Posts Tagged ‘senior humor’
August 31, 2010
Vex seems a slightly archaic word, one more suited to 19th Century English novels. It simply means to afflict or annoy which can be the effect on people who get questions about their age.
Different ages look on age differently. Ask a young boy how old he is, and he may respond with an enthusiastic “I’m seven and going on eight.” He can’t wait to get older. Give the same question to a mature man, who would be happy to put aging on hold, and if he responds, it may be a grumpy “60” and a quick change of subject.
Women seem to be more sensitive to inquiries about age than men. Years ago I volunteered to register people eligible to vote, On the registration form, in replying to the age question, some would write merely “21 plus.” Meanwhile, I tried to guess their actual age. Silently, of course.
Curiously, this emphasis on age secrecy lessens with the passage of time. It is not unusual for a very senior lady to take pride in her age. She is not only are happy to reveal it, but volunteers it with an uncharacteristic enthusiasm.
Tags:aging gracefully, humor, joyful aging, Life Enrichment, senior humor, Senior Life Enrichment, senior socialabilty
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July 19, 2010
In July, 2010 while visiting for a few days in the family home in Iowa I discovered an old pair of spats worn for a time in 1942-43. Popular in the 19th and early twentieth centuries, this shoe garment is worn only in the modern world by the U.S. Infantry and marching bands.
For me they represented dapper elegance in the years before the draft sent me to the U.S. Army. In junior and senior year high school I remember the mirror showing me sporting a brown sports coat, brown trousers with dark brown transversal lines, white shirt, and a brown tie leaning on a tiny gold or silver rod that connected the ends of the shirt collar. Spats covered the oxford shoes. A white handkerchief deftly fit in the front pocket of the coat. I can’t remember the movie star I fancied to mimic but he must have been good-looking. The reader may ask, why brown? Well, brown is or was popular in rural areas since it reminded people of the earth, the source of their livelihood.
While these spats were designed for show, they also had a practical effect. The cloth covering the shoe warmed the feet during the cold and snowy Midwestern winters when style-oriented young men did not want to go out wearing ugly overshoes.
In case these words stimulate the reader to yearn for spats in 2010, he can go to the Internet and find instructions and illustrations for making his own. He may find that this example and web site post may help bring this long-neglected accessory back in style. Perish the thought!
Tags:19th Century Fashions, Early 20th Century Fashions, joyful aging, laugh for health, Life Enrichment, senior humor, senior laughter, Senior Life Enrichment, Senior Memories, shoe coverings, Spats
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April 28, 2010
Everyone knows that exercise is beneficial for all ages, including seniors.
As a youth I was only moderately active, but about the time of the Royal Canadian Air Force Exercise Book, I vigorously embraced our northern neighbor’s physical fitness ethos by doing the prescribed movements. After I suffered a degenerated lower disk in 1972, the legendary Dr. Paul Williams prescribed back exercises which I followed regularly for several years. Five or six subsequent orthopedists since suggested variations, but the routine continued.
Dr, Williams did not like the stress on the joints resulting from running. so to appease me he suggested jogging in place with hands on the back of a lower chair or on a table while rapidly moving the legs backwards and forwards. This style of jogging from ten to 30 minutes in hotel rooms at night did not create contented neighbors, especially on the floor below. After maybe two years of this, I became seriously interested in swimming, and after much practice, a goal of one mile per 50 minutes was reached. Since walking was and is a popular physical activity, I did a lot of it also. This new zeal prevailed until about 2004, when physical symptoms required a change of routine.
Currently the exercise consists of muscle movements, weight lifting and water therapy.
Almost everyone probably wonders whether all of this activity is worth the time invested. I take comfort from a fitness fanatic who remarked: “At least you know you will die healthy.”
