Aging

It's dawned on me that I am suffering from a case of Aging-phobia.

I encountered 4 different elderlies, in 4 different circumstances in a matter of 2 hours, after then I ponder about my own future in 50 years time.

My first encounter was in a bus. A rickety old man boarded the bus with a guy who seems to be his son. No one offered their seat to this poor man who can only walk small steps. I stepped aside and offered him to sit on the meticulously hidden handicap folding chair.

Second encounter was at the bus stop where I got off. Similar story, but this time it's an old lady trying to get off the bus without tripping or falling. The young'uns behind her not only didn't help her, but trying to squeeze past this struggling woman. Some even grumbled.

Third encounter, an old lady being carried on a man's back boarding a taxi in Sheung Wan. She was clearly unwell, with a yellow/greyish cast on her face, and her feet had a huge wound bound with bandages. She was not wearing any shoes.

Fourth encounter, on my way back home, I saw a frail old lady on a wheelchair surrounded by loud relatives. They were leaving my apartment building discussing how to reach their next destination. The old lady was sitting quietly among the blabbering nonsense, perhaps wondering when they were going to shut up.

I am starting to worry about myself. Knowing aging is inevitable, it scares me even more to know that I just might turn up like them. The feeling of dependance will be overwhelming. Adding to that, the attitude of the people around is making it even less tolerable.

Better gulp down some milk now. No fun walking around with fragile bones in 50 years.