Silver Surfers
Had I not seen the trailers for last nights Channel 4 documentary ‘Silver Surfers’ I would have thought it was about the trend of more and more ‘seniors’ using the Internet.
But it was about three people in their 70’s looking for relationships through, what I presume, were dating Agencies.
In typical TV style, two of them, Shirley and Bernie, were of somewhat extreme character and out for a good time. Whereas Pat was maybe the most openly realistic and did not hide so much the fact that she was after a relationship of warmth and ‘autumnal’ feel.
The programme made you laugh and cry at the same time in bringing out both the humour that not all people over 70 are simply waiting for the final day doing nothing, but many are genuinely lonely and just want a happier life.
Seniors are humans after all, just older than the rest. Why should they conform to stereotype images? Their needs are as great as ours.
Classic remark of the documentary came from, twice a month Botox, Shirley who laughed when asked if she was looking for a long term relationship “Long term at my age”!!
Bernie in his late 70’s was seen doing his daily work out at the Gym, dancing and driving around in his Rolls Royce and hanging onto a dream, which came to nothing, of a date with a 41 year old he had requested a meet up with on the Net. He had everything in a material way, an ex-Market Trader who had the gift of the gab and made money in the process.
Pat however surprised us all by flying to Spain to spend time with an American chap who purported to be 64. As his nose grew longer we saw tham not really getting on and a man who maybe had a secret to hide.
All Doris wants is a friend, someone to be with, someone to share with and someone to round things off with.
So, sadness and joy alike.
At 58 (59 on Thursday), I switched off with many thoughts going through my mind. If I’m lucky enough to still be around when I’m mid 70’s, what will I be like and how would I view the programme then?
They showed Pat talking about her plans to some fellow seniors who seemed to find the whole thing quite a joke and as if to say “At your age, oh dear”.
It did tell me that money isn’t everything. All three, underneath, had basically the same needs. All three were quite different in their financial standings. Money can buy many things, but it can’t buy you TRUE happiness.
They’ve raised kids, they’ve worked hard most of them, they’ve seen lifes ups and downs. They have years of experiences to pass onto others. It’s the finding ‘others’ to pass it on to, that’s half the problem, no one to talk to.
They are the same as anyone else, just a few more wrinkles with a few more aches and pains. We must cast off the ‘Grumpy Old Man’ and ‘Grumpy old woman’ stereotyping, there are far more much younger people who are much better at it that than they are!!
Someone did pose a question to me the other day – What do you call a Silver Surfer when he has no hait at all, there’s no silver there?
I have to say for once in my life, I was a bit stuck for words. Guess they could buy a wig, I don’t know, I just take the mickey.
