Where Are My Keys?

smithosonianmag.com

Editor's Note: We have been running Dan's "Senior Moments" pieces since SeniorLifestyle began in 2006—in fact, nearly 500 of them. Here, Dan reflects on the beginnings of his columns that originally appeared in several newspapers and the choice of the name Senior Moments.

Seniors have many moments, some going back nearly a century or more. Others go back thirty seconds and are gone. Poof. Just like that. Gone. Maybe not forever but gone. That for many is a senior moment. Maybe it’s misplaced keys, a recipe, a credit card, or even a car in the parking lot (but you don’t have to be a senior to lose your car). I remember vividly that sixty years ago, as a teenager, I had the family car, went out with the gang and forgot I had the car until I got home.

Now, why do I remember that when I can’t recall the name of our neighbor or what day it is (until I stop to think)? Ah yes, senior moments. But there are others. Moments of exquisite joy, moments of terror (maybe while baby-sitting the grand kids who momentarily have disappeared because suddenly all is quiet). There are memories of past decades and yes, even fond memories of a week ago (when that big fish didn’t get away).

I’ll be penning a column under the caption SENIOR MOMENTS which will attempt to capture moments worth considering. They might be personal experiences or wishful thinking, choice tidbits worth sharing taken from the media or elsewhere, bits and pieces of pertinent (or less than pertinent) information, essential, helpful or perhaps amusing to seniors.

Now, a word about seniors.

Some people hate that expression 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?

You guessed it. Time to quit. Until we come up with something better (and we welcome your suggestions), we’ll stick with SENIOR MOMENTS. Since AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) recruits any over fifty and should and someone you love (or perhaps even dislike) who may be your age, older or younger. After all, youngsters do grow older but may never get old. And seniors, who often have much to teach also may have some learning to do as well. This column will appear regularly, not quite like clockwork, perhaps, but often enough to keep the writer humble and nimble (mostly humble). Modern Maturity with these youngsters, we’ll refrain from setting any limits on who or what comprises senior hood. Any reader is welcome and you need not admit that you peruse (anything from glance to scrutinize) this column.