The seasons just keep on changing

Opinion

Discussion

July 8, 2010

By JIM HARDIN CNHI The Zope Gazette Thu Jul 08, 2010, 07:12 AM CDT

Rockwall County — My wife received a brochure in the mail recently that reminded me of the changing seasons — but not spring, summer, fall and winter.

I’m talking about the seasons of life.

The sender of the brochure had a special message for wife Becky: “Feel like yourself again.”

The brochure was from The Scooter Store, described as the No. 1 power chair and scooter provider. My wife could feel like herself again by regaining her mobility with her very own scooter or power chair.

Becky and I chuckled about the brochure, then wondered how and why she got on The Scooter Store’s mailing list.

I set the brochure aside for future reference, not because I expected to be in the market for a power chair or scooter in the near future, but I felt it would be part of something that I would share with readers in this space.

I came across the literature last week. It triggered thoughts about life and how we get little messages along the way to remind us that we’re getting old. Yep, I’ve got to share this with others who are right there with us or plan to be there in the future.

Old? I just mentioned “old,” but Becky and I are not old. We are mature and marvelous.

Most of us are introduced into senior citizendom by AARP — the American Association of Retired Persons. We get the invitation to join way too early in life and I’m sure those first-time recipients of the AARP letter ask the same question I did: “Why am I getting this letter? I’m still so young.”

Well, just for your information, AARP describes itself as “the exclusive community for people age 50 and over.”

Some restaurant clerks also are helpful at reminding us of our level of maturity.

A Ryan’s Steakhouse cashier in Longview started giving us a senior discount before we reached the eligible age. I corrected her once, but she continued to give us the senior discont without asking our age. So, I innocently accepted the discount and realized that being mature or seasoned — or just having the appearance of being mature or seasoned — does have its advantages.

I recall how excited I was when I reached the age for IHOP’s senior specials. When I ordered my first senior special, I expected the server to “card” me because I looked so young. I even volunteered to show her my driver’s license.

“That won’t be necessary,” she replied. Suddenly, I wasn’t so excited about being eligible for the senior special. Someone thought I actually looked my age. Oh, how horrible!”

Children also help us with those seasonal transitions.

Wife Becky used to get cards from young women every Mother’s Day. They would thank Becky for being like a mother to them. Then, all of a sudden, the cards started having a different message: “Thanks for being like a grandmother to me.”

A child reminded me recently that I am old.

Becky and I were attending a church-related fellowship with adults and children. All the children received glow-in-the-dark bracelets.

Young Mason told me that I could not have one.

“These are for kids,” he told me. “You’re an old man.”

I laughed, I think, and he felt compelled to elaborate.

“You’re an old man because you have that stuff on your face like my grandpa,” he said.

I didn’t question him because I assumed he was referring to facial hair. I realized later he may have been referring to wrinkles.

I don’t have a problem with getting more mature or more seasoned — or even older — because I’m reminded of our family slogan: “The best is yet to come.”

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