Opus 2012-248, Ode to Old: Point of No Return

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