Yes, it’s my birthday today and, unlike previous years, I am unabashedly
owning my advanced age, because the World Health Organization has given me a
reprieve.
Three years ago, I crossed the line from Middle-Age to Old, and I wasn’t
very happy about that, but the WHO recently had a re-think and came up with a
new Young/Middle-Aged/Old labeling paradigm, which turns me into a young man
again.
As it stands now, if you subscribe to the WHO’s new guidelines—and you’d
be daft not to—you are considered Young until you reach Middle-Age, which doesn’t
kick in until you are 66.
As a bonus, Middle-Age has been extended to 79, so you’re not considered
Old until you get to 80, which gives me some welcome breathing space.
And that’s about as nice a birthday present as anyone can get.
With luck, by the time I reach 79, the WHO will have extended Middle-Age
to 90.
 |
| Me, in 1955, still very much in the Young category |
 |
| Me, now. Actually, this was last week, when I was still OLD -- that explains the grimace. Now that I'm a young man again, I'll have to rethink the cardigan. |
Happy Birthday! And interesting article... good to know that I've suddenly gone from old to middle aged at 72. And even more fascinating is to be considered *young* until you hit that monumental 65!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your promotion, or demotion ;)
DeleteHow funny that 79 is now considered middle age, which is sheer nonsense. Well, now I am in that 66 to 79 group so am middle age. Does that mean they expect a 70 year old to live to be 140? LOL
ReplyDeleteWe live in hope...
Delete