What's in a Name

When our son was a preschooler, he was asked what his father did. His answer: “He cuts paper at church.” Cuts paper? He was with me one evening when we had an election (I think he had escaped from the nursery). A secret ballot was called for and I used a paper cutter to create some ballots.

Now, if he were to ask what I do, I wonder what he would say. Maybe he'd say, “He works with senior citizens.” What he probably wouldn't say is that his dad hangs around with old people.

So, what do we call people who are over 60 or so? Senior Magazine wrestled with this recently (January 1990). Carlos Van Leer suggested way back in 1974 “Seasoned Citizens.” Vincent W. Gillen preferred “Emeritan.” Not too bad. But what if I said I work with Emeritans? Couldn't that sound like I work with “Samaritans?” Let's go on.
How about “Mature Americans?” “Silver Citizens?” “Prime Generation.” Or “Half Centurians?” “Over Fifties” or “L-raisers?” L means fifty in Roman numerals. Can't you imagine your chaplain announcing that he works with L-raisers.

Our first Covenant Retirement Community was called an “Old People's Home” but not any more. Older folk in the Old Testament were called elders (which has a rather nice sound) and a maturing Paul wrote a fledgling Titus to “teach the older men to be temperate” and “the older women to be reverent.”

So what do we call the aging populus? Bob Loeffelbein of Senior Magazine didn't know and suggested that we find a term that sounds acceptable.

Since I can't find an ideal term either, let me give you a few synonyms and maybe you can pick out a suitable expression: ancient, obsolete, prehistoric, antiquated, bygone, old-fashioned, obsolete, venerable, pristine, immemorial, antediluvian, hoary (yikes), time-honored, superannuated, time-worn (oooh), patriarchal/matriarchal, olden, remote, graying, decrepit, aged, sedate . . .

But then, what do we call youth? New, modern, up-to-date, green, blooming, juvenile, puerile . . . ? Maybe “Senior Citizen” isn't all bad.