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On a recent trip to Florida， it was hard not to notice that 1）senior citizens seem to form a large part of that state’s population. After two weeks， I found myself slightly depressed at being around so many folks who’ve lived as long or longer than I. Later， when I told my son about these feelings， he laughed and said， “But Mom， you’re old， too.”
I responded pretty fast. “Watch it！ One of these days， you’ll be there， as well.”
I found it a joy to be back in our university town where 23，000 students mingle with the town folk， 2）sprinkling their youth over us like 3）pixie dust.
The late teens， early twenty-somethings are occasionally loud and sometimes rude， but more often smiling and helpful. How can that be anything but good for the rest of us？ I watch them in shops and restaurants， out walking and jogging， and I benefit from the energy and enthusiasm they display on a regular basis. And yes， I think of my own happy， young years when I see them.
The college crowd finds pleasure in so many more things than those on the other end of the maturity timeline. They yell louder and longer at football games than fans in their seventies.
They go to concerts and let loose in ways that those of us who are a great deal older have trouble understanding completely. Even so， we do have to admire the way the college crowd harvests enjoyment. We often restrain ourselves in the name of dignity， or an outlook that says “I’m past all that.”
I’d much rather observe two college students striding purposefully across campus than two frowning seniors moving at a turtle’s pace down the aisle of a grocery store， not their own fault， I know. Years and years of living take a toll physically， but sometimes in attitude， as well. It’s the outlook on life in many older citizens that concerns me more than physical 4）deterioration over which we have somewhat less control.
When my mother-in-law turned seventy， she began to drop out of all the organizations she’d belonged to for years. “I’m too old，” she told me when I questioned her about it. She was in excellent physical condition and sharp as ever mentally， but her inner self told her that she’d reached an age where she should sit at home and continue growing old. Her social network withered and died， her interest in many things waned， and she had little to no mental 5）stimulation other than watching TV. To me， the saddest part of life might have been very different. I promised myself to live my senior years with a better attitude. When I’m around a group of students， I find myself standing a little straighter， walking with a bit of a bounce to my step， and enjoying the world around me. Seeing them brings out the young person still buried deep inside. So， I think I’ll continue to live where youth 6）rubs off on older folks in this beneficial way. I’ll save Florida for an occasional vacation.
从最近的一次佛罗里达之旅中，不难发现长者似乎已经占了这个州人口的一大部分。两周后，置身于众多年纪与我相仿或者比我年长的人当中，我发觉自己稍稍有点沮丧。之后，当我跟儿子聊起这些感受时，他大笑起来，说道：“可是，妈妈，你也是老人家啊。”
我迅速进行“还击”：“当心点！总有一天，你也会老的。”
我发现回到我们的大学镇是件很快乐的事。那里有两万三千名学生与镇上的居民一同生活，如仙尘一般在我们的头顶洒下他们的青春光彩。
那些十来二十岁的孩子们偶尔喧闹，时而粗鲁，但更多的时候面带笑容，乐于助人。对于我们其他人来说，有什么比这更好的呢？我看到他们在商店或者饭馆里，在外面步行或者慢跑，我从他们时常展现的活力和热情中收获裨益。是的，当我看到他们的时候，我想起了自己快乐的青春年华。
比起那些走在人生历程另一端的人，这些大学生能在更多的事情上找到乐趣。他们在足球赛事上比那些七十多岁的球迷们能喊得更大声更持久。
他们去听音乐会，全情释放的方式是我们这些比他们老一大截的人所无法完全理解的。虽然如此，我们确实要对这些大学生们收获快乐的方式赞颂一番。要保持端庄，或者觉得“我已经过了那种年纪了”，我们常常以这些名目来压抑自己。
我宁愿看着两个大学生满怀壮志地阔步穿越校园，而不是看着两个眉头紧皱的老年人以龟速沿着杂货店的走廊走来——这不是他们的错，我明白。年复一年的生活，会让人身疲体倦，但有时候也在态度上造成了负担。让我有所忧虑的，更多的是许多年长者对生命的看法，而不是我们无法控制的身体上的退化。
当我的婆婆年届七十，她开始退出所有她从事多年的组织活动。“我太老了，”当我问起她原因的时候，她如是说。当时她身体状况良好，头脑也依旧敏锐，但其内心暗示着自己已经到了应该静坐家中继续变老的年纪。她的社交网络凋谢枯萎，她的多种兴趣消失殆尽，除了看电视，她在精神上获得的刺激近乎于零。对于我来说，生命中最悲哀的部分或许已经迥然不同了。我对自己许下承诺，在暮年要以一种更好的态度来生活。
当我处于一群学生之中，我发现自己会站得更直，走起路来也有劲儿，而且会享受围绕在我四周的世界。看着他们，能将那个依然埋在深处的年轻人发掘出来。所以，我觉得我会继续住在一个老人家与年轻人相处生活会产生积极影响的地方。我会将佛罗里达保留为一个偶尔造访的度假点。
I responded pretty fast. “Watch it！ One of these days， you’ll be there， as well.”
