Today is Word Wednesday here on Communication FUNdamentals and it's also my birthday! According to my kids, I'm old. In fact, my dd has been calling me ancient since she was about 3yrs old. She's now 20, I'm currently celebrating the 30th anniversary of my 18th birthday and you can do the math on that one!
Old is another one of those words that has been misused in my, perhaps seasoned, opinion. I mean, what is old anyway? If you ask a 3 y/o what old is, she'll probably say twenty. If you ask a 20 y/o, she'll probably say 30. If you ask a 48 y/o she'll probably say, "Hey! Are you calling me old?!" Besides, what is an old person now-a-days isn't old compared to Biblical times. Methuselah! Now there's a man who was old! I think most people today would consider an 80 or 90 y/o to be "old."
But "old" is a relative term anyway. How old is an old car? After five years, when the warranty runs out, YOU consider it old, dontcha? Okay, but what if you're in the market for a used car? How old is old? Ten, fifteen years? Surely, you wouldn't buy a used car that was 80 or 90 years old? Well, you might, but you'd pay a much higher price...and they'd use a slightly different term for it: Antique! Funny how old vs antique can look vastly different:
But it gets even worse than that! If you put an ad in the Recycler selling your old computer, you'd be hard-pressed to find a buyer if they knew it was 15 years old! Even five years is OLD for anything electronic. And don't get me started on food! I wouldn't touch an old donut with an old ten foot pole!
As an added bit of fun, I include this video for your giggling pleasure. My father sent this to me for my birthday. He's got a fabulous sense of humor. It's just too stinkin' funny and appropriate for me NOT to include it here today. I sometimes feel like I'm falling apart in my old age...Enjoy!
So, today's my birthday and I'm 48 years old, young! Whether you're older or younger than I am, please leave me a birthday note. Feel free to sing!
For the Love of Purple » Archive » It’s my birthday & I’ll be purple if I want to!
[…] you’re wondering what the word old really means these days, please visit my Art of Eloquence blog today and check out how misused the word “old” really is! I had a little bit of fun […]
Carla
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DEAREST ""YOUNG"" FRIEND, SWEET PEA!!! And ya know sumpin’? You isn’t old!!! I is old. ROFLOL You’ll be able to turn the tables on me in a month or so, as you well know. So here’s some advice from your “much older” sister. . . ENJOY THE DAY!!! Pack every moment of it with wonderful memories. May your birthday today be filled with love, laughter, fun, family and ALL of God’s Brightest Blessings! (A few nice big presents wouldn’t be bad either, eh? :)
jojosblog
Thank you, Carla! You are so very sweet!
Terri McLaughlin
Happy Birthday JoJo!! Love the post – I don’t think you are old at all. :)
But it gets even worse than that! If you put an ad in the Recycler selling your old computer, you'd be hard-pressed to find a buyer if they knew it was 15 years old! Even five years is OLD for anything electronic. And don't get me started on food! I wouldn't touch an old donut with an old ten foot pole!
As an added bit of fun, I include this video for your giggling pleasure. My father sent this to me for my birthday. He's got a fabulous sense of humor. It's just too stinkin' funny and appropriate for me NOT to include it here today. I sometimes feel like I'm falling apart in my old age...Enjoy!
So, today's my birthday and I'm 48 years old, young! Whether you're older or younger than I am, please leave me a birthday note. Feel free to sing!