Retirement Life: Arguing Just for the Sake Of Arguing

Sometimes people just love to argue

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I started attending the local senior center regularly last year because I needed content for my interviews. I’ve discussed at length how it quickly escalated out of control. We senior citizens don’t have the best memory. Some said I was showing favoritism to certain people. The list is made on a first-come, first-served basis. There was no favoritism. None.

But that started a bitter state of war between certain people. Employees at the center asked me not to ask anyone else to participate since it caused such arguing. Then that started more arguing against the employees. So, the employees asked me to continue once again. I decided to quit for about 5 months.

I went to the senior center this past Wednesday to follow up with Gerald, whom I talked about in an article last Friday (Retirement Chronicles: Interview with a Retiree — Gerald). I normally do this after posting an article on a retiree to see if they wanted to change something, if I got something wrong, etc. Of course, I soon heard, “…so I guess you're going to do another interview on Gerald?” It was one of the ladies who liked to start arguments at the senior center. Before I could speak, Gerald spoke up, “Yeah, that’s exactly what we’re doing. So what?” Then the argument was on. I told Gerald, Please just let it drop, which he did.

I’m not sure if it is the elderly who love so many arguments or if people in general enjoy raising hell these days. But in the off-and-on senior center visits over the past three years, I have noticed people argue over anything. When things settled down after Gerald, in a rare outburst, countered another lady, the discussion of health problems ensued. Some other ladies started complaining about their ailments. This is a common theme among those 60+. Some have completely different ailments and that is always discussed at length.

Then the competition began.

Mr. A said he needed a hip replacement. He said you don’t know what pain is until you have hip problems. Mrs. B said when he has rheumatoid arthritis to get back to her. Mrs. C said to try getting a double knee replacement and then talk about pain. Mrs. B still insisted her rheumatoid arthritis was the worst pain that humanity has ever known (not her exact words, but the general feeling). Mr. D pipped in, saying the worst pain in the world is recovering from lumbar back surgery like he is right now. Mrs. E ended the discussion for this day when she said, “There ain’t no pain like your first bowel movement after hemorrhoid surgery. You can take that to the bank!”

Suddenly, no one wanted to talk about ailments any longer.

I’ve had some amusing times in the senior center. But this one might have been #1. It reminds me of my mother and aunt discussing their ailments over the phone in their 60s. I laughed back then when each insisted their pain was the worst and who had the most ailments. Of course, pain is no laughing matter. I have my share of ailments. I choose to keep them to myself for the most part. But it still amazes me what a popular subject one’s health is among seniors.

Just another blessed day at the senior center. (Originally published on Medium on 08/09/2024)