Vacillations of aging

It is instructive to be with siblings and friends who are getting on in age, and to compare how they see themselves with your own (elderly) attitudes, and those of others. In an age dominated by youth and mass media & advertising, controlled by those who would market to young people or people who would like to appear or be younger than they are, things can be extremely confusing (!). At times it seems that people are almost chameleon like, and at others want to be recognized for what they truly are.

Having been raised by parents who were born the early part of the twentieth century, and grandparents who born in the 1880s, the dimensions of the changes are undoubtedly greater than for others. My grandparents showed their age and didn't seem to need appear younger. My parents were more "youthful" in their elder years, but I never got the idea that they wanted to appear any younger than they were.

At present my confusions are mostly generated by the differences in appearence and attitude, I guess. Often when I am speaking with someone who wants to be in a younger generation (and tries for those appearances) but is stuck with beliefs and mindsets of his own generation (or even earlier ones) it makes me feel a little crazy, and I will find myself moving away. My suspicion is that this may become even more extreme in the future, since the social trends seem to be more supportive and even forgiving of Chamelon like lifestyles; and everything from plastic surgery techniques, organ transplants and advanced cosmetics
may just push the envelopes.