This Monday’s visit to the senior center was once again pleasant and enjoyable, especially now that we have introduced ourselves to the lovely women from the center. I found myself looking forward to it since the last time we visited, and it was no less exciting to be there than before. I ended up seeing some familiar faces as well as new ones, which was great.
Our discussion this week surrounding The Dark Flood Rises brought a lot of very insightful conversations around the importance of understanding your mortality. As well as this, we discussed how important it is to take the proper measures to ensure that the person and their loved ones are open to conversations around death and someone’s passing, given the emotional aspect of it that could leave someone unprepared to deal with all that comes after, especially in the midst of their own grief. While it is a hard topic to broach, especially for the ones most effected by their aging not only physically, but in some cases emotionally, it is one that is increasingly important, especially in a society that has always glorified the youth and youthfulness.
When it came to the book itself and its characters, it was interesting to hear all the different opinions regarding Fran. While some of us saw her as a character with a lot of charm based on the way she held so firmly to her independence, others in the group thought that she looked down too harshly at the older people she knew who were more willing to accept the help they needed in the lives. The topic brought up some questions in my mind about the value of independence and how we see asking for help as burdensome up until the point that it is necessary, or we are essentially forced to do so. The different perspectives gave a lot of potential for open dialogue that helped keep the discussion lively and engaging the entirety of the visit.
Though it has only been two of the handful of visits we’ll have for the rest of the semester, it has been a great experience to be able to meet people in the community, especially with a significant generational difference. The conversation has yet to feel forced or stale, and I eagerly await the next visit, to further talk about the books that we have planned to read.
Coming to Age 