old people

when did youthfulness become so appreciated, and the elderly, in turn- disregarded? nursing homes and various "wards" were supposedly the answer to this culture's disapproval. yet- the reputation i sense towards the majority of individuals i encounter, is an underlying disrespect for old people... i don't get it. isn't gray hair a gift from god? isn't there supposedly rich wisdom captured somewhere past the sparkled eyes?... *i feed a lady breakfast this morning and she just kept laughing. soon the entire table was laughing. it was contagious. i guess it usually is. *one man asked me what i knew for sure. i told him, "god is good." he replied, "you've got it," with a smeared grin. *another man taught me three german words. yes, i forgot them. *you know the story about the people who own a bunch of cats and just let them roam about. one lady showed me old pictures-- the lady she used to buy eggs from had over two hundred cats. though it was years ago that the photos were taken, this women could still not believe it as she handed the copies over for me to stare at as well. funny. it is. and i am glad the egg lady was not my neighbor. in fact i don't think i would buy eggs from her. no, i would not.