Tags:aging gracefully, humor, joyful aging, laugh for health, laughter, Life Enrichment, senior humor, senior laughter
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April 7, 2010
Immoderate use of alcoholic beverages is widely condemned, but amusing stories often result from the temporary lowering of inhibitions. A few examples follow:
An American senior tourist attempted to smuggle a bottle of tequila across the Mexican border. A customs official asked what it was. “Holy water from the Shrine,” replied the tourist. The official took a sip and exclaimed, “This is tequila.” “My, another miracle!” replied the tourist.
An automobile was weaving along the highway. Finally it overturned three times and landed right side up. The aging driver emerged completely unharmed. An arriving police officer grabbed the man by the shirt collar “You’re drunk, aren’t you?” “Of course, “ replied the driver, “what do you think I am……a stunt driver?
A senior is stopped by a cop who says, “You’re going to get a ticket for speeding.” The octogenarian says, “I was only doing 40 miles an hour,” and the cop says, “No, you were doing 50 miles in a 30-mile zone” The driver argues “I was doing only 40.” And his wife pops up and says, “Don’t argue with my husband when he has been drinking.”
Three aging buddies are heavy drinkers. Every Friday evening they drink to the point of inebriation. Then one leaves the room, and the other two try to guess who left.
And here’s one about that famous imbiber, Dean Martin, in his younger days. A friend reported that Dean finally solved his drinking problem: He wears an old suit in case he falls down too often.
Tags:aging gracefully, humor, jokes, joyful aging, laughter, Life Enrichment, senior humor, senior laughter, Senior Life Enrichment
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December 30, 2009
In order to make an effective presentation the sales person carefully observes the prospects and their whereabouts.
Alexandre Dumas, a French novelist of the 19th century, affirmed: “He who reads knows a lot, but he who observes knows still more.” For example, someone who makes a sales presentation to prospects in their office sees information about them from the items and photos on the desk, from pictures on the wall and from the furnishings of the office. Knowledge of body language also helps the sales person “read” the information showing in the prospects gestures and facial expressions. If airport screeners could read the body language of passengers at airport gates, the nation would be much more secure.
Sales persons may want discreetly to consider the advice an Arkansas father gave his 18-year old son who was leaving home to make his own way in the world: “Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut.”
Tags:sales desire, sales motivation, sales techniques, sales tips, SALES: by People, selling, senior humor
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November 7, 2009
After not finding much humor in the China of Confucius, more recent history seemed to offer better possibilities. I moved to the early 18th century and checked on Joe Miller, a man with a familiar name but vague credentials. His claim to fame is compiling, not writing, a book of “jests.” Joke is a more modern word. He did this even though he did not know how to read. An itinerant actor, he apparently learned his lines without reading them first. An interested reader of this blog may want to investigate this further
One can wonder about his alleged contributions to humor. Probably current appreciation does not coincide with the opinion of a good joke in 1725 when the book was written.
Then, as now, the answer to a question can stir up laughter An English gentleman in the 18th century asked “How do men differ from cattle?” If he got the correct answer, it would have been “Cattle don’t talk politics when they eat and drink. Politics seems to be a timeless topic of conversation.
Also timeless is the question of age. A middle aged man and woman were discussing how old people were. She said “Believe me when I say I’m 40.” He replied “Oh, I believe you. After all I’ve heard you say so for the last ten years.”
Tags:humor, jokes, joyful aging, laugh for health, laughter, Life Enrichment, senior humor, senior laughter, Senior Life Enrichment
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November 7, 2009
The words of prominent humorists of the past are often a good source for current laughter and fun. Almost forgotten today, but a star entertainer in the time of Abraham Lincoln, Josh Billings (1818 – 1885) traveled the small towns and cities of the nation bringing cheer and fun to isolated citizens. His career overlapped that of Mark Twain (1835-1910) who left a more enduring literary legacy.
Comments show his commitment to spreading mirth: “Laughter is the sensation of feeling good all over and showing it in only one spot.” and “There is no fun in medicine, but there is a lot of medicine in fun.” Medicine today is still no fun, but overall it must taste a lot better than most 19th century concoctions.
