At what age?

[N&B'smom]

I've been thinking a lot about this since my grandmother is now 85 years old. She went to Disney with us 2 years ago and plans to go with us again this Sept figuring it will be here last trip.

What I'm wondering is, what is it like to be 85 years old where logic would tell you that you won't be around for too many more years. (although we'd love to have her around for another 50 years!) I just think, is she sad to look at my children and realize that she will more than likely not be here to see them get married. (just an example) When you get to a certain age do you get an almost 'walking time-bomb' sort of feel? I just wonder if it's heartbreaking for her to think of what she will miss. Or was her life so full (and it was) that she's content with all of her wonderful memories.

This is kind of depressing but I can't help but think about this. Thanks for listening to me babble!

Shelby

 

[minnieandme]

Interesting concept. I think as you get older, you just enjoy your life day by day. You reflect on the kind of life you had and tell your grandkids about what life was like in the olden days. We all know that most of us won't get to see our grandkids get married and have their own family. But overall, you are as old as you feel. I don't think you should let your age determine the kind of life you have. If you like to travel, don't let your age stop you from going somewhere.

 

[mommasita]

I have no clue. What I wanted to state, was that I think it is amazing that she is able to do this with you all. What wonderful memories for all of you...Treasure every moment, and keep those pictures and such...It all goes too quickly.

 

[Off2Nvrlnd]

I work in a retirement community for a local bank and my customers average age is around 80 yrs old. For the most part they seem to be pretty matter of fact about it. They all know they can die any day and just take it one day at a time. The one thing they do seem to do is worry about their families finances and make the necessary changes to their accounts to try to make it easier for them when they pass on. They all seem to enjoy themselves for the most part and live it up in this community by spending time with their friends and enjoying happy hour daily. I think they have usually come to terms with it by this age.

 

[N&B'smom]

I have no clue. What I wanted to state, was that I think it is amazing that she is able to do this with you all. What wonderful memories for all of you...Treasure every moment, and keep those pictures and such...It all goes too quickly.

She's such a lively lady. She went to Disney World with my family when I was a small child! Now she's going with us to Disney this year with our ENTIRE family - my parents, the 4 of us, my bro and his family. There will be 12 of us! I'm so happy that she will be able to be a part of this.

I just want to hold onto every moment with her. Thankfully we're very close. She lives with my parents and they live only about a mile away. I get to spend so much time with her. I just hope she's around for a LONG time.

Shelby

 

[budbeerlady]

My wonderful grandma is 89 1/2. I love to give her the 1/2, I figure ages 1-6 and then 85+ you can use the 1/2!

I dont think your grandmother is sad about what she will miss. If she is anything like mine, (She must be a great grandma is she is enjoying Disney at 85!) its looking at having a good life.

My grandma is really slowing down since she hit around 88 1/2 to the 89 mark. By really slowing down I mean allowing us to pick her up to get her groceries, not walking to the mail box through 3 foot of snow, that sort of thing. She still lives in her condo and drives where ever she needs to go if the roads are decent. But the traffic is getting horrid around the grocery store so we take her there now by her own choice. (She swung a bit wide turning into a handicaped parking spot that was next to a garbage dumpster of all thiings. It did in the side of the bumper, she rushed home, called the insurance and had it fixed before telling her kids about it! She cracks me up and I am proud to have inherited alot of her spunk!)

But at 89+ most of her family has passed on, her friends are dying or gone. My grandpa has been gone for 9 years now, she is ready to go whenever the good Lord takes her. She tells me all the time she is blessed with a great family and many friends. And she will joke about not buying green bananas these days!

I also think she will look at it as being blessed that she got to spend time with your kids, DD and I spend every friday evening at grandmas for coffee. It is one of the best times of the week for me, DD loves it as she gets crackers and cheese, hot chocolate and ice cream every friday at coffee. I had DD right away in our marriage, I wanted my grandma to know my child. It cracks us all up to see she has inhereited the same spunk as my grandma has!

 

[CathrynRose]

This is kind of depressing but I can't help but think about this. Thanks for listening to me babble!

Shelby

I think about this too.

My boyfriends father will be a whopping 94 this year! 94!!! I wonder if every Christmas he thought "this will be my last", or every birthday "this will be my last"

I understand what youre saying - it has to be a sucky thing to start thinking about!

 

[tink1978]

I think it's different for everyone...my dad says he won't be around much longer either and he is only 54!

