Am I older, aged, elderly, geriatric, over-the-hill, ancient?

Am I older, aged, elderly, geriatric, over-the-hill, ancient? 

My wife, Becky, and I recently moved into a CCRC, and after a year and a few months, we’re thoroughly enjoying our new life. We used to live on a beautiful 175-acre farm in the Bluegrass, and the transition was quite a challenge. However, despite acknowledging that I’m getting older, I’ve been inspired by our time at River Landing to keep my mind and spirit active while also taking care of my physical health. The wrinkles in the mirror don’t seem so bad anymore.

Of course, I miss our farm, town, and state, and all our friends there. But like me, they’re also aging, and no matter where we are, how we handle getting older truly matters. Part of that reality is that we could no longer, by ourselves, manage our cattle and sheep. We’re fortunate that much of what we have is close to our RL home. Still, it’s a challenge, sometimes, not to feel sorry for ourselves, get down, or think the end is near. But getting older is just a part of life.

So, when I stumbled upon a blog (darian@professorengel.com) that discusses these issues, I wanted to share it with you. Dr. Engel is a retired professor, and he wrote about achieving the “golden years,” and I share now the last two paragraphs:

“We seem to live in an age where, for the wealthy, the facelift is at the forefront of fighting age. I have recently been practicing the costless alternative: the mind-lift. Behind our faces are our thoughts and perceptions, which can help keep us young if only we can lift our mind’s eye above our daily petty peeves, nip and tuck away negativities, and smooth our spirits with pleasing memories as botox smooths the forehead.

And by doing cosmetic repair to my mind rather than my face, it allows my countenance to reflect the victories and vicissitudes of my nearly eighty years of living. I like that. As we age, we learn to hide many of our deepest feelings and just keep our mouths shut. This is socially expedient but too coy for my taste. It gives me great comfort to know that when it comes to my old-guy opinions, even if my mouth doesn’t express them, my face definitely will.” 

Let’s us celebrate with a young mind and a well-seasoned face. Instead of champagne, may I suggest a glass of Elder-Berry Juice.

Grace and Peace,

Quentin                                                                                                                          Sharecropper’s Inheritance                                                                                                   Pentecost, 2026