AARP as Aarp?

I forgot to mention in my posting last night that while reading the local senior newsrag at my grandmother's, I learned of two hot items in the senior world these days. First, AARP -- most commonly known as the American Association for Retired Persons -- thinks they should just be referred to as Aarp, because so many of their members are not yet retired. Apparently it's because so many are "feisty geezers" who want to work until they are completely bent over and dragging their feet because working until you are 90 is just so great. It has nothing to do with the fact that companies keep stealing people's pensions, healthcare is so expensive, and that so many older people can't afford to pay for their life expenses if they do retire these days.

The other news is that "senior" is no longer politically correct. The author mentioned the use of "grown-up" instead. What does that make me? A child still? (Well, maybe mentally and emotionally.)

I gave up on any further reading at this point, and did the Sudoku instead.

My Senior Star

I went to help set up a new iMac (new-used, that is) for my grandmother and while there, she showed me an article in the local Senior newspaper -- she was the featured senior of the month! My grandmother (by way of my grandfather's fourth marriage), had some significant column space dedicated to a insanely fast overview of her life. My father's side of the family is full of outspoken, vocal, honest, ethical folks who definitely lean on the left side of the seesaw. Some of them make me seem out and out conservative -- which I so am not! The article had a great picture of her and pulled out some nice tidbits on her life, though it focused mainly on her political activism and, oh, things like her sitting next to Martin Luther King, Jr. at some political event! The things I learn as I get older. *sigh*

At 87, she remains very active in her community and each time I see her I am reminded of how important it is to live by right actions. We can't fix everything, but we should always try and make the world a better place, even if it means discomfort for ourselves. A hard motto to live by, to be sure, but one worth trying for.

On a totally tangent note, I'm supposed to help my friend paint her kitchen orange tomorrow. Orange? I'm trying to reserve judgement.