new thread
I have a very serious question ("ahemmmm")...
When does a guy officially become a, "geezer?" I turned 55 this last summer, so I feel I've now earned the title; but, then there are those who will say that I have to wait until I turn 60, or even 65...
Does it count that I usually annually attend a dance event in San Francisco called, "The Geezer's Ball?" (I don't remember the event happening last year, for some reason; but, it used to occur every June as an AIDS benefit dance.) It's supposed to be for those over 40 (which I am WELL qualified for - lol); but, every year I've attended, I've also seen a few imposters pretending to be old enough to be there, --- as if being in one's 30s or even 20s could even remotely pass for "geezer" (LOL)!!
Those folks into political corectness might ob ject to the word geezer (in San Francisco, for example, --- which is a city known for over-kill in political correctness --- there was a big outcry over the name, "Geezer's Ball" when it first happened... which is exactly why I couldn't wait to go there with my dance buddies)! But, to me, I am PROUD to be a geezer, because I've EARNED IT!!!
I'm taking a poll: am I old enough to be an official geezer, or NOT?? I'm especially interested in hearing what the young'uns here have to say about it (not to also mention what my fellow geezers-in-crime think)...
Please please PLEASE don't tell me I have to wait another 10 years. I feel geezerhood is AT LEAST, "a state of mind", --- and the fact that I can't remember whether or not I've ever shared this pic of me from 5 years ago is PROOF of my slipping mind...
Thanks in advance to those who decide to reply to me with an answer to this most important question!
- Ken in San Francisco
("ahemmmm")...
You are an official Geezer when you don't care what other people (young pups !) think of you or your opinions...
Having read your posts over the years, I believe you have been living in Geezzerville for quite some time !!
"...I am PROUD to be a geezer, because I've EARNED IT!!!..."
I fully agree !
You Geezzy-Buddy
Walter
Hi Ken...gosh, when does one become a "geezer"!? I celebrated my 74th birthday yesterday and, to date, I think, I have never been referred to as a "geezer"! Late this summer, while in a coffee shop, I was called an "old hippie" by a waitress talking to another waitress just out of earshot...I do wear hearing aids so was able to hear her "under the breath" comment. So, do I feel old...sometimes...do I think of myself as old...never! My friends tell me I have a "young attitude"...so that's good enough for me...and as for long hair on a old guy...why not? Hey, we're all in this together...celebrate!
Hi Ken,
It is always a pleasure to see you pop in to the hyperboard, even if for only a brief glimpse of you once in a while, since you are one of the most liked members here, with a fabulous sense of humour.
As for being a "geezer", I also turned 55 this summer, and started calling myself a "geezer" quite a bit before that time! However, if I somehow slip the word "old" before the word "geezer" when describing myself, I get "scolded" and teased mercilessly!
What a great mane you are blessed with, and hopefully, I can achieve one like yours some day. (I posted an update a bit farther down the board,by the way.)
Take care, and here's to many more happy years of "geezerhood"!
David
Oh wow...that's the best picture of you YET, Ken! What gorgeous hair you have! Your partner must think it's heaven on earth!
A wonderful picture Ken and you don't to say may words. I have to agree with the others that's the best picture of seem of your hair and in such delightful condition and the colours. Bravo Bravo.
Still I've got a wonderful "geezer" to follow as I crank up the years. Do I qualify to be a "geezer" now :-)
Cheers,
John.B
PS...I've still not have that mid-life crisis yet rofl!
Well, since you've done most of the rebellious stuff, would your mid-life crisis constitute a pipe and slippers...?
;)
Hi Ken. If you wish to be a "geezer", I say go for it.
Regardless
I produced a charity luncheon this weekend. The guest of honor just turned 98. He signed two book deals last week. There is no 'old'.
GEEZER! YOU? NO WAY KEN!!!!!!!!! Why, you don't even look a day past 45.............and I am hardly trying to butter and baste you with that one. Really, you don't look your age at all!
To be a Geezer I almost think is what one thinks in their mind that it is time to be. That being the case, you have a goodly 90 years left to even give it a 2nd thought. And, this statement comes from one much older than you........the original long haired living fossile! And I have never enjoyed life more at the age I am...........it's a blast!
So, "Ken the younger," no worries for you. LIVE IT UP!!!!!!!
Justin~
I feel like being a geezer, like you mentioned, is a state of mind. I may not look like one yet, but I often physically feel like one. My mental state isn't much better. You think I'm kidding, right? You on the other hand may actually have to wait a few years. Whether you did or did not post the picture doesn't matter really. I can't even remember when I posted last on the board. I think I forgot to make posts for a few days. As far as that goes, what is old anyway? Old geezer: what does it mean to "geeze" for that matter; is the opposite of geezing (not) geezing, or something else? It might be a compound of "guffaw" plus "wheeze." Like "motel" is from "motor" plus "hotel." I don't usually wheeze unless I have allergies and sinus, which I just happen to have today, lucky me (!), but that makes me just a junior wheezer for now. As for you, well, your no geezer, unless you guffaw when you wheeze.
I agree that "geezer" is when you forget everything and start to really feel old. As long as you still feel youthful you'll never be a geezer.
Hmm, well from my understanding, "geezer" has a negative connotation. Typically referring to an old guy who is out of touch with reality, drives way too slow, and is generally upset at the world (especially young people and loud music).
