As I set off with Ollie yesterday, I walked past two young mums pushing toddlers on the swings in the small playground. I had seen one of them before, and politely nodded to her as I went by.
The other young woman turned and asked her “Do you know him?”
The first one shook her head, replying “No, but he’s always here whenever I bring Chloe to the swings. I see him walking here all the time. I just think of him as the old man walking”.
This was all said less than twenty feet fom me. I presume they thought my craggy face and sparse silver hair also affected my hearing.
As I went through the gate of Hoe Rough, I was smiling. Their exchange had made me think of the film ‘Dead Man Walking’. In the film, a prisoner on death row is preceded by a prison guard as he moves around. The guard calls out “Dead man walking! Dead man walking here!” https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112818/
Perhaps I should employ someone to walk ahead of me?
He could call out “Old man walking! Old man walking here!” 🙂
Well, I can relate . . .I let my hair return to its’ natural color–which now, is white! I am still shocked at how differently people treat me! Folks hold doors at stores and say “Yes mam”! At work, younger teachers seem to worry-all of a sudden if I am doing too much! I am quite sure that my silver crown means I am less smart too! haha!
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My wife let her hair go white after she was made redundant. People ask here where she goes to get it dyed that lovely colour. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Lol – Something like slapstick. 😉 Great experiences, Pete! Best wishes, Michael
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It did amuse me, that they spoke so loudly. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Perhaps they were speaking so loudly because they had already lost the sense of volume, through the earphones. 😉 My mother always says to me. Lol Best wishes, Michael
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Sometimes when this happens to me I let them know I hear them lol..
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I could have said something I suppose, but I found it quite amusing. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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My father would be shocked if I said something like that within the hearing of an elderly person, Pete. I had a very strict upbringing and my boys have also been taught to be careful and respectful.
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I feel sure they presumed I couldn’t hear them. I actually found it amusing, and of course to those two young women, I am old. Probably the same age as their grandparents.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Bahaha! You are not an old man Pete, I believe we’re a little over five years apart, and I’m not having it! We’re like 50 with a few bonus decades! Young at heart, C
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I am still young enough to find her comment amusing. So I wil take that, young Cheryl! 🙂 x
Best wishes, Pete.
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This is sad. Thank goodness your humor and outlook came through. Dead man walking; that’s really funny.
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It made me smile on a dog-walk, Jennie. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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😀
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Funny 🙂
Mind you I get it from the girls, old Daddy!
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Tell them you’re the only daddy they’ve got, old or not. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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They are growing up to be very efficient wind-up merchants. You reap what you sow I guess 🙂
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Haha! Now you’re taking David’s jokes from him.
It is strange that people assume that someone who appears older than them must be slow-witted, hard of hearing, or physically challenged.
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Yes, judging from appearances is never reliable, Pete.
Best wishes, Pete.
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oh my. wait ’til they get old… that will make me smile, too 🙂 🙂
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They don’t think they will ever be old, Wilma. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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As one old man to the other, I love your story. LOL
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Thanks, Don. It works better for anyone who has seen the film of course. 🙂 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I am certain that the neighborhood kids think of me as that old woman. I certainly thought the same of neighbors my age when I was young. But I am old, so there really is no debate worth having.
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I feel the same. I am probably older that those young women’s grandparents, so I don’t mind. I actually found the comment amusing.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Oh my! I’m somewhat flabbergasted! Makes me afraid of what I might say if I’d heard something similar when I walked by!
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I’m past that now. I know I look old, but at least they gave me a smile. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’m glad it made you smile. 🙂
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If those young mothers are lucky, they will be old women in the future. Warmest regards, Theo
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Shame I won’t be here to call them ‘Old women walking’. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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When I was 20-something, anybody in their sixties was old. Now I’m in my sixties, I still feel 20-something in my head, but sadly not in my body. I don’t consider myself as ‘old’ though… not yet…
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I don’t mind them saying I was old. 69 is pretty old, when you are around 25. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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That would make a great title for a short story. chuq
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I suppose it would. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’ve seen the craggy face of the man in the silver moon.
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That man in The Moon never seems to age. Funny that.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Just hang that board in Ollie’s neck
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I wouldn’t want to impede his sniffing capabilities, Shaily! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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At least you’re still walking and cognizant enough to write about it. I am sure I am the old woman walking.
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Yes, I could see the plus side, Maggie. And the funny side too.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Well, that was a bit rude. I love your sense of humor Pete. I was thinking along the same lines of Fraggle.
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Not quite as rude as if they knew I could hear them, but it made me smile when I thought of the Sean Penn film.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Oh Pete, this made me so mad.. What a terrific sense of humor you have 🧡
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Well, if I can see the funny side, it stops me getting angry. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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That is funny.
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I had to smile, Darlene. No point getting upset about it.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I think those 20 somethings would be surprised by your writing output…old man???
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Yes, a perception based on appearance is never a good way to form a conclusion.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Quite
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That was a good movie! Maybe get a placard aound your neck if you can’t hire a crier 🙂
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That’s a thought, FR! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Haha!
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Hilarious! My own story: driving along with the grandchildren in the back, playing 20 questions. One says: -Is he young?
-No.
-So he’s old?
-Yes.
-Just old? Or Old-old, like Yaya? (Me— Yaya being the word for granny in Greek.)
Good thing I didn’t crash the car, I had tears running down my face!
However, I can still remember the time when I thought 30 was old. It’s all relative, isn’t it?
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It certainly is, Marina. I remember thinking it was ‘all over’ on the night of my 40th birthday celebration. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Count yourself lucky she didn’t say ‘he’s always by the swings, I think of him as old man loitering’
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Yes, that’s why I always walk past quickly mate!
Cheers, Pete.
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Shame Ollie can’t speak, I bet he’s walking ahead of you!
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Most of the time he is behind me, sniffing and marking. I often have to wait a long time for him to catch me up. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete. x
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That’s no good then 😂
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Lol. Very sobering
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I just smile about it now, Sarada.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It’s another version of catching yourself in the reflection of a shop window . . xx
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That was a while back, Ro. I’m used to this now, and just find it amusing mate.
Love to your both. xx
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This is so funny! Like the town criers of old (well, and some still going). It would also help keep the distance for COVID-19 related safety. Pete, your sense of humour is very young. Stay well and keep walking! 😉
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Thanks, Olga. It made me laugh to hear those 20-somethings talk as if they will never get old. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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