Don't Ask a Lady Her Age!

Posted Feb 2, 02:25 AM by Kay Camenisch

My mother has Alzheimer’s. Her memory has vanished and she no longer recognizes her family. However, she can still think and reason. If given time to process what is said, she usually responds—and is sometimes quite astute.

We visited for Daddy’s birthday several years ago and I told her that he was celebrating his eighty-ninth birthday. She didn’t respond, so I added, “That’s almost ninety years old.”

She said, “Ninety years old! Why, that’s old!”

Since she was several months older than him, I asked, “Mother, how old are you?”

After a short pause, she responded, “Why! You don’t ask a lady her age!”

I guess if you don’t ask a lady her age, you don’t tell her how old she is either. Some things are nice to not remember. They say that what you don’t know can’t hurt you so maybe it’s just as well. You reckon that not remembering made her feel younger?

I just had a birthday and my husband is joyfully celebrating! He can now ask for a senior citizens discount when we go out to eat! I never complain about getting a discount, but I’m not sure about this custom of gleefully sharing how old you are every time you dine out. What happened to the custom of ladies not telling their age?

No wonder I feel so old!