Healthy Living Tricked Boomers into Thinking We’re Invincible
The generation that’s redefining old age is now being redefined by a virus
Late at night a few weeks ago, I was about to turn off the light when I decided instead to grab my phone and catch up on the latest coronavirus news. This was in the early days of the pandemic — before shelter-in-place orders hit the United States, and before people were practicing social distancing on any large scale. I wasn’t overly worried, but I was paying attention, especially because older adults—those 60 and above—seemed to be the most at risk.
That meant me, as strange as it felt to acknowledge. At 60, I’ve never thought of myself as old. I don’t feel old. I feel great — except every winter when I am laid low with a respiratory infection that sends me to the doctor.
After a few minutes of scrolling, I turned off my phone and closed my eyes. I recalled what it was like to struggle for breath during last winter’s pneumonic weeks, and tried to imagine not being able to take a breath at all.
Then I switched off the light. I needed a good night’s sleep. In the morning I would be meeting some “older adult” friends for a 50-mile bike ride.
