Show At 61 assumed that any male past footbal-carryin- !IP age had Me to Eve for g 11 : t -t The recent celebratiou of his 60th birthday prompted author and blaYwright iyLIUi MIIME ONG AGO— though not as long ago as I once thought— I decided that to reassess "old age" began at 60 "Old age" his attitudes about was g- ing it meant simply that life LiiI for all practical purposes was over and done Those who had attained it could look forward to nothing but sol- :111 " 7To 'VI l'y ( 4:acoc"" vftitopro warm mush and itary thumb-twiddlithe folds of the shroud This harsh edict was handed down when I was a cocksure 20 and seemingly light years away from its personal consequences This year I turned 60 an accomplishment causing many reassescments It is much clearer than formerly that should not be taken off and shot but should be revered heeded and even cheered for having made it this far in one piece It is likewise clearer that are vigorous entries in life's race they need not worry about "old age" until they are oh say at least 75 Perhaps 80 I will advise you of the new rule in due course One of the benefits of aging is being able to laugh at our earlier misconceptions I blush now to recall the callow youth who sneered at the big lie inherent in the title of a best-sellibook of the period Life Begins at Forty and who tossed aside paperback novels should their heroes have attained the decrepities of 30 because obviously such old gaffers were beyond acts of derring-d- o or the love of beautiful women Physical perfection was required: the satiny flawlessness of Tyrone Power combined with the dashing swashbuckle of Errol Flynn My heroes were not yet permitted thin hair reading glasses marriage boring ts introspections or cowardly us in soft on Age begins sneaking up quiet shoes long before we are aware of its shadow Even when it begins rattling our door we are reluctant to bid it come in We call it "maturity" so long as the mirror or our medical charts permit the American culture teaching that youth is all and that youth must be served When was the last time you saw a television grandmother or even a matron perched on the hood of a new automobile or old cowhands celebrating the end of the workday and the arrival of beer time? Athletic events beauty pageants talent contests soap operas: All accentuate youth and identify it with glamour No wonder that in America more than ng 1 ZI 7 kTe V"0 41 1 self-doub- off h' 7 l'Af Jo' $t 2K 000 continued BY COVER PHOTOGRAPH I OF LARRY L KING WITH SON BLAINE AND DAUGIfTER LINDSAY BY THEO WESTENBERGER A RR KI L PAGE 4 NOVEMBER 5 1989 11 G PARADE MAGAZINE |