I read a disturbing article. It wasn’t really an article, but a profiling piece by a German foundation that helps older women to find jobs. It said that women over 50 have a hard time finding jobs when they become unemployed (I think for men it is not that easy either). I have heard this before from other sources but thought it was scare-mongering. I find it hard to believe that a society can discard such a large group and valuable resource by making 50 the cut-off point for participation in working life. When I was still living there, Germany didn’t have a huge culture of volunteer work either. So what are you doing when you are over 50 there? Is it really old age? Do you really have to start preparing for retirement? S-c-a-r-y!
It slowly dawns on me there is no way I could go back to Germany, even if I wanted to. This door is firmly closed. There is, however, this other interesting research I read a while ago, and it has stuck to my mind: In old age, you revert back to your first language, as you will loose the ability to speak your second language. I think old age might become very frustrating for me. Ah well, I always can talk to my puppets!
dedepuppets 
Maybe it is time some of started to learn another language then… or is it too late??
It’s never too late, I say! (ignoring my German background :)
I work for an organisation that helps old people, and some old people have a ball (quite a lot of them do). They volunteer and go on trips and do stuff they always wanted to do. But when you’re sick or mentally unwell, it’s awful. What IS your original language, Dede?
I am originally from Germany and I find it hard to believe that fifty is considered old over there. I think it is to a large degree the view point a very competitive society. They seem to think once you passed the big Five-Oh, you can’t contribute anything meaningful. Of course there are people who suffer from health issues and generally the body is starting to give in, but the wealth of knowledge that one has collected along the way surely must count for something. I personally find, the older I get the more interesting life becomes.