Semantics

Out of curiosity, I dug deeply to see how many “Senior Moments” I had written since 2005. I found 301. Here's a sample of what I wrote in '05:

Some people hate that expression [seniors] for persons over fifty, sixty, seventy or eighty. Some don’t consider a person a senior until fourscore years have been reached but then, octogenarians, able bodied with minds working overtime, will squirm when referred to as seniors. So, what other expressions are better? Golden Agers? Or perhaps Silver Streakers? Prime Timers? Old Timers? Hill Toppers? Senior Citizens? Mature Adults? Elders? Superiors? Dignitaries? Old Coots?

I guess we seniors still haven't come up with a newer, better or catchier title for our generation. If you want a challenge, take a tablet, a pencil (with an eraser), and do some scribbling of possible creative synonyms for 'seniors.'

We struggle as seniors with various difficulties facing our society, maybe not so much for ourselves as for posterity (our kids and grandkids). We also sputter having paid into our retirement over many years only to hear that it is an entitlement which has been “borrowed” with merely a shadowy IOU.

Yesterday we invested but it was quite unlike today as fewer workers are paying for a greater number of retirees. Plus others. So, is there a problem? We seniors are living longer, putting up with chronic maladies, demanding more because we've already paid for it, contemplating ultra expensive although hopefully useful tests and medicines (done in part to ward off frivolous law suits). I overheard a physician grumble that twice he had to borrow to meet his payroll because of unpunctual payments from Medicare.

Antiquity Felons. How's that for a synonym for pesky seniors? Seems like we are multiplying too quickly which is evident in the disappearances of COLA and partisan debt retirement options lurking in some proposals. We hear soak the rich and rob the elderly all in one breath. And chants of down with antiquity and up with defamation along with play ball or blackball those tea parties.

Now as an octogenarian, I suppose we could welcome a preferable nickname (sobriquet, appellation or cognomen) which might enhance our clout. If we do, perhaps some bureaucratic opportunists may think twice before maligning old coots who, believe it or not, are not as expendable as some might imagine. Too bad we can't do more for posterity, young folks. Guess maybe it is up to you.