Saturday 3 October 2020

Ages

 

I am seventy-one and retired.

Prince Charles is the same age as me and not yet King. (His mother, the Queen, is ninety-six.)

Donald Trump is seventy-four and President of the United States!

In Poul Anderson's The Game Of Empire, Dominic Flandry is approaching seventy and still active in Intelligence but has the advantage of antisenescence.

Some sf characters - we need not list them yet again - remain active during indefinitely prolonged lifespans.

Although I am all for an active old age, I personally prefer leisure activities like gym and blogging rather than onerous professional or political responsibilities - but, if some people can do the job, then who am I to complain about their ages?

That is my thought for tonight.

7 comments:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

I can't help but wonder if the Prince of Wales will ever succeed his mother! For all we know Elizabeth II has been getting Technic antisenescence treatments. (Smiles)

Strictly speaking, her Majesty is 94, not yet 96. But that probably doesn't much matter if you manage to make it to your nineties.

We are not given the ages of Emperors Georgios and Hans in the Technic stories, but they were both mentioned as being elderly.

Of course you know of Pres. Trump getting Covid 19. But, as of now, his drs. seem cautiously hopeful about him recovering. At age 74 he is in a high risk category.

I agree, if some people are able to govern nations even at fairly advanced ages, why not?

Ad astra! Sean

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Sean,

94. I miscounted. Her mother made it to 101.

I keep watching the news about Trump.

Paul.

S.M. Stirling said...

The Windsors, particularly the women, tend to live for a long long time. And of course more and more people are "living up to the limit".

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Here is another datum about two other British families. With only one exception, among Sheila's relatives and mine, wives outlive husbands, women outlive male partners. I hope to live as long as possible but I expect to go first.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul and Mr. Stirling!

Paul: I did think of the late Queen Mother! And the Queen's husband, Prince Philip, is 99.

And I recalled how both Prince Charles and PM Johnson got Covid 19. The former a fairly mild case and the PM a much more serious form. I hope Trump only has a milder case of Covid.

And I hope you make it, in good health, to at least age ninety!

Mr. Stirling: With the usual exceptions, of course. The Queen's sister did die "relatively" young. So many varying factors goes into how long a person might live.

Ad astra! Sean

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Sean,

Thank you but ninety is not enough! We can aim for over 100 these days.

Paul.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

Let's think big, then! I read somewhere in the Technic stories that antisenescence could preserve good health till about age 110. So, make it to 120! (Smiles)

Ad astra! Sean