Shock of Gray

Just finished reading Ted C. Fishman’s Shock of Gray, his non-fiction examination of the world’s aging phenomenon and what it portends for all of us.

Fishman tells his story in a series of snapshots from various locales, giving us a view of aging we can extrapolate to our own states, cities, families. Interesting that just as I write this on Friday, November 26, both The New York Times and our local paper The Desert Sun both have front-page stories focusing on aging populations.

Fishman’s stories from Shock are taken from around the world. When I think of aging Europe, I think of Scandinavia mostly – I don’t know why – perhaps because I know those countries have a very low birthrate. But Fishman concentrates on Spain, which is both illuminating and compelling, particularly with the recent financial problems that country has had – which were surfacing probably about the time this book was being published.

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As for the U.S., the stories in the book focus on Florida (Sarasota, in particular) and Rockford, Illinois. Fantastic snapshots into what makes these places tick – or not – at this point in time. Everything from seniors reinventing themselves late in life down in Florida – as well as “making” work for themselves – to the importation of help from abroad to take care of the elderly in Rockford – provide hints as to where it might be good and not so good to get old.

One thing we have a tendency to forget is how relatively recent wide longevity is. Throughout human history, death was the constant companion of human populations, as people tended to be fine one day, sick the next, then dead soon after. It’s only since the early part of the 2oth century that advances in public health made possible the large numbers of people who reach their 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond.

I’ve got an aunt who will turn 90 next month. It seemed to me to be a momentous occasion (and it IS, of course) but less so with the knowledge of how many other nonagenarians there are out there!