I can pinpoint to the day when I officially turned "old". January 20th 2014. Like anyone, there are plenty of clues after you turn 50...wrinkles, a slow increase in the number of pills to keep track of on a daily basis, the realization that your teen years were no longer "current events" but are now a historical era, and the gradual decline in hearing (which I hope is due more to loud music than old age). But not many people can pinpoint a date when they hit "old".
It started innocently enough. I was in the Nairobi suburb of Karen getting US dollars converted to Kenya shillings at a currency store. There was a bit of wait and customers had taken the available seats so I moved to the side to wait my turn. So far just like the other five decades of my life. But as I leaned up against the wall a young man leapt up and gestured to me to sit down. I nicely declined, indicating that I didn't need a seat, but inside I was thinking "HEY...I'M NOT OLD." The Kenyan guard who was watching the interaction helpfully said "It's because you're old". I started to protest, but realized that the way he said it, it came across as a sign of respect and not a commentary on how decrepid I was. So I said "thank you" and sat down to wait my turn.
I talked with Sr. Julie (Nyumbani Home volunteer coordinator) after I'd changed my currency about the Kenyan attitude on age and she confirmed there isn't the Western judgement attached to age. It is a description that helps identify the person and their stature in life. So I got used to being described as "old" and "fat" for that matter.
A watershed day...but still, just a day.
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