Old Age Invisibility

When you get to a certain age you start to develop an Invisibility cloak that makes you less prominent amongst people. One's worth in society takes a massive hit and it creates a move from the all inclusive part of living to a more isolated living on the fringes of modern existence. When people reach the higher echelons of 'time spent' they get put into a category of afterthought. "Oh did you remember to invite Andi?" Or " It's not his cup of tea, he won't really enjoy it", or "we'll send him a gift instead". We become problematic, more of an inconvenience that has to be negotiated so that our feelings are not hurt. This is probably even more prominent when you don't have a family of your own, there is not even the bartering of blood to use as a trade for time, companionship or just a little acknowledgement. 

I see why older people like to talk at bus stops, in queues, in shopping aisles, under a tree trying to avoid the rain. But the rain is the least of our worries. It's not getting wet that that makes our day worse for wear. It's the slow progression to total invisibility and obscurity that plagues our waking days. Sitting at home waiting for a letter in the post (yes I still do), waiting for a phone call that will brighten a dark, motionless day, waiting just for some acknowledgement that I still exist. 

Life is life, we need to be around life, we need to be part of life, we need to interact with life, we need to be included in life. When older people start to talk to you at that bus stop or in a queue don't see them as some old dodgy cunt. A lot of times it might be the only conversation they get that day because even the self service tills no longer accept old folk communication as  a part payment. Older people are being alienated for the mere fact of being cringey, past their sell by date, of no benefit, a distraction, an old relic. 

It's not nice getting old and I don't wish it on anyone, it's a fight every single day to find some worth in what you do. People say some people just give up and die, which maybe true but the flip side  is that some people give up on old folk and leave them with nothing to live for. Life has to be a two way process in all stages of life, from cradle to the grave. However it appears more and more, like when a mobile phone is tossed away after it's usefulness , people are tossed aside as their usefulness has come to an end and they can be left out to pasture on their own and without any consideration or thought.

Welcome to the reality of aging and becoming the irritating mosquito that needs to be splatted.