When an 80-Year-Old Man Dies and Leaves Behind His 60-Year-Old Wife, Who Will Take Care of Her?

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Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
24,934
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#21
Chatting over coffee. Do you like coffee?
I'm not big on it, but almost everybody else in my family can drink half a pot and then take a nap.

That's my Ace in the hole though. I don't drink coffee, so if I do need it in an emergency I don't need much. If I only get 4 hours of sleep I can drink half a cup of regular McDonald's coffee at the start of my shift, then another half cup halfway through, and I'm good to go.

But I'm starting to derail this thread, so I will stop now.
 

Karlon

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2023
1,927
794
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#22
Thank you for such a a gracious response. ❤️

My goodness, if only we all had your level of energy and motivation! 😁 What a blessing. 🌹
you haven't heard the whole story still. i'm a professional drummer. & that requires lot's of energy. & i exercise in between.
 

CarriePie

Well-known member
Jan 7, 2024
665
377
63
Oklahoma
#23
I'm not big on it, but almost everybody else in my family can drink half a pot and then take a nap.

That's my Ace in the hole though. I don't drink coffee, so if I do need it in an emergency I don't need much. If I only get 4 hours of sleep I can drink half a cup of regular McDonald's coffee at the start of my shift, then another half cup halfway through, and I'm good to go.

But I'm starting to derail this thread, so I will stop now.
It's no problem. Coffee is not required (well, for you it's not...it is for me :D). My reply was more of a reference to my previous post. Besides, if others aren't drinking coffee that means there is more for me!
 

Karlon

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2023
1,927
794
113
#24
It's no problem. Coffee is not required (well, for you it's not...it is for me :D). My reply was more of a reference to my previous post. Besides, if others aren't drinking coffee that means there is more for me!
since there's much about coffee, all you guys & girls try Jamaican Blue Mountain, American Birding Song & Camano island whole bean coffee.
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,943
4,587
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#26
I'm not big on it, but almost everybody else in my family can drink half a pot and then take a nap.

That's my Ace in the hole though. I don't drink coffee, so if I do need it in an emergency I don't need much. If I only get 4 hours of sleep I can drink half a cup of regular McDonald's coffee at the start of my shift, then another half cup halfway through, and I'm good to go.

But I'm starting to derail this thread, so I will stop now.
The right derailments are part of why I start these threads! They make it more interesting.

It's always fun learning more about the people who post. 😁
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,943
4,587
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#27
All I know is I don't wanna get that old.
I've often thought about this, too.

I'd rather die both relatively healthy and young than worry about it all sliding.

My biggest fear in getting older is becoming a burden or additional workload to others.

Most especially when I talk to older people who feel betrayed because they spent their lives taking care of others, and now they don't have anyone in their time of need.
 
Oct 21, 2022
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#28
I've often thought about this, too.

I'd rather die both relatively healthy and young than worry about it all sliding.

My biggest fear in getting older is becoming a burden or additional workload to others.

Most especially when I talk to older people who feel betrayed because they spent their lives taking care of others, and now they don't have anyone in their time of need.
It's a big part of it. Wouldn't mind going out trying to outrun an avalanche while skiing, something fun like that. Beats rotting away in some nursing home. Maybe I'm just morbid but 60 would be tops for me
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,322
16,306
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69
Tennessee
#29
When an 80-Year-Old Man Dies and Leaves Behind His 60-Year-Old Wife, Who Will Take Care of Her?

Hopefully, her 40 -year-old son.
 

SomeDisciple

Well-known member
Jul 4, 2021
1,840
826
113
#30
My own reality is that when I last visited CC friends in 2022, their relatives thought I was around 30, and to my shock, it's often guys who are 15 years younger than my biological age who ask me out
To your shock? Seeing as you go by "Seoulsearch" one might guess you are at least part asian- if no one else has told you: getting white guys half their age is a typical asian female super-power.
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,943
4,587
113
#31
To your shock? Seeing as you go by "Seoulsearch" one might guess you are at least part asian- if no one else has told you: getting white guys half their age is a typical asian female super-power.
I'm adopted and grew up around white guys.

