Recently I’ve been working in a cafe as a part time waitress. The cafe advertises itself as Victorian Style Tea Rooms and most of the customers it attracts are the older generation.
Today was quite quiet compared to the other week, when the cafe was absolutely full of hungry people, so I had some time to stand around and think. And try to look busy as well or else I probably would’ve been asked to fold 1000s of napkins.
Outside it was depressing weather with heavy grey clouds and rain that would either be light or fantastically heavy. During the quiet period, I saw this old woman sitting on her own at a table staring out of the window at the rain and the soggy pedestrians it was making. She had no one with her, no one talking to her. Then it struck me, what if I became like that woman when I’m older? Alone with no one to talk to.
I’m only 21, but already I’m seeing the signs that I am aging. Grey hair, for a start. It’s bad enough when you find your first grey hair, but it’s even worse when your boyfriend finds it for you! Also my figure has changed slightly. I’ve put on a bit of weight and a inch or two around my waist and hips. I am exercising but it doesn’t make that much of a difference. One reason is because my teenage body is now changing into a womanly figure (that’s what I’m hoping anyway!)
But apart from all the physical changes that happen to you as you age (i’m determined to keep my own teeth) the one that frightens me the most is to one day find myself totally alone, no friends, no family. Just maybe a cat for company, but you can only go so far with topics of conversation and they’re usually one sided.
If you died no one would know, until a neighbour might notice that there’s a growing number of milk bottles outside your door and a mountain of mail coming out of the letterbox. Then they would find you, possibly half eaten by your cat. I’m probably over exaggerating but the truth is there are many older people living alone, who are desperate for someone to spend some time with them and talk.
