the way, did I ever thank you for the Mighty Dish of Mushrooms Recipe? The walnut oil and dash (or numerous) of wine was just what the hobbits ordered. Good call.

[Faenaduial]

I think we've been snubbed!

Sorry if I came on a little strong. I'm obviously going through a mid-life crisis and can't stand the way everyone views "older" people.

As you can see from the responses the questions listed to test whether you belong in the "Geriatric Club" in no way relate to a specific age. I don't object to the idea of a club for older people I just am nowhere near ready to be called Geriatric!!!
smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Do not worry Faenaduial, I was not serious. I guess we are as old as we feel, eh? Mind, body and age aren't always in sync.