A jolly good age

They say that at 40 one is in the old age of youth and at 50 in the youth of old age. That leaves some of us left out in a limbo. At 46, whe...

They say that at 40 one is in the old age of youth and at 50 in the youth of old age. That leaves some of us left out in a limbo. At 46, where do I stand?

I would like to believe that over the years I have collected wisdom by simply being around, although in the process I have added considerably to my middle, and aches and pains crop up every now and then. I can no longer become an accomplished pianist. Nor can I excel in calisthenics. Or for that matter, I will not be able to touch the floor without bending my knees. Endeavours at fitness like the occasional jog in the park, leave me gasping for air. Invariably some youngsters in the neighbourhood overtake me and I realise how a groaning stationwagon must feel when being passed up by newer, sleeker models.

If at first glance my case appears hopeless, a closer look will reveal that my station in life is not without its bright spots. At home with two teen-agers, whoever holds the remote is in control of the situation. I thus have the edge. It also helps my cause that my wife has decreed that our children should watch the TV only at stipulated times. Mercifully she has not put me under this stiff code of conduct for she believes that the idiot box corrupts young minds only, thank heavens. When the TV-models show off their luxuriant hair and exhort me to use such and such a shampoo, I feel a pang for the state of my hair, but a moment of sober reflection soothes me. It would all have been the same. I would only have lost a fortune had I fallen for the advertisements in my youth.

My son is an ardent cricket fan. I affirm that I was no less an enthusiast at his age and wax eloquent on the excitement generated by cricket commentary on AIR and add that I remember Greg Chappell as a player for the Kangaroos. Cricket sans the glamour of colour TV and the hype? He appears sceptical. But I am convinced that having seen cricket in its pristine form and its modern versions as well, I have had the best of both worlds.

The recent papal election was a mega media event. The television channels kept banging it in that for many, John Paul II was the only Pope they had ever known. For sure, I remember all the details of the Polish prelate8217;s installation and that was without any aid of the idiot box.

As if all these bonuses are not enough, insurance agents, a tribe whom all of you would like to keep at an arm8217;s length, shy away from me. They know where to peddle their wares and look for the more gullible. Certainly, middle age has its plus points!