55

     55. Yep. 55. I googled it. Discounts galore. But here's the thing.  I really don't want 16 year old behind cash registers asking me if I should get the Senior Discount.  Maybe if they called it something else it would be alright. But probably not. Because I would still know it's just because they think I'm old!
     I remember (yes sometimes I can still do that) when I was a kid and thinking how old I would be when the year 2000 arrived. Wow!  I was pretty sure being 38 years old would mean I wouldn't be celebrating in the new year. In fact I figured I would be dead by then. And if I wasn't dead, everyone older than me would be.
     Yet here I am, almost 17 years later, and still plugging along as are many of the people I thought would have gone on to eternity with me!  I will say turning 55 this week has been a bit interesting though. It's one of those ages you can't turn around and pretend you're younger. You know. Like I could the day before my birthday when I was 54 and could pretend I was 45.
      Most days I don't think I feel 55. Although I'm not sure what 55 is supposed to feel like. And I certainly have convinced myself that I don't look 55!  However  the way I see  things is a bit different these days. Some how I have developed that short arm issue people of this certain age tend to get. So I now have 'readers' placed all over the house. Thankfully these lovely accessories can be purchased for a dollar and I take advantage of that bargain. Only thing, somehow several pair tend to end up in the same room and not in the room where I need them.
      The big thing that is supposed to come with age though is wisdom.  Well that and gray hair. I've chosen to not have the gray hair. But wisdom.  I'll take some of that.  Thing is, the way we get most of that wisdom is by experience. And to get that experience we eventually have to get old.
      So 55. Too young to want a senior discount. But old enough to start gleaning from the experiences of life by recognizing the wisdom those experiences brings. I'm thinking maybe I'm gonna like 55. At least parts of it.