I have to say, I like old people more and more.  And the older I get the more I like them, which is probably a good thing, as I'll likely be hanging out with a lot more of them in the coming years.  I am definitely to the point where I prefer them to young people.  And I think the feeling is mutual. 

The thing about young people is, they take credit for being young, and they want praise for it, like it's something they've achieved.  But, if I remember well, it's not hard to do.  I mean, being young just requires that you're, um, young. 

Being old, on the other hand, can be a bitch.  It is an achievement.  It is something you have to work at every day.  Getting old and staying old requires strategy, craft, and wits.

One thing I like about this time of year, is you see a lot of old people out and about.  They're troopers.  They've got to get those Christmas cards in the mail.  Otherwise, people think they're dead, and they know it.  It's more than just a point of pride. 

And I like how the little old ladies get all gussied up in their Sunday best to go to the post office.  The hair, the make-up, the jewelry.  The whole nine yards.  And they're not sealed off in an invisible pod plugged into their personal soundtrack.  They're not hiding behind their cell phone shield. They'll come right up to you and strike up a conversation.  Something like, "does this machine have two-cent stamps?"  It's a practical question, but asking a stranger anything in this day and age can get you in trouble. 

And yet, they call you "my dear."  And they pat you on the arm.  They say "thank you" when you hold the door for them, and the gratitude is genuine. I like when old people take you aside and ask you to be their eyes, or let you take their arm and help them over an ice-patch in the sidewalk.

The thing I like most about old people is they give you opportunities for kindness.  I'm not jonesin' for 'em—standing out on the corner, grabbing old people and pestering them with kindness.  They have to choose you.  That's something young people don't know how to do, partly because they don't really need to.  Old people, on the other hand, depend on the kindness of strangers. 

It feels good to be kind to them.  To do nice things for old people.  I know it sounds sentimental, but I like old people.