I’m Martha, an old old lady living in Phoenix, Arizona and in my senior year. I’m wearing gray hair, reading glasses in almost every room, and knees that know the weather before the news. Now my life is very easy. Drinking tea in the morning, phoning up friends, walking slowly when I need to are what I do, and just a lot of laughter. I have learned one large lesson, and that is that it is easier to get older when you aren’t taking every little ache so seriously.

Senior Women In America

I began to crack jokes about old age as I noticed a lot of women around me who were sad about growing old. Some were concerned with wrinkles. Most were upset for not remembering the small things. Some were embarrassed on their slower movement. I wanted to remind them that old age is not just pain, medicine and going to the doctor. It’s also knowledge, liberation, jokes and self-deprecation. During my time in the USA, I had the opportunity to meet many strong senior women in parks, churches, stores, salons and community centers. I got the impression that all the old ladies have comic stories in them.

My comic is not created for the purpose of poking fun at older women. They were created to be enjoyed by us. There’s love behind every joke. In the comic, all the ladies are smiling because they know that life is still good. She can’t recall why she came into the room, but she can recall how to enjoy the day. If she needs a nap after doing nothing, that’s fine, but she has earned that nap. These comics are my little attempt at saying: old age can be funny, bright and with personality.

#1. I’m Not Getting Older, I’m Becoming a Classic

The first comic is an older woman with a happy expression in her cozy kitchen. She is laughing and doesn’t care about her age. The message is clear. We are not old broken things, We are classics. People still like a classic car, it will squeak a bit, but it is a classic. Although a senior woman is slow, she has stories, strength and charm. This comic is to tell women that they need to think of age as an asset, not a liability.

#2. At My Age, Every Hour Can Be Happy Hour

The second one is a stylish lady in a garden. She says that happy hour is when she’s found her glasses. The punchline of the joke is forgetfulness, albeit in a gentle and humorous manner. Every day many seniors lose their glasses, their keys or their cell phone. This comic says we can laugh about it, however, rather than get upset. Whether it’s locating your glasses, small victories make a difference.

#3. Retirement Is Doing Nothing Takes Practice

In the third comic, a lady is having a retirement in the park. The punch-line is she can do nothing all day and still need a nap afterwards. While it might seem like retirement is easy, senior bodies still get tired. This comic is to let people know that rest is not laziness. Old ladies need peace after years of work, and raising families, and problem solving. There is no shame in taking a nap. A nap is a reward.

#4. My Memory Saves Space for the Good Stuff

Forget boring things is the fourth comic. The lady in the knitting room says that her memory is good, she forgets nothing that is not of no consequence. The Sweet message in this comic is when memory starts to fade a bit with age, there’s no shame in that. Memories of love, family, songs, recipes and jokes are sometimes better than recalling all the little uninteresting details.

#5. Who Needs Weather Apps When You Have Knees?

The fifth comic depicts a lady with a smile on her face, standing on a porch. She jokes that her knees let her know when it’s going to rain. This feeling is no stranger to many seniors. Annoying aches and pains are turned into a funny super power in this comic. Our bodies speak, it says, but they grumble. Even painful knees can be a punch-line.

#6. Still Running Just Not for the Usual Reasons

In the sixth comic, a lady is seen by the ocean. She still runs for the most part out of patience, snack and hot water, she says. This comic is about being honest. Not a lot of old ladies are running marathons, but they all have spirits. They’re easily frustrated by foolishness. Snacks are important, and they run out of them. Comfort is important and they are left with no hot water. It demonstrates that the humor of a senior can be acute and witty.

#7. Energy-Saving Mode Is a Lifestyle

The seventh comic shows a lady enjoying tea. She isn’t slow, she’s on energy saving mode, she says. This is an excellent message because it makes slowness seem like a smart thing! Older women tend to walk slowly, as they have an intimate knowledge of their bodies. That’s not a sign of weakness. That is wisdom. This comic lets seniors know it’s OK to take it easy. You are not behind. You’re just conserving your energy for what’s important.

#8. I Heard Extra Fries

In the eighth comic, a happy woman is in a craft room. The punch-line is silly and understandable. Seniors are sometimes told to get more exercise, eat better and obey all health rules. Yes, health is important, but so is joy. This comic asserts that there should be sweets in life. Sometimes, it’s a plate of fries, a laugh and a good friend that is the best medicine for the heart.

#9. I Don’t Argue, I Explain Louder

In the ninth comic, a lady who is confident reading a book in a bookstore. This is the one that’s about strong opinions. There are a lot of older women that have lived long enough to know what they believe. But when they feel the need to argue, they will make their case quite clear. This comic is amusing because of the confidence. It lets senior ladies know that their voice still counts. Older doesn’t necessarily mean quiet.

#10. Aging Is Magical, Forgetfulness Is the Trick

In the 10th comic, a woman is seen at a barbecue in the back yard. She jokes that she enters a room like a wizard, and forgets why. It is one of the most frequently occurring old age moments. You go into a room, stop and think, “Why am I here? The comic transforms that little aggravation into magic. It instructs us to laugh first and then repeat the procedure to try and remember.

