I often look around at the people who live in “our” complex. We moved here 10 years ago and so of course, those who were living here when we moved in are all 10 years older which of course puts us all in an older age category. Ten years ago It was known as an Over 55’s complex but now I’d say we could rename it Old and Wrinklies only allowed. Who cares anyway? As long as you don’t look in the mirror, your mind will keep you as young as you want to be.
When we moved to our new home we brought our small dog with us having been assured by the Real Estate Agent that she had found out that our dog was allowed. This turned out to be untrue and so began some rather tense times. We were determined to fight to have our little dog with us but shortly after moving in to our new home I became quite ill and a vote was taken with a result of 7 – 5 which allowed us to keep our dog with us. For many years we were not made welcome by those who opposed the vote but for the last couple of years we have blended in with all the residents as they came to realise that we hadn’t grown horns and Mischa (dog) wasn’t the devil incarnate.
The days of the ‘power hungry’ Chairperson have settled down to the extent that she often has her son’s dog stay with her for a week or two and most of us get on well with each other. Every now and again we have a function such as a Cancer morning tea to raise funds or to celebrate Australia Day or other such notable events.
It was decided some time ago to have a “Happy Hour” once a month on the Common area which is a nicely grassed area close to us and surrounded by rather nice gardens and has a Gazebo in the middle. Monthly “Happy Hours” were not successful as people would forget and either not turn up or would come on the wrong week! (Remember that many of the residents are now over 80 and for some, memory is not a strong suit). It was then changed to fortnightly but again this was unsuccessful because people would get the weeks mixed up – so it was decided to hold it weekly. That was the answer and each week mostly the same people turn up for an hour or so (if they remember to come at all). I think some of the older residents really look forward to this weekly outing and it has certainly contributed to a happier and friendlier place in which to live.
When I attend these gatherings, I look at these people – some of whom I have known for 10 years now and I can see how they have aged and realise that I too show telltale signs of aging; the inevitable sagging of the body, wrinkly face and chook’s neck, greying hair and unattractive wrinkly arms. I envy those whose hair has turned pure white – not like mine that is an unattractive salt and pepper grey.
One particular gentleman whose body has been compromised by a severe stroke but who fights to overcome his physical difficulties shows through his sparking eyes an intelligence which aging and stroke has not destroyed. He and his wife, both in their 80’s, do not let their health problems stop them from travelling the world – a Safari in Africa last year and shortly a trip to Canada. How can you not admire their tenacity and determination not to let their physical problems keep them at home in their armchairs?
There are many amusing stories I could relate about the residents who live in our complex but to name a few – there is the mysterious single man who lives alone and every 3 months flies to Thailand for 3 months. I suspect he has a family there but he never mentions them which of course leads to speculation. A German lady who is in very poor health and really should be in a Nursing Home but who managed to spend an hour or two at our Australia Day BBQ and showed her usually well hidden humorous side by having her Naturalisation Certificate pinned to her ample chest and stating that she wanted everyone to know that she was an Aussie and not a Krrraut!! Funny lady.
The man who lives with wife two doors down from us nearly lost his leg when he was a child and walks with a stiff knee. He wrote his autobiography which I have been privileged to read and what a story that is. He and a mate (as teenagers in the early 1950’s) bought a one-way ticket each which only allowed them to sail from Melbourne to southern Italy. They eventually reached their intended destination – England – after some hair-raising adventures. Their intention was to work until they had enough money for a passage back to Australia. They weren’t successful in raising enough money and were homesick so they found it necessary to stowaway. They also found it necessary to leave the ship in Western Australia and find their way home across Australia to Melbourne.
There is another couple who had lived in a large complex further down our street and their story goes something like this: they sold their unit intending to travel to Victoria but health problems intervened and those plans were put on hold. They needed somewhere to live and so bought a unit in our complex – not sure what happened but they sold it after about a year and bought back into their original complex. They were unhappy there and about 6 months ago they bought back into our complex – different unit this time. It takes all sorts of course but perhaps they like packing and unpacking!! Is there such a thing as a Boomerang Syndrome? That is a bit flippant and no doubt they have good reasons for their unsettled living arrangements.
I’m sure each and every one of the residents has a story to tell; of times gone buy when life was so different to how it is today. The older 70 year olds and of course the 80 year olds and our one 90 year old would no doubt have lived through the Great Depression and could well remember the hardships that were forced on them and later living through the Second World War. As for me, I can remember the horse drawn cart delivering ice to houses and how the delivery man would carry a big block of ice around the back of the house and place it in our ice chest. Fresh bread was also delivered daily by horse and cart. I witnessed the advent of telephones in homes, refrigerators, televisions: the list goes on and on.
How the world has changed since then and I think of the wealth of knowledge these Septuagenarians and Octogenarians have; possibly untapped and unrecorded memories in many cases. Generation Y really only live in the moment and possibly are not interested in knowing what their grandparents and great grandparents lived through in an era where consumer technology was just emerging and consumerism was an unknown word but hopefully these important early memories will be recorded by their families before they are lost forever.
silvercloudlinings 
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