Plain Talk

By Mursi Saad El-Din

---

I am treasuring a copy of The Observer Review of 30 October, 2005. It carries an article by Geraldine Bedell, under the headline "The third-agers" about what the writer calls "an inspiring group of over-seventies" for whom "retirement is a dirty word". Since I belong to this category of human beings, I am keeping the issue as a testimony of what old-agers aspire to.

The writer gives us portraits of seven old-agers who, in spite of their advanced years, are carrying on with their specialised profession or field. And it does not seem a coincidence, at least to me, that the seven models are working in the field of arts and culture. They include a jazz musician, a ceramicist, an actress, a choreographer, a literary critic, an academic and a model.

The article provides some interesting facts on the subject of old age. For instance, by 2020 more than half of the British adults will be over 50, and they will own 80 per cent of the nation's wealth. "If we define the old as they have been defined throughout history, as those aged between 50 and 100 plus," writes Bedell, "they cover two or three generations and include many of the most eminent, active and affluent people in the country."

Reflections on old age are by no means a new phenomenon. Cicero said, "Old age will only be respected if it fights for itself, maintains its rights, avoids dependence on anyone and asserts control over its own to its last breath." The writer of the article finds that people who do creative jobs tend to go on doing them for as long as possible because "the creativity is mainly what makes them feel human". The article cites the opinion on old age held by the seven people interviewed.

The jazz musician, aged 79, says, "My values are the same as they always were. I was in love with jazz and in love with surrealism. There are no surrealists now, but I remain faithful to the spirit of surrealism." The 80-year-old ceramic artist offers that "when I get up in the morning, I want to have something that didn't exist by the evening... I create for a quiet conscience."

The 70-year-old actress says she has no plans to give up work and that she has been in three films in the last year. "As long as you can remember the lines," she comments, "there is no reason to stop." She also adds, perceptively, "I'd love to be 30 with the knowledge I have at 70. I feel more creative than I did when I was younger."

Then we come to the 79- year-old choreographer who created the musical Cats. She concurs that creativity keeps one young. But best of all is the 97- year-old model who, at 96, became the face of the international Dove face cream campaign. "I should be grateful people think a 97-year-old great grandmother could be a model," she remarks.

The 86-year-old professor of philosophy at the University of Newcastle, who published her first book at the age 56, believes the "chief benefit of getting older is no longer worrying that you will make a fool of yourself -- I don't feel proud of my work, but I feel some satisfaction."

The last member of the group is Sir Frank Kemrode. I mention his name because all those who specialise in English literature must have read his books. He has been professor at University College, London, Cambridge, Columbia, Harvard and Yale, and is also known as a literary critic for the London Review of Books. At 85, he says that he can't think what to do all day if he didn't write. But, he goes on to say, "I'd like to write one more good book, but I don't suppose it will happen." This breath- taking journey in the world of "third-agers" only confirms my faith and hope.