@yotta I have been clearing out my book shelves and found an old school note book of S.'s! This is what she wrote aged 15 about getting old - (and she never did get old, but did get wise, was wise even when young):
"I think the mortal fear of getting old arises from convention and from civilisation and from society. Oldness can be expressed as 'losing of power'. I mean that when you're young you're often pretty and more able to be active and this exerts an influence on people and impresses them. When you are old you become quite wrinkled and ugly and very much less active and people don't respect you too much, they cast old people off in favour of young. But other things are gained when one is old, wisdom from experience: which cannot possibly be gained when young and I think it should be the personality of a person that impresses people. Some people are impressed by the deep personality of an old (and young) person,, but most are impressed by outward appearances. The image of being old and helpless has been formulated by societies reactions and nothing else. Becoming old should not be feared, new things are gained and people should look more carefully for the good things in being old. The good things of being young are much more advertised and there is a mortal fear of getting old, needlessly, to say the least." Taurisk
