Q: Are you older than your parents . . .

[Nelson Bradford]

. . . at the same age?

Many times I feel as though my parents at this age were much more active than I am these days.

And that makes me sad.

[Hans Deventer]

Let's think, I'm 54. Same age as my dad was in 1979. He was quite active then, but reported sick 3 years later, completely burned out. He did eventually start working again after he turned 65, for 2 days a week, selling caravans. Loved it and he kept that up till he died at the age of 70.

Myself, I expect to be unable to retire before that age anyway, so yes, I'll have to be pretty active up till then.

My mother has always been a stay at home mom, and in fact, still is at age 81. She recently went on a vacation for a week. Still lives in the same house she and my dad bought back in 1964, maintains it on her own, and is generally doing pretty good.

The difference with my parents is that the last of our children left home 6 years ago, while for them, that wasn't until after my dad's retirement.

[Jon Bemis]

By the time my father was 57 he had two major heart attacks. That didn't slow him down much. He kept farming until he retired at 74 following a triple heart bypass, and then lived another 11 years. So if I have some of his tenacity I could be around awhile yet.

[Dana Grant]

My dad retired at age 55.

So, I'd say I am more active than my parents were at this age.

[Dennis M. Scott]

My mother died at age 82, and dad a year later (age 84) married a widow 23 years younger than himself. They are very active, and spent their honeymoon in Africa painting university dorm rooms for one week and then on safari for another. They frequently travel from Virginia to New England, Florida, and California. Likely I will not be as active as they at their age: in fact, I'm not as active at even my age now.

[Diane Likens]

Like Dennis said -- I'm not nearly as active at my age as my mom currently is at her age. When that thought crossed my mind, I almost started chastising myself. Almost.

Then I thought about this -- when mom was my age and younger, she was a stay at home mom. She had almost no activities outside of the home. I think she's burning all that reserved energy now. When I was younger, I was working outside of the home full-time while raising my children. Plus baseball practices and games. Plus hockey practices, games and tournaments. Plus French Club activities. Plus choral group practices and recitals. Plus volunteer work with Red Cross and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

I'm tired, folks! Burned out. Exhausted. Now it's work, then home to my couch and/or lawn chair, a glass of iced tea and a really good book.

My mom can be as busy as she wants to be -- I'm parkin' it!

[Jim Franklin]

My father retired from the pastoral ministry at age 68 due to failing health, Parkinsons, then died at 73. My mother, who was his second wife, after the first one passed on in 1929 was 22 years younger when they married in 1936. She lived until she was 87 and had been in a nursing home about 3 years by then. I have slowed down now at nearly 75 but plan on going on our Men's Fellowship campout with my two sons June 22-24 and intend to do some fishing with them.

Shall we all turn in our hymnals to that good old gospel song, "Don't get around much anymore?"

[Benjamin Burch]

I'm sorry to hear that, Nelson. Maybe you could find something that makes you feel more active? I hope so!

As a 25-year old, I think it really just depends on how you rate activities. My parents were working jobs and working on raising their second child at this point who was just a baby (ME!!!!! ), and my Dad was not yet feeling called to the ministry. He really got active after that, working two jobs.

I'm working full-time, doing an MA, and keeping a social life.... that seems rather active, I guess.