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Columnist Christina Pohl
Photo:
Roman Pawlowski / DER SPIEGEL
Yesterday I finished high school, today I have a back.
This is what aging feels like sometimes.
It is as if I hadn't gone through the maturation process or somehow planned it out.
But maybe I just skilfully suppressed what can now definitely no longer be denied: Suddenly the baby boomers are abused as boomers on the Internet.
We are conservative and stubborn, show disparaging behavior and have something "instructive".
So so.
My year is one of them.
I think it was a good year, but why did it go so quickly?
How did I get into an age group that young people make fun of on the internet?
When it comes to sailing, there is a difference between the "true" and the "apparent" wind.
Depending on where you are, the wind is different.
The real wind is the one you feel on land, in a fixed place.
If you go out to sea, this true wind mixes with the wind of a boat and suddenly it is the "apparent wind".
You can also imitate this on land on a bicycle.
That works pretty well.
I tried it out: If you drive in its direction about as fast as the wind is blowing, you "apparently" barely feel the wind.
Although the tops of the trees sway in it.
It virtually cancels itself.
Something like that, I suppose I suppressed aging.
I raced with the Wind Of Change so fast that I didn't notice how time passed next to me.
Benjamin Button-wise, I must have subconsciously hoped that the process might even be reversed, contrary to all natural laws.
If only you're faster than time.
For decades I went to concerts with broken jeans.
Next to me, people got older and started wearing functional clothing.
Repressed.
I still wonder when I'm seen in public.
Do i look so old
Yes, but I successfully ignored that too.
I recently saw my family doctor.
In total amazement that I was sick, I said, "I was never really sick."
The doctor looked at me pityingly and said: "It doesn't always have to stay that way."
Pushed aside.
Until now.
Now I have to stop for a moment and look the real wind in the eye.
Ouch, that hurts, it blows with hurricane force!
I close my eyes.
Maybe I don't want that after all.
I just do as the therapists suggest.
For example, if you want to separate your life partner, you should make a list of advantages and disadvantages.
Like: He has beautiful upper arm muscles, but he farts very loudly.
Or: He's not faking his orgasm, but he still thinks that mom is washing his socks.
So I imagine that old age is my life partner.
It's no use, I guess that's the way it is.
I can't part with him, but I can suppress the fact that he (hereinafter referred to as "old man!") Is there.
I can close my eyes or face the new reality, dude!
Maybe that keeps the mind young too?
Here are my lists.
Benefits of saying "dude!" acknowledges
No surprises at the family doctor
If it hurts, you know where it's coming from
One can enjoy the rest of life
You can also vote for others
Sometimes you have contact with young people at concerts
Frank Plasberg, Sandra Maischberger and Markus Lanz are also baby boomers
With over 50 you can write something stupid on the Internet
Cons of "old age!" acknowledges
It's getting ugly
When it hurts, you look for causes that you can't find
You know that this bang is finally over
People are still going through with it
Suddenly you can see that the young people look at you so strangely at concerts
Frank Plasberg, Sandra Maischberger and Markus Lanz are also boomers
You have to be told by Rezo: "People over 50 write something stupid on the Internet"
Lol, Rezo!
I still take part in the public discourse!
Sometimes I just talk to myself. "Okay, boomer, it's time," I hear myself say.
Self-talk.
As I have just read again, that should really do you good.
So I made a dialogue with myself that in the future I would say "old age!"
no matter how ugly he got.
I can't remember having married him or otherwise officially declaring that I belonged to me.
"Age!"
came to me like a mangy dog that looks funny but smells a bit.
But he will stay with me until the end of his life, we promised ourselves that.
But he's a guy, I know that for sure.
Women have an average life expectancy of 83, men only 78. From a purely statistical point of view, that's five years in which I can really fool myself.
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