It's funny because they certainly weren't attracted to me then unless they were about 40-80+ years old.

I grew up in all white culture, not Asian, so I only knew the Asian stereotypes perpetuated in my small white town. There were maybe 3 other Asians, all adopted, and all around my age. A lot of people there hadn't even met any other Asians.

Growing up, moving away -- and discovering all the other Asian stereotypes -- has been quite a culture shock, but I'm learning as I go.
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,943
4,587
113
#32
When an 80-Year-Old Man Dies and Leaves Behind His 60-Year-Old Wife, Who Will Take Care of Her?

Hopefully, her 40 -year-old son.
In the original example in the opening post and for the sake of discussion, neither person has children, so unfortunately, no.
 

Gojira

Well-known member
Jul 20, 2021
5,741
2,311
113
Mesa, AZ
#33
In most every situation I encounter (churches, Christian dating sites, forums, etc.) it seems to be a given that older men, Christian or not, almost unanimously want a much-younger woman.

This post seems to tally up the vast majority of reasons:




Please note that I DON'T want this thread to be a debate over whether or not this is right or wrong.

Rather, I'd like to concentrate on something I never hear talked about in any of these discussions.

Let's say Bill, age 60, marries Susan, age 40 (Bill was really hoping for a 27-year-old, but hey, he supposes that Susan will do.) For simplicity's sake, let's just say the two had former marriages but no children, and have not had any children together.

The two have had various health issues, and both are struggling with cancer, but Bill's issues have grown much more severe. At age 70, he can no longer walk, and while both have tried to help each other, Susan has always been the primary caretaker. Bill has tried to help but for over 10 years, Susan has done everything, because Bill lost the ability to do anything for himself -- including using the restroom.

Susan, still fighting cancer and losing mobility herself, is now left a widow at 60 years old.

* Should Susan be looking after a younger man to take care of her? Obviously, men her age won't be looking to marry her.

* Who would God say is now responsible for her care? Or is it simply, "Tough luck Susan, you've worn out your usefulness as a younger woman who could take care of an older man... Time to fend for yourself. You'll be fine. After all, it's the church's responsibility to look after old hags like you."

* When Adam and Eve were created, and especially when they fell into sin, Eve was now seen as the "weaker, fairer" sex to be looked after in a marriage. When does that change and the woman's usefulness should actually be to care for and look after a much-older man?

* If God looked at Adam and said, "It's not good for the man to be alone," would He then turn around and say, "It's perfeclty fine that Susan is alone now -- surely she can look after herself."


I understand that if men want younger women, that's just what's going to happen -- I can accept that part. I've brought this subject up in the past and I am always accused of being a bitter old had who can't accept reality and couldn't get a date to save her life.

My own reality is that when I last visited CC friends in 2022, their relatives thought I was around 30, and to my shock, it's often guys who are 15 years younger than my biological age who ask me out, but so far I haven't felt that's where God was leading me. But through these experiences, I can understand the appeal of having someone younger to "look after you."

But for some reason stories like Susan's plague my heart. I feel an increasing draw towards people who have been "left behind" by a spouse who has been called home, and there are usually man more women in this situation than men (at least in my personal surroundings.)

Several have been abandoned by family and friends and truly have no one.

If the men are out looking for daughter-age brides to be their saviors...

What is to become of the women of the women who are looked over, or left behind?
Well... isn't this where life insurance comes in, as well as his will? I am unattached, but if I weren't, I'd have my wife as my principle life insurance recipient, and she'd get a good chunk of my other investments as well.

As for the person who called you a bitter old hag for asking questions about couples' age differences, that doesn't sound like a particularly Godly response. Unnecessarily crude, actually.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
24,934
8,176
113
#34
It's no problem. Coffee is not required (well, for you it's not...it is for me :D). My reply was more of a reference to my previous post. Besides, if others aren't drinking coffee that means there is more for me!
That's how I feel about dark chocolate.

