I’m fifty six on Tuesday.  I have noticed something since turning 55.  Yes, the AARP made me a member whether I wanted to be or not, but something else has happened.  Suddenly, all the early bird discounts at restaurants, senior discounts at movie theaters, theme parks, national parks, and the like have all suddenly turned into (>65) when I swear for the last ten years my only consolation at nearing 50 was that at least I’d get some discounts in five years.  Suddenly 55 is young! Spry! Practically eligible for the teen discount!  I was checking out ski lift tickets and “senior” at the slopes means (>7o).  Are you KIDDING me?  I wrenched my knee two seasons ago and am only this year thinking I may try to get back on the slopes.  I have to be 70 to be considered a senior on a ski hill???

I don’t like this trend.  I understand what’s going on – all of us Baby Boomers are hitting the magic age at approximately the same time, which is causing the bottom line to turn in the direction of my once attentive bosom.  So what does the young whippersnapper in accounting do?  She raises the limit a few years.  First she wears halter tops in front of me, now she snatches away my senior discount?  What’s next, casually tipping my wheelchair down the cement stairs when she skateboards past me?  Figures that respect for the aging dies just as I start aging in earnest. 

There is only one comfort in all this – we Baby Boomers have Power in the marketplace.  Maybe we could start a boycott of all places that have changed their senior discount cutoff.  I would get started on this except I’m too busy with my active adult lifestyle.  Ta ta for now, dahling…