Going a step beyond middle age plus

For years I have been telling my readers about all the good things about being Middle Age Plus. I have insisted that it wasn't being old, just becoming a little past middle age. Using middle as a synonym for half, I figured that if you were 50 or older you were past the middle. Not too many people survive past 100, so I felt safe in using that guideline.

I never put a top limit on the category. I figured that if you were over 50 you were middle age plus, but even I will have to admit there is a lot of difference between the ages of 51 and, say 91. But you may also remember that I stressed that the word "plus" was referring to not just additional years, but mainly referring to the benefits of reaching this age. There are many things that those who are middle age plus can do, or not do, that were not considered typical or even proper, at a younger age. One thing that sticks in my mind is, you can send a cranky child home to his parents in a few hours. And, of course, the opposite of that is you can take that same child on a wonderful outing which he may remember for the rest of his life, and then when he is tired, sticky from the pink cotton candy, and feeling a little sick, you can let his parents repair the damage.

Of course there are the discounts for seniors, which don't really make sense because many seniors are better off financially than their children. And sometimes in this age there is more time to get your bucket list finished.

But I have realized lately that there are even more benefits from being middle age plus plus. You get to hold hands with all ages of people. Not just your grandchildren or great-grandchildren, but your nieces and nephews, sons and daughters and maybe even your spouse. They are holding your hand to keep you from falling over and they know you would be hard to pick up.

They offer to drive you places that you could do very well yourself, but they don't trust your driving so you get to be the back seat driver for a change. Well really that probably is the other front seat driver because they think that might be more comfortable for you than the back seat. If there is no one to drive for you, you can skip things you're not really eager to attend by telling them there is no one available to drive you that night. And really if you did attend you wouldn't hear half of what is said or would misunderstand what you thought you did hear. So you can stay at home with a good book, Facebook, TV with the words under the pictures, or just listen to music.

Another benefit is that if they come to see you and the house is a mess, they don't judge you harshly, but instead they feel guilty themselves that they haven't offered to help you. They then tell you all the benefits of moving into a retirement village where your rooms are cleaned for you. Actually I have used things like leaving the vacuum cleaner in the living room all the time so that visitors will think I was just getting ready to clean up, all my married life. It didn't take age to make that impression. I have worked for years to make my home looked lived in and I think I have reached the ultimate in that skill.

You used to receive prizes for doing well in your profession. Now you receive prizes for being the oldest person/couple attending an event. Or maybe the prize is for having been married the longest of anyone else at the wedding.

Probably the best benefit I feel about this extra plus on my middle age plus, is that I am receiving more and more questions from my younger relatives because they now realize that I am the only one still alive that can answer such questions or identify the people in the old photos. It makes me sad and pleased at the same time that they are interested in life "back when" and to realize that I do still have most of the answers for them.

But when it comes down to the very best benefit it is to live long enough to actually see how my kids, grandkids and great-grandkids are turning out, and to get to meet at least two young ladies who are my great-great-granddaughters and to have shared special days with each of them.

It's a good age.