I was on a train from Liverpool back to Oxford last week and sat next to a woman who must have been in her late 70s, I think. The train was completely overcrowded, so we were all jostled a bit and making more eye (and elbow) contact than is typical on the British rail systems. We got chatting a bit and I complemented her on her sparkling nail polish and how pretty it looked, but she sort of twisted her hands embarrassed and said the lady who did them had convinced her on the choice, but probably they were a bit much. I got the sense though that actually, she really liked them. I remarked that I didn’t think so at all, that we all need something fun in our lives to brighten our days and that I thought they were lovely.
She was quiet a moment and then said quietly... ‘My son asked me if I’d had a mental breakdown you know. You’re supposed to grow old gracefully.’ I took her hand and said ‘Rubbish. We’re supposed to grow old dangerously!’ She just gave the biggest giggle.
She was staying on the train after my stop, and a young lass took my seat as I stood up. While I was waiting to get off I heard my new friend say to the younger woman, 'She says we need to grow old dangerously’. And I thought … you go girl!
We have to resist the expectation of society that we fade away out of sight and not be inconvenient!
Dashing off to find my purple hat… :)