I found it a joy to be back in our university town where 23，000 students mingle with the town folk， 2）sprinkling their youth over us like 3）pixie dust.
The late teens， early twenty-somethings are occasionally loud and sometimes rude， but more often smiling and helpful. How can that be anything but good for the rest of us？ I watch them in shops and restaurants， out walking and jogging， and I benefit from the energy and enthusiasm they display on a regular basis. And yes， I think of my own happy， young years when I see them.
The college crowd finds pleasure in so many more things than those on the other end of the maturity timeline. They yell louder and longer at football games than fans in their seventies.
They go to concerts and let loose in ways that those of us who are a great deal older have trouble understanding completely. Even so， we do have to admire the way the college crowd harvests enjoyment. We often restrain ourselves in the name of dignity， or an outlook that says “I’m past all that.”
I’d much rather observe two college students striding purposefully across campus than two frowning seniors moving at a turtle’s pace down the aisle of a grocery store， not their own fault， I know. Years and years of living take a toll physically， but sometimes in attitude， as well. It’s the outlook on life in many older citizens that concerns me more than physical 4）deterioration over which we have somewhat less control.
When my mother-in-law turned seventy， she began to drop out of all the organizations she’d belonged to for years. “I’m too old，” she told me when I questioned her about it. She was in excellent physical condition and sharp as ever mentally， but her inner self told her that she’d reached an age where she should sit at home and continue growing old. Her social network withered and died， her interest in many things waned， and she had little to no mental 5）stimulation other than watching TV. To me， the saddest part of life might have been very different. I promised myself to live my senior years with a better attitude. When I’m around a group of students， I find myself standing a little straighter， walking with a bit of a bounce to my step， and enjoying the world around me. Seeing them brings out the young person still buried deep inside. So， I think I’ll continue to live where youth 6）rubs off on older folks in this beneficial way. I’ll save Florida for an occasional vacation.
从最近的一次佛罗里达之旅中，不难发现长者似乎已经占了这个州人口的一大部分。两周后，置身于众多年纪与我相仿或者比我年长的人当中，我发觉自己稍稍有点沮丧。之后，当我跟儿子聊起这些感受时，他大笑起来，说道：“可是，妈妈，你也是老人家啊。”
我迅速进行“还击”：“当心点！总有一天，你也会老的。”
我发现回到我们的大学镇是件很快乐的事。那里有两万三千名学生与镇上的居民一同生活，如仙尘一般在我们的头顶洒下他们的青春光彩。
那些十来二十岁的孩子们偶尔喧闹，时而粗鲁，但更多的时候面带笑容，乐于助人。对于我们其他人来说，有什么比这更好的呢？我看到他们在商店或者饭馆里，在外面步行或者慢跑，我从他们时常展现的活力和热情中收获裨益。是的，当我看到他们的时候，我想起了自己快乐的青春年华。
比起那些走在人生历程另一端的人，这些大学生能在更多的事情上找到乐趣。他们在足球赛事上比那些七十多岁的球迷们能喊得更大声更持久。
他们去听音乐会，全情释放的方式是我们这些比他们老一大截的人所无法完全理解的。虽然如此，我们确实要对这些大学生们收获快乐的方式赞颂一番。要保持端庄，或者觉得“我已经过了那种年纪了”，我们常常以这些名目来压抑自己。
我宁愿看着两个大学生满怀壮志地阔步穿越校园，而不是看着两个眉头紧皱的老年人以龟速沿着杂货店的走廊走来——这不是他们的错，我明白。年复一年的生活，会让人身疲体倦，但有时候也在态度上造成了负担。让我有所忧虑的，更多的是许多年长者对生命的看法，而不是我们无法控制的身体上的退化。
当我的婆婆年届七十，她开始退出所有她从事多年的组织活动。“我太老了，”当我问起她原因的时候，她如是说。当时她身体状况良好，头脑也依旧敏锐，但其内心暗示着自己已经到了应该静坐家中继续变老的年纪。她的社交网络凋谢枯萎，她的多种兴趣消失殆尽，除了看电视，她在精神上获得的刺激近乎于零。对于我来说，生命中最悲哀的部分或许已经迥然不同了。我对自己许下承诺，在暮年要以一种更好的态度来生活。
当我处于一群学生之中，我发现自己会站得更直，走起路来也有劲儿，而且会享受围绕在我四周的世界。看着他们，能将那个依然埋在深处的年轻人发掘出来。所以，我觉得我会继续住在一个老人家与年轻人相处生活会产生积极影响的地方。我会将佛罗里达保留为一个偶尔造访的度假点。