“My grandmother started walking five miles a
day when she was sixty. She's ninety-seven now, and we don't know where the
heck she is.”
― Ellen DeGeneres
― Ellen DeGeneres
I was
on a side street in our little downtown Venice
(Florida, that is) waiting for My
Guy to pick me up after I’d done my volunteering stint. I had found a seat on a convenient wall in the shade, an excellent
spot for people watching.
It could be
due to this week’s sudden attack of plantar fasciitis in my left heel, but I
began to detect a theme.
Across the
street a couple who may have been in their 70s were working their way down the
sidewalk. He had what looked to be a hip issue of some kind and was moving
slowly. His athletic appearing wife followed about two steps behind, with what
looked to be an unhurried stroll, but which was actually perfectly adjusted to
his awkward pace.
A car pulled
up and parallel parked in front of me. An overweight (and, again, older – I’m
in Florida, after all) couple
struggled out of either side of the car. He left her behind, crossing the
street with a rolling shuffle ahead of her, but then I thought it interesting
that he stopping at the curb to help her up after she finally toiled across to
him. He then took off again, with her ten feet or so behind, both of them
walking with difficulty. It had kind of an every man for himself sort of vibe.
Then to my
left, a decidedly elderly couple – late 80s? – appeared on the sidewalk. They
were trim in their tasteful khaki; I could picture them later in the afternoon
on a green lawn drinking gin and tonics. They walked with the gait of people
who likely kept themselves fit with daily morning and evening constitutionals.
But as they passed arm in arm, you could still see a slight hesitancy, a bit of
caution, when they reached the curb.
I know these people, all of them. In fact, I think I am one of them. :-)
ReplyDeletemy 70 yr old sister and I (will be 68) still walk confidently and boldly. funny how people out age think we aren't old and 'old people' octogenarians.
ReplyDeleteI do not walk well. I wish I could regain the ability. I would become Ellen DeGeneres' grandmother.
ReplyDeleteOld age has many different qualities of individuals. I like to think that the late 80's couple worked at saying in shape.
ReplyDeleteWe do the best we can. My parents both have canes and keep forgetting them places:)
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting watching the different ways old people walk. In myself, I've noticed that when the ball of my foot hurts (I have a plantar wart there which leaves me alone most of the time), I find I'm walking like John Wayne and wonder if he had similar foot troubles. A lot of the elderly around here walk without too much trouble, just a lot slower than the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteI've always been a slow walker, for some reason, and my husband always about three paces ahead of me, no matter where we went or climbed or strolled. As we have aged, I still walk at about the same speed, but now he's slowed down and he's less than two paces ahead. i may catch him yet.
ReplyDelete