This is 80: Veteran Journalist Peter G. Miller Responds to The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire

From the time I was 10, I’ve been obsessed with what it means to grow older. I’m curious about what it means to others, of all ages, and so I invite them to take “The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire.”

Sometimes you’ll find responses from writers, musicians, and artists you’ve heard of—like Kate Pierson, Neko Case, Rosie O’Donnell, Ava Duvernay, Jerry Saltz, Lucy Sante, magazine legend Tom Junod, Ricki Lake, Hilma Wolitzer, Elizabeth Gilbert, Judith Viorst, Cheryl Strayed, Deesha Philyaw, Chloe Caldwell, etc.—but more often it will be people (of all ages) you haven’t heard of, Humans of New York-style. (Check out all the Oldster interviews…)

Here, veteran journalist and author responds. -Sari Botton

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Peter G. Miller is the author of seven books published originally by Harper & Row, including one with a co-author. He has been a correspondent on Capitol Hill and at the White House. During his career, he has written a weekly column for The Washington Post and a syndicated column that appeared in newspapers nationwide. He has been featured on Oprah!, CNN, CNBC, NPR, and many other media outlets.

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How old are you?

I turned 80 in 2025.

Is there another age you associate with yourself in your mind? If so, what is it? And why, do you think?

I was 18 when I was a high school senior. My grades were subpar. Okay, by subpar, I mean awful. But I somehow wrote well.

I applied to several colleges and got rejected by them all. This was not a surprise, but it bothered me. So I wrote a letter to one of the schools, the American University in Washington DC, and explained that I wanted to go to their journalism program and become a reporter. As evidence of my interest, I told them about the letters I had written to various New York newspapers, a number of which were published. I still have the clippings.

Someone at A.U. must have seen something. They invited me to attend summer school, take two classes they picked (English and American history), and said I could stay if I got two Cs. The instructors were terrific, held my attention, and I became a college freshman. This shocked the hell out of many who knew me. Four years later, I was an accredited correspondent on Capitol Hill, getting paid to report the news.

The result of that high school letter was pure luck, but it was also the starting point of a thousand adventures.

I think I largely identify with my time in college and a few years thereafter. So much was new and different. It was an opportunity to explore and grow.

At this point, I don’t really have outstanding milestones. I’m not trying to live to 100 or whatever. I’m more interested in the present. If I get more time and I’m healthy and functional, that’s great. I’m interested in the milestones reached by our children and grandson, and how they’re doing in life.

Do you feel old for your age? Young for your age? Just right? Are you in step with your peers?

I’ve heard other seniors say they feel younger inside than their outer shell might suggest. That’s also how I feel. Not old or young, but okay with where I am.

What do you like about being your age?

Being with my wife, and getting to see how our children have grown up, to see their stories unfold.

What is difficult about being your age?

You certainly lose strength and flexibility as you age. Time always wins. I don’t like that I’m identified by my age group and not as an individual.

What is surprising about being your age, or different from what you expected, based on what you were told?

Seniors today live entirely different lives when compared with the older people of my youth. Because of medical advances and new technologies, being a senior is a lot easier today than it once was. As an example, I knew an older person when I was younger who had a terribly painful hip and needed a wheelchair. It ruined their life. Today, the problem might be solved with an artificial hip.

Seniors today live entirely different lives when compared with the older people of my youth. Because of medical advances and new technologies, being a senior is a lot easier today than it once was. As an example, I knew an older person when I was younger who had a terribly painful hip and needed a wheelchair. It ruined their life. Today, the problem might be solved with an artificial hip.

What has aging given you? Taken away from you?

Age has given me perspective. I’m no longer so certain that I have the answers to any number of questions.

But aging makes one less physically adept. As an 80-year-old, I’m in generally good shape for my age group, but no one would confuse me with a teenager.

How has getting older affected your sense of yourself, or your identity?

Getting older has changed the world around me; people look at me differently.

I was putting in a new bathroom and needed a large and heavy piece of butcher block cut down to make a vanity top. I found a nearby cabinetmaker who had the right equipment and offered to make the cuts for free.

I got there, parked, pulled the wood out of the car, and started to carry it into the shop. All of a sudden, one of the workers ran over and took it from me. For him, it was light; he was perhaps in his 20s. He was being helpful. For me, it was now heavy. I was grateful for his help.

