Friday, July 27, 2012

"When You are Older"


When this car was made, I was about 9 years old. There were many things I wanted to do at age 9 but the reply was always, "When you are older". I wanted to drive my dad's car. I wanted a rifle. I wanted to quit taking piano lessons. I wanted to be treated like my big sister. Always, the answer was, "When you are older". Kids still put up with from their parents, and for good reason.

We eventually do all the things we could not do when we were younger, and some things we should not do at any age. Life progresses and then one day we catch ourselves saying, "I'm too old for this."

I am finding myself in this dimension now. It actually started in my late 30's when the realization hit me that I would never, ever play in the NHL. Not because I totally lacked skill and ability, let alone a pair of skates, but because I was too old. There are age restrictions at every turn in life.

But there is the odd bright light. I wanted a discount at my favourite restaurant for many years and they always said, "When you are older." Guess what. I get the discount now and I am proud to accept it. It will never be taken from me. I will never be too old. They may prevent me from entering because of excessive drooling or other obnoxious random bodily functions gone awry, but until that happens, I am finally old enough to order the senior's meal AND get a discount.  

2 comments:

Gaye said...

Well, there's talk of some businesses rescinding the seniors' discount because there are now, to many of us and it's costing too much money. And, what did I receive, as your older sister, that you didn't receive. You were the favoite only son!

Terry said...

But I was the whipping boy everytime one of my sisters squawked. :)

With senior's bankruptcy rates soaring, they had better keep the discounts in place. Due to low interest rates, the savers of old are running out of money, and also because they are living longer.