Couch Potatoes

A faulty senior moment suggests that when we become seniors competition flies out the window. Maybe we wish that were true. Oh, we are competitive in many ways. Ever look at seniors in a casino? Have you ever played a parlor game with an old geezer who hates losing? Have you inadvertently sat in a church pew belonging to some overly-possessive old-timers?

Can a Type A personality become a couch potato? Maybe but not likely. Might become a Type AB though. Competitiveness is both inborn and acquired I suppose. Just when we think its no longer needed, it can resurrect itself. We see this on the death bed when a person fights to the last breath with the Grim Reaper.

Competition is alive and well at most any age from children fighting over a toy to an over-the-hill athlete. Remember ol’ Ma Bell who warded off all competitors until Uncle Sam stepped in ? Then a whole flock of little Bells emerged, competing with each other. And now they are threatened by the likes of VOIP. My dusty ol’ LPs, Cassettes and Videos gave way to CDs which are surrendering to DVDs. TV once boasted 12 channels and now there are hundreds which impacts the mighty three, ABC, CBS and NBC, who no longer dominate.

Having said this, competition has its strengths and weaknesses. It can be ruthless as well as rewarding. We old timers often sigh, “Oh to be young again” but do we really mean it? I suppose at times we do. Often what we are saying is “Oh to be competitive again.” So, we live vicariously as we root for our favorite athlete, politician, or celebrity. Or, perhaps we root for the underdog. Not a bad idea, really.

Senior moments do go beyond misplacing our keys or losing our vehicle in a parking lot. After so many years of competitiveness, isn’t it somewhat of a relief to at times become a couch potato? To not worry about competition. To not be tempted by steroids or wrinkle-proof wonder lotions. This works until some jerk kidnaps your granddaughter or a thug breaks your wife’s arm stealing her purse. If then your competitive juice doesn’t flow, you perhaps are, shall we say, a rare kind of couch potato and may need of a shot of adrenaline (or epinephrine if you prefer) -- or its equivalent.