To the editor: Columnist Steve Lopez shouldn’t be certain he needs to stay to be 100 and I perceive his concern (“Comfortable one hundredth birthday to Mel Brooks. I’m unsure I wish to be round that lengthy,” July 1). All of it is dependent upon how your years from 80 to 100 deal with you.
I’ll flip 98 this coming August and life has handled me properly. I do know I’m lucky. I stroll with out assist, however use a cane for out of doors security. I renewed my driver’s license after I was 95 and nonetheless drive — my license expires when I’m 101. My thoughts is sharp and I’ve learn the Los Angeles Instances each morning for the final 75 years.
After all, as Lopez worries, there are challenges. My social life revolves round going to docs. And the change in know-how does hassle me. I so preferred calling on the phone and speaking to an actual particular person moderately than an AI “helper.” My use of my cellphone and pc is proscribed, however I’m lucky to have my 4 grownup kids all dwelling in Southern California they usually get pleasure from serving to me.
How did I get right here? I inherited a brand new physician 50 years in the past. He held up his hand excessive and stated, “That is your genes.” Then he lowered his hand and stated, “That is your luck.” Lastly, he lowered his hand farther and stated, “That is your medical care. I can solely show you how to there.”
At this age, I’ll admit that I’m feeling outdated. However the years are good. So Lopez, let’s hope you do stay to be 100 and that the 20 years earlier than which are good ones.
Martin A. Brower, Corona del Mar
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To the editor: I loved Lopez’s fantastic piece concerning the discordant occasions wherein we stay.
Within the “manner again,” I recall coming house from college and seeing my grandmother sitting in her customary chair by the window in her room with the Bible on her lap, the winter solar pouring in to heat her deformed, arthritic fingers. “Hello Gram!” I’d shout. In the future, she turned from the window and, looking at me together with her double-large bifocal glasses, stated, “It’s all modified. I don’t perceive it anymore.” She wasn’t smiling.
That was 1956.
And so it goes. Sustain the good work, Lopez. And train.
Jeff Denker, Malibu
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To the editor: My husband and I have been chuckling and nodding our heads in settlement whereas studying Lopez’s column about Mel Brooks turning 100 years outdated. Lopez says he isn’t certain he can handle 27 extra years of the “every day trials of recent dwelling.” Now we have 16 extra years till 100, and we aren’t certain we will take care of that both.
The fast-changing world of electronics and having to take care of the rising standards for accessing accounts, attempting to contact a stay particular person on firm telephones, guide reservations, and so on., is usually overwhelming. And do medical places of work truly learn the various types we fill out on-line and in particular person? We are able to additionally relate to the overuse of “good” as an acknowledgment of one thing as an alternative of “all proper,” “OK” or “thanks.”
However regardless of all that, so long as we have now our teenage grandson to assist us work out tips on how to use the Lyft app, switch tickets to the pockets app and ship photographs, we might be OK.
Sandy Schwartz, Culver Metropolis
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To the editor: Lopez’s column about not wanting to show 100 is spot-on. I’m 77 and my husband is 79. Paradoxically, whereas I used to be studying the column, our daughter came to visit to our home to indicate my husband tips on how to add some channels to our TV that we have now “included” in our fee, however couldn’t work out tips on how to watch.
I discover a lot of the latest know-how fully complicated and can’t determine it out. If my husband dies earlier than me, I can not watch TV; I can not even work out tips on how to flip it on, a lot much less discover something to look at!
I agree with Lopez that individuals are extra wired however much less related. Each time we’re in a restaurant and see one other couple on their telephones, I wish to ask them if they’re speaking to one another.
I believe the sentence “a driverless automotive goes to run into a knowledge heart, and the world goes to blow up” is without doubt one of the funniest however truest issues that I’ve ever learn. The entire column is true on and among the best (and definitely the funniest) that Lopez has written.
Judy Herbst, Beverly Hills
