To the editor: Columnist Steve Lopez just isn’t certain he desires to reside to be 100 and I perceive his concern (“Happy 100th birthday to Mel Brooks. I’m not sure I want to be around that long,” July 1). All of it relies on how your years from 80 to 100 deal with you.
I’ll flip 98 this coming August and life has handled me properly. I do know I’m lucky. I stroll with out assist, however use a cane for out of doors security. I renewed my driver’s license after I was 95 and nonetheless drive — my license expires when I’m 101. My thoughts is sharp and I’ve learn the Los Angeles Instances each morning for the final 75 years.
After all, as Lopez worries, there are challenges. My social life revolves round going to docs. And the change in know-how does trouble me. I so favored calling on the phone and speaking to an actual individual slightly than an AI “helper.” My use of my cellphone and pc is restricted, however I’m lucky to have my 4 grownup youngsters all residing in Southern California they usually take pleasure in serving to me.
How did I get right here? I inherited a brand new physician 50 years in the past. He held up his hand excessive and stated, “That is your genes.” Then he lowered his hand and stated, “That is your luck.” Lastly, he lowered his hand farther and stated, “That is your medical care. I can solely enable you to there.”
At this age, I’ll admit that I’m feeling previous. However the years are good. So Lopez, let’s hope you do reside to be 100 and that the 20 years earlier than which can be good ones.
Martin A. Brower, Corona del Mar
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To the editor: I loved Lopez’s great piece in regards to the discordant occasions during which we reside.
Within the “means again,” I recall coming dwelling from college and seeing my grandmother sitting in her customary chair by the window in her room with the Bible on her lap, the winter solar pouring in to heat her deformed, arthritic palms. “Hello Gram!” I’d shout. In the future, she turned from the window and, gazing me together with her double-large bifocal glasses, stated, “It’s all modified. I don’t perceive it anymore.” She wasn’t smiling.
That was 1956.
And so it goes. Sustain the nice work, Lopez. And train.
Jeff Denker, Malibu
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To the editor: My husband and I had been chuckling and nodding our heads in settlement whereas studying Lopez’s column about Mel Brooks turning 100 years previous. Lopez says he isn’t certain he can handle 27 extra years of the “each day trials of contemporary residing.” We now have 16 extra years till 100, and we aren’t certain we are able to take care of that both.
The fast-changing world of electronics and having to take care of the rising standards for accessing accounts, making an attempt to contact a reside individual on firm telephones, e-book reservations, and so forth., is typically overwhelming. And do medical places of work really learn the numerous types we fill out on-line and in individual? We are able to additionally relate to the overuse of “excellent” as an acknowledgment of one thing as a substitute of “all proper,” “OK” or “thanks.”
However regardless of all that, so long as we now have our teenage grandson to assist us work out the way to use the Lyft app, switch tickets to the pockets app and ship photographs, we shall be OK.
Sandy Schwartz, Culver Metropolis
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To the editor: Lopez’s column about not wanting to show 100 is spot-on. I’m 77 and my husband is 79. Paradoxically, whereas I used to be studying the column, our daughter came to visit to our home to indicate my husband the way to add some channels to our TV that we now have “included” in our fee, however couldn’t work out the way to watch.
I discover a lot of the latest know-how fully complicated and can’t determine it out. If my husband dies earlier than me, I can’t watch TV; I can’t even work out the way to flip it on, a lot much less discover something to look at!
I agree with Lopez that individuals are extra wired however much less related. Each time we’re in a restaurant and see one other couple on their telephones, I need to ask them if they’re speaking to one another.
I feel the sentence “a driverless automotive goes to run into a knowledge middle, and the world goes to blow up” is among the funniest however truest issues that I’ve ever learn. The entire column is true on and among the finest (and definitely the funniest) that Lopez has written.
Judy Herbst, Beverly Hills
