HAPPY INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS!
Bethann Hardison's New Documentary, Martin Scorsese's Take on Aging, and My Take On The Golden Bachelor Episode 1
“Older persons are invaluable sources of knowledge and experience and have much to contribute towards peace, sustainable development, and protecting our planet”.
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Hiya Friends,
October 1st is International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP)! Believe it or not, I didn’t invent this holiday. Established in 1990 by the United Nations General Assembly, “this day, serves as an opportunity to honor and celebrate the elderly older adults, acknowledge their vital role in society, and address the issues that impact their well-being.” 🎉 It also shines a light on specific challenges that arise for many older adults, including access to affordable and quality healthcare, social isolation, agism, and financial insecurity.
Honestly, I’m shocked this day has existed for thirty-three years and I’d never heard of it until today. And let’s face it, if I didn’t know about it, there’s a good chance most people are out of the loop.
I suppose the PR division at the United Nations General Assembly has their hands full with a myriad of pressing international issues and what not, but where’s the fanfare? The only “celebration” I found listed on the UN website consisted of “an in-person event and a multi-stakeholder dialogue,” which, not to be unfairly judge-y, sounds like a total snoozefest. If I were running this show, there’d be perks and discounts available all over town for older adults. Just flash your id and get a free donut, a cup of coffee, or free museum admission to celebrate.
Unfortunately, I’m not connected to any UN employees on LinkedIn, and therefore can’t pitch my brilliant marketing and PR ideas. Maybe next year. For now, I’m helping to spread the word and sharing a couple of links that feature some very inspirational older folks this week.
BETHANN HARDISON—BARRIER-BREAKING ICON
I’m excited to see the new documentary, Invisible Beauty about the life and work of the 81-year-old fashion industry trailblazer, icon, entrepreneur, and activist, Bethann Hardison. Watch the trailer above to catch a glimpse of Harding’s mad style, vivacious spirit, and to learn more about her storied career as a model, agency founder, and activist who fought discrimination and championed models of color in the fashion business. I’m absolutely obsessed with the ultra-chic black and white patterned coat, blouse, and oversized frames she wears in the opening sequence. #Legend. The movie is currently playing in theaters. Click here to find showtimes.
AN 80-YEAR-OLD GOOD FELLA
In this interview with GQ, Martin Scorsese shares his views about life, death, and what to do with the time he has left. It’s a beautiful read and certain passages made me tear up, like this one:
These days when he runs into someone he knows, Scorsese said, the partings have taken on a new significance. “I saw an old friend a few weeks ago here; my God, we’ve known each other since 1970,” he told me. “I hadn’t seen her in years. But by the time she left, we embraced and held onto each other for, like, 10 minutes, not knowing if we would see each other again.
And this, which brought to mind recent post on decluttering.
“I look around here, I’ve got to figure out where all this goes,” said Scorsese, gesturing around the room, at everything he’d accumulated in it. “I’ve got to let go of everything. I was a great collector, a great obsessive glutton for cinema and books. And now they all have to go away.” In the back of his study were a series of shelves so crowded with photos of his friends and his children that you couldn’t see the books. “My little mosaic back there,” he called it. That had to go, he said. The film books behind them on the shelves had to go too. “Once you know that you gotta let go and you’re going to die, everything changes,” he said
Click here to read the full interview.
MY TAKE ON THE GOLDEN BACHELOR EPISODE 1
Let me start by saying that I’m not a fan of reality dating shows and I’ve never seen the regular Bachelor or Bachelorette. When it comes to reality TV, I prefer feel-good fare that features charming contestants, cakes, and crafts, likes Great British Bake Off and Making It.
Still, I felt like I had to watch at least one episode of The Golden Bachelor since it’s the first time the popular franchise has featured an older adult. I’m all for more representation of older folks on my screen.
Gerry Turner, the 72-year-old star of the show, hails from Ottumwa, Iowa and is a widower, father, and grandfather. Early in the first episode, an emotional Gerry reveals that six years earlier, his wife/high school sweetheart died unexpectedly from a bacterial infection. It’s a heartbreaking story and, in his telling of it, Gerry comes across as a very genuine and down-to-earth person. I was definitely rooting for him to find happiness again.
Cut to, Gerry get all dolled up in a suit and the camera zooms in on his hearing aids before Gerry clips them behind his ears. Then he stands outside a big gaudy mansion and greets each prospective romantic partner as she emerges from a limo, or in one case, hops off her motorcycle.
The women, who range in age from 60 to 80, are all a kick. They look great, have sparkling personalities, seem confident and secure in themselves, and it made me happy to see them rocking their gowns and complimenting each other on their outfits.
After spending alone-time with each contestant and making out with one woman who said it was her birthday, Gerry starts handing out roses. Suddenly, it’s no longer a fun romp of a show. Now it’s a bunch of 60+ women standing around, feeling rejected by a complete stranger who decided he isn’t interested in getting to know them better. Ugh. Check, please. To his credit, Gerry looked pretty pained to have to participate in this part of the game and expressed as much to the women.
I knew then that I would never watch another episode of this show. I understand that reality TV shouldn’t be taken at face value and antics are ratcheted up for the sake of drama and good TV, but if I’m going to watch a real person cry on TV, I’d rather have it be over a cake emergency than heartbreak.
If you have a different POV on this, please share.
Okay. That’s it for this week! If you liked any of my musings, hit the ❤️ or leave me a note in the comments section. I always love hearing from you.
I feel like it would be weird to NOT categorize “an in-person event and a multi-stakeholder dialogue" as a snoozefest, so you've done well. My mom, who is single and in her 60s, is watching the Golden Bachelor, but in the "can't tear your eyes away from watching a car crash" sort of way haha.
Great post! I've never heard of International Day of Older Persons (UNIDOP) and it is definitely a day more people should be aware of. Kudos to you for watching that reality show. I saw the trailer and winced. I never watch reality shows, and this one seemed to personal to me, being single and 66.