Thursday 12 April 2007

Pic of the day: Since I wouldn't just up and photograph other people even if I had a camera on me, instead please enjoy this picture of an elderly agricultural sim.

Short: Old landlord

I took a walk in the lunch break and who did I meet if not my previous landlord & lady! I think I saw them in the city once or twice in the 21 years I rented from them, and already I meet them a year later. They seem if anything in better health, despite their advanced age (they must be closing on 80). She has got a synthetic knee of metal and plastic, and he a pacemaker. They are turning into cyborgs!! He is still almost deaf, though. But if they live long enough, I am sure that can be repaired eventually, despite the disease that has destroyed his inner ear. Neural chips are right around the corner, aren't they? Although they've been right around that corner for quite a few years now. I am sure if we grow old, there will be many more spare parts, although most people will probably prefer using their own stem cells to replace worn-out parts.

Of course, I don't know if I shall live to grow old. I feel generally that it beats the alternative. But these two elderly people have lived through so many amazing changes. They probably remember World War 2, although they were only children back then. This April (9th) it was 67 years since the German invasion of Norway. That's the theoretical age of retirement here in Norway, so people who was born that year can retire no matter what job they have. Most retire earlier, with a big percentage starting at 62, despite the protests of the various governments that it was only meant for worn-out industry workers. So anyway, I guess the war is retiring. My former landlord probably retired ten years ago, I don't remember exactly, could even be a little more. So he certainly remembers the occupation in vivid detail. And now they've moved into an apartment that came pre-wired for broadband.

It is a long life full of change they have lived. And disturbingly, I have lived through most of it as well. We are only a generation apart - they are about the same age as my mother was.