(Turned in late via SASS accommodations)
This time around, I looked at our visit to the center with significantly less anxiety. Our first visit had set a lot of my worries to rest, and I was incredibly excited to give it another try. That being said, I was a little nervous about the discussion. I hadn’t connected with The Dark Flood Rises in the same way as I had with They May Not Mean To, But They Do and I was worried that might affect my ability to contribute to the discussion, or my enjoyment of the day. I was pleasantly surprised on both counts. The discussion was compelling, everyone at the table had unique insights, and I enjoyed myself quite a bit.
I was surprised by some of the turns our conversation took. The book, rather than dominating the discussion as it had with They May Not Mean To, But They Do worked instead as a framework for our conversation, giving us a jumping-off point that led to some genuinely fascinating observations about aging, healthcare, capitalism, and American culture.
While we were discussing Fran and Josephine, one of my senior partners brought up an interesting point regarding how, while other cultures value the elderly for their experience and wisdom, American culture seems more interested in hiding them away or controlling them, viewing them as an inconvenience rather than an asset. This sparked a very interesting conversation about America’s individualistic, ‘every man for himself’ culture that I found incredibly eye-opening when taken in the context of the work we’ve been doing. How much of American ageism comes from the idea that a person’s worth is based on how much they can produce or profit? How has our collective obsession with self-reliance and independence hurt and isolated us, especially those who are most marginalized or vulnerable? Why do we fear the idea of needing others to survive, and so often resent being needed?
This, of course, led to a really interesting conversation about the capitalist obsession with productivity, profit, and expedience. I was honestly a little surprised that the seniors at our table seemed just as frustrated and disillusioned with the current state of things as I was. This also led to a conversation about wealth, privilege, and the importance of community that I really enjoyed.
Along with our wonderful discussion on the book, the seniors were kind enough to share very interesting bits of their lives, past and present. One of them even showed us a creative writing piece she was working on about her time in the Peace Corps and told us stories of her time abroad. Getting to know these women on a personal level has been one of my favorite parts of this class. I be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed we only have one senior center visit left.
Coming to Age 