That's my subjective definition of a "geezer". So when I add up your posts in my mind, you are extremely far away from being a geezer, because you are happy, fun loving, cheerful, positive, supportive of young people, and seem to like music ;)
However, if you define geezer as something else, something positive, please share ^_^
~Rome
Personally I think of "geezer" as the kind of guy who yells at kids to get off of his lawn, and wears his pants too high, which doesn't seem like you at all.
But hey, it sounds like you're owning the term, so I say go for it.
Chris
As a "young'un" (my 15th birthday is tomorrow), i say you should be proud to be a geezer! not many people can claim to be a true geezer! Not to mention there are some really awesome geezers (see link)!
-Syclonus
Don't worry about it. I just turned 65 in September. I still enjoy doing swim workouts, and bicycle riding. Being a senior citizen has its perks, e.g., Medicare eligibility, senior lunch programs (decent lunches for two bucks), and senior coffee at McDonald's (be sure to ask for it--it isn't advertised or listed on the menu boards). And the nice thing about it is that you can keep on being a longhair without anyone telling you to get a haircut!
Hi Ken
Hey that pic may be old but you sure are not!!As far as I'm concerned I thought you had to be 100 before being known as a Geezer.LOL.Being old is just in your head anyway as I don't feel a day over 29:)Like others here I think 29 is the age of choice so that's why I stopped the clock there.Now doesn't that make perfect sense??I think Geezerhood is reserved for politicians in Washington as they seem to age in dog years:}Have a wonderful day my friend.
Mark
Ken, I haven't read any of the other replies yet. Look for other comments (if any) with them.
At 52, I'm not too far behind you. The subject came up recently on another forum I haunt, which has a separate 50+ sub-forum. The general consensus was that geezer is a state of mind--for example, those old farts who yell, "Get offa my lawn!"
It, and decrepitude, seem to be decisions that people make. It's as if they're following a particular scr ipt on how to be old.
There seems to have been a huge shift between old folks of our parents' age and those around our age. Now that I think about it, there's a big difference in attitude between those who are in their 60s now and those of us in our 50s.
My dad, age 73, has been sitting around waiting to die for almost 20 years now. IMHO, most of his problems are due to the fact that he's sitting around. But that's what he learned from his dad.
I guess I'm saying there has to be a buy-in of some sort for people to start acting like their grandparents. Most people I hang with, haven't made that buy-in. (Which is probably why I hang with them.)
I'm of the feeling that 50 is the new 30. Especially since I started bicycling, (4,800 miles so far this year!) I haven't felt this good since at least somewhere in my 20s. In many important ways, I'm in better health now than I was back when I took it for granted in my 20s and 30s.
Maybe that's why my head hasn't calcified either.
I strongly recommend the book, "Younger Next Year: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy—Until You're 80 and Beyond" by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge M.D. Check it out at your library! They put it a lot better than I ever could.
Meanwhile, I'm not above playing the age card when it suits me--
-- I reserve the right to refer to anyone half my age or less as a kid. (As in, "Kids these days...")
-- Although I don't always agree with their politics, I joined AARP. I'll take those discounts with no argument. ;) And since our "community" will have nothing to do with us old trolls, it's nice to have some support somewhere.
-- I won't enter any bicycle race where the Masters class starts at less than 50.
And I have an equally serious answer as you would expect of me. I am 74, should be in bed, but having some difficulty relaxing because I am a precinct "Chief Election Judge," in NC, where I believe we have an entirely honest voting system. I have to get up at 5:00 am to open the polls at 6:30 AM, close the polls at 7:30 PM, with my 10 assistants of both parties, and spend another hour certifying the process at my precinct before I deliver our results to the county Board of Election.
As an official I am non-partisan. As a ctizen, I will be disappointed if we do not delivere NC for Obama, and equally important sent Mrs. Dole to Kansas where she belongs, having accused Presbyterian Elder and sunday school teacher Kay Hagan of atheism. Kay is suing LIDDY for defamation of character.
What is wrong with a country when atheism is an insult rather than a description?"
Most important, I am concerned that the bigots will get prop 8 through in Californian. What a strange situation in our glorious land of the free and home of the brave if people were to vote to restrict the civil rights of others? ?
So my dear friend Ken:
Aspire not to be a geezer. In anthropological terms, the siberian concept of Shaman has been taken generically for leader of the community, the one who sees beyond what the ordinary person is able to see.
Every culture has this concept. In ancient judiaism it was sometimes called "nazarite." In other context "prophet." This did not mean predictor of the future, but rather one who could read the signs of the times, and vote for the person who wanted to pay the bills rather than borrow more money from China for adventurism, while giving those with golden parachutes fabourable tax status. One who recognized that stealing from the poor for the advantage of the rich, while accusing the poor of being the aggressor, is not "class warfare."
However, Kwn, in our Celtic [Britanic] culture, I think the proper word for you is not "geezer," though wear it with pride if you wish.
Though it may seem a bit more pretentious, I think the proper term for you is "Wizzard," as in the much malighed Merlyn, who raised a king who knoew that right makes might and might does not make right.
So because of your frequent, sane, affirmative encouragement of us nazzarites and wizzards, I delcare you to be a Wizzard Extraordinaire, and Geezer if you like -- as another has said, it is not a matter of age but of understanding.
Caledonian
Geezerdom is a state of mind and behavior. Feel free to self-identify, if that is what makes you happy! ;)
from m-w.com: a queer, odd, or eccentric person —used especially of elderly men
Just wanted to say, very cool photo there Ken.
Take care buddy!
Neil
Thats some rad hair man! Never thought long gray hair looked good until i saw yours.