As many of you know, I attended a luncheon and memorial service last weekend and found myself seated at a table of elderly women–meaning women about my age. For fifteen minutes or so, they discussed their current health issues and griped about the state of the world. After enduring as much as I could, I said, “Can’t we talk about something else? Something less maudlin?” Disgust crossed their faces. Their eyes were vacant; they were at a loss for words. After all, what else was there to talk about?

Of course, I didn’t stop there–my filter was asleep. “Why do old people all want to live together? You know, in retirement communities, such as these.”

Again, horror crossed their countenances. ”Don’t you get dreadfully bored hanging out with people our age?”

Talk about a conversation starter! I had opened the proverbial Pandora’s Box! They attacked me from all sides: “Why would we want to live where there are children?” ”They scream and yell; they engage in vandalism.” Their parents don’t discipline them.” ”In my day, my mom would have paddled me if I was as disrespectful as kids are today.” “Kids are hooligans.” “And don’t forget the drugs.”

I was incredulous. Should I leave the table, or forge on? I chose to continue. “I find young people absolutely delightful; they’re far smarter than I was when I was their age. If you don’t believe me, visit a high school math class, or a career-tech engineering class. Secondly, the thirty-fifty year olds have interesting perspectives on balancing career, family, and social lives. They’ve experienced things I never did, and they’ve been places I’ve never been. For me, I don’t want to be insular. I don’t want to surround myself with just people my age. I live on a shrinking planet; I don’t have all the answers to world problems and social issues. But I want to be part of solutions, not simply sit on the bench and talk about my gall bladder.” My sermon fell on deaf ears. “It was nice to meet you, but I’ve got to meet my adopted daughter and her kids at Jungle Playland.”

Now, I’m sure I left my new acquaintances with their knickers in a knot, but research has proven that homogeny or homogeneity can be destructive to society, for it reinforces prejudice, bias, and hate. Those who look different, act different, or are different by age are ostracized by those whom are all the same. 

As a case in point, some of the retirement communities west of Phoenix have exempted themselves from paying taxes to support elementary-high school districts, community colleges, and universities. Their mantra: “I paid taxes for my kids to go to school, and they’re grown. Let the young pay for their kids.” Not only do I find this short-sighted and repugnant, but I believe our greatest resource is our children. Without an educated public, we will never cure disease, address world conflict, or maintain economic growth. In fact, it raises such questions, Who is going to wipe your backside when you’re bedridden? Who’s going to fix your leaky toilet? Who’s going to remove your gall bladder?

To those of you who expect me to listen to your health issues and other gripes of your old-age syndrome: I ain’t got time for that!