This all started with a letter to the editor here at Xpress, discussing “appropriate” gifts for seniors and offering ideas for the idealess. I’ll list a few of those at the bottom of this post, but first I’d like to explain why this grew into a new forum topic.

I was raised in a farm community far downhill from these mountains—over in Wake County (when it used to have farms). There was nothing I liked better than to sit around my grandmother’s little country store and listen to the community elders discussing anything—politics, gossip, community history, the future of the world . . . .

Now—“I are one.” Yep, bumping up against that category, and sensitive to many things about it, from legal issues to health issues to don’t-assume-I-can’t issues to just the joy of relating to friends of various ages. So it seemed like a forum about and for elders in this community could be fun. In particular—I am hoping to see some really special memories appear here, either written by folks in remembrance or in honor of seniors who hold a special place in their lives, or written by elders themselves, sharing knowledge of this area and its history or just sharing the wisdom of having seen what’s gone down and speculating on what’s to come.

So I’ll chime in as things cross my desk or mind. I hope others will, too. And now, an abbreviated list of those gift recommendations in case you’re shopping for an older relative or friend and you just don’t have a clue (see the full letter, “Give Some Thought to Seniors,” in our Dec. 23 edition). Suggestions include—during the economic downturn, especially:

• Gift cards for restaurants, groceries, discount stores or gas
• Magazine subscriptions or word and puzzle books—and pencils
• Stationery and stamps

I’m going to add what I know was the most important gift of all when my own grandmother grew older and less active: TIME. A personal visit was the ultimate gift, in her eyes. But you can also get creative and plan some time to take an elder shopping or out to dinner and conversation.

Mind you—I’m not categorizing “elders” as simply those less active, and I’m hoping to hear of a lot of activities (mental and physical) through this forum. Are you out there???

— Nelda Holder, associate editor (& associate elder)

Here’s an addendum, heard on the way home on NPR. Someone had the brilliant idea of copying their mom’s address book and printing it out in LARGE TYPE, then putting it in a looseleaf binder. If my mom were still around, I think she would totally love that.

Nelda Holder - 16 May 2009 10:53 PM

Actually, Steve, I started this subforum, and the title happens to be “Elders” because I hoped it would reflect not age, exactly, but more acquired wisdom. Not that your suggestions weren’t good ones, but my original hope was the elders themselves might show up here for dialogue. It leaves me to wonder just how many of them frequent MX forums, which opens a whole ‘nother discussion. I wonder, really, how the elders of this community interact with both the MX and with such things as forums—and whether they even do. At any rate, I was fishing for some interaction from some of the more senior members of the community, who (my secret fantasy) hold dialogue in ... er ... longer sentences and with more far-ranging perspectives. Dare I say that?

Perhaps it was all a dream…...

Nelda H.

i’m confused.

which is it? A forum for Old People, or a Forum for Serious People?

Sorry if my gen-x sentence fragments are difficult to navigate, BTW.