The Name of the Game

Some time back, I wrote about what to call “old people.” [1/9/06 – From 60 to 80] Well…what to call people who have reached the age that used to be called “old,” but are now resisting that label. I threw out some ideas. That posting generated more e-mails and responses than any other I have written. (Is there a message there?)

So it was nice to have some consensual validation when I opened the Sunday paper and found an article in Parade Magazine on the very same topic. The “Post-60 Stage of Life.”

Here are some ideas:
Donald Trump: The Best-Yet Stage
Naomi Judd: The Rockin’ the World Generation
Quincy Jones: The Silver Foxes
Jenna Elfman: The Values-Keepers
Henry Winkler: The Grateful Live (my own personal favorite!)
Judge Judy: The Better-Than-Evers

Some other ideas for use instead of “senior citizens” are:
Seasoned citizens
OPALS (Older Persons with Active Life Styles)
Melders
EngAgers
Geri-Actives
SOCS (Septuagenarian to Octogenarian Citizens
The Forgotten
OWLS (Older, Wiser Souls)

Ages and Stages:
Sage Age
XYZ Group
Grand Years
Age of Dignity
Giving State
The Third Half
Bonus Years
P.S. Stage (Post Sixty Stage)
The Re-Generation

This is obviously a topic to which many people have given consideration. However, none of the above really appeals to me. After all that speculation, I think I am going back to “old” as it is short, concise, to the point, descriptive and open to personal subjective interpretation which gives it expanded meaning. You can’t go wrong with that.

P.S. Please...no more suggestions of what to call grandparents.