to the editor: Columnist Steve López is not sure he wants to live to be 100 and I understand his concern (“Happy 100th birthday to Mel Brooks. I'm not sure I want to be here that long.” July 1). It all depends on how your 80s to 100s treat you.
I will be 98 next August and life has treated me well. I know I'm lucky. I walk without assistance, but I use a cane for outdoor safety. I renewed my driver's license when I was 95 and I still drive; My license expires when I am 101 years old. My mind is sharp and I have read the Los Angeles Times every morning for the last 75 years.
Of course, as Lopez worries, there are challenges. My social life revolves around going to the doctor. And the change in technology does bother me. I really liked making calls and talking to a real person instead of an AI “helper.” My use of my cell phone and computer is limited, but I am fortunate that my four adult children live in Southern California and enjoy helping me.
How did I get here? I inherited a new doctor 50 years ago. He raised his hand high and said, “These are your genes.” Then he lowered his hand and said, “This is your lot.” Finally, he lowered his hand further and said, “This is your medical care. I can only help you there.”
At this age, I admit that I feel old. But the years are good. So Lopez, let's hope you live to be 100 and that the previous 20 years are good.
Martin A. Brower, Corona del Mar
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to the editor: I enjoyed Lopez's wonderful article about the discordant times we live in.
On the “way back,” I remember coming home from school and seeing my grandmother sitting in her usual chair by her bedroom window with the Bible in her lap, while the winter sun streamed in to warm her deformed, arthritic hands. “Hello grandma!” I would scream. One day, he turned away from the window and, looking at me through his double-large bifocal glasses, said, “Everything has changed. I don't understand it anymore.” She wasn't smiling.
That was in 1956.
And so it goes. Keep up the great work, Lopez. And exercise.
Jeff Denker, Malibu
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to the editor: My husband and I were laughing and nodding our heads as we read Lopez's column about Mel Brooks turning 100. Lopez says he's not sure he can endure 27 more years of the “daily trials of modern life.” We have 16 more years until we are 100 and we are not sure we can face that either.
The changing world of electronics and having to deal with increasingly strict criteria for accessing accounts, trying to contact a live person through company phones, making book reservations, etc., is sometimes overwhelming. And do doctors' offices really read the numerous forms we fill out online and in person? We can also relate to the overuse of “perfect” as an acknowledgment of something instead of “okay,” “OK,” or “thank you.”
But despite all that, as long as we have our teenage grandson to help us figure out how to use the Lyft app, transfer tickets to the wallet app, and send photos, we'll be fine.
Sandy Schwartz, Culver City
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to the editor: López's column about not wanting to turn 100 is spot on. I'm 77 and my husband is 79. Ironically, while I was reading the column, our daughter came to our house to show my husband how to add some channels to our TV that we had “included” in our payment, but didn't know how to watch.
I find most of the newer technology to be completely confusing and I can't understand it. If my husband dies before me, I can't watch TV; I don't even know how to turn it on let alone find something to watch!
I agree with López that people are more connected but less connected. Every time we are at a restaurant and see another couple talking on the phone, I want to ask them if they are talking to each other.
I think the phrase “a driverless car is going to crash into a data center and the world is going to explode” is one of the funniest but truest things I have ever read. The entire column is correct and one of the best (and certainly the funniest) Lopez has written.
Judy Herbst, Beverly Hills