#11. Three Cards and One Lucky Dauber

In the eleventh comic, you can see a bright bingo hall. The lady doesn’t need a thrill, as she’s got her bingo cards and her lucky dauber. This comic is about senior fun. While some may believe that old women have dull lives, bingo night can be exciting, competitive, full of snacks and lots of laughter. The gospel is that happiness doesn’t have to be costly or crazy. Happiness is sometimes three bingo cards and a good seat.

#12. Garden Therapy Comes With Back Complaints

In the twelfth comic, a lady is gardening in a greenhouse. She tears one weed and her back complains. While gardening can be a relaxing activity, it may also be a reminder of every muscle that seniors have. Even when it hurts, we can love it, this comic tells us that. The flowers are worth their worth. It’s well worth the fresh air. Yes, back complaint is included.

#13. Sweet Tooth Wisdom

A lady has a pink soft kitchen where she is baking the 13th comic. She tells us that the only roll she does is a cinnamon roll. This joke is about exercising and eating. It tells us that old age shall yet have its pleasures. Baking is therapeutic, familial and happy. The message is not to neglect health, but to remember that there are warm kitchens, sugar jars and cinnamon smells in life.

#14. Gray Hair or Wisdom Highlights

The fourteenth comic depicts a lady, who is very glamorous, in a beauty salon. Wisdom highlights’ is what she calls her gray hairs. This comic is about beauty, and confidence. Lots of women are under stress to conceal gray hair. This lady doesn’t cover it up. She christens it with something strong. Grey hair equates to years lived, lessons learned and problems survived. It is not shame. It is shine.

#15. Market Day and the Avocado Mystery

In the 15th comic you will see a lady at a farmer’s market. She went to get some apples and left behind why. This is shopping Joke, but it appears to be quite real. There are many elderly people who go shopping for one item, and return with 5 others. The tone is sweet. But it’s not the end of the world if you forget little things. At times the wrong aisle yields a better story.

#16. Still Throwing Strikes

In the 16th comic, there is a lady at a bowling alley. She still throws strikes, primarily to her shoulder, she says. This comic is about trying. Older bodies don’t always operate as young bodies, but that doesn’t mean that seniors can’t have fun. Stretching, bowling, dancing or walking can still make you laugh. It’s not about winning. It’s about being there and having fun.

#17. Travel Plans Include Snacks and Medicine

In the 17th comic, a lady is in an airport lounge. She says “If I don’t have to bring food, and medicine, I pack light.” This comic is very correct for numerous elderly travelers. Snacks, chargers, glasses, water, tissues, and possibly a back up snack is required. The point is that adventure is still on the agenda for senior women. We may be equipped with additional bags but our hearts are still open to adventure.

#18. Fishing With My Eyes Closed

In the 18th comic, the lady is seen sitting by a lake. She’s not sitting still she’s fishing with her eyes closed, she says. In this comic, it’s a question of rest and peace. Seniors are sometimes criticized for sitting too long. However, there can be an option of resting. Being by water in quiet time is healing. The joke states that if you say it with confidence, then you can call it anything, even if you do nothing.

#19. When Mistakes Become Modern Art

In the 19th comic, a lady is painting in an art studio. If she doesn’t hit the canvas, she calls it modern art, she says. This comic is about ‘creative freedom’. As adults we shouldn’t fear to pursue new hobbies. Don’t worry, the painting doesn’t need to be flawless. Colors may be colored outside the lines. The message is to have fun creating, even messy things.

#20. My Dog Works Out, My Knees Report

In the 20th comic, a lady is walking her dog in the park. She claims the dog’s the one that’s worked out, and she gets the knee report. This comic is about walking together, every day. A dog can encourage an elderly person to get outdoors and chat with neighbors as well as to smile. The knees may grumble, but the heart is happy. It’s a reminder that a stroll, even at a slow pace, is a wonderful aspect of life.

These are small glimpses of what it is like to be a senior. They depict kitchens, gardens, salons, markets, airports, parks and tranquil lakes. They demonstrate that old women are not the same. Some love bingo. Some love bowling. Most love baking. Some love travel. Some love dogs. Many enjoy art and all of them have humor in their pockets.

But what encouraged me in America was to see older women who weren’t going to fade away. I see them at community centers, walking clubs, church lunches, grocery stores, libraries and beauty salons in Phoenix. They laugh loudly. They dress brightly. Old ladies speak the truth. They gripe about their knees, and then they go dancing anyway. I wanted my comics to be full of that spirit.

Getting older doesn’t always mean being easier. I know that. There are doctor visits, tired mornings, lost glasses, sore backs, and lonely days too. However, with humor we breathe. Although a joke won’t solve all the problems, it will lighten the problem for a moment. Hence, all of my old age lady jokes. I want these comics to help every senior woman recognize that she is one of them, and smile.