As I write I have crossed a line. I am now officially an old man. The 65th year is upon me. There is no turning back.
I am good with that.
I remember when it first hit me that people saw me as older. This was over 30 years ago. I have been working on getting older for many years. I was checking out in some store and I had my wallet open on the counter. I was a new father and had proud pictures of my first born where the world could see them. It was a bit deflating to have the clerk ask me, “Oh, is that your grandson?”
It continued at a fast food place where the cashier gave me a senior discount that I did not yet deserve. I did not correct her. It wasn’t the money, I have no problem returning miscounted change. My motive was to not embarrass her. Really. I had seen people get all indignant at being considered a “senior citizen.” I am what I am.
Last week it came full circle. I was at Costco, buying about 12 cases of water. My wife was temporarily concerned about TEOTWAWKI. (The End of the World As We Know It.) I had it loaded on one of those flatbed carts and was leaning into it, heading for my car. One of the young employees asked if he could help me. I told him that I would be okay but he must have really been concerned because he walked me to the car and helped me load it. I must really be looking frail.
Oh, well.
homo unius libri
Well congratulations, you beat me by 3 months. I've been getting senior citizens discounts for years now.
ReplyDeleteWhen you get to our age three months is nothing except something having to do with our memory.
DeleteGrace and peace.
I started getting discounts a couple years ago, when I was 55.
ReplyDeleteSince I have always been cheap, I can deal with any discounts people give me. I once was in a camera store buying something and asked the guy if they had a "nice guy discount." He gave me one.
DeleteGrace and peace.