Unusual Events of the Day

[TN_Vixen]

I'm sitting at Cracker Barrel, minding my own biz... nazzz... eating my lunch when this 85 yr old dude next to me tries to get my attention. Finally, I realize he's talking to me (dedcuted by my awareness that there's no one else withing hearing distance of this geezer) and start paying attention.

He's preaching, spouting bible verses and trying to make his point (somehow) to me in a roundabout way, but he eventually tells me he's a former preacher and has been since 50+ God Knows When Years ago. And he continues.

So now my solitary lunch becomes an internal question of.. "Should I pay attention to this sweet innocent-looking man, or should I just simply ignore him altogether?"

And, so... I tried the latter, but it ain't happenin. He's not gonna let me off the hook THAT easily, he just talks on to me like I was all ears from the very beginning... heheh


So, I listen, and he talks, and I nod and nod and nod while he continues to talk and at the end of his ramble he says to me... "Thank you sweetheart for your time, I enjoyed our talk"

Well I felt like a heel since I originally wanted to ignore him in the beginning. He was just an old, 85 yr. old man wanting the same type of audience he used to get preaching on the pulpit.


I reflected on this experience and wondered to myself... "Shouldn't we all give just a little more of our time to those older than us? Listen just a little more intently? Find some lesson in the experience, no matter how obscure?"


just my mind rattling around.

 

[Starfish]

I am with you on this one. I often get elderly folk coming in to buy veggies and stuff for their garden and I try, when I won't get in trouble for it, to listen to their stories of long ago and try to have a bit of compassion for the fact that they are still human, maybe a bit lonely and really just need something to have faith in still. Too many young people push the elderly aside, like they are no longer human or they don't need friendship, compassion, an ear or someone to relate to them to keep them feeling good.

 

[QuickDuck]

I am with you on this one. I often get elderly folk coming in to buy veggies and stuff for their garden and I try, when I won't get in trouble for it, to listen to their stories of long ago and try to have a bit of compassion for the fact that they are still human, maybe a bit lonely and really just need something to have faith in still. Too many young people push the elderly aside, like they are no longer human or they don't need friendship, compassion, an ear or someone to relate to them to keep them feeling good.

/agree

 

[riff]

Yes. Old people need young people. And young people need old people. And when the young people get old, they are gonna need young people too.

People need people.

 

[TN_Vixen]

I thought about that starfishy, when he was talking and I was trying to ignore him... part of me thought.. "How DARE he interrupt my peaceful lunch," and another part of me thought, "Quit being so insensitive and LISTEN for a moment, see what he has to say."

It was like I had to concentrate to push aside my selfishness to listen to another human being trying to make contact, no matter his age.. y'know? I think too many times we feel as though we're "entitled" to times like I described to ourselves, when in fact, if we'd only open our minds a little, we may learn something from someone trying to tell us a little life lesson.

 

[unclej]

yep, what they all said...

 

[Cheyenne]

I'm a geezer, too.

That means you all have to listen to me now.

 

[Starfish]

OMG! I relate to that. I am always feeling like I have to push aside my desire to do what I want and do what is right instead. It is fucked up, but when you think about it, it can be really hard to open up your mind because we have notions of what things should be like already.

Take for example the idea of sterotypes about people who are different from yourself. It takes a lot of guts, openmindedness and all sorts of will to set all that we think aside, to try and listen and learn about what people are really like and not what we hear they 'are' like from others. This is just an example of where this kind of extention of the mind can be benificial, that trancends age.

I used to think that even though it was sometimes shitty that my mom's step father would never want to hear any of my stories, I still sat and listened to his out of respect, and tried to care about what I was being told. Now that I look back, although I still have some views that differ, I learned a lot from his experiances, that I could never have gotten in my own life.


riff is dead on.... people need people

 

[Wiggles]

Yep, volunteer at your local nursing home, people.

They're mostly people like you and me, but they're old. Oh, and they know alot of things because they've been through it. I find older folk's advice a valuable tool in life.

