Getting old is not like getting pregnant

How To Be Old
How To Be Old
Getting old is not like getting pregnant
/

When I was 75 it struck me that getting old is a bit like getting pregnant for the first time. They are both massive milestones. You have to deal with drastic changes to your physical body. Your life has changed forever, you can’t turn back the clock and you’ll never be the same again. At this point the analogy crashes, as I’m sure you have noticed.

cartoon-old-house-young-tree

An old house, a fertile young palm tree: no comparison!

26 thoughts on “Getting old is not like getting pregnant

  1. Oh that headline, title, is very attention grabbing and made me chuckle… Mind you, I loved being pregnant and I don’t mind being older, but hmm…

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Both good. But different.

  2. Miraz Jordan says:

    Homeopathy! Good Grief! A superb episode, Rachel.

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Miraz, thank you for listening!

  3. mpardi2013 says:

    Having never been pregnant I can speak only to being old. But I must assume pregnancy reinforces a forward looking attitude while getting old….not so much. I pass on the occasional opportunity to sit with a fortune teller by saying, What’s to tell?

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Fair enough. A trip to a fortune teller is an invitation to test possibilities.

  4. Elizabeth says:

    Will pop over for a listen.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Didn’t find it on Stitcher.

  6. Interesting. Having difficulty finding you on Spotify though.

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Apple?

    2. Rachel McAlpine says:

      My fault: Apple?

  7. I must try homeopathy. Could I get pregnant that way too?

  8. At 56, I find myself skirting around old age, as if I can avoid it for as long as I choose! This was a delight and made me smile. Bravo for combining two things I would never have considered. The unknown scares me too–

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      That’s an original approach: avoidance giving a sense of control. Of course you’re only middle aged right now, but that’s a time when old age seems to be approaching. I find knowledge beats fear, even in this case. Kia kaha!

      1. You are absolutely right, and this page is now in my bookmarks, to remind me when I lose courage!

      2. Rachel McAlpine says:

        Terrific. I’m honored, by the way.

  9. “Is this your first old age?” I started to chuckle. Then your thirst for knowledge took me back to my reading my intern husband’s OB textbook from cover to cover…and I found that knowledge was power, too. “Try homeopathy.” Chuckling again. We really aren’t quite sure how to handle this aging thing, but knowledge and good humor are helping me immensely, too. As is your delightful podcast! You have just the voice for carrying us along with you. I hope you continue!

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Martha, it’s lovely to get your take on this. I imagine your devouring all the OB facts and feeling stronger for it. I’m recalling that we were both enraged by the prospect of old age until we softened into relishing it. Are these two sides of the same coin?

  10. You could wait a while until your first extreme old age arrives, then try homeopathy; that way, you might achieve a second old age. Who knows, you may even end up with a string of them.

    Hmm… homeopathy, the key to eternal life. But will it smooth out the wrinkles?

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Haha. I will consider your suggestion with the seriousness it warrants. Thanks Jane!

      1. I Googled “homeopathy for eternal life” and found a site called The Immortality Secret which had a post called “How to Become Immortal”, It lists five an impressive FIVE methods, Homeopathy is on third the list, followed by “The fourth way you can become immortal is by reading the Ebook ‘Immortality’ ” It would appear that this is the most effective method, since it takes up an enormous amount of space. It has a
        HIDDEN SECRET – >>> 100% REVEALED
        I’m not convinced, since the advertiser failed to pepper his copy with sufficient exclamation marks. Fortunately I have no desire to live forever.
        Sometimes I’m like a dog trying to extract flavour from a tasteless bone. You’ll be glad to learn I’ve tired of the subject.

      2. Rachel McAlpine says:

        And I laughed!!! out loud!! But yes, enough!!!

What do you think?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.