Encounters with the Elderly in America

I really enjoyed the reading for today. It was very interesting to hear viewpoints of America and the elderly from a Japanese graduate student. I agree completely with her realization that the elderly in America are almost invisible. It was also very interesting that she did her fieldwork on elderly men and women from Lake District Senior Center, and in conclusion called them the "Elderly Pioneers." It is sad to me that the older generation is becoming less and less involved and included in our society. They are amongst us, but we often forget or choose not recognize them. I believe older people are gems amongst the rough. They have experienced so much more than their younger counterparts. They have knowledge and wisdom like none other. They are the reason why we are who we are today. I believe the elderly should have more of a voice and be respected like they deserve. Tsuji even compared her family to the typical American family. In America we are so spread out with maybe grandparents 2,000 miles away. In Japan, Tsuji grew in what the Japanese call a "stem family," which consists of parents, grandparents and children all living together. I personally was very fortunate to grow up around my grandparents and extended family. The majority of my family members lived within a 5 mile radius, which made growing up very special to me. Family is an integral part of my life, and I owe many many memories and words of wisdom to my loving grandparents who lived next door to me.