Write a letter to your 100-year-old self.

Wow! You fellow bloggers here on WP answering the DP. What an inspiration you are. The letters you have written to yourself are magnificent.

When I read what we had been asked to write about this morning I really wasn’t sure how to approach the subject, at all. Let’s face it, ageing sucks. Well, in my humble opinion and from what I can ascertain, it’s not going to be a bed of roses and that’s for sure.

Already I get annoying aches and pains that come and go on whim. Weird sensations and moods with a mind of their own. Making it impossible to know if the next day will be fabulous or not. What a stupid thing to say. None of us know if even today is going to pan out ok.

The uncertainty of when sleepiness or a want for activity will arise. Night or day, it’s like being taken over by an alien. And don’t start me on how ageing affects your face! Who is that person in the mirror? I was never a natural beauty, or an unatural beauty, come to that. But I could ‘scrub up’ quite nicely, enjoying putting outfits together and fixing my make up. But those were the days when make up was a thing. I’ve lived through some exciting fashion eras with the cosmetic enhancements to match.

So, how is my 100 year old self with hopefully a shred of vanity ( as not to wear food stained clothes and hair a mess, to have whiskers a go go?) Going to cope. What do I say to you? I hope you are okay, that nothing hurts and you don’t feel ill or lonely. I hope you are not yearning for the end That you have company when you want it and help when you need it. I would want you to have a little dog at your side, but I know you would constantly worry what would happen to it should you slip away.

At the present time AI is pushing through. I know you will be interested in seeing where it all goes. I know for a fact you would like to see World Peace in your lifetime, but we don’t think that will happen, do we? Too much money to be made from it.

You are naturally observant so maybe you are still looking at and feeling the world around you and writing about it. Yes, the picture I have in my head is you sitting at a desk with your chosen device, putting pen to paper. Happy, healthy and content. Your reward.

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Warning, written by Jenny Joseph in 1961

When I am on old woman I shall wear purple

With a red hat, which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.

I shall sit on the pavement when I am tired

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

And run my stick along the public railings

And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go in my slippers in the rain

And pick flowers in other people’s gardens

And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

And eat three pounds of sausages at a go

Or only bread and pickle for a week

And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

And pay our rent and not swear in the street

And set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not shocked or surprised

When suddenly I am old and start to wear purple………