RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31332, 31 March 1967, Page 20

RANDOM REMINDER

NOW IS THE TIME

It’s comforting to know that others share our problems. This comes from a woman in a Christchurch suburb who is not, we suspect, as old as she seems to think she is. . . . “We must all know that there are cycles in life marked by distinct physical changes and that we must learn to accept regular milestones which remind us of the need to leave behind old, wellloved activities, because they have become too strenuous or need to be replaced by interests more in keeping with our limitations. “It la pleasant to pro-

gress along life’s road ordering our own patterns and assessing when to discard or take on, deluding ourselves that no-one else notices what Father Time is doing to us. A loyal family simply does not see the white hairs we remove, or the wrinkles which scream at us from the mirror. They put more blame on the light than cricketers. “So the awakening Is often horrid. Having been a confirmed strap-hanger in buses all our days, and having taken some pride in our ability to juggle armfuls of shopping while hanging on, and also being

secretly delighted at the gracious acceptance of our seat by older members of our sex, it wasn't comforting to hear the Insistent voice of the 10-year-old boy telling us to ‘Sit down, mum.’

"Down we sat, red with embarrassment, all too aware that we had not accepted our new role graciously, or had time to practise the smile. Now we find a seat, and keep it, meekly.” Yes, too bad for her. She doesn’t realise that before long, if we happen to be on the same bus, she’ll still be giving up her seat—to us.