Aging Gracefully

(This is a re-post from one of my other blogs that I am consolidating into PantsParty.)

Here's how I'm working toward this goal:
First and foremost, I have taken up smoking a pipe. I'm not sure I like it yet, but I'm giving it a shot. However, I do think that it is a hobby that could suit me. I went to the tobacconist the other day and picked up a little corn-cob jobby and a sampler of tobaccos and am going to give the whole thing a try. I have no idea what I'm doing yet.
Second, I got a new shoe polishing kit yesterday and went to town on some of my lace-ups. It felt good. It felt right.
I'm thinking about looking around for a good retirement community, as I am getting on in years.
What L is doing:
She, within the last ten minutes, has told me that she wants to get good at gardening. "You know, just some pretty flowers or something..." Which entered my head as a mental image of her standing on the lawn shaking a fist at some kids for messing with her prize-winning roses. I also imagined her to be in a sort of old-lady moomoo in this scenario. Perhaps with a bun in her hair and an apron on. But that remains to be seen.
What most people are not doing:
Acting their age.
Saying no to abundant tattoos that will look silly in pictures when they are holding their grandchildren.
Dressing like adults.
Behaving with even a modicum of dignity or decorum.
All in all, the whole thing is baffling to me. Granted, I do live in a town where people move to avoid having to grow up. But still. It is like being surrounded by a legion of adult infants. But knowing this, is it really my place to say.
This is, after all, America. People ought to be free to do as they please. But I will say that it's hard to respect an adult who looks like they just got done playing over to the playground and now wants to go to Toys R Us to check out the newest video games...
-A.R. Leith