I was reading my neighborhood app and someone posted this about someone in her 70’s that lives in my county: She is in her 70’s and probably never goes to Dallas. It just got my ire up and I replied, I’m 74 and go to Dallas all the time, but of course, I’m not going now because of COVID-19.

I was just thinking about people’s assumptions about people my age and older, especially in light of COVID-19. We are not dispensable. Young people, please don’t say, Oh, well, it’s just the old that die. People, please don’t say, Oh, they live in a nursing home and they don’t have a good life anyway. Everyone is and should be important to someone.

I began thinking of all the ways that older people contribute to our society. Consider that our president and presidential candidates are in their seventies. Many of our science and health experts are 70 or older. Many people in this age group still work and others volunteer their time in so many areas. Older people hold fundraisers to support all kinds of causes. They still teach. They help their families by babysitting or teaching values to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They encourage others during hardships. Older adults support the economy by going to restaurants, grocery stores, shops, and entertainment venues. They definitely support the travel industry. They show the world that there is joy in growing older and that being older does not mean there is no more joy and excitement in life.

Remember that each of us in this world is important: babies, children, teenagers, and adults of all ages. Now is the time to show respect to each other and to do whatever we can to insure each other’s safety.