As the economy continues sorting itself out, a lot of people are worried about retirement—us twentysomethings included. So when we heard about all the fun our elders will have at the Jewish Community Center’s 28th annual St. Louis Senior Olympics, it gave us some hope for the future, even in the face of looming fiscal ruin. This Memorial Day weekend, hundreds of “old birds” over the age of 50 will strut like spring chickens, packing so much action into four days that we know it’ll put us cubicle-dwelling, beer-swilling young-uns to shame.
Yes, some will be playing shuffleboard, as well as such stereotypically “senior” games as bocce, billiards and croquet. But they’ll also be slide-tackling each other in soccer, hurling high-speed projectiles on the softball diamond and executing spectacular diving saves on the volleyball court, not to mention competing in four of the most dangerous track events we remember from high school: shot put, discus, javelin and pole vault.
Heck, we may be half their age, but most days it’s tough to summon motivation for a walk around the block, much less a visit to the gym. Our daily exercise often consists of walking to and from the parking lot. And while our spry elders are knocking down bowling records at the local Olympics, we’re more likely to be knocking back drinks at Pin-Up Bowl.
In the dusk of their lives, our clean-living parents may be leaving us in the dust.
