NEVER TOO OLD

I held my ear, "Oh, no!"
"What happened?" asked Shelly, (without alarm... she was used to my exclamations.)
"My earring is gone, must have fallen off," I said.
"Again?" said Shelley and the others at our lunch table laughed. "I told you" she said," we
 all told you, didn't we? You need to get your ears pierced."
 I nodded, "You did tell me...my daughter Debbie has also told me..."
"So" asked Laurie, "What will Debbie say now, another earring lost."
"She won't know, I'm not going to tell her this time."
More laughter, "Hah! We have daughters too," said one.
"Really," urged Shelley, "just do it! It only hurts for a second."
"Uh, uh, I'm too old to do it now" I said.
" You're never too old! 'Age is Just a Number'."
That well worn cliche, "Tell it to my arthritic knee" I thought. "I guess I think we should look AND act our age...for instance, we should all be wearing our hair shortish," I deliberately avoided
looking at Helen who had long, flowing black hair."
But Shelley knew who I was referring to, " I have to warn you" she clapped her hands, "I'm letting my hair grow AND I'm going blond ".
Old ladies and long, blond flowing hair...uh uh. "Oh,then you'll look like all the girls in the Miss America contest? Or...maybe like Betty Grable, remember her?"
"Sure, and why not? So who do you want to look like?"
"I shrugged, "Maybe Ingrid Bergman...mature...dignified... y'know, look and act my age."
"AGE. 'You're As Old As You Feel', "said  Paula.
 Mmmm, " I said, "I sometimes feel like 100."
 "200!" said another.
 "I like to remember the times I went roller skating,.. and ice skating," called out a voice.
"Played tennis." said another.
"And volley ball. Bowling."
"And bicycle riding, that was the best of all! But I can't do it anymore."
"Some Seniors still are active" said  Marsha, "like Harriette Thompson won a marathon race at 92. So it can be done."
" 'Where There's a Will There's a Way,' "offered Rose and I thought, Yep, today is our day for cliches."
"Tell that to my aching back" said Paula.
Rosie put her hand up," Okay, okay, so there are some things we can't do anymore, but there are things we can do, at any age."
"Such as...?"
And Rosie, true to her form, who broke into song at any moment, sang her answer; " 'Falling in Love is wonderful,   wonderful, so they say.' So are any of  you in love?"
Teri raised her hand.We all knew about her, she and Don met at our Senior Living Home and they connected right away.
"Are you getting married?" I asked her.
She shook her head, " Hmm, maybe, not sure about it. Maybe we're too old..."
"Oh, did you hear about the British couple last year, he was 103 and she 91,and they did!"
"I would never" said Paula. "A boyfriend is one thing, another husband...no way."
Again, applause and laughter broke out, "I agree" said Paula, "And no one could ever live up to my Max. I wouldn't even try."
That prompted Rosie again, "Unforgettable," she sang. "That's what you are..And forever more, that's how you'll stay".
"But having a boyfriend would be nice..."said Fran. "Giving love, getting love...."
"Sounds lovely, doesn't it? And we're never too old for it.." said Shelley, as we all purred in agreement.
                                             THE END