While driving on an errand, I heard a radio DJ — do they still call them that? — talking about boomers. “Boomers hate the word seniors and are out to change it,” she said. “Sorry, boomers, but you can’t. You must own what you are.”
I laughed. I’m a boomer. “Sorry, sugar,” I answered the radio. “I’m a boomer. I don’t need to do anything. I can make up and apply terms and use them as I want. Says so on the net. Just ask Trump. He’s always making things up.” Of course, Trump makes things up in a bad way. I think I do it in a good way.
For the record, I’m not a senior. Nor do I ‘age’. I’m leveling up, as in a video or internet game. The higher your level, the rarer and more special you are. I think this works, as it aligns with some thinking that reality might be a cosmic video game, a simulacrum.
For the record, I’ve at level 69. Mom celebrates level 90 next month and Dad celebrates level 93.
Michael Seidel, writer 
My only gripe about ‘leveling up” is it makes me feel like a dump truck fulla sand. Old is old, elderly is more gentle, aged means you REALLY up there…
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I never thought of leveled up being a dump truck! LOL. Do you go by senior, then? Or do you add qualifiers like freshman senior or young senior, middle-aged senior, etc? Cheers
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I don’t really like labels that coyly pigeonhole people and people who ask an old lady, “and how many years young are YOU?” . I hate the word ‘boomers’ and I would rather say Im an old lady or ‘hey, I just turned 80, where’s my birthday cake?”
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grumble grumble never did get my birthday cake wanders off. sulks in the corner.
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I use “old” in regard to myself. I don’t apply such to others; if I say anything, it’s that “they’re around my age.” But I’m thankful, and sort of proud to be old. Old age is a triumph! (Robert Butler said that; he was Gerald Ford’s appointee to the National Institute on Aging. The full quote is, “Old age is not a tragedy, it is a triumph!”)
Anyway, there’s that. Everything else non-human that’s my age is old, vintage, antique, what-have-you. I can be old! I jog over 8 mi. a day (cumulatively,) get 30 min. of cardio 5 days a week, and do core strength work 5 days a week. I know I won’t be able to do that much longer, but I embrace being old-I grew up to be old!🌞
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I like your take, Ali. You’re an inspiration to old people everywhere. Someday, when I’m old, I hope to be like you. Cheers, M
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🤣🌞
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