Page 33 - May 2019 Voices

FIELD NOTES

Marking Older Americans Month

B. Lee Coyne ATMS

What else is sprouting this May in our gardens of
abundance?
Perhaps we can cultivate some speech topic suggestions
since May is Older Americans Month. Pick the petals. I

love aging—I love it not! Maybe a bit in between!
Here are my geriatric “gems”.
1. My early memories of my grandparents. What
was my early impression of older folks then? Has

it changed immensely?
2. Their music taste vs mine. What tunes did they
dance to? Did they have a theme song? Favorite
singer of that era?

3. How my grandparents originally met. Was it
planned or totally by accident? Memories of their
first date. . .
4. My own fantasy in future grandparenting. How I

foresee handling that role. Would it be different
from my own youth? Any radical changes?
5. What an optimal senior center would contain. As our
generation is more high-tech, what new equipment

would we want to install? Anything to link up the
homebound folks?
6. Elder illnesses I most fear. Lets address those phobias
and explain how we cope with such challenges. We

can refer to our own social histories if we wish.
7. Stereotypes of aging and common biases. Here is
the opportunity to carry the banner for human
rights for seniors. They are us-to-be. And we best

wake up before it visits our proverbial doorstep.

If you are already a grandparent, email a copy to your
offspring. You might get a few surprise replies.

VOICES! | MAY 2019 33