by Joyce M. George-Knight

Created on: May 30, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Ahhh, the memories of being six years old. No worries. No cares. No responsibilities. Everything, except bedtime, was exciting. You would skip down to Julie's or Billy's home to see if they could play. Then for hours after school, you'd "make believe" as you played school or house, doctor's office, cowboys and Indians or store. With your combined imaginations, your challenges were endless.

Now back to what it is like being 60! It is pretty much ditto. Once we are retired, we have no worries (or very few), no cares and few responsibilities. Bedtime is exciting, however, as at this age, we enjoy sleeping. Should we wish to play, our options are many: contact a friend, visit the library, walk around the neighborhood, garden in the front yard or stop by a senior center to find someone with whom to chat or enjoy a mutual activity. OK, so we don't play school, etc., but we can assist our grandchildren or neighbor's children with their homework, answer their questions, take them to educational places and even to a doctor's appointment if a parent cannot get the time off from work.

Oh, we don't have the energy of a 6 year-old and age lines grace our faces, but the spirit and fascination with life remain. Instead of being invited to little tykes' birthday parties, we are welcomed into the Sixties Decade, leaving us pondering as to "How did I arrive at this "Senior Citizen" level so quickly"?

Should we still be among the gainly employed, we are winding down our working career and planning for retirement. Vacation destinations are eyed as possible relocation sites. Part-time income providing opportunities are investigated to provide extra spending money and to more easily make the transition into full-time retirement.

Sixty is, nevertheless, an energizing age. We still have enough good health to enjoy doing anything we wish to do or travel wherever our heart desires. Yes, the bones creak and make "snap, crackle and pop" sounds like our cereal, but they still function. Now we can do all those "if only I could..." things at our leisure and with enjoyment. Or if we wish to do absolutely nothing, that is allowed.

Should we not hear someone, we are quickly forgiven under the assumption that we are losing our hearing. For the most part, others respect us, let us pass through the doorway first, invite us to be first at the buffet table, suggest we say the grace, etc. An invisible sign apparently lets others know that we are wise and to listen to what we say. That doesn't mean that they follow our suggestions, but simply that they are polite enough to take our thoughts into consideration.

Don't forget the Senior Discounts. Restaurants, theaters, stores, etc. beg seniors to use their facilities by offering discounts, as they know seniors have the time, and some of us have more money, to do so. It's a gimmick, but why not take advantage of it. Every penny saved can be spent on something else we need. In today's world it is the gasoline or transportation to get around that is the money grabbing culprit.

Sixty is as magical a number as 6. Go play and have fun.

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