 

[NMAmy]

My mom is 75 and is pretty philosophical about it--I know she's sad that my dad and many of her friends have passed away although she has a WAY more active social life than I do. She and her cousin are going to see Vince Gill tonight.

She did crack us up when my sister bought her a new mattress for Christmas. Mom kept insisting that it cost too much and my sister was telling her to give it a rest--she wanted her to be comfortable. That's when Mom came out with this, "I probably won't live long enough to get all the years of use out of it!" To which my sister replied, "Then put my name on it and when you die, I'll take it back." You have to know my family--my grandmother spent my whole childhood making us put our names on items so "putting your name" on an item is kind of a family joke.

 

[GeorgeG]

It's definitely different for everyone. A lot depends on the individual's health and mental attitude.

I'm coming up on 61 and I enjoy WDW (and other things) just as much as I did 20+ years ago, but in a different way. It's less about the rides and more about enjoying the atmosphere and all the other things such places have to offer. The concert band I play in has over 100 members and last month the median age was 68 and 4 months with at least 8 members over 80. Some people call us a retirement community, but it's really an "active adult" community.

I certainly hope I'll live to be 85, or 90, or 100, but I'm not going to sit around waiting for it. I'll keep renewing my WDW annual pass for as many years as I can. I would not be happy if in 25 or 30 years somebody told me I was too old. Old, yes, but as long as I can still get there I'll always have something to enjoy, even if it's just people watching. And that would be on a bench in Germany at Epcot with a Beck's in one hand and a big soft pretzel in the other watching the pretty young fraulines. To put a twist on one of Walt's sayings... if you can dream it, you can do it, or at least have fun thinking you can!

 

[N&B'smom]

My wonderful grandma is 89 1/2. I love to give her the 1/2, I figure ages 1-6 and then 85+ you can use the 1/2!

I dont think your grandmother is sad about what she will miss. If she is anything like mine, (She must be a great grandma is she is enjoying Disney at 85!) its looking at having a good life.

My grandma is really slowing down since she hit around 88 1/2 to the 89 mark. By really slowing down I mean allowing us to pick her up to get her groceries, not walking to the mail box through 3 foot of snow, that sort of thing. She still lives in her condo and drives where ever she needs to go if the roads are decent. But the traffic is getting horrid around the grocery store so we take her there now by her own choice. (She swung a bit wide turning into a handicaped parking spot that was next to a garbage dumpster of all thiings. It did in the side of the bumper, she rushed home, called the insurance and had it fixed before telling her kids about it! She cracks me up and I am proud to have inherited alot of her spunk!)

But at 89+ most of her family has passed on, her friends are dying or gone. My grandpa has been gone for 9 years now, she is ready to go whenever the good Lord takes her. She tells me all the time she is blessed with a great family and many friends. And she will joke about not buying green bananas these days!

I also think she will look at it as being blessed that she got to spend time with your kids, DD and I spend every friday evening at grandmas for coffee. It is one of the best times of the week for me, DD loves it as she gets crackers and cheese, hot chocolate and ice cream every friday at coffee. I had DD right away in our marriage, I wanted my grandma to know my child. It cracks us all up to see she has inhereited the same spunk as my grandma has!

Loved the comment about green bananas!! Too funny!! Now that is a good healthy attitude!

Shelby

 

[disney1990]

I love taking my D-Father in Law to Disney World. He is such a big kid at 85. He will ride "everything". But favorite picture of him is when he was riding Dumbo with my DH.

 

[N&B'smom]

Awwww, that is too cute! He looks pretty darn good for 85. Is he, uh...single? Maybe we could hook him up with my grandmother.

Shelby

 

[Fitswimmer]

I love taking my D-Father in Law to Disney World. He is such a big kid at 85. He will ride "everything". But favorite picture of him is when he was riding Dumbo with my DH.

Great picture!! I wish I could get a picture like of my 78 yr old Dad, but I'm always on the rides with him!! We were in WDW in December and he rode: Tower of Terror, RocknRoller, Expedition Everest, Splash Mountain and BTMRR. He said he felt like he was 16 again.

It has been a great source of joy for me to be able to take my parents on vacation since I joined DVC. They both love visiting WDW, but they tire more easily than they used to, so staying on-site really helps.

I think my parents are more concerned about having health issues that would result in a loss of their independence rather than about their deaths.

 

[aplejax76]

I love taking my D-Father in Law to Disney World. He is such a big kid at 85. He will ride "everything". But favorite picture of him is when he was riding Dumbo with my DH.

What a fantastic picture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!