By clicking on the Internet, the reader can enjoy some of his humorous advice like:
1. “Be kind to your mother-in-law, but pay for her board at some good hotel.”
2. “A puppy plays with every pup he meets, but an old dog has few associates.”
3. “Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are, and doing things that ought to be done.”
Tags:humor, jokes, joyful aging, laugh for health, laughter, senior humor, senior laughter, Senior Life Enrichment, senior socialabilty, seniors and doctors
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October 27, 2009
Those who have trouble remembering or telling jokes can train themselves to be alert to comedy, children’s antics, anecdotes, odd reports or bizarre incidents often found in and out of the print media. Sometimes a funny story shows up in an unlikely publication.
To preserve this source of laughter, the reader should cut and paste the joke on 3 x 5 cards or larger and store for future reference. On a gloomy day he can take a handful, sip a cup of coffee and feel the tickling of his funny bone. He will have a temporary lift of spirit. Alcohol will do the same thing, but there is more danger of addiction.
Probably even more fertile sources for humor are the attachments to emails sent by relatives and friends. I probably never had such vigorous and sustained laughter in prior decades.
Frequent perusal will fix the humor in the memory. Relatives and friends will be surprised that the new skill of telling jokes can result in a transformed personality. Sometimes it seems they converted me from a hopeless sober sides into an occasional maker of mirth.
I usually print these and file the 8-1/2 sheets in the appropriate folders. I prefer, however, to cut and paste the jokes and try to make them fit on 3 x 5 cards often by folding them to the back side or by dividing the story and pasting part on the other side of the card.
Tags:aging gracefully, humor, joyful aging, laugh for health, laughter, Life Enrichment, senior humor, senior laughter, Senior Life Enrichment
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October 23, 2009
Other than grandchildren the major topic of conversation among seniors is probably their health and, by extension, their doctors. While there are complaints, most seniors are content with their medical care.
Opportunities for humor abound like the experience of an 80 year old man who went for an annual physical: As he was listening to the man’s heart with the stethoscope, the doctor muttered “Oh, Oh.” “What’s the problem?” asked the man. “Well,” the doctor said, “You have a serious heart murmur.” “Do you smoke?” “No, replied the man. “Do you drink in excess?” “No,” replied the man. “Do you have a sex life?” “Yes, I do.” “Well,” said the doctor, “ You’ll have to give up half of your sex life.’ “Which half?” muttered the man, ” The looking or the thinking?
The doctor gave his 80-year old patient a curious stare. “I’ve been practicing medicine for 20 years, and this is the first time anyone has had this complaint. What do you mean your virility is too high?”
The old man sighed gently. It’s all up in my head, he explained.
Tags:aging gracefully, humor, jokes, joyful aging, laugh for health, laughter, Life Enrichment, senior humor, senior laughter, Senior Life Enrichment, seniors and doctors
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October 19, 2009
About 300 years after Abraham, Confucius and other noteworthy figures appear in bustling China. The Internet seems to show no authentic jokes of that era, and motivated by weariness with the Confucius Say jokes beginning in the 1940s, I opted for a few more serious but still clever sayings of about 500 B. C. and perhaps later.
While I found no genuine humor but, I did find aphorisms, though ancient in origin, yet up-to-date in application.
“Choose the job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.” is often quoted today, and should be remembered by anyone looking for a job or career. This advice is timeless and is fresh for each new generation.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” could be of European origin and not from the China of 3800 years ago. A similar American saying is “The first step is half the journey.” Many, including yours truly, like to put off that first step which, of course, means that there is no journey.
The contemporary Confucian sayings aren’t meant to teach but rather to amuse often in a way not printable in a family blog. Here is one eminently printable that may warm up a tepid sales force: “Salesperson who covers chair instead of territory always remains on bottom.”
Tags:humor, jokes, joyful aging, laugh for health, laughter, Life Enrichment, senior humor, senior laughter
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