Senior Daze

by Katie Bourg

About Katie: Having arrived in time for the Great (?) Depression, WWII, and all other 20th century problems, I am endowed with long and varied memories. Writing classes have long been my home away from home. Other people's stories are fascinating, and sharing is growth at its best. Hope you seniors will join me with your stories. Try it. You'll like it.

I still drive, and have a pretty good record. I'm proud of it and work to keep it that way. I have, however quit driving after dark. It's not that I can't see. It just that I think it is safer than facing headlights, which could cause distortion. These bright white headlights now in use are the worst. They should never have been allowed on the road. But they are here, and I don't want to make any mistakes that cost others or myself unnecessary trouble.

During the summer this is not a problem. I can drive into Everett or even farther, and enjoy an early show or visit with old friends over a good meal. I keep active and get home before dark.

A lot of my favorite things to do start up again around September, as the sun begins to set earlier. A few weeks later I lose an hour of daylight, just when I seem to need it the most. I find myself watching the idiot box (TV) earlier than I would wish. I am not ready for sleep, and I am bored and lonely. It doesn't help when I read in the paper of things I would like to do. I admit to not being a very good widow, and get morbid on long dark evenings. I spend such time sewing things I don't need. I know others like myself. Busy work becomes very necessary for a healthy mind set. There's a lot of us.

I have heard the pros and cons of Daylight Savings Time for over sixty years. In some parts of the country, parents complain their little children have to go to school in the dark. I would submit that in other parts of the country children go both ways to school in the dark. My Girl Scout troop never arrived at my house before dark during Standard time. I lived two blocks from the school, and it was dark before they left the building.

I know the farmers don't like it. They say it upsets their farm animals. During WWII we were put on Daylight Saving time. We were told it saved energy and boosted production. Everyone managed and there was no real complaint. They just called it 'Wartime,' and the cows got milked anyway. People could go places and do things and still get home before dark. I'm not convinced it's a bad thing.

I'd really like to sit down and have a serious talk with the cows in this country. Though, to be perfectly frank, I've never heard a cow complain. It's their spokespersons messing up my schedule. Their unwillingness to adjust creates a serious interference in my life. People are living longer, and need to be able to use that time doing something they like to do. Like going to the Comcast Center to see a good show. Or the Nutcracker. Or even out for fish and chips. How much bad TV is one old woman supposed to absorb?

If the Greatest Generation could get up and get on with it on a daily basis, to help win a war, what's wrong with all those kids out there? Time is going to put them in our shoes, you know. With aches and implants.

You can't be fifty forever.