Older, wiser, and still worthy of respect

THESE days, I have become so jaded, it takes quite a bit to impress me. However, I was impressed when I recently read about Bob Schwartz's planking record.

- GREY MUTTER BY LANCE FREDERICKS

While most people in their 80s are taking it easy and celebrating the fact that they can still pull on a sock, Schwartz set a staggering benchmark.

The Florida-based grandfather held a plank for an incredible 50 minutes!

These days, fitness experts recommend older adults hold a plank for between 20 seconds and two minutes. Schwartz blew that guideline into the stratosphere.

The beauty of planking, of course, is that it requires no equipment.

I remember my last day at the gym, just before cancelling my subscription. I spotted an attractive young lady working out nearby and wanted to impress her.

So I asked one of the instructors what machine I could use that might do the trick.

The musclebound, young, arrogant little so-and-so didn't blink: "Try the ATM," he said.

Yep - one gets the impression these days that the youth underestimate, disregard, and sadly disrespect older folk. That's tragic.

But it's even more heartbreaking when the ones who treat the elderly as burdens are their own children.