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By Roz Rogoff

About this blog: In January 2002 I started writing my own online "newspaper" titled "The San Ramon Observer." I reported on City Council meetings and other happenings in San Ramon. I tried to be objective in my coverage of meetings and events, and...  (More)

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71 is the new 70

Uploaded: Jan 23, 2014

Most Americans, and Europeans, are living longer and healthier lives, or at least more cosmetic lives, than their parents and grandparents. Aging seems to have moved at least a decade down. Now 30 is the new 25, 40 is the new 30, 50 is the new 40, and 60 is the new 50. I thought 70 would be the new 65, but Nooo. For me right now, 71 is the new 70 at best.

Yes dear readers as a septuagenarian I can tell you, at least for me if not Jane Fonda (she's 77 now!), 71 is OLD. Once I moved over the line from 69 to 70, and now 71, I is OLD. OLD is no fun. Well maybe it's fun for some seniors but not me or most of my contemporaries. I have several long-time friends who tell me that now they are over 70 they feel their age.

There are all kinds of assistive devices for OLD people. My mother, who just turned 98 and wasn't OLD at 71, uses a rollator now. She's one of the oldest people in her retirement community, but looks younger than many residents ten or more years younger. I visited her last September when she was 97, and when she keeps her teeth in she hardly looks a day over 85.

I bought mother a folding cane because she carries a heavy wooden cane with her on the rollator. She uses it for getting out of a chair or onto a curb. The problem is it sticks out across the rollator and hits things or catches on doorways.

So I bought her a folding cane from the Walgreens in Scarborough, Maine. I thought this would be much easier for her to carry on her rollator and flip open when she needed a cane, but she didn't like it. Flipping it open and folding it back up again was too confusing for her. That's not because of her age. Mother was never very mechanical.

So I took it back to the Scarborough Walgreens. I couldn't find the receipt, so they gave me a credit for it. That was OK since I could use that credit at the Walgreens here in San Ramon. I thought I might get myself one of those folding canes, since my balance isn't so good anymore and I could use a cane for getting up and down from a curb. I thought about keeping the one I bought mother, but it was black and I wanted one in a brighter color.

At the beginning of January I noticed a big Walgreen's ad for Senior Day on January 7th. I thought I saw it in the Contra Costa Times, but I couldn't find it when I looked back through my e-Edition. The e-Edition, which costs $1 a week for a subscription, is a daily online facsimile of the complete hardcopy newspaper.

The ad, where ever I saw it, announced that seniors 65 and over would get a 15% discount on all items purchased on January 7, 2014. That seemed like the perfect time to claim my credit and buy myself a fancy folding cane. The Walgreens in the Lucky shopping center had one in silver with a blue pattern described as "glow in the dark." Perfect!

I bought a lot of other items that day since everything was 15% off. I like Walgreens better than CVS but I hardly ever drive down to the one here. I asked the clerk when they would have another Senior Day. She said to ask the Manager.

I asked the Manager, but he seemed a little doubtful about it. "It's the first Tuesday of the month for now, unless Headquarters changes it." He didn't say "again," but it was implied.

The first Tuesday of next month is February 4th. I'll keep my eyes open for an ad the weekend before or phone the store to see if this will become a monthly event. It is a very good deal for folks like me on a mostly fixed income.
Local Journalism.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Jan 24, 2014 at 3:00 pm

Balance Exercise can be very helpful/FREE: Web Link

HurryCane is helpful for some. I prefer my 2 walking sticks that I picked up at a sporting goods store. I only use one now. It\'s very light.

Seniors need DAILY EXERCISE to improve balance.

ABOVE ALL EAT WELL GET ADEQUATE REST DON\'T ISOLATE AND STIR IT UP!


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Jan 24, 2014 at 3:11 pm

Don't give money to any religious organizations that support clergy that sexually abuse children and vulnerable adults. NO MERCY!


Posted by Pololo Mololo, a resident of Livermore,
on Jan 24, 2014 at 3:31 pm

Senior Day DISCOUNTS: Web Link


Posted by Pololo Mololo, a resident of Livermore,
on Jan 24, 2014 at 3:31 pm

Senior Day DISCOUNTS: Web Link


Posted by San Ramon Observer, a resident of San Ramon,
on Jan 24, 2014 at 6:42 pm

San Ramon Observer is a registered user.

Thanks for the links on Senior Day Discounts. So far they don't have any future dates. But at least now I can check that website to see when the next one is in February.

Roz


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Jan 24, 2014 at 8:21 pm

CVC Senior Discounts: Web Link

Don't exclude CVC. It makes sense...money adds up. Find the best deals!


Posted by Another Bellybutton Studier, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Jan 25, 2014 at 8:28 am

My favorite color is purple.


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Jan 25, 2014 at 11:55 am

Feldenkreis Movement: Web Link

A group class was helpful for me. I took an 8 week course and it helped me with problems re: walking and falling.


Posted by Roz Rogoff, the San Ramon Observer,
on Jan 25, 2014 at 6:49 pm

Roz Rogoff is a registered user.

@Another,

Write a blog. Everyone is interested in your bellybutton.

Roz


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