# What Bothers You About Getting Older? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 21, 1999, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209 "1999-12-21T16:54:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/21 "1999-12-21T22:19:00Z")
I didn’t mind when baseball players got so young. I didn’t mind when movie stars got so young. But it sure bugs me when a kid turns up when I want to see a doctor. * * * Let’s see. I lathered and I rinsed. But did I repeat? ---
**Author:** ![Prairie\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Prairie\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prairie_Rose)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/22 "1999-12-21T23:00:00Z")
Looking in the mirror and discovering that someone has switched my breasts for my mother’s…enough said. ☹ PR ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/23 "1999-12-21T23:12:00Z")
The fact that I actually envy my dad’s hairline is pretty bad (he’s 25 years alder than I am). Hearing him complain about his “receding hairline” is even worse. Oh, and what’s the deal with all this hair sprouting up on my shoulders and the back of my neck? Actually, my biggest concern is my knees. As much as I love to hike and run, I would hate it if my knees were ever in a condition that I couldn’t do those things. I’m tempted to start wearing knee braces as a preventative. I’m pretty nervous about my metabolism too. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/24 "1999-12-21T23:12:00Z")
The energy thing. It’s gotten way too easy to just go home and slug out rather than do what needs to be done. The increasingly high Advil bills when I do do what needs to be done. And the fact that when I visit college campuses/college towns, I’m effectively invisible to members of the opposite sex. Oh, wait, that was true 20 years ago too. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Dirty\_Devil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Dirty\_Devil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirty_Devil)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/25 "1999-12-21T23:15:00Z")
The sobering realization that I don’t know everything like I once thought I did. ---
**Author:** ![eden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5f9b8f/32.png) [@eden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eden)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 1999, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/26 "1999-12-21T23:37:00Z")
I misread Michelle’s post to say she could pass for 8! Which, in all seriousness, with the right outfit, she probably could… Confidential to Eve in New York: I think you must have your priorities backwards then. Your career appears to be writing glitzy biographies of late movie stars… I would instead adopt the attitude that you’re just using the yuppie chickies; they’re paying for your real career! Hah! Because anyway, what will endure with your name on it? And how much time would you have to write biographies if you were Ms. Editor-in-Chief? And yes, I’ll bet you’ve been subjected to the same Garden/Adam/Snake jokes I have over the years. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/27 "1999-12-22T01:20:00Z")
I may never put on weight, and going grey isn’t so bad really. But I started losing my hair when I was 22!! Darn it, I wish it hadn’t started happening until I was like 40something. It so totally sucks eggs! Especially when so many other guys have this great hair at sixty, and I have had stupid hair since puberty. * * * **-PIGEONMAN-** Hero For A New Millennium! [The Legend Of PigeonMan](http://www.hotkey.net.au/~guanolad/pigeonman/) - **Back in the new year!** Honest. I promise. No, really. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/28 "1999-12-22T01:26:00Z")
The lack of my used-to-be hummingbird energy. But mostly, the odd gulf of perspective between me & my early twenty-year old friends. They often ask for my advice, and I just listen and act as an accepting sounding board. I try to give them examples from my own life, and guide them through the process of making well thought out decisions. But in the back of my mind, I can see that they’re just going to have to learn those lessons in their own heart, probably making the same mistakes & going through the same pains we all do. Lately, that’s been making me feel old. ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/29 "1999-12-22T01:27:00Z")
Eden don’t feel bad. I read Michelle’s post as saying that she could pass for an 8-year-old, or 10 years younger than _that_ (Michelle can pass for a -2-year-old???)! ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/30 "1999-12-22T01:40:00Z")
I don’t think I _look_ old, but I know that I am getting uncomfortably close to 40. I have been mistaken for late 20s, (but that was a couple years ago, so I’m guessing that I look like I’m in my early 30s now.) I just know that I _am_ old. Older than dirt. 😉 Yet, I tell myself that I am not _that_ old, it’s not that bad. And I also tell myself that I’d better enjoy myself while I can, because it isn’t going to get any better as I age. I think the thing I fear is that even though I don’t feel so bad now (I don’t give a damn, in many ways) I worry that some day I might feel bad looking back, and wonder why I didn’t do more with my “precious” youth. ---
