What is old?

Does something have to be over so many years to be considered an old item? Maybe it depends on what the old item is.  My car is old, but she was first registered in July 2010, so is she really old?

The following things are not old, old,  but they are old to me.

Paddington Bear

Paddington was purchased somewhere around 1997.  I was with my ex when I impulse bought Paddington and Dylan the rabbit from ‘The Magic Roundabout’.  We wore them on the zips of our leather jackets.  Paddington now looks after house keys., I’m sure he is relieved to no longer be worn daily on a coat.

My first car – Ford Fiesta

This was my first car on holiday in Somerset in 2001.  It was a G registration which means first registered in 1989. It was an automatic which was later written off by my ex, but that is another story.

My dinner set

This dinner set was purchased somewhere around 1997.  I saw them in Fenwicks and I had to have them. I phoned my ex who was in the pub at the time and asked him to carry them home for me. He was not happy. but as you can see they are still here today.  Some of them have cracks and chips and others are in perfect condition.

We were in a charity shop about two weeks ago and my son saw these plates.  They were £8.00 for six plates.  I was tempted out of sentimentality to buy them, but yes I resisted.  We don’t need more old plates.

My Grandmothers pie dish

The Pumpkin pie here is not an old item, this is October 2019.  However, the dish was my Grandmothers. So, I am not sure how old it is, but its possibly just as old or maybe older then the things above.   I think of my Grandma every time I bake with her dish.

These items are all old to me.  I’m sure if I explored more around my house I would find older.  My house was built in the 1970’s, is that old? for a house I think that is young.

So, what is old?

I am possibly middle aged if I am lucky enough to live to eighty six.  Does that make me old?  There are days where I certainly feel old.  A friend posted on Facebook this evening about her sons twenty first birthday.  I remember the day she announced she was pregnant with him.  That made me feel old.

I have met amazing people in my work day in their nineties.  I had a little lady a few days ago telling me she is not old.  She was ninety and painting a peacock. If I get to ninety I hope I am well enough to paint.

So what is old to you?  Does it have to be antique? or just a little worn?

Written for Hugh’s Views and News – # Sunday Stills

For more see my latest  poem. My ex mentioned above is my friend in heaven