You know the song I mean. “When I get older losing my hair, many years from now, will you still be sending me a Valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine, when I’m 64….”
I recall my 98-year-old friend saying whenever she passes a mirror she doesn’t recognize the person looking back at her. The most difficult part of being old is becoming invisible, she said. I couldn’t relate at the time.
It reminded me of being at the Apple Store, and the young woman who worked there started speaking louder and slower to me. WTF? Is this where I am now? Is this where, we as a society, are now?
I could take advantage of a society disregarding me based on how I look. In an episode of Grace and Frankie, they absconded with some high-ticket gourmet items from their neighborhood market when the clerk didn’t see them at all at the cash register, but he did see a nubile young jogger.
Yes, I could actually gain admittance to a government hearing where they prefer to not actually hear from me, and then speak up for the animals being ignored in a loud, clear voice, as they’re voting on something that may exploit or harm other animals. Yes, now that I think about this whole “dismiss you when you get ‘older’ thing,” it could work in mine and the animals’ favor a little. Yes, underestimate me. Go ahead, make my day.
Do you know dear Happy Herald reader that many of the baby boomer females fought for civil rights, blocked fur store doorways, protected their peers from predators, spoke out even though they may have been the only voice in the room at an early age, were arrested at circus protests, shrugged off the restrictions around clothing and stereotypical roles, danced to funk music all night, worked graveyard shifts and finished high school in night school, liberated animals, rescued their friends from abusive partners, may have been the first vegans in their state, and stopped bullies in their tracks – and still do?
Yes, those golden women heroes are among us, they are still fighting the good fight, whether they are 62, 64 or older. They are still bad ass, are still kicking it – so underestimate at your peril.
By Susan Hargreaves is the founder of Animal Hero Kids, an all-volunteer charity educating, empowering and recognizing kind youth. She is the author of Animal Hero Kids: Voices for the Voiceless, which includes tips from famous animal advocates: Joaquin Phoenix, Sir Paul McCartney, and Jessica Chastain. She is an Honor Book award winner for notable contribution to ecology and nature. Susan is an award-winning educator, radio host, ex-undercover investigator and activist. Susan has been vegan since 1986 and has been a defender of animals for over four decades. To help realize the goal of gifting the Kind2All book TD school libraries go to AnimalHeroKids.org