Two Things to Talk about When You’re My Age

by Frank Roche on December 10, 2008

  1. The economy. Somehow every day this is the topic. My Dad was born in 1924. He lived through the Great Depression and was in the Navy for the duration of World War II. Guess what he talked about more and had a more lasting effect on him? The Depression. I’ve become my Dad. Years from now I’ll be telling the grandkids about this.

  2. Reading glasses. See, I am becoming my Dad. Yesterday, as with every day, I complain that the typeface on our copy is too small. I am loathe to concede that my eyes are failing me at close distances. I bought a pair of reading glasses last year, but this year it’s become more dire. I need reading glasses hanging around my neck on a lanyard. So, when I started talking about not being able to read something, Shelly said, “Hey, you should check out Eyebobs.com.” When you’re my age and need more than one pair of reading glasses, it’s good to have a friend who knows where to get them. Fine print will soon be my friend.
  • http://paxromano.blogspot.com/ PaxRomano

    Frank,

    I started using eyeglasses when I was about 42 or 43. I found myself, one Sunday morning, with the New York Times spread out on the living room floor and me sitting on the sofa reading it … I needed it that far away from me to read!!

    Ugh.

    The economy? Yup, I talk about it also … but our generation has been through several rescissions already, so I feel that many of us are sort of used to this.

  • http://nonbreakingspace.com/ howard

    I hate to emphasize my “youth”, but I've never had need for corrective lenses of any sort. I am the only member of my immediate family to not need them, but I'm sure I'll be needing them at some point.

    As for the economy, I talk about it incessantly, as do many of my acquaintances. But that's to be expected when most of your friends are concerned about losing their jobs and you're dating a stock broker.

    As far as the current economic strain goes, I wonder how it will be seen in retrospect if it gets much worse. Will we have a name for it?

  • http://www.frankroche.com/blog Frank

    Howard, it's funny…I've never needed glasses either. But now it's up to you young guys…I'm conceding to reading glasses…and talking about the economy. Yeah…what's worst than a Depression? Yikes.

  • http://www.frankroche.com/blog Frank

    Pax, that's how I am…I need longer arms.

    We have lived through a lot of downturns, haven't we? We are used to it…I guess because my guys are preparing to go to college that it gets scarier. I have to make more to keep them in the lifestyle they've become accustomed to.

  • http://dragonballyee.com/blog albert

    i need to take a photo of you peering of your specs!

  • http://www.frankroche.com/blog Frank

    Actually, Albert, I'd like to engage you to do a photo shoot at our office. Mostly would like some casual shots…a Day in the Life of iFractal. I'm in Chicago this week, but would love to talk about it. Actually, I'd like a mutli-day shoot….not all day, a few hours here and there…we can talk about how to do that…send me a note. Let's talk.

  • http://swedehartjournal.blogspot.com/2008/12/seven-things-you-dont-know-about-me.html Jessica

    Two things that I am exceedingly grateful for is not to need glasses or to have felt the economic crunch–yet.

    Tagged you with a meme on my blog today. Let me know if you have time to tell me more about you during this busy holiday season.

  • Merci

    I wear contact lenses. Now I need reading glasses to wear over my contact lenses. Hmmmph.

    My Mom was born in '24, too, in Philly. She was the oldest of 5, and her father died when she was 8. The Depression was the single greatest influence on her life, with WWII as a close second. She has predicted another depression for as long as I can remember, though the prediction was born more out of fear than of a superior knowledge of the future.

  • http://www.frankroche.com/blog Frank

    Merci, the Great Depression really affected people of that age, didn't it? I was so surprised at how it hit my dad. The funny thing is his dad, my grandfather, who was born in 1888, seemed to get through it. He was an Irish immigrant and worked in the steel industry, so perhaps he had a job the entire time and that made it. My dad was always wary of companies and owning stock. Now I know why.

    Reading glasses…crazy transition, huh? Hope you're doing great. Super to hear from you.

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