Also I get a better price point. If everyone liked the kind of dark chocolate I enjoy... It would be a LOT more expensive.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
24,934
8,176
113
#35
Most especially when I talk to older people who feel betrayed because they spent their lives taking care of others, and now they don't have anyone in their time of need.
I have often thought about this, especially with my grandma's current situation. I don't have any kids, my brother doesn't have any kids, my sister is dead... When I get old the really close family we currently have will all be dead.

Even nursing homes and hospitals might not be my end. That's a lot of time left for society to change - to grow, or to collapse. I might not have even what today's lonely old pharts have to rely on.

I hope I'll be okay with it. As long as I can find something useful to do, I should be fine. I just hope I will not have anything remaining that I wish I would have done when I could.

I think through these things now, while I'm still young enough to think well. :cool:
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,322
16,306
113
69
Tennessee
#36
To your shock? Seeing as you go by "Seoulsearch" one might guess you are at least part asian- if no one else has told you: getting white guys half their age is a typical asian female super-power.
@seoulsearch criticism and assumption is uncalled for and is offensive and derogatory in nature.
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
5,628
2,212
113
#37
There is the unasked question is wrapped in an assumption in this post.

Is romantic love a choice?

Do you choose who you will or won't love?

Isn't love a culmination of attitudes, beliefs, and preferences?

We all have (at some point) sown "wild oats" and prayed for crop failure. But some wild oats always result in a crop and harvest...there's no stopping it. No herbicide will fix the situation because we are each individually flawed and can't fix it no matter our best efforts.

That's the lesson that Noah tried to explain to Ham and the result was going to be in Canaan...his son whom he cared about the most.

And then there's the other important thing centered upon something Jesus said quite bluntly. "A person's life is not the sum of his possessions." That includes things like educations, spouses, children, and etc. Things that don't necessarily have a monetary value but are still valuable just the same and exclusively theirs.

"Finishing strong" is the hope of many. Everybody dies. Everybody gets sick and dies. It's not pretty....but that's the physical price of sin. Dying is horrifying for everyone. Everyone does it alone despite what they want. Even surrounded by family and friends...we all die alone and meet our Maker. Even Paul the Apostle who was loved and revered by thousands and possibly millions when he died still died alone.

We, who are alive, can't make choices for others. Even if we think we know what's best for them. We can encourage them to make good decisions in every way possible...but....
So frustrating too. Imagine God's frustration with us. Jesus voiced it on numerous occasions. It had to literally be hell on Earth for Him....

BUT Jesus is also the God of Hope. You can be pessimistic about everything and everyone (including yourself) except HIM.

Pessimists are always pleasantly surprised.
Optimists are always sadly disappointed (but find silver linings)

Be who you want to be.
 

Gojira

Well-known member
Jul 20, 2021
5,741
2,311
113
Mesa, AZ
#38
It's a big part of it. Wouldn't mind going out trying to outrun an avalanche while skiing, something fun like that. Beats rotting away in some nursing home. Maybe I'm just morbid but 60 would be tops for me
I've dreamed of dying via a kamikaze mission in an F-22 ramming a Chinese aircraft carrier, but that's just me.
 

Karlon

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2023
1,927
794
113
#40
It's a big part of it. Wouldn't mind going out trying to outrun an avalanche while skiing, something fun like that. Beats rotting away in some nursing home. Maybe I'm just morbid but 60 would be tops for me
that's about what i said the 1st time i thought about dying when i was a teen. i remember saying simply, " i don't want to get old, 60 something is good enough for me"! i'm over 60 now. but i'm doing well in the physical health area. i've got the body of a fit 20 year old but a 60 something face! it's phunnneee! in 1 day, i can still do a full days landscape work & have a full drum practice.