Spidering Thoughts

Wednesday, September 06, 2023

Yesterday at work, I practiced putting a “spider wrap” on boxes of high-priced new tools. The process wasn’t easy for me, because manipulating bendy spider wires to fit correctly and lock securely needs one to visualize abstractly. My coworker/trainer, Laurie, was reassuring, saying that at first she found working with the spiders very confusing, and adding, “You’ll get it.”

Using many physical and mental skills in my part-time job makes me feel more rounded. For example, putting away parts forces me to stretch and reach upward and exercises neglected muscles. Learning to navigate the store’s complex array of nails, screws, tools, and parts, and discussing them with customers exercises my brain.

All that and more is helping me feel stronger and capable, also feeling younger than my years. It’s a big deal because, in my post-retirement jobs, I’ve been confronted often with negative ageism, and surprisingly, more from people who are elderly. Individuals outrightly have demanded that I shouldn’t be working at all. Or have asked, “Does standing on your feet hurt,” or “How do you read without glasses?” The list of negativity is unending, and whether it’s delivered in demands or as questions, highly dislikable.

That’s given me insight into being in public and reminded me of being “different.” The physical symbols of being elderly among the young, black among light-skinned others, identified as following a non-Christian religion, and others, are unavoidable. Unfortunately, many differences activate old learning and habits in watchers, stuck mentally in their pasts and learnings.

Those include me. Yes, I long ago thought of “old” as being Old. No longer, and I always try to avoid being openly critical of differences visible from the norm.

Dear Friends: Ha! Learning to spider-wrap initiated a rant. Diana