What are some age-related milestones you are looking forward to? Or ones you “missed” and might try to reach later, off-schedule, according to our culture and its expectations?

I’m interested in the milestones reached by our children and grandson, and how they’re doing in life.

At this point, I don’t really have outstanding milestones. I’m not trying to live to 100 or whatever. I’m more interested in the present. If I get more time and I’m healthy and functional, that’s great.

What has been your favorite age so far, and why? Would you go back to this age if you could?

The period after college was great, but that was then, and this is now. I find a lot to be grateful for at this time. Being 80 is very comfortable in a lot of ways.

I don’t think much about dying. When I was younger, every day for an 80-year-old was regarded as a near-death experience. Today, there are a growing number of people who are at least 80 and doing well. They’re older, but in a practical sense, not diminished.

Is there someone who is older than you, who makes growing older inspiring to you? Who is your aging idol and why?

My role model is Herman Wouk—author of The Caine Mutiny, The Winds of War, and other great books. Wouk died ten days short of 104. Working on his last project.

What aging-related adjustments have you recently made, style-wise, beauty-wise, health-wise?

I accept that aging is a natural process and that if you’re lucky, you can live a long time in good health. I also accept that at some point this ride will end.

I really don’t pay much attention to style—I’m more interested in comfort. As an example, I now wear cushioned running shoes instead of leather shoes. The use of running shoes appears to be common today, regardless of age, so I don’t stick out.

What’s an aging-related adjustment you refuse to make, and why?

I’ll make adjustments as needed, but I won’t move out of my house. Here I can share the days with my wife, my dog, and all the comforts of home.

What turn of events had the biggest impact on your life? What took your life in a different direction, for better or worse?

Getting married at age 37 and having a family. The best thing I ever did.

What is your number one regret in life? If you could do it all over again, what is the biggest thing you’d do differently?

I would try to better understand others and not be so self-centered and quick to judge. Now I understand that everyone has an untold story that’s part of who they are, a story that’s often hard to see.

What is high up on your “bucket list?” What do you hope to achieve, attain, or plain enjoy before you die?

I’ve had the opportunity to travel widely and would like to go back to such places as Siena, Italy, and Canada’s Prince Edward Island.

Incidentally, I don’t think much about dying. When I was younger, every day for an 80-year-old was regarded as a near-death experience. Today, there are a growing number of people who are at least 80 and doing well. They’re older, but in a practical sense, not diminished.

I’ll make adjustments as needed, but I won’t move out of my house. Here I can share the days with my wife, my dog, and all the comforts of home.

Is there a piece of advice you were given, that you live by? If so, what was it, and who offered it to you?

I learned by watching other people. They gave me a definition of “success” that has been very helpful: live modestly, help quietly, care for family, and have a dog.

I also learned a lot from books such as Small is Beautiful and The Millionaire Next Door. But the book that had the most impact was Clarence Darrow’s autobiography, The Story of My Life.

Darrow was an attorney, famous for the Scopes trial and other major cases – See the movie Inherit the Wind. His book taught me how to write in a way that readers could easily understand.

I also listened to TV newscasters such as Walter Cronkite, David Brinkley, and Chet Huntley. They spoke in plain language, and everyone understood them. Now, when I write something, I read it out loud and ask if it’s something that a TV newscaster might say.

What are your plans for your body when you’re done using it? Burial? Cremation? Body Farm? Other?

I have some good parts and will be an organ donor. A single donor can help many people because of advances in medicine and science.

Whatever remains will be cremated. I won’t have a tombstone, but if I did, I would want it to say, “Like good wine, he could not have aged any longer…”

But why wait for death? Seniors can do good things now. For example, I am part of a “superager” study being conducted at Mass General Brigham. It will hopefully help future generations.

I accept that aging is a natural process and that if you’re lucky, you can live a long time in good health. I also accept that at some point this ride will end.

What do you expect to happen to your “soul” or “spirit” after you die?

Not sure. We’ll all find out at the moment of passing.

What’s your philosophy on celebrating birthdays as an adult? How do you celebrate yours?

My wife and I might go out or invite a few people over for dinner. We tend to be practical gift givers, say new clothing or something we might use every day.

Check out all the Oldster interviews…

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