My last column on Oct. 25 discussed people’s reactions to a question “The New York Times” brought up: “When does old age begin?” And I asked the same question of Auburnites, from their early 20s through their late 60s. But I realized that I forgot to approach people in their 70s and 80s, and asked them to write to me. I heard from several.

But first I want to apologize. Looking back on what I wrote, it seems as if I implied that there’s something negative about old age. Others may think so, but I like the idea of referring to myself as an old lady.

That greeting card character, blue-haired crotchety Maxine? She’s perfect. Says what she thinks, dresses exactly the way she wants to and doesn’t apologize.

I also take issue with the idea that wrinkles are horrifying. Who decides they’re awful? Let’s just decide they’re wonderful. There are more of us with wrinkles than those without, and if majority rules, well then.

When I bumped into Clariss Smith in the gym, she recognized me and shared her feelings about age. I asked her to e-mail them to me, and she did. “In my 70s, outside of aching limbs and bones and memory loss, I feel just fine,” she says. “I like the line from Oliver Wendell Holmes — old age ‘is 15 years older than I am.’ That’s me. I call on, give rides to, go to lunch with, etc. people older and younger than I and we have more fun. We look forward to our Friday brunches with gusto. Why not?”

Bonnie Hansen writes: “When my mother turned 80 she told herself she was an old lady. I’m turning 82 next month and my body knows how old it is and I look in the mirror and don’t have the face and figure I had at 21. However, even though I can’t roller skate or run in marathons, if the right man came along I could still cuddle!! As far as I’m concerned ‘it ain’t over ‘till the fat lady sings.’ It’s all in the spirit and attitude, honey.”

Dolores P. Kauffman just had her birthday. “Your article on old age was timely,” she writes. “I turned 82 today and I’m not old yet.

However, I do concede to being past middle age. Personally, I think a person is only as old as they think they are. I realized a few years ago that I couldn’t treat this body as though it was still 30 or 40 therefore, I’ve made some adjustments.”

Finally, Dan Tomich shared his thoughts — ideas that deserve to be in a song, or a poem. He’s 70, and was taking a break from re-roofing his house when he e-mailed me.

“I guess I’ll be old when I don’t try to make my wife laugh anymore,” he wrote. “And I’ll be old when I stop taking the back roads home just to look at the countryside.

“I’ll be old when I don’t look forward to company coming and I’ll be old when I don’t wish they’d go home after a few days. Call me old when I don’t stop to look at the new calves born every year and old when I don’t marvel at the beauty of this place after a few days of rain.

“Old will be when I don’t read anymore or listen to what other people have to say (provided my eyes and ears still work). I’ll be old when I don’t try hard enough and when I give up too easily.

“Old isn’t about bifocals, hearing aids and discount offers of cremation; that all gets here eventually but it doesn’t mean you’re old. I get all the offers in the mail.

“Old is when you no longer share a laugh, a memory, or a cozy firelight dinner with your sweetheart.”

Ah. Everyone’s a role model. I thank all who wrote.

Susan Rushton’s column appears every other Sunday in the Journal. Her e-mail address is Rushton@cebridge.net.