Aging is hot, hot, hot! Media gaga over geezers
In case you haven’t noticed, old is in. Geriatric studies and articles on aging are flooding the technical journals and news racks. Latest evidence of this trend is the new issue of National Geographic. The November 2005 issue has a cover story on “the secrets of longevity.”
In the Forum section of the online magazine, NG asks:
Many of the centenarians author Dan Buettner met during his quest to discover the secrets of longevity attributed their long lives to simple things such as finding purpose, eating a plant-based diet, keeping fit, drinking red wine, the list goes on. What do you believe the links are between lifestyle and longevity?
The answer, duh, is masters track.
On a smaller scale, folks are hungering for expert information on what it takes to go triple digits. In the San Diego suburb of Rancho Bernardo, for example, local gerontologist Kelly Ferrin is giving a talk at the local library on “super seniors” — us basically.
Kelly’s Web site, BTW, features our M90 hurdler friend Bert Morrow, who lives near Rancho Bernardo.
Ferrin’s philosophy on aging?
Her site sez:
Kelly Ferrin, gerontologist and author of What’s Age Got to Do with It? (ALTI Publishing, 1999), points out that although 65 is the marker of old in our country, that marker was established in the late 1800s when the life expectancy was only 47. “If you talk to most people, especially people over the age of 55, they don’t think 65 is old,” states Ferrin. “And when life expectancy is pushing 80 today, how can we possibly call 65 old?” She is also quick to point out that 50% of the functional losses that occur in individuals after the age of 50 are attributable to lack of exercise and non-activity. “So don’t you dare blame it on age,” she scolds. “I’m tired of people doing that.”
And GeezerJock magazine isn’t alone in taking a wide-ranging view of older athletes.
Check out the Sports section of Senior Journal online.
So enjoy your time on the stage.
And remember: We own it!
