Tomorrow is Mother’s Day
May 7, 2016
By: Mark Harvey
Email: harvemb@dshs.wa.gov
Tomorrow is MOTHER’S DAY!
If that constitutes a startling revelation for you AND if you have a mother (or someone who seems a lot like one), you might want to stop reading this right now, and go do something about it!
For the rest of us, who boast a modicum of foresight and have made the necessary arrangements, allow me to point out another milestone: May is “Older Americans Month!”
Maybe you already knew that – Maybe you didn’t. Maybe you’ve never heard of Older Americans Month. Maybe you don’t get the same press releases I do. Here’s what it says:
“Older adults are a growing and increasingly vital part of our country. The contributions they make to our communities are varied, deeply rooted, and include influential roles in the nation’s economy, politics, and the arts. From 69-year-old NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Jr. to 84-year-old actress Rita Moreno to 83-year-old Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who took her seat as a Supreme Court justice at age 60, older adults are blazing trails in all aspects of American life.
In 1963, we began to acknowledge the contributions of older people by using the month of May to celebrate Older Americans Month (OAM). Led by the Administration for Community Living, the annual observance offers the opportunity to learn about, support, and celebrate our nation’s older citizens. This year’s theme, “Blaze a Trail,” emphasizes the ways older adults are reinventing themselves through new work and new passions, engaging their communities, and blazing a trail of positive impact on the lives of people of all ages.”
It goes on. I won’t. And, No: I don’t know why we think it’s necessary to turn “Older Americans Month” into the acronym “OAM,” unless it’s designed to shorten the amount of time we’re forced to devote to greeting one another: “Good Morning! Happy OAM!” “Back at ya!” Whatever…
OAM, if that’s what we’re reduced to, has been around for a long time – So have most of us. I’ve never felt a strong attachment to the designation, simply because it’s always seemed odd to me that we would call out a month to attempt to “recognize” an entire segment of the population who, apparently, are perceived as being UNrecognizeable throughout the remainder of the year; although, in fairness, “older Americans” have often been marginalized, i.e. ageism, which – Believe me! – Is alive and well.
And I’ve always wondered about the use of the word, “older” – “Older” than who? On what day? Everybody is older than somebody!! But, I’m probably making something out of nothing, so let’s move on.
All of my cute little observances notwithstanding, I confess to being struck by this year’s OAM theme: Blaze a Trail, because I’m always struck by anything coming out of the Federal government with which I actually agree. We’ve talked about some of this before, but here’s what I think, because here’s what I see:
The game has changed, and it’s changing every day – The “Aging Game” (AG), because we’re just not dying on schedule, anymore. More and more of us keep living and living and we’re healthier and healthier and we’re actually having lives! We’re not disintegrating into a predictable downward spiral – 60 just isn’t the “end;” in many ways, it has become the Beginning.
Maybe we’re going to retire, maybe we’re not. Maybe that’s because we have no choice, but maybe it’s because it is our choice. Maybe we’re going to change jobs or careers, or maybe we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing because we like what we’re doing and it’s meaningful to us.
Maybe we’re going to get involved – Or, more involved – In this-or-that organization or movement or cause, because we’ve been around long enough to have actually learned some things. Maybe we’re going to start a business, or help take care of grandchildren so Mom and Dad can attempt to earn a living, or go kick some b*** at a food bank that could stand the help.
Maybe we’re caregivers – THAT’S a full-time job! Or maybe we’ll retire from our full-time jobs to go do what we do for free – I’ve seen doctors do it. And attorneys. And carpenters.
Or, maybe we’ll just try to grow into the human being that we’ve always wanted to be, because we’ve realized that we have plenty of time to do it.
Or maybe…
OK, I think we all get it.
As much as it pains me to adopt a Federal slogan, I have to confess that we are “Blazing a Trail.” The country, the culture and the world has never been here before, where there are enough Elders walking, talking and involved in the game to change the game – To make a difference. To say, “Maybe there’s a better way…”
Maybe there is.
Some of us will choose a downward spiral, and some of us will choose an uphill battle; but some of us will say, “Wait a minute! You know what I could do…?”
No, I don’t – But I can hardly wait to find out!
Mark Harvey is the director of Information and Assistance for Olympic Area Agency on Aging. He can be reached at harvemb@dshs.wa.gov or 532-0520 in Aberdeen, (360) 942-2177 in Raymond or (360) 642-3634. FACEBOOK: Olympic Area Agency on Aging-Information & Assistance.