Some day you'll be that older person (hopefully). Wouldn't you like to be recognized as a person of worth? You'll still be the same person after your children have left, you've retired and you've gained (many) laugh lines. Don't you deserve some respect?

(Unless of course you happen to be that little old lady with just the top of her head sticking over her steering wheel, going 15 in a 35 MPH zone. In that case, Get Off the Road Lady!)

 

[TN_Vixen]

Riffy is dead-on. People do need people. I think my post was meant to touch those of us (myself included) who tend to think that people, especially elderly people, have nothing more to say to us than fluff. It's not true. They DO have a message, and I'm of the opinion that everyone is put into our lives for a reason... so, any message should be given the utmost importance.

The problem is, is that we think less of seniors giving such a message. right?

 

[estevie]

I've worked in several nursing facilities, I love the elderly. I could listen to stories for hours. All they are looking for is someone who cares...who cares enough to sit and listen for just a little while.

 

[Nomad4112000]

There are those who want to feel needed, it is however sad that in most cases it's because their own family don't give a damn. It's hard not to want to slap them but it helps them to know someone, anyone is listening.

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

I agree about listening. We often think that we're blazing new trails and we find, if we listen, that our elders have valuable insight into the same issues that we face and have walked similar paths. We can learn a lot from them.

I try to always listen when there's time available, you never know when you'll find piece of wisdom that shines like a diamond.

 

[WriterDom]

At one time I was working nights and playing a lot of golf during the day with guys from 60 to 85. I'd show up and join whoever was walking. Those were good days. Old people make the best people.

 

[Guest]

TN_Vixen...what a wonderful reminder.

I agree that we all need to spend more time helping and listening to the elderly. In my experience, they just want someone to listen to them. Time is the most valuable thing that we can give to them because it is what they have the least of. So, when you think about it, it's just another lunch hour to us, but to them, it's an opportunity to share time with another person.

I do several Internet turoring classes at the local senior center each month. (No, I don't bookmark Literotica for them, but maybe I should.) I always feel better when I leave than when I arrived. I like to think that each of them is somebody's grandparent or great-grandparent. I hope someone is taking the time to chat with my Grandma, too. Unfortunately, a few of them know that I live right down the street and they like to walk down and engage me in conversation if I'm outdoors. But that's OK, because we're all going to be there eventually.

So, we can all be a little more generous with our time to make an older person's day better by taking a few minutes to listen to them or by carrying a bag of groceries for them.

 

[TN_Vixen]

Re: TN_Vixen...what a wonderful reminder.

I agree that we all need to spend more time helping and listening to the elderly. In my experience, they just want someone to listen to them. Time is the most valuable thing that we can give to them because it is what they have the least of. So, when you think about it, it's just another lunch hour to us, but to them, it's an opportunity to share time with another person.

I do several Internet turoring classes at the local senior center each month. (No, I don't bookmark Literotica for them, but maybe I should.) I always feel better when I leave than when I arrived. I like to think that each of them is somebody's grandparent or great-grandparent. I hope someone is taking the time to chat with my Grandma, too. Unfortunately, a few of them know that I live right down the street and they like to walk down and engage me in conversation if I'm outdoors. But that's OK, because we're all going to be there eventually.

So, we can all be a little more generous with our time to make an older person's day better by taking a few minutes to listen to them or by carrying a bag of groceries for them.

that's the most wonderful post I think I've read from an "unregistered" poster ever.

thank you.

 

[Northern Lights]

Re: Re: TN_Vixen...what a wonderful reminder.

that's the most wonderful post I think I've read from an "unregistered" poster ever.

thank you.

It took me so long to type it that Lit logged me out.

 

[RudeNastyAssBitch]

Riff You Said It, Man!

Not JUST Elderly Folk!

I Try And Start A Conversation At Least Once A Day With A Complete Stranger. Nobody IS Alive It Seems Sometimes!

They Mostly Look At Me Like I Have Two Heads And Try To Get Away.

Old Folk Are Wise! They ALWAYS Stop And Chat