**Author:** ![eden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5f9b8f/32.png) [@eden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eden)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/31 "1999-12-22T01:55:00Z")
GuanoLad: think of it this way, you’ll never develop the dreaded beer gut! And if I were you, I’d be careful what I called my hair in its presence. Hair is very fickle, you know. And Strainger, I don’t want to hear about bad knees. Talk to me when you develop degenerative arthritis in both and start forming bone spurs. You can hear me climb stairs a mile away. Actually, I can’t wait to be really old so I can yammer on about my infirmities without the slightest twinge of conscience. I enjoy being crotchety, and I’m sure I’ll just get better at it! ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/32 "1999-12-22T02:05:00Z")
I used to have exceptional vision, both near and far. About two weeks ago I added vision care to my health care coverage. I’ll be getting glasses in January. Damn. ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/33 "1999-12-22T02:50:00Z")
I dont mind getting older… altho i call it gracefully maturing… except for the fact that i know ill never have that flat tummy again no matter how many sit ups I do… * * * There are angels among us… ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/34 "1999-12-22T02:54:00Z")
I don’t want to say what my age is, but I seriously think I may have underwear older than some of you people. Something really bothersome for a woman is that you feel the same as when you were 20 inside, but you become “invisible”, anonymous, just another middle aged woman, a “M’am”, Some women feel entitled to let themselves go since no one cares anyway, and I may wear elastic waist pants on occasion, but as for not keeping up appearances at all - too horrible to contemplate! ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/35 "1999-12-22T05:15:00Z")
I can’t believe that this thread got all the way down here before **Rysdad** mentioned vision. I could never run or lift or leap with the other guys, but I could always see things sooner and clearer than anyone. Then I hit middle age. The other night a screw popped out of my glasses and the lens fell out. I bought one of those little repair kits, but without my glasses, I had a miserable time trying to get the screw in place to reset the lens. * * * Tom~ ---
**Author:** ![jazzmine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jazzmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jazzmine)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/36 "1999-12-22T05:18:00Z")
Time running out. I always feel it. I love being alive and hate not having enough time to do everything. ---
**Author:** ![Sycorax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Sycorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sycorax)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/37 "1999-12-22T05:24:00Z")
Yes, the metabolism slow-down; having a tough time losing a lousy 20 lbs. Mostly, I worry about getting Alzheimer’s (my mother had it - what a nightmare), and being a burden on my son and sister, and not knowing I have it, and not able to do myself in. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/38 "1999-12-22T05:46:00Z")
Gray hair, is fine, the wrinkles don’t show through the beard, and looking like Santa Claus is pretty good with kids, which I really like, 'cause I like kids. I am still strong enough to do most of the things I used to do, but man, it hurts real bad afterwards. Mostly, I mind the things that hurt for no reason at all. I didn’t used to hurt. I still can bend over just fine, but the straightening back up is gettin’ to be a real bummer. Limping really sucks, and trying to limp on both feet at the same time is a real drag. Walking to work means having my feet hurt for the rest of the day, and walking home afterwards means being in pain most of the night. No one likes getting old, but then, you don’t hear a lot of 'em contemplating the alternative, now do you? ## **\

Tris\** The difference between a violin and a viola is that a viola burns longer. –\*\* Victor Borge\*\* ---

**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/39 "1999-12-22T05:58:00Z")
Youth is wasted on the young. ---
**Author:** ![stmc62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@stmc62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stmc62)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 1999, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209/40 "1999-12-22T10:18:00Z")
The slowing metabolism is a big problem. I used to be able to lose the 5 pounds i’d enevitably gain over the holidays in a few weeks…now it takes the entire year. Also, it’s sobering to know people your age who are facing a terminal illness. My daughter is pretty much all grown up but many people my age have young children who are /will be growing up without a mother or father. Plus my eyesight sucks and my butt will soon see the backs of my knees if I’m not careful. * * * Libby’s Mom Sandra [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-bothers-you-about-getting-older/12209.md?page=3)