FredPeyer

Uncle / Auntie

In Hawaii you know you are old when

the twentysomething at the coffee shop

calls you ‘Uncle’ or ‘Auntie’

terms of endearment

of respect, of honoring the elderly

expressions with their roots in

the Asian way of life and thinking

where ‘old’ is not synonymous with ‘senile’

where older people are still regarded as

fountains of knowledge and experience

not deadwood waiting to die

obstacles to sweep out of the way

bodies to hide in special prisons

called nursing homes, retirement communities

assisted living facilities, or care homes

No, no, no, no, no,

life does not end at 70, or 80, or even 90

the elderly should be regarded as

valuable members of society

the pillars the young ones

can stand and build on

and when they look down from

standing on our shoulders

let them remember that

they too will be ‘Uncles’ or ‘Aunties’ one day