Friday, December 30, 2011

Discount

A few weeks ago I was in a Ross store buying some tights, and the clerk, who was -- maybe -- 12, looked at me and said in a monotone: "Are-you-55-or-older." No question mark. Just a statement. Something she said to all the old people, I guessed. But why was she saying that to me??!!

I stuttered, "Well, I'm 55, but not older!"

She replied, "Okay. You get the Tuesday Senior discount."

There's a first for everything, and this was the first time I saved 46 cents for being "55-and-older".

Obviously, this is not my path to riches.

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On a brighter note, my friend Robin and I walked the trails of Cougar Mountain this afternoon, awash in pale winter sun: a universe of ferns and alders, big-leaf maples and cedars. The stream was high from last night's rain, and spilled over a cliffside onto rocks draped in lush moss, slipped under a lashing of windfall saplings, vanished beyond our vision into second-growth forest.

It's been too long since we've shared this pleasure of walking these trails, but thank god we figured out the world in that hour and a half. There are few secrets left between us, I'm guessing.

And weren't we just in our twenties, when we were certain the world was a knowable entity? I admit a certain sense of thanks for reaching 55 (and not 555, which I just typed but corrected) and realizing that the world needs figuring-out on a regular basis. A daily basis. An hourly basis. Minute to minute. Right now!


I don't know about Robin, but I certainly didn't feel 55 or, for that matter, any age. But then, just what does 55 feel like? I think it feels like this (which was in my head this morning upon waking):

6 comments:

  1. I regularly sort out all the world's problems, but when the alcohol wears off I tend to forget the finer details.

    Happy New Year, T. Bisou, Cro.

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  2. It's a shock isn't it?

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  3. "Obviously this is not my path to riches" cracked me up.

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  4. if only the movie theaters would lower their senior age from 65 to 55 -- then we'd see some real savings! 6 more months and I will qualify.

    I am weary of trying to change the world. I had a lot of energy for it in my twenties. Not so much now. I think I'll let the twenty year olds carry on.

    Happy New Year, my dear. Best wishes for the days getting better and better all the time.

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  5. Happy New Year T.! over here they start the discounts at age 50. might as well enjoy! take 2012 easy, sp

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  6. Hola, T., and a very Happy New Year to you!

    I could really relate to your Discount story. I got my first senior discount in Sept. at a Denny's on the way home from our Topsail Family Reunion, and she didn't card me or even look twice at me! (I was 55 then also.) If it wasn't for the arthritis I inherited, I would have trouble believing the number of years that have passed. I LOVE the song you chose...and I look forward to your insights and observations in 2012...

    Much love, Linda

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