Cute Old People

O: Old People
I'm honestly afraid of getting old.  I grew up visiting a lot of nursing homes and I've seen what a terrible thing it is when you no longer have your mind and your body.  But before that REALLY old point in life, there will hopefully be an adorable time period.

Think about it.  Some old people are just cute.

I used to work at a frozen yogurt shop.  Occasionally a little old lady or man would come in, hobbling on canes and looking around the small shop with wonder.  One lady even told me, "I've never heard of these new-fangled places before."  I loved to wait on them and help them decide on their flavors and toppings.  Elderly men were always the best tippers.  Elderly women were always very complimentary about my necklace and my eyes and my smile (and even my speaking voice).

My Nawnie is starting to become one of those little old ladies who is incredibly friendly to everyone.  If you're in the same room as my grandma, you're her new best friend.  She teases and compliments and starts conversations with EVERYONE.  Sometimes it's a little embarrassing, like the time Nawnie walked across the fancy dining room while we were on the cruise and began to massage a strange woman's shoulders, saying, "How was your day today?"  But most times it's endearing and even admirable.  We rarely leave a building without someone telling us how sweet Nawnie is.  And she is.
I visited my friend's church about a year ago.  There is a little old lady who has attended that church for as long as my friend can remember.  As soon as I began to find my seat, she hobbled over to me, held out a little basket of wrapped candies, and said, "I'm so glad you came today, honey.  Would you like a piece of candy?"  What a sweet, welcoming woman.  And she didn't just approach kids and teens.  She even offered my dad a piece of candy.

Basically, after all of these short stories, I'd like to describe the kind of old person I'd like to be.  I want to be sociable and friendly.  Old people don't seem to care about embarrassing themselves or getting weird look.  It's like they're past that point.  I want to have that fearless, friendly nature.  I want to offer people candy at church and make them feel welcome.  I want to coo at strangers' babies.  I want to hobble around with my cute old husband and have people look at us and say to each other, "What an ADORABLE old couple.  I want to be like that someday."

I don't ever want to be in that painfully old stage where there is nothing left of me except for an aging shell of a body.  I never want that.  But I've finally realized that I don't think I'll mind AGING.  I think white hair IS a crown of beauty, just like the Bible says, even if the world might say otherwise.

Of course, I'll definitely enjoy being young while I still have my youth. ;)