In a testament to his sharp mind, when recently asked in an interview as to when he thought he would retire, he quipped: "As a federal judge, I was appointed for life or good behavior, whichever I lose first", and then added that he would leave the couthouse "Feet first."
Interesting were the comments by other people to the post on Yahoo. Some of them were highly complimentary of a man who still had the energy and wits to continue being a high-ranking judge, whilst others couldn't help take jibes at his age and 'inevitable' senility. Always that cliche of the 'dithering old man (or woman)', just because someone has reached an old age and - heaven forbid - still wants to be active and have interests in life.
Pathetic how ageism continues to be one of the last bastions of fairly accepted prejudices.
I've never understood the need of some to mock the aged that strive to be independent or continue pursuing their passions. Perhaps it's because I grew up with a great-grandmother who would still catch a bus into town when already in her early 80s just to see a movie by herself, or a grandfather who in his late 70s was still enjoying his motorbike and doing breakfast runs with biking buddies young enough to be his great-grandsons. Or my other grandfather who was still working full days as a civil engineer out in the field until literally days before he died of lung cancer in his mid-70s. To have Vovo Joey, Vovo Ruy and Nonno in my life just to show me that, I know I was lucky.
What I most enjoyed about the article was having confirmation yet again about something I've always very strong about. And the older I get, the more I see it, and the more I believe it: simply, what keeps certain people old and alive and sharp of mind - is nothing more than having interests. Real interests. Even hobbies. But the ones that keep your mind sharp and alert and always learning new things. Coupled, always, with a certain passion for life. Judge Brown, keeps abreast of things on his computer every day. He is 103 and there are people I know forty years his junior that 'freak out' at the idea of using a computer, and even refuse to learn. But he does so. With relish, I am sure.
Even at 103, he still reads vociferously, including enjoying reading semi-pulp mystery and western fiction, which he borrows off one of the court clerks. I love it!
I've always felt that aging need not be something that is horrible and degrading in and of itself. Of course the body becomes weaker and less able and more fraught with disease. I am still young, so I cannot know what that is about. But one can know that to be true of old age. The fact that we age is one of the cruelest fates of the human condition. It is cruelty personified. But there is aging as well as you can and, well, just aging badly.
One cannot discount the misfortune of any terrible affliction or disease that may come along, of course. That too can hit even the most healthy and the most vital. All too often, unfortunately. But I do believe that, with a bit of luck, aging well or aging badly is indeed within our hands.
A man like Judge Brown is not someone I can deride for being an 'old fogey'. How disrespectful. I can have nothing but the greatest of admiration for this man. He no doubt has his frailties due to his age, but there is no denying that this is a man who is aging with the utmost of grace and dignity. Surely that is what it's all about?
Judge Wesley Brown and all like him, even those younger, are what aging should be all about. Especially in this day and age in which youth and perfection have such a powerful and perverse (strangle)hold over society.
Do you get my point?
No comments:
Post a Comment