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Montana estates essay series
On Getting Old
New Zealand essays
53 pages
First published April 1, 2005
About the author
Kevin Ireland
40 books2 followersIreland was born Kevin Mark Jowsey. As an infant he travelled to London with his parents where they lived for a time before returning to New Zealand. Shortly thereafter, his parents' marriage failed and he grew up on his maternal grandfather's Waikato farm, and then in Takapuna where he lived with his father. After leaving school, he studied at Auckland Teachers' College but did not complete a qualification.
After changing his surname by deed poll to Ireland in 1957, he headed to London in 1959 where he remained for twenty-five years (with the interlude of a short interval in Bulgaria, translating Bulgarian poetry into English); for two decades, Ireland was employed by The Times.
In 1986, Ireland was writer-in-residence at Canterbury University; in 1987, he was awarded the Grimshaw-Sargeson Fellowship; in 1989, he was the University of Auckland's writing fellow, assistant editor of Quote Unquote, and president of PEN, 1990–91.
Kevin Ireland OBE has published novels, short stories, memoirs, a book on fishing and another on growing old. Awards include an honorary doctorate, the 2004 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement and the 2006 A.W. Reed Award for his contribution to New Zealand writing.
Ireland died after a battle with cancer in Auckland at the age of 89.
From book blurb & Wikipedia
After changing his surname by deed poll to Ireland in 1957, he headed to London in 1959 where he remained for twenty-five years (with the interlude of a short interval in Bulgaria, translating Bulgarian poetry into English); for two decades, Ireland was employed by The Times.
In 1986, Ireland was writer-in-residence at Canterbury University; in 1987, he was awarded the Grimshaw-Sargeson Fellowship; in 1989, he was the University of Auckland's writing fellow, assistant editor of Quote Unquote, and president of PEN, 1990–91.
Kevin Ireland OBE has published novels, short stories, memoirs, a book on fishing and another on growing old. Awards include an honorary doctorate, the 2004 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement and the 2006 A.W. Reed Award for his contribution to New Zealand writing.
Ireland died after a battle with cancer in Auckland at the age of 89.
From book blurb & Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 31, 2013
This is a wonderful little 53 page memoir written by one of our own New Zealand poet, short-story writer and novelist, Kevin Ireland. It was just lovely to read, thought provoking and somewhat sad, but also humourous and ironic in places. And all summed up beautifully by his own Grandfather's daily refrain of the very simple truth that 'Old age is a bastard'.
It is so true that we have marginalised the elderly now. That we preserve life far longer than dignity would call for, and that the distancing between the young and the old is now so thorough, neither benefit from the warm companionship of these time divided generations. Mind you, I am always saddened to think of any person who doesn't have the pleasure of a long and close relationship with a grandparent, as I was so fortunate to be blessed with.
It reminded me of the simply IMMENSE change octagenarians have witnessed in their lives, from the introduction of the radiogram to the technology of today. They have experienced wars, a depression, seen times of huge growth, to a world now that must be mind blowing for them to even contemplate!!! These changes are vaster than I am sure any other human will experience in a single lifetime. We underestimate their resilience and adaptability.
This lovely piece has reminded me to appreciate what agility I have left in my joints, to marvel at the memories my brain still retains, and to hope that I manage to leave this mortal coil in a blaze of dignified glory at whatever age modern medicine and and healthy choices allow me to attain - with both of the above in tact - rather than bewildered in a lonely metal bed, in some distant future where I have become simply another forgotten and discarded item in our increasingly careless, throw away society.
It is so true that we have marginalised the elderly now. That we preserve life far longer than dignity would call for, and that the distancing between the young and the old is now so thorough, neither benefit from the warm companionship of these time divided generations. Mind you, I am always saddened to think of any person who doesn't have the pleasure of a long and close relationship with a grandparent, as I was so fortunate to be blessed with.
It reminded me of the simply IMMENSE change octagenarians have witnessed in their lives, from the introduction of the radiogram to the technology of today. They have experienced wars, a depression, seen times of huge growth, to a world now that must be mind blowing for them to even contemplate!!! These changes are vaster than I am sure any other human will experience in a single lifetime. We underestimate their resilience and adaptability.
This lovely piece has reminded me to appreciate what agility I have left in my joints, to marvel at the memories my brain still retains, and to hope that I manage to leave this mortal coil in a blaze of dignified glory at whatever age modern medicine and and healthy choices allow me to attain - with both of the above in tact - rather than bewildered in a lonely metal bed, in some distant future where I have become simply another forgotten and discarded item in our increasingly careless, throw away society.
Displaying 1 of 1 review