The Guardian writer is approaching 60 and feeling a bit creaky. So who should he talk to about growing old gracefully? His mum, of course
Mum is relaxing on her sofa. She does lots more of that these days – watching TV, reading, doing crosswords, being waited upon. Mind you, it has taken Marje till her mid-90s to get there. A couple of years ago, she felt guilty if she’d not gardened, cooked, emptied the bins, driven to the shops in her ancient Nissan Micra, and visited the “elderly” at the local care home by lunchtime. It took a bad leg break for all that to change.
Now at 94, she’s learning how to take it easy. I’m approaching 60. What advice would she give me on ageing? “Just accept it gracefully,” she says. Has she found it difficult? “No, I don’t think I have. Most of the years I was fortunate that I didn’t look horrendously old.” You don’t look it now, I say. “Yes, but I am horrendously old.” She laughs.
